On the other hand maybe the consortium was so serious about things that it realised the price they were prepared to pay was going to be inflated by the tyre kickers and photocopier salesmen? To a level at which they were not prepared to risk their money? The administrator, until he learns otherwise, has to treat all the interested parties as equal or he could well lose an opportunity. As the thread title suggests, too many consortiums, with some withdrawing for good or, maybe, standing to one side until the melee calms down and the weak have been killed off?