Transactions Involving the Transfer of No Net Value, 11903-11912 [05-4384]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
(g) Internal Audit Guidelines. In
connection with the internal audit
testing pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of
this section, the Commission shall
develop recommended Internal Audit
Guidelines, which shall be available
upon request.
15. Amend § 542.33 by revising
paragraph (q)(3) introductory text to
read as follows:
§ 542.33 What are the minimum internal
control standards for surveillance for Tier B
gaming operations?
*
*
*
*
*
(q) * * *
(3) Wide-area progressive machine.
Wide-area progressive gaming machines
offering a base payout amount of $1
million or more and monitored by an
independent vendor utilizing an on-line
progressive computer system shall be
recorded by a dedicated camera(s) to
provide coverage of:
*
*
*
*
*
16. Amend § 542.41 by revising
paragraph (f)(4)(ii) to read as follows
and by removing paragraphs (f)(4)(iii)
and (12):
offering a base payout amount of $1
million or more and monitored by an
independent vendor utilizing an on-line
progressive computer system shall be
recorded by a dedicated camera(s) to
provide coverage of:
*
*
*
*
*
Signed in Washington, DC, this 4th day of
March, 2005.
Philip N. Hogen,
Chairman.
Nelson Westrin,
Vice-Chairman.
Cloyce Choney,
Commissioner.
[FR Doc. 05–4665 Filed 3–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7565–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Part 1
[REG–163314–03]
RIN 1545–BC88
§ 542.41 What are the minimum internal
control standards for drop and count for
Tier C gaming operations?
Transactions Involving the Transfer of
No Net Value
*
AGENCY:
*
*
*
*
(f) * * *
(4) * * *
(ii) Corrections to information
originally recorded by the count team
on soft count documentation shall be
made by drawing a single line through
the error, writing the correct figure
above the original figure, and then
obtaining the initials of at least two
count team members who verified the
change.
*
*
*
*
*
17. Amend § 542.42 by adding
paragraph (g) to read as follows:
§ 542.42 What are the minimum internal
control standards for internal audit for Tier
C gaming operations?
*
*
*
*
*
(g) Internal Audit Guidelines. In
connection with the internal audit
testing pursuant to paragraph (b)(1) of
this section, the Commission shall
develop recommended Internal Audit
Guidelines, which shall be available
upon request.
18. Amend § 542.43 by revising
paragraph (r)(3) introductory text to read
as follows:
§ 542.43 What are the minimum internal
control standards for surveillance for Tier C
gaming operations?
*
*
*
*
*
(r) * * *
(3) Wide-area progressive machine.
Wide-area progressive gaming machines
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
This document contains
proposed regulations providing
guidance regarding corporate
formations, reorganizations, and
liquidations of insolvent corporations.
These regulations provide rules
requiring the exchange (or, in the case
of section 332, a distribution) of net
value for the nonrecognition rules of
subchapter C to apply to the transaction.
The regulations also provide guidance
on determining when and to what
extent creditors of a corporation will be
treated as proprietors of the corporation
in determining whether continuity of
interest is preserved in a potential
reorganization. Finally, the regulations
provide guidance on whether a
distribution in cancellation or
redemption of less than all of the shares
one corporation owns in another
corporation satisfies the requirements of
section 332. The proposed regulations
affect corporations and their
shareholders.
SUMMARY:
Written and electronic comments
and requests for a public hearing must
be received by June 8, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send submissions to:
CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–163314–03), room
5203, Internal Revenue Service, POB
7604, Ben Franklin Station, Washington
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
11903
DC 20044. Submissions may be hand
delivered Monday through Friday
between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG–163314–03),
Courier’s Desk, Internal Revenue
Service, 1111 Constitution Avenue,
NW., Washington DC or sent
electronically, via the IRS Internet site
at https://www.irs.gov/regs or via the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://
www.regulations.gov (IRS and REG–
163314–03).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Concerning the proposed regulations on
the reorganization provisions and
regarding issues raised by the proposed
regulations with respect to provisions
other than those related to corporate
liquidations and subchapter K, Jean
Brenner, (202) 622–7790; concerning the
proposed regulations on corporate
liquidations, Sean McKeever, (202) 622–
7750; concerning the application of the
principles of the proposed regulations to
transfers of property to partnerships
under subchapter K, Jeanne Sullivan or
Michael Goldman, (202) 622–3070;
concerning submissions of comments
and/or requests for a public hearing,
Treena Garrett, (202) 622–7180 (not tollfree numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Background
The IRS and the Treasury Department
believe that there is a need to provide
a comprehensive set of rules addressing
the application of the nonrecognition
rules of subchapter C of the Internal
Revenue Code (Code) to transactions
involving insolvent corporations and to
other transactions that raise similar
issues. The proposed regulations
provide three sets of rules, the principal
one of which is that the nonrecognition
rules of subchapter C do not apply
unless there is an exchange (or, in the
case of section 332, a distribution) of net
value (the ‘‘net value requirement’’).
The proposed regulations also provide
guidance on the circumstances in which
(and the extent to which) creditors of a
corporation will be treated as
proprietors of the corporation in
determining whether continuity of
interest is preserved in a potential
reorganization. The proposed
regulations further provide guidance on
whether a distribution in cancellation or
redemption of less than all of the shares
one corporation owns in another
corporation satisfies the requirements of
section 332. Each of these rules is
discussed separately in this preamble.
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
11904
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
Explanation of Provisions
Exchange of Net Value Requirement
Background
In subchapter C, each of the rules
described below that provides for the
general nonrecognition of gain or loss
refers to a distribution in cancellation or
redemption of stock or an exchange for
stock. Section 332 provides, in part, that
‘‘[n]o gain or loss shall be recognized on
the receipt by a corporation of property
distributed in complete liquidation of
another corporation * * * only if * * *
the distribution is by such other
corporation in complete cancellation or
redemption of all its stock.’’ Section 351
provides, in part, that ‘‘[n]o gain or loss
shall be recognized if property is
transferred to a corporation by one or
more persons solely in exchange for
stock in such corporation.’’ Section 354
provides, in part, that ‘‘[n]o gain or loss
shall be recognized if stock or securities
in a corporation a party to a
reorganization are * * * exchanged
solely for stock or securities * * * in
another corporation a party to the
reorganization.’’ Finally, section 361
provides that ‘‘[n]o gain or loss shall be
recognized to a corporation if such
corporation is a party to a reorganization
and exchanges property * * * solely for
stock or securities in another
corporation a party to the
reorganization.’’
