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system
what happened to buyers of abt right before the split?
user
the trades after that date were ex-div, meaning after 5 pm dec 12, new trades did not include the shares that were to be spun out.  the process is very orderly, no one pays $60 without getting the spinoff, and no one pays $30 but still gets it. the real question is why there's that long delay nearly three weeks to make the spinoff shares available. i don't know.  by the way, the stock options are adjusted as well. someone owning a $50 put isn't suddenly in the money on 12/13. edit - (i am not a hoarder. i started a fire last night and realized i had a few barron's in the paper pile) this is how the abt quote appeared in the 12/24 issue of barron's. both the original quote, and the wi (when issued) for the stock less the spin off company.
assistant