Freeport's DilemnaThere's a reason why Freeport has not released to RMC the results of any drill hole from 2013. It's the same reason why Freeport has shut down drilling now yet has increased significantly its 2014 exploration budget for Timok. Freeport wants Timok and RMC's other Serbian permits for itself now. Stopping drilling and news flow and making veiled threats about forced co-funding is a nearsighted, short term approach that is not viable. Freeport can only play this game of chicken for so long because it will not risk introducing another producer such as First Quantum into the area on RMC's 100% owned permits nor having a First Quantum become RMC's partner in a co-funding of Timok giving RMC 45% of the project. Freeport cannot make a hostile bid for RMC without first sharing every single bit of information it has about Timok and the other drilling it has conducted on RMC's 100% owned permit. Freeport has no reasonable choice other than to negotiate a friendly buy-out of RMC on terms which are acceptable to RMC. Freeport needs this deposit and RMC remains in the driver's seat regardless of any attempts by Freeport in the short term to drive down the share price. Equally significant, RMC likely has strong institutional support lined up to counter-act Freeport's attempts at price manipulation. RMC as we know it will be taken out sometime in 2014 and likely in Q1 or Q2.