Zooloo;

Good to finally see some sharp brief posting around here.

Critical Thinking put into a few words!

But looking deeper will help undrestand the WHY of this NOT Bid.

So, lets start while the Screaming NOT & NOT Pump Teams are out to lunch!

"It is obvious to me that a combined NOT/FWR will be a magnet for a takeover by a major and probably at a decent price maybe complete with a bidding war."

If Only!

At this time in the Global Financial MESS most of the Big Majors are dealing Full Time with the indigestion of recent Big Buy Outs and Financing/Development Costs respecting the Buy Outs made over the past 5- 10 years. And the Softening in the Commodities Markets resulting there off.

But given the new comprtition each would face with respect to seeing a Rival get this Consolidated RoF Merged Company each would have to seriously consider their Options in Not being the one getting the RoF Crown for themselves.

Thus, YES! The consolidated FWR/NOT would be seen as a Need to Have.

BUT Not at any cost!

Thus, the Bidding War many are looking to see will Not Produce the Pay Off that particular many would truly like to see.

Me included!

It is my view that the Combined FWR/NOT, at this Time, would produce much too Small a ROI to most currently Invested in these Area Plays. Consequently, the Sell Out, or Buy Out, Bidding War so many wish to see occur, IF it does occur (seeing as the current NOT BoD seem to have but one silent lookir on truly interest), soon after this NOT Raid in FWR, should it suceed (and it sure looks as though it will not, at this time at least (which is actually good for both NOT and FWR Share Holders, as i see the situation currently), Will Very Likely Not produce the ROI that we All Should Receive.

"But if NOT does not take over FWR then NOT will be so-to-speak hamstrung."

Could you elaborate more on this. I do see what you might be getting at with respect to this, BUT I do not want to go into it too much at present. Thus, maybe if you were the Braver and do some elaborating on this?

"Chances are that a major could take over NOT and FWR cheaper as separate entities."

At this time, to be brief, all I will say on this now is: Only if Either or Both FWR and/or NOT are willing to see this happen. And that would depend both on Each individual BoD and it's Backers, and on IF Both companies Continue to Fight each other. With this, it sure appears to me that it is the NOT BoD and Backers that have Plenty to Learn!

Enough said on that for now!

"I.e. if Xtrata were to take out FWR's chomium on the cheap, then they could probably get NOT's nickel much cheaper."

This statement sure seems to be the Driving Force behind the NOT Offer for FWR Shares. I essentially stated something like this in a Post well over a month ago when suggesting how the likes of Cliff's tends to Operate.Thus, Xtrata or whoever tries for Freewest following this NOT thing will have to pay much better for Freewest than may have been the case just one month ago. And now All Freewest Share Holders know just this.

Seems to me that the Quick Buck Bunch behind the NOT BoD also realise this FWR/Cliff's Progression and (go for Freewest before the Cliff's Plan/Preparations got too far along) and being in for the Qiuck Buck (force premature Consolidation and Sell Out Fast to a Xstrats type acting as their Silent on looking Buyer), they have pushed the NOT BoD to do this exceedingly Stupid Offer.

Note: Stupid is only how I see the actions of NOT and it's BoD in Virtually all they have been Planing since they took over at NOT.

I will leave it at this for now so as to keep the Focus on What Is or Could Be What!

But by the 18th, it will be only one more Nail in the current NOT BoD and Backers Coffin, If they Persist in their Self Centered approach to All Matters NOT AND the RoF.

Problem I have is that I have Investment in what they have put in Their Coffin.

There Is/Are Much Better Ways to Proceed.

Will NOT get it?

Old Joe