The authorities interpreting section
332 have consistently concluded that
the language of the statute referring to
a distribution in complete cancellation
or redemption of stock requires a
distribution of net value. Section 1.332–
2(b) provides that section 332 applies
only if a parent receives at least partial
payment for the stock that it owns in the
liquidating corporation. Such payment
could not occur unless there were a
distribution of net value. The courts
have focused in numerous cases on the
effect of liabilities on the distribution
requirement of section 332. In H. G. Hill
Stores, Inc. v. Commissioner, 44 B.T.A.
1182 (1941), a subsidiary liquidated and
distributed its assets and liabilities to its
parent in cancellation of its
indebtedness to its parent. The court
interpreted the phrase ‘‘in complete
cancellation or redemption of all its
stock’’ as requiring that a distribution be
made to the parent in its capacity as a
stockholder in order for section
112(b)(6) (the predecessor of section
332) to apply and, thus, held that
section 112(b)(6) did not apply because
the parent corporation received
payment in its capacity as a creditor and
not in its capacity as a stockholder. See
also Rev. Ruls. 2003–125 (2003–52
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
I.R.B. 1243), 70–489 (1970–2 C.B. 53),
and 59–296 (1959–2 C.B. 87).
Rev. Rul. 59–296 holds that the
principles relevant to liquidations under
section 332 also apply to
reorganizations under section 368.
However, other authorities are not
consistent with the approach of Rev.
Rul. 59–296. Most notably, in Norman
Scott, Inc. v. Commissioner, 48 T.C. 598
(1967), the Tax Court held that a
transaction involving an insolvent target
corporation qualified as a reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(A).
The IRS and the Treasury Department
have decided to resolve the
uncertainties by generally adopting a
net value requirement for each of the
described nonrecognition rules in
subchapter C. The net value
requirement generally requires that
there be an exchange of property for
stock, or in the case of section 332, a
distribution of property in cancellation
or redemption of stock. The IRS and the
Treasury Department believe that the
net value requirement is the appropriate
unifying standard because it is more
consistent with the statutory framework
of subchapter C, case law, and
published guidance than any other
approach considered. In addition, the
IRS and the Treasury Department
believe that the net value requirement is
the appropriate standard because
transactions that fail the requirement,
that is, transfers of property in exchange
for the assumption of liabilities or in
satisfaction of liabilities, resemble sales
and should not receive nonrecognition
treatment.
The IRS and the Treasury Department
considered several other approaches to
unify and rationalize the nonrecognition
rules of subchapter C as they applied to
transactions involving insolvent
corporations. The IRS and the Treasury
Department considered whether there
should be special rules for potential
nonrecognition transactions between
members of a consolidated group. Such
rules might disregard the various
exchange requirements in the statute
because of the single entity principles
generally applicable to corporations
joining in the filing of a consolidated
return. This approach was rejected
because there is no consolidated return
policy that compels a different set of
rules for potential nonrecognition
transactions between members of a
consolidated group. Cf. § 1.1502–
35T(f)(1); Notice 94–49 (1994–1 C.B.
358). The current intercompany
transaction rules (in particular those
regarding successors in § 1.1502–13(j))
could be modified to extend deferral of
gain and loss to additional situations as
long as the assets remained in the
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
consolidated group pending later
acceleration events that befall the assets
or successor entities. However, no such
rules are being proposed because the
case for treating the transferor and
transferee members as a single entity
seems weakest when the group’s equity
investment in the transferor has been
eliminated.
The IRS and the Treasury Department
also considered whether satisfying the
words of the relevant statutory
provisions that describe the relationship
of the parties to a transaction should be
sufficient for applying the
nonrecognition rules to a transaction
between the parties. This approach
would essentially take the position that
the words of distribution or exchange in
the statute do not state a separate
requirement but merely describe the
most common form of the transaction to
which the provision is intended to
apply. For example, under this
approach, it would be sufficient for a
transaction to qualify as a distribution
in complete liquidation under section
332 if the corporation to which assets
are transferred owned stock meeting the
requirements of section 1504(a)(2) at the
time of the transfer. Also, under this
approach, it would be sufficient for a
transaction to qualify as a transfer under
section 351 if a transferor of assets were
in control (as defined in section 368(c))
of the corporation to which assets are
transferred immediately after the
transaction. However, this approach
would require distinguishing, when the
structure of the statute does not,
between parts of a statute that impose
requirements and other parts that do
not.
Explanation of rules
Net Value Requirement
For potential liquidations under
section 332, the net value requirement
is effected by the partial payment rule
in § 1.332–2(b) of the current
regulations. The proposed regulations
make no modifications to this rule,
except, as discussed below, for
transactions in which the recipient
corporation owns shares of multiple
classes of stock in the dissolving
corporation. The proposed regulations
also make minor changes to other
sections of the regulations under section
332 to conform those regulations to
changes in the statute.
For potential transactions under
section 351, the proposed regulations
add § 1.351–1(a)(1)(iii)(A), which
requires a surrender of net value and, in
paragraph (a)(1)(iii)(B), a receipt of net
value. This rule is similar to that for
potential asset reorganizations,
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
discussed below. The proposed
regulations make minor changes to other
sections of the regulations under section
351 to conform those regulations to
changes in the statute.
For potential reorganizations under
section 368, the proposed regulations
modify § 1.368–1(b)(1) to add the
requirement that there be an exchange
of net value. Section 1.368–1(f) of the
proposed regulations sets forth the rules
for determining whether there is an
exchange of net value. These rules
require, in paragraph (f)(2)(i) for
potential asset reorganizations and
paragraph (f)(3)(i) for potential stock
reorganizations, a surrender of net value
and, in paragraph (f)(2)(ii) for potential
asset reorganizations and paragraph
(f)(3)(ii) for potential stock
reorganizations, a receipt of net value.
In a potential asset reorganization (one
in which the target corporation would
not recognize gain or loss under section
361), the target corporation surrenders
net value if the fair market value of the
property transferred by it to the
acquiring corporation exceeds the sum
of the amount of liabilities of the target
corporation that are assumed by the
acquiring corporation and the amount of
any money and the fair market value of
any property (other than stock permitted
to be received under section 361(a)
without the recognition of gain)
received by the target corporation. This
rule ensures that a target corporation
transfers property in exchange for stock.
