Company A holds POET stock and is in desperate need of cash. POET knows this and, possibly, holds up progress NR in anticipation of share sales. Company A doesn't want to give up their opportunity with POET as they are quite confident.

Along comes Company B. Company B offers to 'lend' Company A money, but not really. Company B says, we will buy your POET shares, you will then have cash. We can write up an agreement whereby you can buy back the shares withing a specific period of time for a pre-determined price. That price will, of course, be a little higher than the price we paid you (interest consideration)

Company A sells shares to Company B knowing full well that they still have virtually the same opportunity with POET as before and, in the meantime, their financial burden is lifted.

Company B now holds shares in POET, as company they must have faith in, and is guaranteed either an inflated buyback (high interest loan payback) or a future shareprice increase if/when POET 'launches'.

There would be many fine points that would require ironing out but that might be the basic process. The deal could involve profit sharing, financial considerations or a slower buyback.

I'm just throwing this out there. If I was the desperate party I would have worked out a deal such as this.