[quote='ArtM72' pid='17667' dateline='1361731202'] "The InterOil Board of Directors intends to meet the Company’s advisors during the first week of March 2013 for the purpose of evaluating bids received and selecting our partner(s)" I don't see anything in this quote that says a selection will be made in the first week of March, only that evaluations will occur. That's pretty clear wordsmithing in my mind. If someone is predisposed to see this as a promised date then so be it. As far as the "list" on Yazoo goes the importance of the timing in my mind is far less important than the successful accomplishment of the tasks at hand. (I quit buying calls long ago) More important still is the success achieved in discovery and the incredible safety record where millions of hours have gone by since their last lost time accident. Those two issue carry far, far more weight in my book.
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I agree with all your points but think you missed mine. You reframed the discussion to be about "a deal". That's not what it was about. The "promised date" was about the time period when the board would meet. Unless JFT is making things up, they've decided to move that back to the 11th. So they are not doing what they said they would do...again. My point is when you've given timing guidance (per the Yazoo list that has so often failed to come through), why not learn from that, and stop doing it? it hurts credibility. It gives the shorts ammunition, and it's just plain unnecessary. Don't give the market anything specific unless you are sure you can deliver.
And although I agree that "successful discovery" is more important than being savy and effective in the PR arena, I'd like to think it's possible to be good at both.