Of course the NET result was the re-issuance of shares jerry..
it was nothing more than semantics on JD's part.. to create an illusion....
For every share "retired" a new one was printed in it's place and sold.
So yes...JD may have retired share certificates numbered a1-a330 million.....however the A/S was NEVER reduced.. therefor ..NEW share certificates were printed in their place and sold