I believe your scenario is correct that a big run is coming. Once 200 million or so shares are gobbled up then the tender offer is made for what is left. Do we shareholders need to worry about holding counterfeit shares? You believe 100 million shares will be left for the tender offer. Yet, there will be as many as 750 million shares shorted.
I believe you are correct. Let the bashers bash and the doubters doubt. It all comes down to the hard facts and they seem to add up at this point in time.
There's no way to know "when they will close the deal" imo. The "information" to date has been incorrect. Look for a pump imo long before we hear anything from the company.