I'm with you Seamfiend,
Waiting for the final deal and not even opening their mail.
My best guess is AOE are aware of a couple of '3rd party's' soaking up shares anywhere over $8 and they are tacitly forming a bigger block to push for a higher final price. The extended delay and AOE's response suggesting PES holders should sell on market makes sense in this scenario.
Only other possibility is AOE is about to get an offer which somehow enables it to come back with a bid, but that is less likely imo.
Chrs
Hendrous
PES
pepper residential securities trust no. 21