IAG's Willie Walsh stated yesterday (October 25, 2018) that they are still interested in a takeover of Norwegian and could wait up until August 2019 to complete a deal:

https://skift.com/2018/10/26/british...ing-norwegian/

Reports in the Irish media are that it is a Chinese firm that Norwegian is in talks with to form the joint venture:

https://www.independent.ie/business/...-37459430.html