The IRS and the Treasury Department
believe that the proposed rule better
identifies whether a target corporation
transfers property in exchange for stock
than a rule that looks to the issuance or
failure to issue stock because, when the
parties are related, the issuance or
failure to issue stock might be
meaningless.
In a potential stock reorganization
(one which would be described in
section 368(a)(1)(B) or section
368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section
368(a)(2)(E)), the rules are modified to
reflect the fact that the target
corporation remains in existence. A
potential reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section
368(a)(2)(E) must satisfy the asset
reorganization test for the merger of the
controlled corporation into the target
corporation (for which test the
controlled corporation is treated as the
target corporation) and the stock
reorganization test for the acquisition of
the target corporation.
In a potential asset reorganization, the
target corporation receives net value if
the fair market value of the assets of the
issuing corporation exceeds the amount
of its liabilities immediately after the
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
exchange. This rule ensures that the
target corporation receives stock (or is
deemed to receive stock under the
‘‘meaningless gesture’’ doctrine) having
value. This rule is necessary because the
IRS and the Treasury Department
believe that the receipt of worthless
stock in exchange for assets cannot be
part of an exchange for stock.
Scope of Net Value Requirement
The proposed regulations provide in
§ 1.368–1(b)(1) that the net value
requirement does not apply to
reorganizations under section
368(a)(1)(E) and 368(a)(1)(F). The IRS
and the Treasury Department recently
issued final regulations (T.D. 9182, 70
FR 9219 (Feb. 25, 2005)) stating that a
continuity of business enterprise and a
continuity of interest are not required
for a transaction to qualify as a
reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(E) or (F) because applying the
requirements in those contexts is not
necessary to protect the policies
underlying the reorganization
provisions. Because the purpose
underlying the net value requirement is
the same as that underlying the
continuity of interest requirement, the
IRS and the Treasury Department have
similarly concluded that applying the
net value requirement to transactions
under section 368(a)(1)(E) or (F) is not
necessary to protect the policies
underlying the reorganization
provisions.
The proposed regulations also provide
in § 1.368–1(b)(1) and § 1.368–1(f)(4)
that the net value requirement does not
apply to a limited class of transactions
that qualify as reorganizations under
section 368(a)(1)(D). That class of
transactions are the transactions
exemplified by James Armour, Inc. v.
Commissioner, 43 T.C. 295 (1964), and
Rev. Rul. 70–240 (1970–1 C.B. 81). The
IRS and the Treasury Department
acknowledge that the conclusions of the
described authorities are inconsistent
with the principles of the net value
requirement. Nevertheless, the IRS and
the Treasury Department currently
desire to preserve the conclusions of
these authorities while they more
broadly study issues relating to
acquisitive reorganizations under
section 368(a)(1)(D), including the
continuing vitality of various
liquidation-reincorporation authorities
after the enactment of the Tax Reform
Act of 1986, Public Law 99–514 (100
Stat. 2085 (1986)). Consistent with the
described authorities, the exception is
limited to acquisitive reorganizations of
solvent target corporations. The
proposed regulations provide no
specific guidance (other than in an
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
11905
example incorporating the facts of Rev.
Rul. 70–240 (1980–1 C.B. 81)), other
than with regard to the application of
the net value requirement, on when a
transaction will qualify as a
reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(D). In this regard, compare
Armour with Warsaw Photographic
Associates, Inc. v. Commissioner, 84
T.C. 21 (1985).
Definition of Liabilities
In applying the proposed regulations,
taxpayers must determine the amount of
liabilities of the target corporation that
are assumed by the acquiring
corporation. Although the proposed
regulations do not define the term
liability, the IRS and the Treasury
Department intend that the term be
interpreted broadly. Thus, for purposes
of the proposed regulations, a liability
should include any obligation of a
taxpayer, whether the obligation is debt
for federal income tax purposes or
whether the obligation is taken into
account for the purpose of any other
Code section. Generally, an obligation is
something that reduces the net worth of
the obligor. The IRS and the Treasury
Department have proposed adopting a
similar definition of liability for
purposes of implementing section
358(h) in subchapter K. See Prop. Reg.
§ 1.752–1(a)(1)(ii) and Prop. Reg.
§ 1.752–7(b)(2)(ii) (REG–106736–00, 68
FR 37434 (June 24, 2003), 2003–28
I.R.B. 46).
Amount of Liabilities
The proposed regulations provide no
specific guidance on determining the
amount of a liability. The IRS and the
Treasury Department are currently
considering various approaches to
determining the amount of a liability.
One approach would be to treat the
amount of a liability represented by a
debt instrument as its adjusted issue
price determined under sections 1271
through 1275 of the Code (the OID rules)
(perhaps with exceptions for certain
contingent payment debt instruments)
while treating the amount of other
liabilities as the value of such liabilities.
Another approach would be to treat the
amount of all liabilities as the value of
such liabilities. Other approaches could
borrow in whole or in part from other
authorities such as those relevant to the
determination of insolvency under
section 108(d)(3). One method for
valuing liabilities is to determine the
amount of cash that a willing assignor
would pay to a willing assignee to
assume the liability in an arm’s-length
transaction. Cf. Prop. Reg. § 1.752–
7(b)(2)(ii).
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
11906
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
In the course of developing these
regulations, the IRS and the Treasury
Department considered special issues
related to the assumption of
nonrecourse liabilities in the context of
a transaction to which section 332, 351,
or 368 might apply. The IRS and the
Treasury Department are considering a
rule similar to the one in Rev. Rul. 92–
53 (1992–2 C.B. 48) that would
disregard the amount by which a
nonrecourse liability exceeds the fair
market value of the property securing
the liability when determining the
amount of liabilities that are assumed.
For example, under such a rule, if an
individual transfers an apartment
building with a fair market value of
$175x subject to a nonrecourse
obligation of $190x and an adjacent lot
of land with a fair market value of $10x
to a corporation, the transferor will have
surrendered net value because the fair
market value of the assets transferred
($175x + $10x) exceeds the amount of
the liabilities assumed ($190x–$15x, the
amount of the excess nonrecourse
indebtedness). Any rule disregarding
excess nonrecourse indebtedness would
be limited to the application of the net
value requirement and would have no
relevance for other federal income tax
purposes, such as the determination of
the amount realized under section 1001.
