Every one has his own view and position of the situation, and is entitled to do so if he wish.
I kind of agree with you though that we may get an extra dollar (I think I wrote to that extent previously, but I also said that two AOEI may help a bit as well), although I would like for AOE to continue on in their Merry ways of doing thing. In the next few years, IMHO we /could/would be looking at possibly another small version of a WPL company that will pay some good dividends as well.
The raising of the funds to build the LNG plant, IMHO is not a major problem that I would be loosing sleep over it. Don't forget that the Chinese will need the LNG, hence why they did this J/V with Shell.
So, why can't we not do the same and approach Petrochina ourselves and put a proposal to them ourselves in that regard..????? I am sure that they would jump at the offer. After all, all it seem to me lately, is that China (if allowed to), is pouring billions of dollars into Australian Companies to assure themselves of supplies in what they need for the future with their expansions.
As such, I am positively sure that they will jump at the chance to get say 15% of our Company and supply the funds needed for all of our expansions, and building of the LNG trains, just to get assurance of supply.
Don't forget that Australia is a very stabilised Country. Possibly the best in the World. And for anyone who likes to park some money in a JV in return to get assurance of supply of what they need, if and when they do, counts a hell of a lot. No one likes to put heaps and heaps of moeny where there is a distabilised Government that could change things around at the clip of a fingertip.
My thoughts in the way I see thing. But I also do not delude myself that we would have much of a say in what will happen down the track with the AOE T/O. It will only depend on us, if we will stick together, and, if we hold more than 50% of the shares, we will say/vote no. But even then, there will be a time that that will not count any longer. Because, if the Company wants to do it, they can issue a heap more shares to someone that will see it their ways, under the pretence of raising funds, and of course dilute our holdings below of that magic percentage level, and bingo, we are gone.
As I said before, we are only here and only pawns on a chess board. WE ARE HERE JUST FOR THE RIDE. REMEMBER THAT.
Good luck to all,
Buddy
AOE Price at posting:
$5.29 Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held