Or perhaps the best time, they have IPO'd, the original investors got their money back plus extra, the founders made a tidy sum and if it all falls to pieces it

Or perhaps the best time, they have IPO'd, the original investors got their money back plus extra, the founders made a tidy sum and if it all falls to pieces it is the institutional investors who will take the hit. Now they are a public company they will be looking at their bottom line so the easiest/fastest way to improve that is to cut costs.