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SEC Comment Letter for SYNBIOTICS CORP (CIK 0000719483) — May 24, 2005

SYNBIOTICS CORP (CIK 0000719483)
Date: May 24, 2005 · CIK: 0000719483 · Accession: 0000000000-05-025517

AI Filing Summary & Sentiment

Date
April 20, 2005
Author
Not clearly detected
Form
UPLOAD
Company
SYNBIOTICS CORP (CIK 0000719483)

Letter

Mail Stop 0309 May 23, Keith Butler Chief Financial Officer Synbiotics Corporation 11011 Via Frontera San Diego, California 92127

Re: Synbiotics Corporation Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, Schedule 13E-3 and all included and incorporated documents File No. 0-11303, Filed April 20, 2005

Dear Mr. Butler:

We have reviewed your filings and have the following comments. Where indicated, we think you should revise your documents in response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider your explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your explanation. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with supplemental information so we may better understand your disclosure. After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise additional comments.

Please understand that the purpose of our review process is to assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing. We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome any questions you may have about our comments or on any other aspect of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers listed at the end of this letter.

Schedule 13E-3 1. Rule 14a-4(b)(1) requires you to separately break out on the proxy card each matter to be voted on. Separate matters may be cross- conditioned upon one another, such that one will not pass unless the other does. See the September 2004 interim supplement to the Division of Corporation Finance`s Manual of Publicly Available Telephone Interpretations, available on our Web site at www.sec.gov. In this regard, what consideration was given to the need to unbundle the proposal to include two separate proposals, one representing the reverse stock split and one representing the forward stock split? Your proxy statement suggests that the reverse and forward stock splits may be separate matters that should be presented separately on the proxy card for shareholder vote. Our belief is based on the fact that you have attached two different amendments to the company`s articles of incorporation, which appears to indicate that state law and the company`s governing instruments dictate that both matters are subject to a shareholder vote. Please revise to allow shareholders to separately vote on the reverse and forward stock splits, or explain why, based on our telephone interpretation and the reasoning articulated in this comment, separation is not required.

2. We believe the following individuals and entities should be included as filing persons on the Schedule 13E-3 because they are engaged in this going private transaction: - Redwood Holdings, LLC (source of funds to finance the Split Transaction and a shareholder going forward); - Redwood West Coast, LLC (a controlling shareholder of the Company and an affiliate of Redwood Holdings, LLC); - Thomas Donelan (a director of the Company and an affiliate of Redwood Holdings and Redwood West Coast); - Christopher P. Hendy (a director of the Company and an affiliate of Redwood Holdings and Redwood West Coast); - Jerry L. Ruyan (a control person of Redwood Holdings, LLC); and - Remington Capital, LLC (member of a group for purposes of Schedule 13D with all of the above persons and entities and a 100% indirectly owned subsidiary of Redwood Holdings, LLC).

Please add them as filers on the Schedule 13E-3, and revise the proxy statement to include all of the disclosure required by that Schedule as to each filer individually. In addition, to the extent they apply, please address the comments below as to each new filing person. 3. Note that each filing person must satisfy the disclosure, dissemination and timing requirements of Rule 13e-3. In light of the fact that you will likely add significant new and material information as to the new filing persons, advise how you intend to disseminate the revised proxy statement. 4. To the extent that other members of the board of directors and management of the company will own equity in the Company both before and after the Split Transaction, analyze whether such persons also need to be included as filing persons. If you decide they don`t please explain why supplementally. 5. It appears that you do not believe that pro forma financial information pursuant to Item 13 of Schedule 13E-3 is applicable. Please advise of your basis for not disclosing this financial information as set forth in Item 1010 of Regulation M-A.

Schedule 14A General 6. On a supplemental basis, please confirm that the proxy statement will be provided to your shareholders at least 20 business days prior to the consent submission deadline.

