I don't think Connacher has any intention of buying out AOS's share of the Halfway Creek Property as Connacher's most recent update on September 14th stated the following:

"Our asset rationalization program has resulted in over $80 million of sales thus far in 2011 and we are nearing completion of a process related to our Halfway Creek interests in the oil sands. These interests are comprised of land and resources and proceeds, if and when received, will further strengthen Connacher’s cash balances and liquidity."

The real question is will Connacher get the same amount of money that AOS did seeing as Connacher paid for the drilling of all of the core holes that were drilled on the property. While AOS contributed more land to the deal, perhaps Connacher paid more in the partnership due to the drilling and perhaps other preliminary studies that were done. Also, if the AOS property was sold to an unnamed buyer, one would expect that Connacher would sell their share of Halfway Creek to the same buyer as RBC was hired buy both AOS and Connacher to find a buyer for Halfway Creek. Nothing else makes any sense. So why hasn't Connacher management announced that they have sold their holding in Halfway Creek yet? Maybe they are waiting for better market conditions to make their announcement. Any announcement made by Connacher since Friday, I doubt would have stopped Connacher's share price from dropping at all. Better to let the share price stabilize and then make an announcement. Cheers; Scott