I think its clear a deal is close, otherwise Peace would have come out at the start of June like he said he would to state that he was to stay on, that he hasn't suggests that negotiations have taken place and a deal is close to be struck. A deal of this magnitude takes weeks if not months to seal, I'd be hedging my bets on an imminent deal.
From mutterings on this forum and others I'd say an Australian party showed initial interest and now a Chinese consortium are close, that's pure conjecture but just by the way this has been playing out I'd say its on.