Very interested in this... Seems like a good move, as they probably need money.

Does anybody know a Wall Street securities analyst or economist?

Oh, you artists and lovers....dont be so melodramatic. Going public doesn't automatically mean the company's ruin. Its just a source of working capital, just as the Company's current debt, lines of credit, and current private equity holders. If you don't believe the debt holders, banks and private equity holders are pushing for consistently higher profits, your fooling yourself. Moreover, if you believe FMIC is somehow "above" the shallow pursuit of shameless profit, you are also kidding yourself. If FMIC was not in the profit business, it would be a small artisan shop building vastly superior products to its current lineup. The Custom Shop might be the only line in FMIC if the "art" was all it was interested in. Remember, the Telecaster and Stratocaster were developed as a less expensive alternative to handcrafted guitars. They were designed for mass production, folks. Sure, many Tele's and Strats are topnotch, but they are really the "Model-T" of electric guitars.

Management teams are not accountable to shareholders. Management teams are accountable to the Board of Directors, who have a fiduciary obligation to protect the shareholders interests in the Company, whatever that means. Shareholders cannot make management teams become more profit oriented, or less quality oriented, etc. Compensating management teams on stock valuation can cause them to utilize accounting tricks and sales gimmicks that could have negative ramifications later. But the Board is supposed to prevent that from happening, unless its a strategic decision to raise the value, potentially for a sale or financing transaction.

And, why does "publicly traded" equal "lower quality" in your minds? Do you know any products that are very high quality, but that are produced by publicly traded companies? How about Apple Computer? How about IBM? GE? What about Macy's? How about Ruths Chris Steaks? There are many many publicly traded companies that provide very high quality products and services. You shouldn't assume FMIC will become garbage just because they finance their operations in the public markets.

Finally, another voice of reason.......

bcarr....If it makes sense to you, you've clear misunderstood my comments!

This employment contract