In Aus they would need approval from ACCC if it threatens completion, there is similar thing in NZ
Regarding the common share transaction in multiple holders, i found this;
"Let's say that XYZ Company has 20 million shares outstanding and Institution A owns all 20 million. In a shorting transaction, Institution B borrows 5 million of these shares from Institution A and sells them to Institution C. If both A and C claim ownership of the shares shorted by B, the institutional ownership of XYZ could be reported as 25 million shares (20 + 5), or 125% (25/20)." http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/07/institutional_holdings.asp
So the common shares might have been shorted (by a third party), we should see further evidence of this when net shorts come out, it should be more than the common amount each day.