'johnwgrant' pid='36770' datel Wrote:It has always been said that the greatest risk of a cheap-o buyout of IOC is during the time period between settling with the IPI interests and closing the TOTAL deal. If that is the case, then (as others have said) there may be a deliberate attempt to make these events happen quickly in succession (if not at the same time). My point is that MH may have been advised to make sure there is a very small window for an unfriendly take-out by Shell or whomever...

This is quite accurate and to prove this point bring it up to the JV's on zoo and they go nuts. The buyout scenario is the shorts achilles heel which is why the lines are being blurred by IPI timeline. They are just as nervous about the IPI settlement as longs are, if not more.

(01-30-2014, 12:39 AM)ltinvest Wrote: If, and this is a big "if" because I don't believe it to be true, Dr Hession has not finalized the minority interest buy out because he is not satisfied with the terms, I want to thank him for not settling and continuining to negotiate the best deal for shareholders! I want the best deal......not A deal.

 In football terms, with the present quarterback we've seen one completed pass and two interceptions.

If I were to guess (thus establishing the full value of this post) CC thought Hession gave away the farm in his deal with Total.  CC thus wants from IOC not his proportional share, but an amount consistant with what he deems the true value of E/A.  So we now have brinksmanship, pitting CC agains Hession, with CC balancing his demand for more against the potential for deal failure.  Such a failure would certainly be catastrophic for all involved (although the government in time would likely make out handsomely with far, far more valuable leases returned to be put up for new bidding).

Failure to provid a revenue neutral buyout of minority interests and failure to accomplish such a buyout within the stated time frame, should either or both occur, won't be a good thing for IOC.  The best deal to be hoped for at this time from CC might be one that greatly reduces IOC's share in E/A but allows IOC to retain all of its licenses, leaving stockholders hoping that the new drilling program will be highly successful.

Let's also not forget there have been no documents yet made public assuring IOC will have a 30% LNG share, nor announcing the terms of the stated Total buyin option for PPL exploration, nor revealing the JVOA which was presumably an attachment to the Agreement.  As best I can tell the existence of these are all currently based solely in our hopes and belief in good faith.

As for my position on this stock, I am a committed long as I continue to see a much higher probability for great upside potential than company failure.  Anyone claiming I might have a different agenda is simply wrong.  Finally, those who continue to suggest we've seen a string of accomplishments by the new management justifying great optimism?  Just isn't the case.

'jft310' pid='36790' datel Wrote:Art-They are making good progress. Associating the stock price with all the changes is a disconnect. The current stock price is held back by the history of Phil's promises. LOOK AT THE DRILLING!! SUPER MAJOR DEAL BILLIONS ON THE HORIZON Mr Market will get this right. It will take a closed deal with TOTAL.

I am happy to see the presser with detail on the status of the well sites, but there still isn't any drilling to look at and I might quibble the billions are still just beyond the horizon.  Moving the offices to PNG seems a good move. There is also no decision yet as to exactly where to put A4.  I thought that should have been accomplished long ago.

Continue to bash Phil all you want if it makes you feel good.  He probably doesn't care what you or anybody thinks at this point.  The fact remains since he's been gone we still haven't closed deal one nor spudded well one.  The stock price has dropped.  In my mind Mulacek and his team are responsible for every cubic foot of gas discovered to date as well as the development of a successful refining and distribution business.  If all that was necessary for a great deal to happen was for PM to be let go the deal with Total would have been closed last summer.

On the other hand, Browsing about on Google... http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/wa/a/8165291/no-challenge-too-big-for-hession/

'ltinvest' pid='36793' datel Wrote:Art, a healthy dose of skepticism is never a bad thing to balance scales. I will start with the fact that a CEO a few months into the job delivering a multi billion dollar deal with a SM and retaining 30% ownership in an LNG plant is far, far more than a single completion! I'll give you the fumble on the announcement. Unless you have knowledge of the IPI/PAC negotiations directly, your scenario is far, far different from what I've been told. And as I stated elsewhere, if Hession is required to play hardball with cash calls or Total waiving that requirement for closing, then he needs to do whatever it takes to get the best deal for shareholders.... Not A deal. However, I think it's crystal clear it's in all parties interest to reach a reasonable agreement. I've also state here before....and this comes straight from Interoil.....there is no signed farm in agreement at this point. Terms have not been agreed upon.

LT - I sincerely hope you're right.  I'll give a first down with that completion but not a TD. Points go up on the board when the agreement closes :-)