If Amarantus spins off the Dx division and pays a dividend in new company shares, as per my IRS Publication post there would be no taxes on the dividend transaction, but the new shares would have their own recalculated cost basis. If the new shares are held longer than one year, they would enjoy the lower LT capital gains tax rate vs. being treated as ordinary income when sold.

My goal is to pay zero taxes each year going forward, at least on my investments, and that includes AMBS. But if Obama gets his way, my Roth investment strategy with AMBS shares will go out the window.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal...-class.asp

If I work hard, save money for retirement, buy a ton of AMBS shares (lots of risk of losing my retirement savings), then convert to a Roth and pay a big tax bill, with the expectation of never being taxed again, and then AMBS is successful (justifying all the hard work and research I've put into this plan), I must be punished.

Joe and Mary Sleezebag who spent their entire working lives taking 2 vacations every year, who maxed out their credit cards and had car payments all of their lives, and who managed to save only $5K towards retirement while living beyond their means... well, me having millions in my retirement account isn't fair to them. I must be punished.