Reminds me of the Barclays sale of NIC to CFC in the early 1990s.
In order to raise cash for computerisation, BBK offered to sell it's holding in NIC (9.5m shares = 51%) to CFC. The price agreed was 330m. The deal was canceled because BBK could not get the necessary approvals within the time limit agreed.
BBK made a lot noise saying that CMA and NSE were creating unnecessary delays for investors. Finally CMA ruled that BBK can only sell it's shares in NIC through a public offer. This was because NIC was already listed at the NSE.
All this was happening in the Month of November. Come mid March the following year, NIC declared a one-for-one bonus and the price went through the roof. Now BBK had 19m shares in NIC.
By mid that year, they got approvals for a public offer and sold the shares at sh52 raking in sh988m - three times the amount they were willing to sell to CFC!
Now you might say that BBK did not know about the impending bonus, but no. The knew. They had several seats in the board to secure their 51% stake, thus they knew (should have known) about NIC's strategic plans!
Interestingly, NIC also owned quite a chunk of shares in BBK!!!!
Nothing is real unless it can be named; nothing has value unless it can be sold; money is worthless unless you spend it.