Dydak became ‘extremely concerned’ about KiOR’s future and her job security. Also, her daughter was working at KiOR as an IT specialist. She agreed to meet confidentially with Stamires and, outside of normal working hours, contribute towards the development of an alternative technology, to replace the BFCC process which was used at the Demo unit and also planned for use at Columbus.
Further, the frustrations and concerns of Agnes became much more exasperated when she informed her Management Superiors about the results of the computer process simulation study, indicating that the bio oil yield at the Columbus Plant will be much smaller than the actual yield measured at the Demo Plant, and that her superiors told her not to publish her report or discuss the results with anybody else.
O’Connor’s Third Strike at the Board level
Meanwhile, on April 30th, Paul O’Connor reported again to the Board, in a memo entitled “Towards a prosperous future for KiOR.” For the first time, the fast-dropping KiOR stock price was invoked.
But there was more. Catalyst costs were far above predictions, trashing the expected profit margins. Problems in bringing the Columbus plant on-line were noted. The tone of O’Connor’s note moved from deep concerns in some areas, to a general sense of alarm about a connected series of shortfalls that could have a ruinous impact, if unchecked.
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