this is really interesting, i feel like the motivation was to acquire a number of shares which would mean that the % of the float is what is important. I think anyone who owns 5% or more of the float must disclose their identity? However the annual report also shows the top stock owners and the 5% seems to not really apply? If this is what is going on, i would think we would see a pattern of buying after the increase in authorized shares -not before?

I think it is likely a large fund of some sort that simply has an acquire stock system and the buying was just based on the # of shares trying to be bought at a rate that would not create a huge price move. they likely would never just put a giant order in and create a spike that would ruin their own cost average.