Aw phuck! My mind went there....what if NP got put out because some questionabl and undesireable things were found out due to the SEC queries? Nothing criminal, but outside the lines that a CEO is supposed to keep? Maybe NP's lines were defined by very thick grey edged that the BOD could not accept. And just as a show to regulators, they terminated him instead of accepting a resignation?

Who knows. Just another theory.

But my bet is there us a partnership coming at minimum. Its taking as long as it is because they are negotiating the possibility for a buyout which is unlikely because the price tag is too much for the othet party.