"do you have a rationale for the reason they would be bought out?"

It's not my tread.....I'm just lending to it...

As for bleeding them dry...I guess that's a matter of who's successful at case completion.

My hypothetical point to Bosocker is, if that number is not to his satisfaction...would he want Fred to reveal it to the public?

IMO, it would be detrimental.

It would be up to the suitors(see Dischino related post of company governance) to make their intent known to the public.....they are not.

With that, the topic will take the same path it always takes.

doni