Ann: Appendix 3Y, page-3

Either a sign of faith in the long-term fundamentals of the company (SC woke up one day and decided that he needed to expand his holdings by 0.05%), or a quick intervention to keep the stock price from sliding. It's the "Barrie/Clausen Put". They usually come in to defend the SP whenever it drops too far below 50c. Given how much they already hold, it's very effective for such a thinly traded stock.

They've been doing it for years, and haven't sold much (except as a "favour to instos" back when the stock was $1.50-$1.70, which was rather fortunate timing on their part).