'Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) advises that after...

'Northern Star Resources Limited (ASX: NST) advises that after receiving unsolicited approaches from parties interested in acquiring the Plutonic gold mine, the Company has decided to conduct a formal sale process for the project.
Northern Star emphasises that this process, which is being conducted by PCF Capital Group, may or may not result in the sale of Plutonic. The outcome of this process will be determined by whether any sale would realise a price which would deliver a superior commercial outcome for the Company and its Shareholders.
Northern Star Managing Director Bill Beament said Plutonic’s performance was now benefiting from the program of investment and development implemented by the Company over the past 12 months.
The outlook for Plutonic has also been strengthened significantly by the strong findings of a scoping study on the Northern Star-owned Hermes deposit located 60km south-west of Plutonic.
The study concluded that stage one mining at Hermes would produce a total of 86,000oz over a two to three-year life at an all-in sustaining cost of A$1,095/oz (see ASX release dated 9 December 2015).
Mr Beament said the buoyant Australian-dollar gold price meant demand for projects was strong.
He said Northern Star also needed to take into account the Company’s desire to invest in the significant organic growth opportunities which had resulted from the highly successful exploration programs across all its other assets.
“Plutonic’s costs have fallen substantially in the last quarter and we are confident that this turnaround will continue as our investment in capital development flows through,” Mr Beament said.
“However, we have always said that we are a business first and a mining company second, and that return on equity is one of our key priorities.
“This philosophy means that it would be remiss of us if we didn’t consider whether a sale of Plutonic would be in the best interests of our Shareholders.”'

Hmmmm!
What would a sale do to the JV?