This is what I came up with if CRGP is delisted
Post# of 11036
One motivation I have for blogging is to discuss elements of investing I wish I’d been able to learn about more easily when I first encountered them. There is a surprising paucity of information online regarding the mechanics of trade settlement and clearing, although the details can be relevant to the outcome of an investment, particularly a short sale. Much of what you might read on the topic is incomplete and potentially misleading. The handful of times I have been short a stock all the way until the bitter end, I was surprised at the unforeseen costs. Note that this post is specific to my experience with Interactive Brokers, but it is likely similar to the process at other brokerages.
It turns out that when a stock is delisted, short positions are not necessarily closed immediately. Short sellers are exposed to the risk of an indefinite, high-interest stock loan until shares are cancelled. For this post, I’m focusing on shares that are cancelled after a bankruptcy proceeding and expire worthless. However, other delisting events can lead to similar issues. For example, if a stock is the subject of a takeover offer, the shares may have appraisal rights. If the short position is assigned against shares that exercise these rights, the short seller would ultimately be responsible for the court-ordered compensation months or years later. More on that another time, perhaps.