One more thought. I'm sure Ameritrade and everyone else involved is wanting to make DARN SURE that the actions they eventually take are not something that will eventually come back and bite them in the arse.
They're saying, "Here's what we'er faced with, what is the proper, legal, and correct thing to do?"
And a bunch of suits are shrugging their shoulders and saying, "I don't know yet, but don't give away the farm until we figure it out."
Just give them the dividend shares, let them sell them, and proceed to the next problem, eh?
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Diligence is the mother of good luck.
Ben Franklin (1706-1790)