>Surely the answer to this is that they would have >a common set of shareholders? Bill Gates and > co. could set the individual companies' policies >to cooperate with each other - to the >shareholders' mutual financial gain. And why not?
>Would the existing MSFT shareholders have to >decide which new Baby-Bill they get shares in? >(If I had any MSFT shares (and I don't) I don't >think I'd be happy to get them exchanged for >shares in the Online Services company.)
Here you answer your own question:)
It's not the common shareholders that matter, but the common management. Prohibitions on shared executives and board members would certainly be part of any split.
The typical split would give a share in each of the new companies for each share in the old company. In your case, you'd sell the online shares, and buy something else; others would choose differently. Soon, the shareholders are largely different.
Re:Honor amongst thieves? (Score:2)
>a common set of shareholders? Bill Gates and
> co. could set the individual companies' policies
>to cooperate with each other - to the
>shareholders' mutual financial gain. And why not?
>Would the existing MSFT shareholders have to
>decide which new Baby-Bill they get shares in?
>(If I had any MSFT shares (and I don't) I don't
>think I'd be happy to get them exchanged for
>shares in the Online Services company.)
Here you answer your own question
It's not the common shareholders that matter, but the common management. Prohibitions on shared executives and board members would certainly be part of any split.
The typical split would give a share in each of the new companies for each share in the old company. In your case, you'd sell the online shares, and buy something else; others would choose differently. Soon, the shareholders are largely different.