Question

Topco owns 60% of the voting common stock of Midco and 40% of the voting common stock of Botco. Topco wishes to gain control of Botco by having Midco buy shares of Botco's voting stock. Which one of the following minimum levels of ownership of Botco must Midco have in order for Topco to have controlling interest of Botco's voting stock?
A. 11%
B. 17%
C. 26%
D. 50+%

Answer 1

Answer:

A. 11 %

Explanation:

Given that TopCo owns 40% of Botco, in order to gain control botco, it must either directly or/and indirectly have more than 50% of botco voting stock. Meaning it must acquire more than 10% extra in order to gain control. Thus, if Midco that topco have 60% of is able to acquire 11% of Botco, then topco will be able to have 51% control over botco with 40% coming directly and 11% coming indirectly through it 60% control over Midco.