Comments are requested regarding the
treatment of nonrecourse indebtedness
and the effect of such treatment when
both property subject to the nonrecourse
indebtedness and other property are
transferred.
Assumption of Liabilities
In general, the IRS and the Treasury
Department believe that the principles
of section 357(d) should be applied to
determine whether a liability is
assumed when more than one person
might bear responsibility for the
liability. Comments are requested
regarding whether and to what extent
the principles of section 357(d) should
be incorporated into the regulations.
The IRS and the Treasury Department
believe that transfers of assets in
satisfaction of liabilities should be
treated the same as transfers of assets in
exchange for the assumption of
liabilities. Accordingly, in determining
whether there is a surrender of net
value, the proposed regulations treat
any obligation of the target corporation
for which the acquiring corporation is
the obligee as a liability assumed by the
acquiring corporation.
In Connection With
The proposed regulations take into
account not only liabilities assumed in
the exchange, but also liabilities
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
assumed ‘‘in connection with’’ the
exchange. The proposed regulations
include this rule so that the timing of an
acquiring corporation’s assumption of a
target corporation’s liability (or a
creditor’s discharge of a target
corporation’s indebtedness), whether
before an exchange, in the exchange, or
after the exchange, will have the same
effect in determining whether there is a
surrender of net value in the exchange.
The proposed regulations also take into
account, in determining whether there
is a surrender of net value, money and
other nonstock consideration received
by the target corporation in connection
with the exchange.
The IRS and the Treasury Department
intend that the substance-over-form
doctrine and other nonstatutory
doctrines be used in addition to the ‘‘in
connection with’’ rule in determining
whether the purposes and requirements
of the net value requirement are
satisfied. Cf. Rev. Rul. 68–602 (1968–2
C.B. 135) (holding that a parent
corporation’s cancellation of a whollyowned subsidiary’s indebtedness to it
that is an integral part of a liquidation
is transitory and, therefore,
disregarded).
Section 368(a)(1)(C)
The proposed regulations remove the
statement in § 1.368–2(d)(1) that the
assumption of liabilities may so alter the
character of a transaction as to place the
transaction outside the purposes and
assumptions of the reorganization
provisions. Because the proposed
regulations provide more specific
guidance regarding when the
assumption of liabilities will prevent a
transaction from qualifying as a
reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(C), the IRS and the Treasury
Department believe the statement is
unnecessary.
Section 721
The IRS and the Treasury Department
recognize that the principles in the
proposed rules under section 351 may
be applied by analogy to other Code
sections that are somewhat parallel in
scope and effect, such as section 721,
dealing with the contribution of
property to a partnership in exchange
for a partnership interest. The IRS and
the Treasury Department request
comments on whether rules similar to
the rules of the proposed regulations
should be proposed in the context of
subchapter K and the considerations
that might justify distinguishing the
relevant provisions in subchapter K
from those provisions that are the
subject of these proposed regulations.
PO 00000
Frm 00021
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Continuity of Interest
Background
The Code provides general
nonrecognition treatment for
reorganizations described in section
368. A transaction must comply with
both the statutory requirements of the
reorganization provisions and various
nonstatutory requirements, including
the continuity of interest requirement,
to qualify as a reorganization. See
§ 1.368–1(b). The purpose of the
continuity of interest requirement is to
ensure that reorganizations are limited
to readjustments of continuing interests
in property under modified corporate
form and to prevent transactions that
resemble sales from qualifying for
nonrecognition of gain or loss available
to corporate reorganizations. See
§§ 1.368–1(b), 1.368–1(e)(1). Continuity
of interest requires that a substantial
part of the value of the proprietary
interests in the target corporation be
preserved in the reorganization. See
§ 1.368–1(e)(1); see also LeTulle v.
Scofield, 308 U.S. 415 (1940); Helvering
v. Minnesota Tea Co., 296 U.S. 378
(1935); Pinellas Ice & Cold Storage Co.
v. Commissioner, 287 U.S. 462 (1933);
Cortland Specialty Co. v. Commissioner,
60 F.2d 937 (2d Cir. 1932), cert. denied,
288 U.S. 599 (1933).
Generally, it is the shareholders who
hold the proprietary interests in a
corporation. However, when a
corporation is in bankruptcy, the
corporation’s stock may be worthless
and eliminated in the restructuring. In
this case, when the corporation engages
in a potential reorganization, its
creditors may receive acquiring
corporation stock in exchange for their
claims and its shareholders may receive
nothing. Thus, without special rules,
most potential reorganizations of
corporations in bankruptcy would fail
the continuity of interest requirement.
The Supreme Court addressed this
problem in Helvering v. Alabama
Asphaltic Limestone Co., 315 U.S. 179
(1942), in which it held that, for
practical purposes, the old continuity of
interest in the shareholders shifted to
the creditors not later than the time
‘‘when the creditors took steps to
enforce their demands against the
insolvent debtor. In this case, that was
the date of the institution of bankruptcy
proceedings. From that time on, they
had effective command over the
property.’’ See also Palm Springs
Holding Corp. v. Commissioner, 315
U.S. 185 (1942) (holding that the legal
procedure employed by the creditors to
obtain effective command over a
corporation’s property was not material
when the corporation was insolvent).
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
Notwithstanding Palm Springs, it is not
clear when creditors of an insolvent
corporation not in a title 11 or similar
case may be considered proprietors for
purposes of satisfying the continuity of
interest requirement.
In Atlas Oil & Refining Corp. v.
Commissioner, 36 T.C. 675 (1961), the
court held that only creditors who in
fact receive stock in the acquiring
corporation, by relation back, can be
deemed to have been equity owners at
the time of the transfer. The court stated
that the fact that a more senior class of
creditors may have had ‘‘effective
command’’ over the assets in the case
will not make them proprietors if they
do not in fact exercise their right to
receive stock in the acquiring
corporation.
In the Bankruptcy Tax Act of 1980,
Public Law 96–589 (94 Stat. 3389
(1980)), Congress added section
368(a)(1)(G), providing for a new type of
reorganization applicable to
corporations in title 11 or similar cases.
In the legislative history to that statute,
Congress stated its expectation that the
courts and the Treasury Department
would determine whether the
continuity of interest requirement is
satisfied in a potential reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(G) by treating as
proprietors the most senior class of
creditors who received stock, together
with all interests equal and junior to
them, including shareholders. See S.
Rep. No. 1035, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 36–
37 (1980). This formulation is similar to
the relation back analysis that the Tax
Court used in Atlas Oil.
