I am not sure what you mean by your statement:
"PIO would have been a balance sheet item on Cabots books when the bean counters did the sale deal nothing more."
In real-estate I often had to inform the sellers that they do not set the sale price - the buyer does that.
What the bean counters wanted, and what they got, was up to the buyer ultimately.
My point was that the buyer of Cabots business would not have gone ahead if they were not satisfied that a reliable supply of cesium would be forthcoming from a supplier. If such a supply was not available then why would they buy a dead business? It has nothing to do with Cabots bean counters.
As far as other suppliers are concerned, I don't think that supply from Zimbabwe would be considered, by most, as a reliable country upon which to base a decision to buy a multi million dollar business.
As for the Chinese, well they may or may not have cesium, but it is the Chinese buying Cabots formate business. You can never be sure of anything the Chinese say.
Cabots own supply is no longer viable and is probably the reason they wish to exit the business.
Come back to me if you like but I have had my last say on this.
Lockitt
PIO Price at posting:
1.5¢ Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held
