Steinberg was likely to make a fortune via investment company (CAIVIS) being the FCC equivalent of the US operations.
CAIVIS were also given 2.2m shares (plus a further 1.6m subject to shareholder approval) for "services rendered" at no cost.
Who knows what other details are in the agreement.
The sponsorship pool limit would have needed to have been a lot higher in the US, which explains the free shares as opposed to FCC paying for most of theirs.
Steinberg had a name and a reputation, making it sound much more plausible that he could be appointed to the advisory board.
Being on the advisory board may mean he has much more intimate (and immediate) knowledge of the performance of the US business. This could have negated BIG having to report business plans, monthly cash flow reporting etc to Steinberg.
The details of any security for the US operations may have been lessened by Steinberg being on the advisory board.
I can't see why the directors would not be able to sell any part of the business whilst the shares are suspended. If the business went in to administration then the directors would be removed and it would be up to the administrators to much such decisions.
BIG Price at posting:
$2.22 Sentiment: None Disclosure: Held