Then in late 1982, following the release of the C-64, a large proportion of Commodore's small research and development staff left the company in a mass walk-out, and from that time it relied on buying in the fruits of the research done by other companies. During this time it was amazingly profitable, due in part to an assured supply of components from MOS Technology, and a modern automated plant which could reportedly build a C-64 for as little as US$50. It was following this episode in January 1984, that Tramiel left Commodore and moved to Atari who themselves had a few problems, and looked to Tramiel to turn them around. This left Commodore in the hands of Irving Gould and Medhi Ali, who rumour has it were more interested in building a tax-haven in the Bahamas (even to the extent of registering the company there) thereby making it difficult for shareholders to get to board meetings, than the future of Commodore.