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Micro Focus (MFGP) Stock Issues. (Updated Aug 15, 2025) Not officially endorsed or supported.
This page gives details for only one aspect of the many HP/HPE-related stocks. If you were ever an HP shareholder, you may now have shares of HPQ, HPE, Keysight, and/or Agilent – in different accounts. If ever an HPE shareholder, you may now have shares of DXC – and may not have received cash payouts for MFGP and PRSP. Only you – not the company, plan administrators, transfer agents, brokers, or the IRS – can reconstruct your full stock history. Transactions were often tracked and reported differently – or not at all.
When finished with this page, go to: HP/HPE-Related Stocks
If you ever worked for Micro Focus: Additional info for Micro Focus alumni
If you owned any HPE stock on Sep 1, 2017, you received shares in a UK company -- Micro Focus (MFGP) -- in form of "American Depository Shares" held at a transfer agent called AST. There are two very different possible tax treatments for the spinoff. Plan administrators, transfer agents, brokers did not agree. There were stock and cash payouts; the company was sold.
Micro Focus stock contact: AST is now part of Equiniti (EQ): https://equiniti.com/us/ast-access/individuals/
There have been many events in the complex history of Micro Focus stock events relevant for HP/HPE shareholders -- including two cash payouts.
However, first, some basic issues...
ADSs. If you owned any HPE stock on Sep 1, 2017, you received 13.7 American Depository Shares of UK company Micro Focus (MFGP) per 100 HPE shares. At the spinoff from HPE, the 222 million MFGP ADS shares were valued at $29.34/share. Since then, MFGP price has ranged as low as $1.25.
HPE shareholders got stock in Micro Focus in the form of "American Depository Shares" of the UK company -- even if the HPE shareholder was located in the UK.
"These securities, issued by U.S. banks and representing a specific number of shares in a foreign company, trade on American stock exchanges like any domestic stock." Investopedia ADS Explanation Micro Focus ADS Explanation
Administrator vs transfer agent. Confusingly, you may see references to Deutsche Bank (DB) and to AST (American Stock Transfer) which is now part of Equiniti -- referring to the same lot of stock. Deutsche Bank is the administrator of the MFGP ADSs. AST is the transfer agent -- the record-keeper. The number for Deutsche Bank ADSs at AST was 1-866-706-8374
MFGP stock price charts. Most online stock-price tracking sites don't mention that the stock has been delisted; they simply show the last price of $6.48 continuing. Here are two MFGP charts that appear to be better: companiesmarketcap.com thestreet.com Unclear if sites accurately tracked the 2019 "A" share to "B" share transition.
What is reported to the IRS. Due to the many complex HP-related stock events, only you – not the company, plan administrators, transfer agents, brokers, or the IRS – can reconstruct your full stock history. Transactions were often tracked and reported differently – or not at all. Retain your documents and tax calculations indefinitely. Admin and Broker Issues
If you don't have good records of your employee stock purchases -- or didn't get your lot-and-cost information into your broker's system -- you can use our spreadsheets to develop a reasonable estimate of your cost basis for most HP/HPE-related stocks for any span of HP employment through the 11/1/2000 plan changeover. hpalumni.org/StockSpread
Be sure to save the documents you used -- plus, for future reference, a copy of the HPE/MFGP/"Seattle Spinco" letter This "Dear Shareholder" letter does not appear to have been actually sent to all shareholders. Members report that HPE's cost-basis tracking recommendations are not reflected in the records at some brokerages, plan administrators, and transfer agents -- and not uniformly followed by others.
MFGP stock events for HP/HPE alumni
There have been many events in the complex history of Micro Focus stock events relevant for HP/HPE shareholders -- including two cash payouts
. We have a page for each event, with details:- 2017. If you owned any HPE stock on Sep 1, 2017: HPE Software spun off and merged with UK company Micro Focus. Since then, MFGP price has ranged as low as $1.25. Details: https://www.hpalumni.org/StockMicroFocusSpinoff
- 2018-2024. If you received Micro Focus shares between Sep 1, 2017 and Aug 28, 2019 - as part of the Sep 1, 2017 HPE Software spinoff or otherwise. Settlement of shareholder class action lawsuit. https://www.hpalumni.org/StockMicroFocusSuit Nov 2024 payout of $1.63 per MFGP "A" share if none were sold. (Otherwise, amount varies.)
- 2019. "Return of Value" to shareholders. US ADR holders received 0.8296 new MFGP "B" shares plus $4.30 cash on May 20, 2019, replacing each original "A" share. Details: https://www.hpalumni.org/StockMicroFocus-2019
- 2020. The MFGP dividend announced for 2020 was withdrawn at the last minute and not paid: Fidelity reported this correctly. Some brokerages and stock information services did not.
- 2023. If you owned any Micro Focus stock on Jan 31, 2023: Micro Focus bought for cash by OpenText. Details: https://www.hpalumni.org/StockMicroFocus-2023
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