Explanation of Provisions
The proposed regulations add new
§ 1.368–1(e)(6), which describes the
circumstances in which creditors of a
corporation generally, and which
creditors in particular, will be treated as
holding a proprietary interest in a target
corporation immediately before a
potential reorganization. In general, the
proposed rules adopt the standard for
reorganizations under section
368(a)(1)(G) recommended in the Senate
Finance Committee Report to the
Bankruptcy Tax Act of 1980. The
proposed regulations also provide that
creditors of an insolvent target
corporation not in a title 11 or similar
case may be treated as holding a
proprietary interest in the corporation
even though they take no steps to obtain
effective command over the
corporation’s property, other than their
agreement to receive stock in the
potential reorganization. The proposed
regulations, at § 1.368–1(e)(6)(ii),
provide specific guidance on how to
quantify the proprietary interest of the
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
target corporation so that taxpayers may
determine whether a substantial part of
the value of the proprietary interests in
the target corporation is preserved in the
potential reorganization. Because a
creditor of a corporation may hold
claims in more than one class, the
proposed regulations generally refer to
claims of a particular class of creditors
rather than to creditors in a particular
class.
The proposed regulations treat claims
of the most senior class of creditors to
receive a proprietary interest in the
issuing corporation and claims of all
equal classes of creditors (together, the
senior claims) differently from the
claims of classes of creditors junior to
the senior claims (the junior claims).
The proposed regulations treat senior
claims as representing, in part, a
creditor claim against the corporation,
and, in part, a proprietary interest in the
corporation. This rule mitigates the
adverse effect on continuity of interest
of senior creditors seeking payment
primarily in nonstock consideration
while still taking some payment in
shares of stock of the acquiring
corporation. The determination of what
part of a senior claim is a proprietary
interest in the target corporation is made
by calculating the average treatment for
all senior claims. Thus, the proposed
regulations, at § 1.368–1(e)(2)(ii)(B),
provide that the value of a proprietary
interest in the target corporation
represented by a senior claim is
determined by multiplying the fair
market value of the creditor’s claim by
a fraction, the numerator of which is the
fair market value of the proprietary
interests in the issuing corporation that
are received in the aggregate in
exchange for the senior claims, and the
denominator of which is the sum of the
amount of money and the fair market
value of all other consideration
(including the proprietary interests in
the issuing corporation) received in the
aggregate in exchange for such claims.
The effect of this rule is that there is 100
percent continuity of interest if each
senior claim is satisfied with the same
ratio of stock to nonstock consideration
and no junior claim is satisfied with
nonstock consideration.
The proposed regulations, at § 1.368–
1(e)(6)(ii)(A), provide that the entire
amount of a junior claim represents a
proprietary interest in the target
corporation immediately before the
potential reorganization. Thus, the value
of the proprietary interest represented
by that claim is the fair market value of
the claim (which value is generally
determined by reference to the amount
of money and the fair market value of
PO 00000
Frm 00022
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
11907
the consideration received in exchange
therefor).
The rules in the proposed regulations
are intended to work in conjunction
with the current continuity of interest
rules. Accordingly, the proposed
regulations modify § 1.368–1(e)(1)(ii),
relating to the effect on continuity of
interest of distributions or redemptions
before a potential reorganization, and
§ 1.368–1(e)(2), relating to the effect on
continuity of interest of acquisitions of
proprietary interests by persons related
to the issuing corporation, to ensure that
the purpose of these rules is effected
when creditors’ claims represent the
proprietary interests in the target
corporation.
Section 332
Background
Section 332 requires that a
subsidiary’s liquidating distribution to
its parent corporation be in complete
cancellation or redemption of all its
stock. In Spaulding Bakeries, Inc. v.
Commissioner, 252 F.2d 693 (2d Cir.
1958), aff’g 27 T.C. 684 (1957), the
Second Circuit concluded that for a
distribution to be made in cancellation
or redemption of ‘‘all the stock,’’
payment must be made on each class of
stock. See also H. K. Porter Co. v.
Commissioner, 87 T.C. 689 (1986).
Explanation of Provisions
The current regulations provide that
section 332 applies only to those cases
in which the recipient corporation
receives at least partial payment for the
stock that it owns in the liquidating
corporation. The proposed regulations
clarify that section 332 applies only to
those cases in which the recipient
corporation receives at least partial
payment for each class of stock that it
owns in the liquidating corporation, an
interpretation consistent with the
Second Circuit’s holding in Spaulding
Bakeries and the Tax Court’s holding in
H. K. Porter. The IRS and the Treasury
Department have adopted this approach
because they believe that it is
appropriate for a taxpayer to recognize
loss when it fails to receive a
distribution on a class of stock in
liquidation of its subsidiary. The
recipient corporation would recognize
such a loss if the distribution qualified
as a reorganization.
The proposed regulations also
confirm that when the liquidation fails
to qualify under section 332 because the
recipient corporation did not receive at
least partial payment for each class of
stock but did receive at least partial
payment for at least one class of stock,
the transaction may qualify as a
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
11908
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
corporate reorganization under section
368.
Proposed Effective Date
These proposed regulations will apply
to transactions that occur after the date
they are published as final regulations
in the Federal Register.
Special Analyses
It has been determined that this notice
of proposed rulemaking is not a
significant regulatory action as defined
in Executive Order 12866. Therefore, a
regulatory assessment is not required. It
has also been determined that section
553(b) of the Administrative Procedures
Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply
to these proposed regulations and,
because the regulation does not impose
a collection of information on small
entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act
(5 U.S.C. chapter 6) does not apply.
Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the
Internal Revenue Code, this notice of
proposed rulemaking will be submitted
to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy of the
Small Business Administration for
comment on its impact on small
business.
Comments and Requests for Public
Hearing
Before these proposed regulations are
adopted as final regulations,
consideration will be given to any
written comments (a signed original and
8 copies) or comments transmitted via
Internet that are submitted timely to the
IRS. The IRS and the Treasury
Department request comments on the
clarity of the proposed rules and how
they can be made easier to understand.
All comments will be available for
public inspection and copying. A public
hearing will be scheduled if requested
in writing by any person that timely
submits written comments. If a public
hearing is scheduled, notice of the date,
time, and place for the public hearing
will be published in the Federal
Register.
