I doubt that the 12/31 shares were salary, since for the last couple years they have "prepaid" their salaries at the beginning of the year (knowing in advance how much amazing progress they would achieve). Maybe it was bonuses for greatly exceeding even their own lofty expectations. However, I suspect that those shares were more likely intended to be transferred to the new guys on the open market as indicated by the huge volume lately and all the form 5s. It would be a cheap and easy way for them to build up a stake in the company w/o having to invent a reason to issue them shares (though PQ hasn't been shy about giving shares to "consultants" before...). If so, then the new guys will have a definite stake in financing the company and seeing it succeed. Let's hope that is the case. Maybe we will find out what their plans are after the share transfer is finished.