takeover, page-21

Thanks for the responses.

ARQ is a solid producer in times of record prices but it seems to me that it has put itself on the selling block without crystallising any of its blue sky. They have very much built the Canning into the new frontier with lots of blue sky, have signed up a gas deal based on the Canning blue sky, and the MD has described Stokes Bay as being "extremely encouraging" after the botched drilling program last season.

I just cannot fathom why they would not nail Stokes Bay before they put up the sale sign - it would take the Canning out of being pure blue sky - they can rightly say "look we said that there was loads of opportunity in the Canning, now we've delivered on Stokes Bay, and we believe that there will be lots more of the same to come". Surely that would be a stronger bargaining position than where they currently are.

There seems to be some very knowledgable people that follow ARQ's threads on hc, and from what is being indicated, Stokes Bay may be a long way off yet. I don't claim any technical or practical knowledge of the oil industry and appreciate any feedback from those of you who do. Cheers