Even if a short position is covered starting tomorrow, it doesn't get around the fact that the short seller will owe the special dividend. I believe short sellers are counting on the security token never being issued, which I believe to be a major mistake. As it was explained to me by a large market-maker, the proverbial s--- hitting the fan will not take place until after record date, when the clearing firms will need to deliver the dividends to the long holders of stock.
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