I second your thought that Nixon "can't disclose what's going on" -- at least, not to any private individual or to any group that might directly profit from that information (i.e., buy stock low, sell high).
I'd have to google it, but I'd guess that there is an exception to that, accompanied by a 'non-disclosure agreement,' for people/groups like those banks (or whatever they are) that have agreed to offer 3rd-party financing to franchisees. I'd guess that those banks cannot buy stock, but they can profit from the fees and interest from the financing they offer.
Nixon COULD, perhaps, issue a PR statement in lieu of, or in advance of, Edgar filings; but then only Experts could buy stock that retail investors couldn't, so maybe it's true that his only option is to 'come clean' by filing financials with Edgar.
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