225.01 Equipment trust notes are convertible into common stock of the user of the equipment deposited in an equipment trust. The term “issuer” with respect to equipment trust certificates is defined in Section 2(a)(4) to mean the person by whom the equipment is used. Accordingly, Section 3(a)(9) would be available for the conversion of the notes into common stock of the user, even though the notes would appear technically to be securities issued by the equipment trust. [Nov. 26, 2008]

225.02 An issuer wishes to solicit holders of outstanding debt securities to approve changes in certain indenture covenants. At the same time, the issuer will increase the interest rate. While this transaction may be deemed to involve the issuance of a new security if it represents a fundamental change in the nature of the investment, the issuance of the new security would be exempt under Section 3(a)(9) if all of the conditions of that provision were met. Since all of the outstanding debt securities were issued in registered public offerings, the new debt securities issued in exchange would not be “restricted” under Rule 144(a)(3). A new indenture would have to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 for the new debt securities. [Nov. 26, 2008]

225.03 Company A proposes to issue convertible preferred stock in exchange for its outstanding common stock. Holders of Company A’s new convertible preferred stock will have the option two years after issuance of exchanging such shares into Company B’s common stock. Section 3(a)(9) would be available for Company A’s first exchange offer, assuming all the conditions of that exemption are complied with. Registration of the offer and sale of Company B’s common stock would be required prior to the time at which the exchangeable preferred stock becomes exchangeable, absent an exemption from registration. [Nov. 26, 2008]

225.04 Company A agreed to buy 80% of Company B’s common stock conditioned on the success of Company A’s tender offer for Company B’s outstanding convertible debentures. Company A hired investment bankers to solicit in connection with the tender offer, which failed. Company A then prepared to buy 85% of Company B’s common stock, conditioned on the success of an exchange offer by Company B of cash and common stock for Company B’s outstanding convertible debentures. No investment banker would be used to solicit the exchange. Under these facts and circumstances:

225.05 An issuer proposed that each share of its outstanding preferred stock would be exchanged for a new class of preferred stock. However, if a majority of holders voted in favor of the exchange, each share of outstanding preferred stock would be converted into the right to receive cash. The issuer instructed a broker-dealer to solicit security holders for acceptance of the cash-only proposal with a commission payable upon majority approval of that proposal. Section 3(a)(9) would not be available for the exchange offer since the solicitation for acceptances of the cash offer was deemed to constitute an indirect solicitation for the rejection of the exchange offer. [Nov. 26, 2008]