7. In a prominent place in the soliciting materials, create a subsection entitled "Interests of the Members of the Board of Directors and Executive Officers in the Split Transactions," and describe in reasonable detail the benefits each of these persons will receive if the split transactions are completed. This discussion should include, but not be limited to, a discussion of Messrs. Donelan`s and Hendley`s ownership of Redwood and control of the board of directors, as well as any change of control provisions in any employment, option or similar agreements with any of the executive officers or board members, and any accelerated payments to any of these persons that will be triggered as a result of the split transactions. You should also highlight in this section that only these persons and not those unaffiliated shareholders who will be cashed out in the split transactions will share in any future profits or prospects of the company. See Item 5 of Schedule 14A and Schedule 13E-3, Item 11. 8. Disclose Redwood`s and the other filing persons` prior stock purchases in the format required by Item 1002(f) of Regulation M- A. In this regard, provide the range of prices paid and the average purchase price for each quarter during the past two years. Also, provide a presentation of their transactions in your securities during the past 60 days in accordance with Item 1008(b) of Regulation M-A, including the date and price per share of each separate transaction. 9. Please include the information required by Item 1(c) of Schedule 14A and Exchange Act Rule 14a-5(e). 10. Please provide a pro forma beneficial ownership table to disclose the beneficial owners of 5% or more of each class of Synbiotics voting securities after the Split Transaction and financing transaction with Redwood.

Introduction, p. 1 11. In the fourth paragraph, you state that in connection with its evaluation, your board of directors did not retain any advisors to render an opinion as to the fairness to your shareholders of the consideration to be received by them in connection with the split transactions. You should expand this paragraph to state that two of your three directors are affiliates of Redwood, which is funding and will acquire greater control of the company in the split transactions, and that your other director, Mr. Hays, is and will after the transactions be President of the Company. You should state that these three gentlemen each have personal financial interests in the split transactions that are vastly different from unaffiliated shareholders and describe the differences. You should state that no independent board members or independent third parties have performed any analysis regarding or opined that the $.13 per share consideration to be paid is fair to the unaffiliated shareholders who will receive it. 12. We note that you disclose that the document was mailed on May 5, 2005 and consents need to be submitted by May 30th. Please advise whether this is draft language or whether you mailed this proxy on May 5, 2005.

Summary Term Sheet, page 2 13. See our comment above regarding the need to prominently disclose the interests and potential conflicts of interests of affiliates in this transaction. They should be briefly summarized here, with further discussion in the body of the proxy statement. 14. In this section, you should address each filing persons` view of the fairness (both procedural and substantive) of the transaction. 15. The last bullet point on page 3 in this section provides little meaningful disclosure for shareholders. Revise to briefly discuss the risks associated with the split transactions. 16. Describe the accounting treatment of the Split Transaction. See Item 1004(a)(1)(xi) of Regulation M-A.

