If I'm not mistaken, Kobiashi, STP was SO vocal over the issue after the initial 2004 (?) auction that they forced all but Block 1 to be offered up again. Belv the NG indies question was - and remained - a major bone of contention.
I think these smaller players will be bought out but in order to do that results have to be announced first if these companies are public. And if they are not public they would also be foolish to sell before the announcement because the price should go way up afterward. I just think that assuming anyone is doing deals prior to the results being announced is putting the cart before the horse.
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