For what it's worth, I agree 100% with Punk response here on private. Only Google links private to HNSS and most likely unreliable source due to previous, documented history of Google related inaccuracies with this particular relational, programmatic, update event (in techie speak...). Mr Black is explicit targeting publicly held company in PR. No reason to disbelieve.
Going private, however, is a viable last resort option to effectively resolve phantom shares issue and place MMs in untenable position.