No black out period for PRs. They can announce news at any time. They just can't buy or sell shares, and there are a few other restrictions. BTW, IIRC, blackouts are accepted norms but they are not regulations. I'd have to research to check that, but that is what I remember from some time ago with another stock.

RE: announcing the conference - it is probably the money. Joe says that a PR costs around $10k or more; perhaps news of attendance is not worth that much. Also, I remember here that many are saying under-promise and over deliver; if you keep hyping conferences, where nothing might actually occur (for months or even years later), you are doing exactly the opposite. So maybe the strategy here is announce the important stuff like the LOI, the spinout, and the breach by CMF, but hold your fire on attending conferences where they are just attending on an informational basis.