(Reuters) - Atlas Iron <AGO.AX> on Thursday recommended a A$390 million ($287 million) bid from Australian billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting after rival suitor Mineral Resources <MIN.AX> pulled out of the race for the small iron ore miner.
A majority of the Atlas Board withdrew support for the Mineral Resources scheme and backed Hancock's offer, in the absence of a superior proposal, Atlas said in a statement.
Mining infrastructure provider Mineral Resources on Wednesday said it would not be sweetening its A$280 million offer to match Hancock's bid.
Its withdrawal puts the focus on world No. 4 iron ore miner Fortescue <FMG.AX> which has built up a 19.9 percent stake in Atlas.
Fortescue chief executive Elizabeth Gaines said on Wednesday that the miner would continue to assess its strategic options.
(Reporting by Devika Syamnath in Bengaluru; editing by Richard Pullin)
