If You were holding on the day before ex div date, you will be...

If You were holding on the day before ex div date, you will be recorded as holding on the record date, if you brought on the ex div date (26.08.09), you miss out, even if you are still holding on the 1.09.09 because you won't be registered as a holder until the 2.1.09. That is the way this system works and that is why normally a share is sold down on the ex div date. In Sto's case this time the sell down quickly rallied, perhaps in anticipation of the rumors proving correct in the coming months. Will be interesting to see what transpires tomorrow 31.08.09 but I would be surprised if anything groundbreaking occurs 1 Sept. More likely IMHO there will be a lot of discreet goings on in the registry as the players, if any start jostling for a commanding position, without driving the SP up to much. Mind you if there are a number of players interested in STO, discretion may go out the door and the gloves will come off.