Ann: Executive Leadership Change, page-186

So, quick thoughts.

Given there was a severance payment (a detail they didn't need to disclose) suggests he was asked to hand-in his rifle.
My guess would be a fundamental disagreement about the direction of the company or a major stuff-up over a potential contract.

Does this affect the valuation of the company?

In the short term - a small fraction.

However, this is one hell of an opportunity to pull on board a strategically and industry aligned new hire.
Potentially even someone from within a major silicon industry, defence, aerospace or other big industry looking for a new challenge and looking to back-themselves to make serious money (performance based shares) taking an impressive start-up into commercialized growth.

Not taking anything away from Lou's contribution, but this might actually be great for BRN.

IMO