They do not have to announce anything to us unless a firm agreement has been hammered out and signed. Even after the article or ASM. They could negotiate until the cows come home without a mention. The only other way we would hear something is hostile and an offer is put public by the firm wanting to acquire.
The company is not going to and does not have to divulge any discussions until they are basically set. Period. They would not declare a quiet period with regard to such negotiations not because they are in another quiet period but because even the mere fact they are discussing anything with other parties is, in fact, both confidential information and likely subject to terms that would scuttle any deal, and because any leak would be inside information.
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