Drafting Information
The principal authors of these
proposed regulations are Jean Brenner
and Sean McKeever of the Office of
Associate Chief Counsel (Corporate).
However, other personnel from the IRS
and the Treasury Department
participated in their development.
List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1
Income taxes, Reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
Proposed Amendments to the
Regulations
Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is
proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 1—INCOME TAXES
Paragraph 1. The authority citation
for part 1 is amended by revising the
entry for ‘‘Section 1.351–1’’ to read, in
part, as follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Section 1.351–1 also issued under 26
U.S.C. 351. * * *
Par. 2. Section 1.332–2 is amended
by:
1. Revising the first sentence of
paragraph (a).
2. Revising paragraph (b).
3. Revising the heading of the
Example in paragraph (e).
4. Adding Example 2 to paragraph (e).
The revisions and addition read as
follows:
§ 1.332–2 Requirements for
nonrecognition of gain or loss.
(a) The nonrecognition of gain or loss
is limited to the receipt of property by
a corporation that is the actual owner of
stock (in the liquidating corporation)
meeting the requirements of section
1504(a)(2). * * *
(b) Section 332 applies only when the
recipient corporation receives at least
partial payment for each class of stock
that it owns in the liquidating
corporation. If section 332 does not
apply, see section 165(g) regarding the
allowance of losses for worthless
securities for a class of stock for which
no payment is received. Further, if
section 332 does not apply and the
recipient corporation receives partial
payment for at least one class of stock
that it owns in the liquidating
corporation, see section 368(a)(1)
regarding potential qualification of the
distribution as a reorganization. If
section 332 does not apply and the
distribution does not qualify as a
reorganization, see section 331 for those
classes of stock for which partial
payment is received.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
Example 1. * * *
Example 2. P Corporation owns all of the
outstanding preferred and common stock of
Q Corporation. The preferred stock is not
stock described in section 1504(a)(4). The fair
market value of Q Corporation’s assets
exceeds the amount of its liabilities but does
not exceed the liquidation preference on the
Q Corporation’s preferred stock. Q
Corporation liquidates and distributes all of
its assets to P Corporation. P Corporation
receives partial payment for its Q
Corporation preferred stock but receives
nothing for its Q Corporation common stock.
PO 00000
Frm 00023
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
The receipt by P Corporation of the
properties of Q Corporation is not a
distribution received by P Corporation in
complete liquidation of Q Corporation within
the meaning of section 332. Thus, under
section 165(g), P Corporation is entitled to a
worthless security deduction for its Q
Corporation common stock. The transaction
may qualify as a reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(C). If the transaction does not
qualify as a reorganization, P Corporation
will recognize gain or loss on its Q
Corporation preferred stock under section
331.
Par. 3. Section 1.351–1 is amended
by:
1. Revising the first sentence of
paragraph (a)(1) introductory text.
2. Adding a sentence after the last
sentence in paragraph (a)(1)
introductory text and revising the
phrase ‘‘For purposes of this section’’ at
the end of paragraph (a)(1) introductory
text to read ‘‘In addition, for purposes
of this section’’.
3. Revising paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and
(a)(1)(ii).
4. Removing the concluding text
immediately following paragraph
(a)(1)(ii).
5. Adding paragraphs (a)(1)(iii) and
(a)(1)(iv).
6. Adding Example 4 at the end of
paragraph (a)(2).
7. Revising paragraph (b)(1).
The revisions, removal, and additions
read as follows:
§ 1.351–1 Transfer to corporation
controlled by transferor.
(a)(1) Section 351(a) provides, in
general, for the nonrecognition of gain
or loss upon the transfer by one or more
persons of property to a corporation
solely in exchange for stock of such
corporation if, immediately after the
exchange, such person or persons are in
control of the corporation to which the
property was transferred. * * * For
purposes of this section, stock rights
and stock warrants are not included in
the term stock. In addition, for purposes
of this section—
(i) Stock will not be treated as issued
for property if it is issued for services
rendered or to be rendered to or for the
benefit of the issuing corporation;
(ii) Stock will not be treated as issued
for property if it is issued for property
which is of relatively small value in
comparison to the value of the stock
already owned (or to be received for
services) by the person who transferred
such property and the primary purpose
of the transfer is to qualify under this
section the exchanges of property by
other persons transferring property; and
(iii) Stock will not be treated as issued
for property if either—
(A) The fair market value of the
transferred property does not exceed the
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
sum of the amount of liabilities of the
transferor that are assumed by the
transferee in connection with the
transfer and the amount of any money
and the fair market value of any other
property (other than stock permitted to
be received under section 351(a)
without the recognition of gain)
received by the transferor in connection
with the transfer. For this purpose, any
obligation of the transferor for which the
transferee is the obligee that is
extinguished for federal income tax
purposes in connection with the transfer
is treated as a liability assumed by the
transferee; or
(B) The fair market value of the assets
of the transferee does not exceed the
amount of its liabilities immediately
after the transfer;
(iv) Paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section
applies to transfers occurring after the
date these proposed regulations are
published as final regulations in the
Federal Register.
(2) * * *
*
*
*
*
*
Example 4. A, an individual, transfers an
apartment building with a fair market value
of $175x to Corporation X. The building is
subject to a nonrecourse obligation of $190x
and no other asset is subject to that liability.
A receives 10 shares of Corporation X stock
in the exchange. Immediately after the
exchange, Corporation X is solvent and A
owns 100% of its outstanding stock. Under
paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section, the 10
shares of Corporation X stock received by A
will not be treated as issued for property
because the fair market value of the
apartment building does not exceed the
amount of A’s liabilities assumed by
Corporation X. Therefore, section 351 does
not apply to the exchange.
*
*
*
*
*
(b)(1) When property is transferred to
a corporation by two or more persons in
exchange for stock, as described in
paragraph (a) of this section, and the
stock received is received in
disproportion to the transferor’s prior
interest in such property, the entire
transaction will be given tax effect in
accordance with its true nature, and the
transaction may be treated as if the stock
had first been received in proportion
and then some of such stock had been
used to make gifts (section 2501 et seq.),
to pay compensation (sections 61(a)(1)
and 83(a)), or to satisfy obligations of
the transferor of any kind.
*
*
*
*
*
Par. 4. Section 1.368–1 is amended
by:
1. Removing the last sentence of
paragraph (a).
2. Redesignating paragraph (b) as
paragraph (b)(1).
