If someone says in writing that they expect a deal to close as soon as December 31st, that should mean that the deal is on the one yard line.
The fact that it's now January 22nd and no sign of a deal anywhere means that Lebby - once again - knowingly misled investors, IMO, when he said that he expected deals to close as soon as Dec 31st.
Grown adults - including CEOs - know the difference between a deal that's on the one yard line and a deal that is nowhere near the one yard line.