One of Richard Marshall's statements, and also one of Doug Ballanger of GRZ's was that they had not received any official notification. They also indicated this contradicts what they have been told by those in higher offices.

If that is the truth, then you go on, address the rumour and state that until you hear from those higher ups, then its business as usual in your mind.

That would be called staying strong for the sake of your shareholders and I disagree it would be bad advice. Shareholders are reeling. They need something to convince them to hang on. If they see the company is giving up, then sell and then find out this WAS just a bad PR, then they would not be doing the shareholders any service.

My own company had such a situation a few years back when we were literally on the cusp of being shut down or sold the day of a major trade show. The CEO made the decision to do the show until he saw it in writing from the board rather than just hearing it. Some things changed during that show and we were not sold nor shut down and are in fact now a leader in our industry.

Had he pulled us from the show, we would have lost customers and employees and that recovery may never have happened.

It's just my opinion, but to me this shows me they have given up.