Special factors, p. 4 Background, page 4 17. Provide a reasonably detailed discussion of all material events that led to and culminated with the board`s decision to undertake the split transactions. All material contacts, negotiations and agreements must be described. See Item 1005 of Regulation M-A. Identify the person(s) who initiated and participated in the process, and describe the context and nature of each material action. This revised section should specifically discuss the role of affiliates (including those we asked you to include as filers in our comments above) in initiating and structuring the Split Transaction. 18. Also, clearly identify who determined the consideration to be offered to fractional security holders and disclose the criteria used to determine the ultimate consideration, including an explanation of how the board derived the premium. 19. Please disclose whether any affiliates of the company have economic or other interests that differ from the interests of nonaffiliated stockholders. If there are any differences, explain what they are and the impact of those differences in the decision to undertake the Split Transaction and any consequences or disadvantages for the unaffiliated stockholders. 20. Please disclose all of the economic or other interests affiliates of the company have that differ from the interests of nonaffiliated stockholders. Explain what these interests are and the impact of those differences on the decision to undertake the split transaction and any consequences or disadvantages for the unaffiliated stockholders. Factors Considered by the Board, p.5 21. All of the factors listed in Instruction 2 to Item 1014 of Regulation M-A are generally relevant to the fairness determination in a Rule 13e-3 transaction and should be discussed by each filing person. To the extent that any one or more of such factors was not considered, or was given little weight, this fact is an important part of the Board`s decision-making process that should be explained to shareholders. Revise the discussion of the board`s fairness determination to address all of the factors listed in Instruction to Item 1014 of Regulation M-A. If a filing person did not consider one or more of the factors, state that and explain why the factor(s) were not deemed material or relevant. In addition, if any of the factors yielded a higher per share value than the cash out price, this should be prominently disclosed. See Question and Answer No. in Exchange Act Release No. 34-17719. 22. Please include discussions of procedural fairness that separately address Item 1014(c) and (d) of Regulation M-A. For instance, clarify how the board reached the conclusion that the transaction is procedurally fair in the absence of the procedural safeguard set forth in Item 1014(c) of Regulation M-A. Similarly revise the other filing persons` discussions of procedural fairness to explicitly address these factors. 23. You state in your Form 10-K that you are a "leading provider of rapid diagnostic and laboratory diagnostic products for the animal health care industry," and that many of your products hold strong positions in their specific markets. Please discuss the consideration your board gave these factors here and why in light of these factors it determined the split transactions were fair to unaffiliated shareholders. Also, please supplementally provide support for your belief that Synbiotics is a "leading provider." 24. You have indicated that you considered a cash tender offer by management and the purchase of shares on the open market by management. Please disclose that you did not consider any transactions that did not include management, such as placing the Company up for sale to non-affiliates, and explain why that alternative was not considered. 25. Please clarify your statement (at the bottom of page 6) that "No single account can receive more than $259.87 in payment for its Pre- Split Shares of common stock." Is this simply a function of who owns the shares and in what amount? 26. Please explain and qualify your contention that stockholders holding less than 2000 shares can purchase shares to reach the threshold. Specifically, it appears that many of the stockholders currently holding 2000 or more shares are at an advantage vis a vis those with fewer shares who would like to reach the 2000 threshold. In your hypothetical scenario in which Mr. Wu owns 20,500 shares, for example, there will be no reason for Mr. Wu to sell his 500 shares to a smaller shareholder for less than $.13 because he will be able to receive that price from the Company. Please explain how holders with less than 2000 shares will be able to reach the threshold under these circumstances. 27. On a related noted, if the answer to the above-referenced question is that the smaller shareholders might have to pay a premium for the shares to reach the 2000 threshold, you should disclose this fact explicitly. Specifically, you should disclose the possibility that the $.13 price you are offering could have the affect of driving share prices higher, such that those investors who seek to purchase additional securities to reach the 2000 threshold may be forced to pay a significant premium to reach that threshold. Please revise your disclose in all places where you refer to investors` ability to purchase to reflect this possibility. 28. Finally, with respect to the ability of smaller shareholders to purchase stock to reach the 2000 share threshold, how can the company guarantee that the consummation of the transactions will result in fewer than 300 holders so that the company may go private? If you are assuming that few small shareholders will seek to purchase additional shares, then you should include this qualification when you indicate that you will have fewer than 300 holders. 29. Where a transaction will affect different subsets of unaffiliated shareholders differently, Rule 13e-3 requires a separate analysis as to fairness for each. Expand to address why each filing person believes this transaction is fair to those unaffiliated shareholders who will be cashed out as well as those who will remain as shareholders of an illiquid security. 30. In addition, consider highlighting the fairness determination itself, through the use of a separate section. 31. We note the disclosure on page 7 that the Board reserves the right not to implement the Split Transaction even if it is approved by shareholders. Please briefly discuss the circumstances under which it might decide not to do so.

Effect of the Split Transaction, page 9 32. Describe the federal income tax consequences of the Split Transaction on the Company. See Item 1013(d) of Regulation M-A. 33. In our comments above, we ask you to include certain other filing persons besides the Company. Please note that when you do so, you should provide the disclosure required by Instruction 3 to Item as to the effects of this transaction on those individuals and/or entities.

Risk Factors, p. 12 General 34. You should create a separate risk factor which highlights the following. * none of the board members who are recommending the split transactions are independent; * no independent committee of the board considered whether or not the split transactions are fair to unaffiliated shareholders who will receive cash for their minority shares; and * no

Show Raw Text
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>LETTER
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<TEXT>

Mail Stop 0309									May 23,
2005

Keith Butler
Chief Financial Officer
Synbiotics Corporation
11011 Via Frontera
San Diego, California 92127

Re:	Synbiotics Corporation
    Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, Schedule 13E-3
    and all included and incorporated documents
    File No. 0-11303, Filed April 20, 2005

Dear Mr. Butler:

      We have reviewed your filings and have the following
comments.
Where indicated, we think you should revise your documents in
response to these comments.  If you disagree, we will consider
your
explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is
unnecessary.  Please be as detailed as necessary in your
explanation.
In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with
supplemental information so we may better understand your
disclosure.
After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise
additional
comments.

      Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing.
We look forward to working with you in these respects.  We welcome
any questions you may have about our comments or on any other
aspect
of our review.  Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers
listed
at the end of this letter.

Schedule 13E-3
1. Rule 14a-4(b)(1) requires you to separately break out on the
proxy
card each matter to be voted on.  Separate matters may be cross-
conditioned upon one another, such that one will not pass unless
the
other does.  See the September 2004 interim supplement to the
Division of Corporation Finance`s Manual of Publicly Available
Telephone Interpretations, available on our Web site at
www.sec.gov.
In this regard, what consideration was given to the need to
unbundle
the proposal to include two separate proposals, one representing
the
reverse stock split and one representing the forward stock split?
Your proxy statement suggests that the reverse and forward stock
splits may be separate matters that should be presented separately
on
the proxy card for shareholder vote.  Our belief is based on the
fact
that you have attached two different amendments to the company`s
articles of incorporation, which appears to indicate that state
law
and the company`s governing instruments dictate that both matters
are
subject to a shareholder vote.  Please revise to allow
shareholders
to separately vote on the reverse and forward stock splits, or
explain why, based on our telephone interpretation and the
reasoning
articulated in this comment, separation is not required.

2. We believe the following individuals and entities should be
included as filing persons on the Schedule 13E-3 because they are
engaged in this going private transaction:
- Redwood Holdings, LLC (source of funds to finance the Split
Transaction and a shareholder going forward);
- Redwood West Coast, LLC (a controlling shareholder of the
Company
and an affiliate of Redwood Holdings, LLC);
- Thomas Donelan (a director of the Company and an affiliate of
Redwood Holdings and Redwood West Coast);
- Christopher P. Hendy (a director of the Company and an affiliate
of
Redwood Holdings and Redwood West Coast);
- Jerry L. Ruyan (a control person of Redwood Holdings, LLC); and
- Remington Capital, LLC (member of a group for purposes of
Schedule
13D with all of the above persons and entities and a 100%
indirectly
owned subsidiary of Redwood Holdings, LLC).

Please add them as filers on the Schedule 13E-3, and revise the
proxy
statement to include all of the disclosure required by that
Schedule
as to each filer individually. In addition, to the extent they
apply,
please address the comments below as to each new filing person.
3. Note that each filing person must satisfy the disclosure,
dissemination and timing requirements of Rule 13e-3. In light of
the
fact that you will likely add significant new and material
information as to the new filing persons, advise how you intend to
disseminate the revised proxy statement.
4. To the extent that other members of the board of directors and
management of the company will own equity in the Company both
before
and after the Split Transaction, analyze whether such persons also
need to be included as filing persons. If you decide they don`t
please explain why supplementally.
5. It appears that you do not believe that pro forma financial
information pursuant to Item 13 of Schedule 13E-3 is applicable.
Please advise of your basis for not disclosing this financial
information as set forth in Item 1010 of Regulation M-A.

Schedule 14A
General
6. On a supplemental basis, please confirm that the proxy
statement
will be provided to your shareholders at least 20 business days
prior
to the consent submission deadline.

