absolutely right Lucky, other potential suitors may just waiting for the ACCC to announce that the proposed acquisition is not anti-competitive, before they lob a bid. Other suitors may well be waiting for the IER before they lob a bid.
there's no point in BG bidding for BOW, if the ACCC won't approve a bid by Shell/Arrow.
the imprateur (?) of ACCC is a real issue, because i think AGL/ORG or someone was blocked from bidding for QGC way back.
one would think now that the game is rapidly changing. any issues wrt ACCC would relate to the supply of domestic gas - not LNG. Because now we have most of the CSG on the East coast locked-up by the LNG majors. BUT, we now have very real prospects of a big inflow of shale gas to supply domestic markets, PLUS we hear today that BHP/Esso are to spend $5B developing further gas resources in Bass Strait.
so by the time the BOW gas is pumped from the depths to supply the LNG plants, there s/be plenty of other gas supply sources to supply the domestic markets.
so i guess its still a waiting game.
cheers
BOW Price at posting:
$1.50 Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held