IOC's BOD still recommends the OSH Proposal - WTF?

[kommonsents]

I see the opportunity for XOM & TOTAL to reach a side agreement before the bidding gets too high. This would not be to the advantage of IOC shareholders....

[davidhmtk]

I see the opportunity for XOM & TOTAL to reach a side agreement before the bidding gets too high. This would not be to the advantage of IOC shareholders....

Our Investment Bankers may help avoid a side deal.

[kommonsents]

I see the opportunity for XOM & TOTAL to reach a side agreement before the bidding gets too high. This would not be to the advantage of IOC shareholders....

Our Investment Bankers may help avoid a side deal.

We can only hope, but what leverage would they have to prevent it?  And how would they even know XOM & TOTAL were talking?  I don't see them being part of their discussions.

[Palm]

IMO if Exxon wanted to work a side deal with Total, that would have already happened and they wouldn't be making this move. This is a clear statement by Exxon that they are ready to play volleyball. They NEED gas; Total wants gas. Exxon likely is not happy with OSH as they were supposed to be doing what IOC did, and they haven't fulfilled their mission.

[cybersssss]

IT is all about who controls the gas. No side deals with Total. It is about CONTROL!

[Tusker]

IMO if Exxon wanted to work a side deal with Total, that would have already happened and they wouldn't be making this move. This is a clear statement by Exxon that they are ready to play volleyball. They NEED gas; Total wants gas. Exxon likely is not happy with OSH as they were supposed to be doing what IOC did, and they haven't fulfilled their mission.

Is the side deal Antelope 7 ?

[Palm]

Wouldn't think so. The OSH "plan" as it stands states Ant 7 will be drilled. I think that if some side deal (which I don't think would happen anyway) was a strategy, it would have already played out and XOM would never have made a bid. They would have possibly told Total that they would buy a chunk of what Total agreed to buy from OSH and would have gotten a very good deal. Now they want all of IOC and benefit from possible upside payments from Total.

Game on!

[kommonsents]

That's certainly one way to look at things, Palm. But IOC has been nothing but SIDE DEALS for years, as we now know.

To think that TOTAL & XOM are not capable of working out a side deal to minimize their costs and make some gains here and there is a bit naive, IMHO.

We have front row seats, let's watch and learn.....

[weaselpuppy]

That's certainly one way to look at things, Palm. But IOC has been nothing but SIDE DEALS for years, as we now know. To think that TOTAL & XOM are not capable of working out a side deal to minimize their costs and make some gains here and there is a bit naive, IMHO. We have front row seats, let's watch and learn.....

Indeed, Act I of this Theater Production has concluded. The players are known and the conflict is set. Now for the Act 2 escalation of the conflct....

Pretty sure we can make a good case of the IOC story beng a retelling of Hamlet.

[jft310]

Palm is correct. Game on.!