My Alternative TheoryIt is illegal to short a stock pre-announcement of a contemplated private placement or involving based on inside information per IIROC rules (Canada) and SEC (US) in contravention of public interest.
However, post-announcement, hedge funds or investors could lock in the profits by shorting the stock AFE at much higher level e.g. $0.58 -0.60 and covering it with discounted private placement shares at $0.45 after closing announcement today.