I can't see any of the bidders wanting to drag this thing out any longer than is necessary - and it already feels like it's gone on longer that need be.

I agree with both points however I also don't believe just because an acquisition takes time to finalize given the potential complexity of a multi bidder deal running away in frustration unless of course the delays are unjustified.

The purchase of a strategic asset at a great price is not generally abandoned for emotional reasons. Dates were set by LOOK and that could very well have been based upon much less direct interest shown prior to the idea of a court supervised sealed bid methodology.

Let's say all of the big 3 put a deal together at 1 bil (they did it because they believed they were getting something of value at a fair price) ... but ... lets say 3 companies expressed interest that if put together properly would amount to 1.5 bil.

Certainly you would pursue the second alternative ... of each of the big 3 you may test to see if they would still be interested should a 4 way deal not be possible ... no request to change anything ... a done deal ... just simply extend the term of your offer and we can't put the other deal together by such and such a date we have a deal ... effectively shutting out the other 2 players.

There is a myriad of possibilities for creative people to find an optimum solution.

In terms of feel it already has taken to long ... a feeling is based on emotion and like your emotion, I wish the deal was done ... That said I know how difficult multi -million dollar deals can take to put together ... this has the potential of 50 times as large as my experiences ... time is never as long as it feels.

Nothing like watching paint dry.

orgy