I was privileged to guest lecture the Takeovers course at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law on May 22, 2014. This presentation provides an overview of some key differences between the New Zealand Takeovers Code and US law.
10. Any person who acquires beneficial ownership of 5 percent or more of a class of equity
securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act must file with the SEC a
Schedule 13D within ten days.
• A person “beneficially owns” any registered security if he either has or shares direct or
indirect power to vote, sell, or determine the disposition of that security. A person
is also deemed the beneficial owner of any securities that such person has the right to
acquire within sixty days, e.g., upon exercise of an option or conversion or exchange
of another security.
– Section 13(d)’s filing requirements also apply to any “group” who beneficially owns
5 percent or more of a class of an issuer’s equity securities. A group is formed when
two or more persons agree to act together to acquire, hold, vote, or dispose of
securities.
The Schedule 13D must disclose information about: identity and background of each
filing person; number of shares of the target company that it beneficially owns; its
purpose in acquiring those shares; any plans or proposals with respect to the issuer or its
shares, etc.
Schedule 13D
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