Ann: Annual Report and Appendix 4E, page-31

"Wouldn't it be better to hang on and not only solve your troubles, but cash in half a billion dollars in profit? "

Not necessarily.
If you sell a piece of real estate, you probably won't be able to buy it back unless the buyer miraculously accepts to sell it back to you on your schedule.
Real estate is not a liquid asset. Shares are. Sud could buy back shares, potentially at a price similar to the price he sold at (IMO, if he doesn't wait too long). That MAY be his intention for all we know. I mean, while we're speculating...