0606013 Informal Interpretation

us-ftc-hsr-informal-interpretations-2e2ff78f3cf27e3ba0727f478378e27c0606013 Informal InterpretationGuidance

Date
Rule
801.10
Staff
Michael Verne
Response/Comments
Yes - if the options are exercised they are voting securities, even if they will never vote. On your second issue, the purchase price adjustment would have to be taken into account. If there is a reasonable basis for estimating it, then that estimate should be added to the acquisition price. If the adjustment is too speculative to estimate, then the purchase price is undetermined and the fair market value of the voting securities would be the size-of-transaction.

Question

From: (redacted)

Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 4:39 PM

To:Verne, B. Michael

Subject: SOT test vs. options

Hi Mike,

In a mergerin which the value placed on the voting securities is less than the threshold andthere are options which if you add the value the threshold is exceed. Afterclosing for a moment in time the options will be converted into votingsecurities (those voting securities will never vote). Are the 'options'considered voting securities for SOT test?

Secondquestion, if there is a purchase price adjustment based on the cash asreflected on the balance sheet at closing so if there is substantial cash theacquisition price will go up to reflect the cash, does that change anything?

As always many thanks.


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