What will BHP bid?, page-142

With a change of control - Andrew Cole and other directors will have all performance rights vest.... In these situations, the directors are always handsomely rewarded for siding with the suitor....

AC will take a great $$ package and probably take a few months off and reassess other options.  I highly doubt he would want to be folded into the BHP Management team.  I don't think that is his style at all.

Well done @troff