Speculation Sorry for the long post. The q1 call had a lot of great info. The analysts asked the same question twice and I was still confused on the cost reductions and the dry process versus the old wet system. I have asked for clarification. It seemed like Dr SN was frustrated, a 50% drop in cost is huge, yet the market does not believe. Drilling fluids are coming, more SMC type deals, Volta on the cusp, but the audience has left the building.
if the stock price stays here for a little longer, I wonder when MRE gets exasperated. I read their quarterly filings and they are firing on all cylinders. They own a lot of gra shares, P Deramo owns some personally as well, they know the customers, the technology, the processes and the potential.
at what point do they consider buying the balance of the company. They could offer 1 MRE for 4 gra, perhaps go to 3 of they had to and likely get it all. Dr SN gets a strong partner that he knows well, no more IR, no more bankers, he can run a division inside mre with autonomy and concentrate on the material science and business that he likes, with increased personal liquidity. He could potentially take it public 5 years from now when cash flows are significant and save himself the hassles of struggling with bankers in the interim.
nobody profits from the current price, but at some point Dr SN may get frustrated enough to consider options.
The other large gra shareholders get increased liquidity and shares in a company that has the horsepower to bring graphene to market. They also get dividends. These deals are rarely done, it is a long shot at best, but I would think it is being considered. I hope it does not happen, but the thought of liquidity and quarterly checks is tempting.
best of luck