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
3. Removing the third sentence of
paragraph (b)(1) and adding two
sentences in its place.
4. Removing the seventh sentence of
paragraph (b)(1).
5. Adding paragraph (b)(2).
6. Adding a sentence after the fifth
sentence of paragraph (e)(1)(i).
7. Adding a sentence at the end of
paragraph (e)(1)(ii).
8. Revising the text of paragraph
(e)(2).
9. Redesignating paragraphs (e)(6) and
(e)(7) as paragraphs (e)(7) and (e)(8),
respectively, and adding a new
paragraph (e)(6).
10. Adding Example 10 to the end of
paragraph (e)(7).
11. Adding a sentence at the end of
paragraph (e)(8).
12. Adding paragraph (f).
The additions and revisions read as
follows:
§ 1.368–1 Purpose and scope of exception
to reorganization exchanges.
*
*
*
*
*
(b)(1) * * * Requisite to a
reorganization under the Internal
Revenue Code are a continuity of
business enterprise through the issuing
corporation under the modified
corporate form as described in
paragraph (d) of this section, a
continuity of interest as described in
paragraph (e) of this section (except as
provided in section 368(a)(1)(D)), and an
exchange of net value as described in
paragraph (f) of this section.
Notwithstanding the requirements of
this paragraph (b)(1), an exchange of net
value is not required for a transaction to
qualify as a reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(E) or (F) and, to the extent
provided in paragraph (f)(4), for a
transaction to qualify as a reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(D). * * *
(2) Effective dates. The third and
fourth sentences of paragraph (b)(1) of
this section apply to transactions
occurring after the date these proposed
regulations are published as final
regulations in the Federal Register. The
fifth and sixth sentences apply to
transactions occurring after January 28,
1998, except that they do not apply to
any transaction occurring pursuant to a
written agreement which is binding on
January 28, 1998, and at all times
thereafter.
*
*
*
*
*
(e) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) * * * See paragraph (e)(6) of this
section for rules related to when a
creditor’s claim against a target
corporation is a proprietary interest in
the corporation. * * *
(ii) * * * A proprietary interest in the
target corporation is not preserved to the
PO 00000
Frm 00024
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
11909
extent that creditors (or former
creditors) of the target corporation that
own a proprietary interest in the
corporation under paragraph (e)(6) of
this section (or would be so treated if
they had received the consideration in
the potential reorganization) receive
payment for the claim prior to the
potential reorganization.
(2) * * * A proprietary interest in the
target corporation is not preserved if, in
connection with a potential
reorganization, a person related (as
defined in paragraph (e)(3) of this
section) to the issuing corporation
acquires either a proprietary interest in
the target corporation or stock of the
issuing corporation that was furnished
in exchange for a proprietary interest in
the target corporation for consideration
other than stock of the issuing
corporation. The preceding sentence
does not apply to the extent those
persons who were the direct or indirect
owners of the target corporation prior to
the potential reorganization maintain a
direct or indirect proprietary interest in
the issuing corporation.
*
*
*
*
*
(6) Creditors’ claims as proprietary
interests—(i) In general. A creditor’s
claim against a target corporation may
be a proprietary interest in the target
corporation if the target corporation is
in a title 11 or similar case (as defined
in section 368(a)(3)) or the amount of
the target corporation’s liabilities
exceeds the fair market value of its
assets immediately prior to the potential
reorganization. In such cases, if any
creditor receives a proprietary interest
in the issuing corporation in exchange
for its claim, every claim of that class of
creditors and every claim of all equal
and junior classes of creditors (in
addition to the claims of shareholders)
is a proprietary interest in the target
corporation immediately prior to the
potential reorganization.
(ii) Value of proprietary interest—(A)
In general. Generally, if a creditor’s
claim is a proprietary interest in the
target corporation, the value of the
proprietary interest is the fair market
value of the creditor’s claim.
(B) Claims of creditors of most senior
classes. For a claim of the most senior
class of creditors receiving a proprietary
interest in the issuing corporation and a
claim of any equal class of creditors, the
value of the proprietary interest in the
target corporation represented by the
claim is determined by multiplying the
fair market value of the claim by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the
fair market value of the proprietary
interests in the issuing corporation that
are received in the aggregate in
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
11910
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
exchange for the claims of those classes
of creditors, and the denominator of
which is the sum of the amount of
money and the fair market value of all
other consideration (including the
proprietary interests in the issuing
corporation) received in the aggregate in
exchange for such claims.
(iii) Bifurcated claims. If a creditor’s
claim is bifurcated into a secured claim
and an unsecured claim pursuant to an
order in a title 11 or similar case (as
defined in section 368(a)(3)) or pursuant
to an agreement between the creditor
and the debtor, the bifurcation of the
claim and the allocation of
consideration to each of the resulting
claims will be respected in applying the
rules of this paragraph (e)(6).
(iv) Effect of treating creditors as
proprietors. The treatment of a creditor’s
claim as a proprietary interest in the
target corporation shall not preclude
treating shares of the target corporation
as proprietary interests in the target
corporation.
(7) * * *
*
*
*
*
*
Example 10. Creditors treated as owning a
proprietary interest. T has assets with a fair
market value of $150x and liabilities of
$200x. T has two classes of creditors, the
senior creditors with claims of $50x, and the
junior creditors with claims of $150x. T
transfers all of its assets to P in exchange for
$95x and shares of P stock with a fair market
value of $55x. The T senior creditors receive
in the aggregate $40x and P stock with a fair
market value of $10x in exchange for their
claims. Each T senior creditor receives stock
and nonstock consideration in the same
proportion. The T junior creditors receive
$55x and P stock with a fair market value of
$45x in exchange for their claims. The T
shareholders receive no consideration in
exchange for their T stock. Under paragraph
(e)(6) of this section, because the amount of
T’s liabilities exceeds the fair market value of
its assets immediately prior to the potential
reorganization, the claims of the creditors of
T may be proprietary interests in T. Because
the senior creditors receive proprietary
interests in P in the transaction in exchange
for their claims, their claims and the claims
of the junior creditors and the T shareholders
are treated as proprietary interests in T
immediately prior to the transaction. Under
paragraph (e)(6)(ii) of this section, the value
of the senior creditors’ proprietary interests
in T is $10x, the value of the proprietary
interests in P that they received in exchange
for their claims. In addition, the value of the
junior creditors’ proprietary interests in T
immediately prior to the transaction is $100x,
the value of their claims. Because P is treated
as acquiring 50 percent of the value of the
proprietary interests in T in exchange for P
stock ($55x/$110x), a substantial part of the
value of the proprietary interests in T is
preserved. Therefore, the continuity of
interest requirement is satisfied.
