What's their definition of "long-planned", given that they've been operating for about 6 months?
Their business plan called for hiring and laying off people?
Were those people potential competitors at the time, and it was a move to tie up those people long enough to disrupt any competition?
I actually made up that “quote.” It is a parody of the typical pronouncements of corporate spokespersons after the company they represent has laid off 98% of its employees and their founder is hiding from his investors and the IRS.