I haven't seen anything that indicates that AE has shifted from the strategy to prepare ZEN for sale. All the moves around the NDAs are focussed on determining suitability and potential demand for the range of possible graphite products. In turn that allows prospective buyers to determine potential revenue with a higher degree of reliability. The less risk around the projection of financials of the deposit the more someone will pay for it (all other things being equal).

If AE was planning on bringing Albany to production we would be seeing significant movement on the permitting front. At a minimum we would be doing our baseline environmental studies to get ready for environmental permitting.

One thing I've learned from being in the industry and investing in juniors is that nothing that you or I want or say is going to have any influence on what happens. There are many uncertainties in any mining project and things happen (Remember ZEN was a base metal play that became a graphite play by accidental discovery). As investors we are along for the ride as long as we hold the stock.

If you believe in the project buy when you see a value opportunity or hold what you have. If your uncomfortable with your investment move it to something that you are more comfortable with. So for me I'm prepared to sit and wait for the various moves to play out.

As to hiring an intern signaling a change in strategic direction I wouldn't put much into it. I’ve seen senior people get hired weeks before the company gets sold from under them, entire divisions of a company moved in the months prior to a takeover and supposedly sure deals vapourize at the last minute. My guess is that someone waived the potential for government money and someone at ZEN said they could use someone hence the hire. Could hiring youth have a positive spinoff in terms of community engagement/PR, for sure, but I wouldn't read much more then that into it.

.... Been There