HOLD ON!!!!!!! WAIT A TICK!!!!!!!
You know, as I thought about the increased A/S, it hit me just as another post suggested the thought....THIS MAY BE THE BIGGEST TIP OF THE HAT WE HAVE SEEN THUS FAR!!!!
Check this.....If the MM's have a naked short position OVER the amount of A/S + O/S (500 billion + ???) they cannot cover their short position at all in the case of merger or buyout, thus CMKX would end up in some ugly court battle that could take years to resolve. CMKX increasing the A/S, makes it possible so they can release certificated shares to MM's once retail is out and the MM's are facing the grim reality of a merger date.
Remember, MM's can't cover a short, if there are no actual shares to buyback.
JMO.