"As I am not and do not claim to be a securities attorney, I have no opinion if it means the clock starts then or not."
Neither am I, but it didn't stop ME :o)
It's clear to me that this refers to the common:
"The Holder shall be deemed to have become a stockholder of record on the applicable Conversion Date."
However, my unqualified understanding of Rule 144 is that in the case of a convertible preferred that is converted to common, the restriction period commences at the date the preferred is acquired and, assuming the other qualifications are met (primarily that the issuer is current in their filings), the common becomes tradable six month from that acquisition date (not the conversion date). If the preferred isn't converted until after a six month period from its initial acquisition expires, it becomes immediately tradable upon its conversion into common.
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
But can it core A apple?
Yes Ralph, of course it can core A apple.