Yes I agree this is clearly their strategy and no doubt a wise one. However it doesn't remove the possibility that another entity liked was they saw in the uniqueness of PET and took it on themselves. Somebody was interested at that time. 

There is also an equal chance said entities walked away or dropped their interest. Perhaps management didn't want PET to be put in the hands of others and quashed any deals. 

Who knows?? let's just look forward to them getting things right and making some kind of mark on the photonics industry.