He's been noted to have that instinct, that is 'hinting'. I suspect K_W is correct; that 'some' negotiation has commenced, but it couldn't be completed without a proper 'valuation' of the patent, its being the 'keystone' on which the entire company is based. She made a very valid point inasmuch as 'Time is of the essence.' applies in the event a merger or buyout is being negotiated. One more 'nugget' to add to an ongoing sense of a likely buyout-even more likely than a merger.