thats not my understanding ...
another company I am in heavily, AVLP, has gone non-reporting for a long time, but issued an 8-K for major news and I believe they were obligated to do so, meanwhile they work on getting their filings up to date. So I dont think they are exempt, but rather it is simply one more violation that they would have broken. But I also dont think they would hold back such news, and if they did so in a way that would be against shareholder interest, I don't think that that would be looked on favorably.
While they may certainly be in talks for deals, until they sign the paperwork they dont have to say nothin. My concern is they aint even in talks b/c if they were, you'd think they'd at least be communicating with shareholders and keeping things positive and leading us on (in a good way).
But I dont know man, its all a mystery really, none of us knows.