if BG wants a seat at the table, then all it has to do is grab...

if BG wants a seat at the table, then all it has to do is grab New Hope shares.
it would not need to bid.
it could make them an offer which NH could not refuse.
BG could then take its time to consider a bid, or even a deal with Shell/PTR.
The NH parcel stops Shell from comp acq'n, so Shell would need to talk to BG then.

Future Fund:
i know this will never occur, but the FF is supposed to invest our funds to deliver L/T returns to cover super style liabilities.
AOE businesses are l/t (look at LNG contracts 20yrs+)
AOE are proven good operators.
What better L/T investment could FF make than grab a chunk of AOE, then partner someone like AOE or Shell etc ???
much better than in investing our money in whizz-bang bits of paper like US Mortgaged backed securities, thats for sure.

cheers