It's hard to say what last year's audit costs were as there is no accounting and legal expense breakdown (at least that I could find) but in my experience audits can easily cost in the tens of thousands of dollars and this was for private companies, so the cost is significant for a public company audit.

We'll see what investor sentiment will be after this all shakes out. Dilution, while distasteful, may still increase the value of our shares above where they are now if it means that our company is thrown a financial lifeline and receives the cash is requires to survive until nickel prices are conducive to returning to production. If this is the case, then this could explain the buying activity as 15 or 20 cents may be a fair valuation for Liberty Mines after financing is secured... which is great if you bought at 8 cents... not so great if you bought at $2.00...