It should be clear to all that IOC had a bid the Board was willing to accept or why put out a final bid date .We further know that bid was amongst the 2 Super Majors , 1 NOC and 1 Utility bids announced by WA at IPAA. Why because the Board set up a final date!!!
Could IOC have received more bids after IPAA and before the bid deadline of course they could. To not announce today to me means that one of those late bids was of sufficent interest to ask more questions and must be superior to the prior bid they had selected as acceptable. Or we are getting more for our assets in a sell down than the Board expected. Thus it must be quite bullish.
If the bids were weak one would accept the previousely aceeptable bid...If the bids were complex the IBers were hired to uncomplicate them and figure the value of each bid.
I don't know when we hear but the lack of news raises the bar !!