Soren,

Even if a player doesn't load into the game, and therefore doesn't found a colony, they still show up on the stock list with stock that can be purchased. However, buying them out completely, does nothing as there are no assets to acquire. The money is just wasted. 

So the theory is you should be able to found their HQ?  Alternatively they just shouldn't show up as a buyable option (no buying stock in companies without HQ)?

The initial price of the shares was $6. Not expensive, but not cheap, either.

The others were worth about $7. It's not about the cheapness though, but that dead men don't fight.

Anyway, something needs to happen...