AL...Disagree, if they retired the shares into treasury and then reissued, its dilution.
AGAIN, HERE'S THE EXAMPLE (HYPO)
1: CMKX has issued 100 bil shares
2: Shorters sell to Urbie 50 bil shares
RESULT: CMKX has 100 bil shares O/S
SHORT position is 100 billion
3. CMKX buys back 50 billion shares, also on shorting
RESULT: CMKX has 50 bil shares O/S
SHORT POSITION IS 100 billion
4. If CMKX then resells the shares back at .0004, the 50 billion IS DILUTION. Assume sold to people NOT covering their shorts.
RESULT: CMKX back to 100 bil shares O/S
SHORT POSITION stays at 100 billion
Be careful when you analyze who is selling, CMKX v. Urban individually. THey do have major consequences.