Mack, kudos to you for spelling it out here, as opposed to PMs going fast and furious (well, certainly furious).

The rumors were so patently overblown monetarily, that perhaps, in a perverse fashion, it lent a bit of credence to them. If a person wants to start a rumor, shouldn't that rumor be believable in order to pull people in? The financial component of the rumors were not believable, notwithstanding that we believe we have an unbelievable technology.

Or could it be that the person initiating the rumor (and by no means do I think anyone that posts on this board initiated any rumors - passing them on is one thing, initiating quite another) thinks so many here are so completely brainwashed that they actually believed the stock would go from a buck to fifteen bucks based on a private share placement to a large and assumedly sophisticated company? And with the share price acting as if nothing at all is in the works.

I don't think that our very top management started or planted any such rumors, they have too much class, and frankly, could not be that stupid and reckless. These are very good guys, IMO. However, to the extent they have heard the rumors, they should have taken steps, and perhaps have taken steps, to stop them. To the extent that they haven't heard the rumors, they should be briefed and then let them appoint someone with some time to get to the bottom of things.

If someone, somehow knew about the Finisar CEO situation, what a perfect cover to explain why the rumor did not become fact!

What are we gonna hear next, "Pinetree hasn't sold a share of POET stock in a year and a half!"