The reason the Authorised Share count has been increased is to cover the number of shares needed to be issued to cover the value of an acquisition/ merger.
This is a requirement from FINRA. I don’t know why but it’s one of FINRA’s quirks! I’ve heard this from multiple CEO’s.
Even if the acquisition is financed in another way such as cash or the issue of unconverted preference shares, FINRA insists that the company increases it’s Authorised Share count to cover the value of the whole deal.
Here’s another thing I’m sure of now - if it’s one acquisition all those shares WON’T need to be issued as the share price was considerably lower on 03 January, or that multiple acquisitions might be coming in here.
This is all I’m my opinion only and everyone should do their own DD.
However, it just takes some quiet thinking to see what’s in front of you or what the indication is.
Read and decide for yourselves folks but that’s what the evidence is pointing to, as far as I can see,