Answer:
B. at the highest independent bid or the last reported sale price, whichever is higher
Step-by-step explanation:
SEC Rule 10b-18 was issued to create a safe harbor that reduces a company's possible legal liabilities related to repurchasing their own stock. Companies can decide to follow it or not, but if they follow it, they must comply with specific requirements that depend on the company's size and trading activities. Even if companies follow all the requirements of this "safe harbor", all legal liabilities are not eliminated, instead some specific provisions will not be considered to have been violated by the company.
The conditions related to this rule include
- Manner of purchase conditions
- Timing conditions
- Price conditions
- Volume conditions