Is that actually true? It sounds like a loophole would be possible: create a shell company that buys the shares instead so you can control the votes that belong to these shares.
Don’t forget they can’t buy shares without someone selling them. So if they have bought so many shares back there’s only 2 left, these two people each control 50% of the company and aren’t going to sell that share (for a small amount)
I’d be interested in the mechanics of how that works. I understand buying and selling of shares, but do you just got it the exchange and tell them you want the shares destroyed or?
Of course, unless the shell company is completely outside of the control of Apple. Which would then beg the question, how are you going to get money into that shell company without upsetting the shareholders.
If that shell company would be owned by Apple, it implies the outstanding shareholders would own that company, including all the shares it holds in Apple, too.