7. In a prominent place in the soliciting materials, create a
subsection entitled "Interests of the Members of the Board of
Directors and Executive Officers in the Split Transactions," and
describe in reasonable detail the benefits each of these persons
will
receive if the split transactions are completed.  This discussion
should include, but not be limited to, a discussion of Messrs.
Donelan`s and Hendley`s ownership of Redwood and control of the
board
of directors, as well as any change of control provisions in any
employment, option or similar agreements with any of the executive
officers or board members, and any accelerated payments to any of
these persons that will be triggered as a result of the split
transactions.  You should also highlight in this section that only
these persons and not those unaffiliated shareholders who will be
cashed out in the split transactions will share in any future
profits
or prospects of the company.  See Item 5 of Schedule 14A and
Schedule
13E-3, Item 11.
8. Disclose Redwood`s and the other filing persons` prior stock
purchases in the format required by Item 1002(f) of Regulation M-
A.
In this regard, provide the range of prices paid and the average
purchase price for each quarter during the past two years.  Also,
provide a presentation of their transactions in your securities
during the past 60 days in accordance with Item 1008(b) of
Regulation
M-A, including the date and price per share of each separate
transaction.
9. Please include the information required by Item 1(c) of
Schedule
14A and Exchange Act Rule 14a-5(e).
10. Please provide a pro forma beneficial ownership table to
disclose
the beneficial owners of 5% or more of each class of Synbiotics
voting securities after the Split Transaction and financing
transaction with Redwood.

Introduction, p. 1
11. In the fourth paragraph, you state that in connection with its
evaluation, your board of directors did not retain any advisors to
render an opinion as to the fairness to your shareholders of the
consideration to be received by them in connection with the split
transactions.  You should expand this paragraph to state that two
of
your three directors are affiliates of Redwood, which is funding
and
will acquire greater control of the company in the split
transactions, and that your other director, Mr. Hays, is and will
after the transactions be President of the Company.  You should
state
that these three gentlemen each have personal financial interests
in
the split transactions that are vastly different from unaffiliated
shareholders and describe the differences.  You should state that
no
independent board members or independent third parties have
performed
any analysis regarding or opined that the $.13 per share
consideration to be paid is fair to the unaffiliated shareholders
who
will receive it.
12. We note that you disclose that the document was mailed on May
5,
2005 and consents need to be submitted by May 30th.  Please advise
whether this is draft language or whether you mailed this proxy on
May 5, 2005.

Summary Term Sheet, page 2
13. See our comment above regarding the need to prominently
disclose
the interests and potential conflicts of interests of affiliates
in
this transaction. They should be briefly summarized here, with
further discussion in the body of the proxy statement.
14. In this section, you should address each filing persons` view
of
the fairness (both procedural and substantive) of the transaction.
15. The last bullet point on page 3 in this section provides
little
meaningful disclosure for shareholders. Revise to briefly discuss
the
risks associated with the split transactions.
16. Describe the accounting treatment of the Split Transaction.
See
Item 1004(a)(1)(xi) of Regulation M-A.

