http://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/120.asp

Basically it means that the stock isn't traded on any of the major boards....(NASDAQ, NSYE, S&P, etc.)

The other suffix for an over-the-counter market is .OB. It means securities are traded on the OTCBB. This network is also one of high risk but is less risky than the pink sheets as it is a regulated and has stricter listing requirements.

Not sure what you mean that you cannot buy the shares in those other companies. Do you mean they were taken private? That means there are no shares to buy on the public market. It sounds like your company is going private because there is no share swap offer being made, just cash.

Yep.....Newcastle Capital Management, L.P., a private investment management firm he founded in 1992

Also looking at the press release from the jeweler's site, it seems they don't want you to sell until they review the offer. But then you are the share holder and it is your decision.

Buffy (who has now just expended all the knowledge he knows...)