market is saying...higher bid coming, page-17

Stayer,

First up...Just a little bit of net equiette pls dont type in caps it is the same as shouting OK?

Now onto yr point, no I actually don't rule out Shell at all having a tilt ay PES, and there may even be another player in this game of which we don't about as yet.

However, all that being said AOE have a very close tie up now with Shell and I think AOE would be a "little red-faced" if Shell was to come in and bid. Also what tyoe of conditions are Shell going to offer; well it would all cash (i suspect) and Shell would have to go thru FIRB approval. Much easy to let AOE up the offer and Shell fund AOE someway, somehow

I reckon now with price at $6.76, I would not rule out $8.00 maybe even $8.25 as the knock-out blow by either BG or AOE.

Cheers
Muzza