Well, I don't think a company accidentally consolidates its...

Well, I don't think a company accidentally consolidates its shares so ... Yes, deliberate.

But, seriously, I'm sure in making this decision they have deliberated carefully about when to do this. I don't think this decision was made lightly, or impulsively. So one might ask, "why now"? The exciting answer would be "something Hugh is around the corner!!!!!" However, I think the correct answer is "before now was not a good time, but if we leave this much longer it will be a very bad time". I think probably they want this out of the way before serious partnership talks even get going, not because they have happened.

Just my guess, at the literal end of the day.