Apple has a habit of wanting to control completely their technology and innovation. I think they will acquire Crucible/LQMT just to control/monopolize the technology for themselves.
In February, when the extension expires on the agreement extension, LQMT could lien against or issue securities on their portion of Crucible - Apple would certainly not allow this.
Also, the more industries, licenses, and contracts LQMT has in the future - the more complicated it will make for Apple (or another suitor) to acquire Crucible/LQMT - there will be more future and ongoing contract obligations to fulfill. The best time for Apple to make their move is now.
We do not know if there were any recent contracts written as management has told us nothing about LQMT's recent activities. What we do know is what has been brought up here about Materion - per their 2nd Quarter CC shipping millions in Liquidmetal ingots. Who are they shipping this to...baseball bats, raquets, Biolase, prototypes? Apple? Who?
We do not know what happened this third quarter at LQMT. They have said nothing.
The best time for Apple to acquire LQMT for the least amount of money and with the least amount of future contract obligations is now.
I see price negotiations going something like this...how much is Liquidmetal worth to you and your future, in future sales Apple? We have a poison pill we have put into affect - secured this already with our largest shareholders - the rest of the shareholders will not be able to overturn this vote - so let's talk about a fair price for Crucible/LQMT. What is a fair value for all the IP's we have added to Crucible? Here are our current and potential future contracts...and their projected future value. So this is a starting point for negotiating a price for LQMT/Crucible for Apple. Now all you involved in these negotiations have to keep quiet or risk losing your severance packages, future opportunities, and risk jail time/SEC sanctions/fines, etc...
Remember...the true value of a company is what someone is willing to pay for it to control it 100%. I think people will be a bit surprised what Crucible/Liquidmetal will be worth to Apple.
Apple can make billions off Crucible/Liquidmetal in the future incorporating it into all their product lines.
Of course...Apple will not pay billions for Crucible/Liquidmetal, but the "hostile take over" option is off the table with the 200 million additional shares which can be issued as a poison pill.
Apple will get a discounted value for Crucible/Liquidmetal - enough of a discount to satisfy their shareholders and LQMT/Crucible management/major shareholders will get enough money from Apple to pad their pockets and avoid a shareholder lawsuit.
Apple will be able to say to their shareholders...yes...we paid some multiple of market value for Crucible/Liquidmetal but it is at a steep discount to what we will make in future sales.
LQMT management will say to their shareholders...see...we got you X multiple of current market value.
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