I personally hold IOC completely responsible for this mishap that has occured on Firday. Their miscommunication has cost the company dearly - short term. We can try to blame the shorts, we can try to blame leaks, but at the end of the day a company that has been riddled with controversy, like Interoil, should handle this thing MUCH more professionally. All contigencies should have been prepared for as this is a battelground stock.
That being said, I have read the SPA agreement and truly beleive we have a real winner here. This was a great deal and Dr. Hession is responsibel for delievering it, despite past hiccups. We have a real winner with Dr. Hession.
To get to my point, I cannot imagine that Total as a company is very pleased that IOC stock went down the degree it did. IOC is a takeover target, especially at a 2.5 billion dollar market cap. Interoil's resource is worth multiple of that to any of the mega majors. They know the seismics as they have been in the data room and analyzed it themeselved. Total does not want to see a takeover occur. IOC is their jewel for the future. They would not fork over 600+ million dollars if they weren't. This is not chump change to them.
I would surmise that it is in Total's best interest to help IOC's share price prop up to a safer level in order to avoid any premature takeover activity that would steal it a way from them prior to the first payment of funds that solidifies the deal. I certainly hope they do something this week. Sooner the better.
I expe