Speaking from prior experience with stocks I have held that spun-off shares to its shareholders, it was shareholders of record the actual day of the spin-off. If CPQ decides to take this route, I anticipate people who have no interest in CPQ buying shares merely as a speculative play for what they foresee as a "cheap" way to get shares of Alta Vista.
Time will tell, but I fully expect the internet speculators to compare the potential price of AV with the likes of Yahoo. This will drive CPQs shares _much_ higher. Although I hear on CNBC that the spin-off will only means $3-5 to CPQ shareholders, I expect the internet speculators to ignore this and instead, look at how other internet IPOs have done and say, "Right, sure, whatever you say," to new commentators and financial analysts.
Lynn |
