According with the BBC website
"UK airline BMI has declined to comment on newspaper speculation that it has been approached by Abu Dhabi carrier Etihad over a possible merger."
Do you see any "connection" here? BD, JH, EY?
Is EY vying for BD and going into Star Alliance or will it force BMI out? The first choice may well be the case if JH doesn't think he can compete hard and alone in the British and European markets and go well beyond as BD flies to a number of destinations in the USA, the Caribbean and other destinations. BD and EY already code-share in some routes.
The article also mentions Alitalia, but I don't see the "click" for EY to go after AZ.