Special factors, p. 4
Background, page 4
17. Provide a reasonably detailed discussion of all material
events
that led to and culminated with the board`s decision to undertake
the
split transactions.  All material contacts, negotiations and
agreements must be described.  See Item 1005 of Regulation M-A.
Identify the person(s) who initiated and participated in the
process,
and describe the context and nature of each material action. This
revised section should specifically discuss the role of affiliates
(including those we asked you to include as filers in our comments
above) in initiating and structuring the Split Transaction.
18. Also, clearly identify who determined the consideration to be
offered to fractional security holders and disclose the criteria
used
to determine the ultimate consideration, including an explanation
of
how the board derived the premium.
19. Please disclose whether any affiliates of the company have
economic or other interests that differ from the interests of
nonaffiliated stockholders.  If there are any differences, explain
what they are and the impact of those differences in the decision
to
undertake the Split Transaction and any consequences or
disadvantages
for the unaffiliated stockholders.
20. Please disclose all of the economic or other interests
affiliates
of the company have that differ from the interests of
nonaffiliated
stockholders.  Explain what these interests are and the impact of
those differences on the decision to undertake the split
transaction
and any consequences or disadvantages for the unaffiliated
stockholders.
Factors Considered by the Board, p.5
21. All of the factors listed in Instruction 2 to Item 1014 of
Regulation M-A are generally relevant to the fairness
determination
in a Rule 13e-3 transaction and should be discussed by each filing
person.  To the extent that any one or more of such factors was
not
considered, or was given little weight, this fact is an important
part of the Board`s decision-making process that should be
explained
to shareholders. Revise the discussion of the board`s fairness
determination to address all of the factors listed in Instruction
2
to Item 1014 of Regulation M-A.  If a filing person did not
consider
one or more of the factors, state that and explain why the
factor(s)
were not deemed material or relevant. In addition, if any of the
factors yielded a higher per share value than the cash out price,
this should be prominently disclosed. See Question and Answer No.
20
in Exchange Act Release No. 34-17719.
22. Please include discussions of procedural fairness that
separately
address Item 1014(c) and (d) of Regulation M-A.  For instance,
clarify how the board reached the conclusion that the transaction
is
procedurally fair in the absence of the procedural safeguard set
forth in Item 1014(c) of Regulation M-A.  Similarly revise the
other
filing persons` discussions of procedural fairness to explicitly
address these factors.
23. You state in your Form 10-K that you are a "leading provider
of
rapid diagnostic and laboratory diagnostic products for the animal
health care industry," and that many of your products hold strong
positions in their specific markets.  Please discuss the
consideration your board gave these factors here and why in light
of
these factors it determined the split transactions were fair to
unaffiliated shareholders.  Also, please supplementally provide
support for your belief that Synbiotics is a "leading provider."
24. You have indicated that you considered a cash tender offer by
management and the purchase of shares on the open market by
management.  Please disclose that you did not consider any
transactions that did not include management, such as placing the
Company up for sale to non-affiliates, and explain why that
alternative was not considered.
25. Please clarify your statement (at the bottom of page 6) that
"No
single account can receive more than $259.87 in payment for its
Pre-
Split Shares of common stock." Is this simply a function of who
owns
the shares and in what amount?
26. Please explain and qualify your contention that stockholders
holding less than 2000 shares can purchase shares to reach the
2000
threshold.  Specifically, it appears that many of the stockholders
currently holding 2000 or more shares are at an advantage vis a
vis
those with fewer shares who would like to reach the 2000
threshold.
In your hypothetical scenario in which Mr. Wu owns 20,500 shares,
for
example, there will be no reason for Mr. Wu to sell his 500 shares
to
a smaller shareholder for less than $.13 because he will be able
to
receive that price from the Company.  Please explain how holders
with
less than 2000 shares will be able to reach the threshold under
these
circumstances.
27. On a related noted, if the answer to the above-referenced
question is that the smaller shareholders might have to pay a
premium
for the shares to reach the 2000 threshold, you should disclose
this
fact explicitly.  Specifically, you should disclose the
possibility
that the $.13 price you are offering could have the affect of
driving
share prices higher, such that those investors who seek to
purchase
additional securities to reach the 2000 threshold may be forced to
pay a significant premium to reach that threshold.  Please revise
your disclose in all places where you refer to investors` ability
to
purchase to reflect this possibility.
28. Finally, with respect to the ability of smaller shareholders
to
purchase stock to reach the 2000 share threshold, how can the
company
guarantee that the consummation of the transactions will result in
fewer than 300 holders so that the company may go private? If you
are
assuming that few small shareholders will seek to purchase
additional
shares, then you should include this qualification when you
indicate
that you will have fewer than 300 holders.
29. Where a transaction will affect different subsets of
unaffiliated
shareholders differently, Rule 13e-3 requires a separate analysis
as
to fairness for each. Expand to address why each filing person
believes this transaction is fair to those unaffiliated
shareholders
who will be cashed out as well as those who will remain as
shareholders of an illiquid security.
30. In addition, consider highlighting the fairness determination
itself, through the use of a separate section.
31. We note the disclosure on page 7 that the Board reserves the
right not to implement the Split Transaction even if it is
approved
by shareholders. Please briefly discuss the circumstances under
which
it might decide not to do so.

Effect of the Split Transaction, page 9
32. Describe the federal income tax consequences of the Split
Transaction on the Company. See Item 1013(d) of Regulation M-A.
33. In our comments above, we ask you to include certain other
filing
persons besides the Company. Please note that when you do so, you
should provide the disclosure required by Instruction 3 to Item
1013
as to the effects of this transaction on those individuals and/or
entities.

Risk Factors, p. 12
General
34. You should create a separate risk factor which highlights the
following.
* none of the board members who are recommending the split
transactions are independent;
* no independent committee of the board considered whether or not
the
split transactions are fair to unaffiliated shareholders who will
receive cash for their minority shares; and
* no