A deal will be done imo. NHC have said thay want out at the...

A deal will be done imo. NHC have said thay want out at the right price. Given NHC's previous comments I would guess that NHC would prefer to take the cash now rather than stump up more in a rights issue. And if NHC reach agreement on price with Shell its all over

I'd say NHC, AOE are just trying to squeeze a little more out of Shell plus get some certainty around the funding struture for AOEI and then the deal will be done (assuming no rival bidder)