"They expect to close the deal in 2018's second ha

"They expect to close the deal in 2018's second half." What that tells me is Thales has learned from Microsoft's mistake when it purchased PhoneFactor. You'll recall MSFT inherited the ongoing IP infringment lawsuit with SFOR and settled. Thales may want to avoid something like that. One good way to do that is to buy out SFOR preemptively. Your idea makes perfect sense to me!