RE:RE:#NoFreeSharesForPiratesVT,
One possible objective of this relentless downward pressure, in my opinion, is a very cheap placement, "because the company needs the money", or some other such lame excuse, along with oodles of cheap options for management. Options at $3.50 are more fun than options at $5.00. It's win-win for everyone except the shareholders who paid fair value.
Normally, you're right that share price gets pumped into a placement. They're selling a story that doesn't stand a chance in hell of ever coming true. Those are easy to spot if you examine drill results and study the financials. In this case, however, operators actually want the shares. They just don't want to pay fair value. That's for suckers.
Once again, I'll reiterate. The people causing all our grief could be anyone. They could even be acting for someone else as a firewall. They could be people very close to the Company, an outside institution(s), or just a bunch of guys looking to score. I'm not pointing fingers at anyone in particular, but I would be very disappointed if management offered a placement at these discount prices. And options should be awarded at fair market value, not after share price takes a prolonged and severe tumble at the hands of ruthless venture pirates.