(8) * * * The sixth sentence of
paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section, the
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
last sentence of paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of
this section, paragraph (e)(2) of this
section, paragraph (e)(6) of this section,
and Example 10 of paragraph (e)(7) of
this section apply to transactions
occurring after the date these proposed
regulations are published as final
regulations in the Federal Register.
(f) Exchanges of net value—(1)
General rule. An exchange of net value
requires that there be both a surrender
of net value and a receipt of net value.
Whether there is a surrender of net
value is determined by reference to the
assets and liabilities of the target
corporation. Whether there is a receipt
of net value is determined by reference
to the assets and liabilities of the issuing
corporation (as defined in paragraph (b)
of this section). The purpose of the
exchange of net value requirement is to
prevent transactions that resemble sales
(including transfers of assets in
satisfaction of liabilities) from
qualifying for nonrecognition of gain or
loss available to corporate
reorganizations.
(2) Asset transactions. There is an
exchange of net value in a potential
reorganization to which section 361
would apply only if—
(i) Surrender of net value. The fair
market value of the property transferred
by the target corporation to the
acquiring corporation exceeds the sum
of the amount of liabilities of the target
corporation that are assumed by the
acquiring corporation in connection
with the exchange and the amount of
any money and the fair market value of
any other property (other than stock
permitted to be received under section
361(a) without the recognition of gain)
received by the target corporation in
connection with the exchange. For this
purpose, any obligation of the target
corporation for which the acquiring
corporation is the obligee that is
extinguished for federal income tax
purposes in connection with the
exchange is treated as a liability
assumed by the acquiring corporation;
and
(ii) Receipt of net value. The fair
market value of the assets of the issuing
corporation exceeds the amount of its
liabilities immediately after the
exchange.
(3) Stock transactions. There is an
exchange of net value in a potential
reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(B) or section 368(a)(1)(A) by
reason of section 368(a)(2)(E) only if—
(i) Surrender of net value. The fair
market value of the assets of the target
corporation exceeds the sum of the
amount of the liabilities of the target
corporation immediately prior to the
exchange and the amount of any money
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
and the fair market value of any other
property (other than stock permitted to
be received under section 354 without
the recognition of gain and nonqualified
preferred stock within the meaning of
section 351(g)) received by the
shareholders of the target corporation in
connection with the exchange. For this
purpose, assets of the target corporation
that are not held immediately after the
exchange and liabilities of the target
corporation that are extinguished for
federal income tax purposes in the
exchange other than ones, if any, to the
corporation into which the target
corporation merges in the case of a
potential reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section
368(a)(2)(E) are disregarded; and
(ii) Receipt of net value. The fair
market value of the assets of the issuing
corporation exceeds the amount of its
liabilities immediately after the
exchange.
(4) Exception. The requirement that
there be an exchange of net value does
not apply to a transaction that would
otherwise qualify as a reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(D) by reason of
section 354 or so much of section 356
as relates to section 354, provided that
the fair market value of the property
transferred to the acquiring corporation
by the target corporation exceeds the
amount of liabilities of the target
corporation immediately before the
exchange (including any liabilities
cancelled, extinguished, or assumed in
connection with the exchange), and the
fair market value of the assets of the
acquiring corporation equals or exceeds
the amount of its liabilities immediately
after the exchange.
(5) Examples. For purposes of the
examples in this paragraph (f)(5), each
of P, S, and T is a corporation; all
corporations have only one class of
stock outstanding; A, B, C, and D are
individuals; and the transaction is not
otherwise subject to recharacterization.
Except as otherwise provided, no person
is related to any other person and the
fair market value of the assets of each
corporation exceeds the amount of its
liabilities immediately prior to the
transaction described in the example.
The following examples illustrate the
application of this paragraph (f).
Example 1. T has assets with a fair market
value of $50x and liabilities of $75x, all of
which are owed to A. T transfers all of its
assets to S in exchange for S stock with a fair
market value of $50x. T distributes the S
stock to A in exchange for the T debt owed
to A. T dissolves. T’s shareholders receive
nothing in exchange for their T stock. Under
paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, T
surrenders net value because the fair market
value of the property transferred by T ($50x)
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
exceeds the sum of the amount of liabilities
that are assumed by S in connection with the
exchange ($0x) and the amount of any money
and the fair market value of any other
property (other than stock permitted to be
received under section 361(a) without the
recognition of gain) received by T in
connection with the exchange ($0x). In
addition, under paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this
section, T receives net value because the fair
market value of the assets of S exceeds the
amount of its liabilities immediately after the
exchange. Therefore, under paragraph (f) of
this section, there is an exchange of net
value.
Example 2. P owns all of the stock of both
S and T. T has assets with a fair market value
of $100x and liabilities of $160x, all of which
are owed to P. T transfers all of its assets to
S in exchange for S stock with a fair market
value of $100x. T distributes the S stock to
P in exchange for the T debt owed to P. T
dissolves. P receives nothing in exchange for
its T stock. Under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this
section, T surrenders net value because the
fair market value of the property transferred
by T ($100x) exceeds the sum of the amount
of liabilities of T assumed by S in connection
with the exchange ($0x) and the amount of
any money and the fair market value of any
other property (other than stock permitted to
be received under section 361(a) without the
recognition of gain) received by T in
connection with the exchange ($0x). In
addition, under paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this
section, T receives net value because the fair
market value of the assets of S exceeds the
amount of its liabilities immediately after the
exchange. Therefore, under paragraph (f) of
this section, there is an exchange of net
value. The result would be the same if no S
stock were issued.
Example 3. The facts are the same as in
Example 2, except that T’s debt is owed to
B. T transfers all of its assets to S in exchange
for the assumption of T’s liabilities. T
dissolves. The obligation to B is outstanding
immediately after the transfer. P receives
nothing in exchange for its T stock. Under
paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, T does not
surrender net value because the fair market
value of the property transferred by T ($100x)
does not exceed the sum of the amount of
liabilities of T assumed by S in connection
with the exchange ($160x). Therefore, under
paragraph (f) of this section, there is no
exchange of net value. The result would be
the same if S stock were issued.
Example 4. The facts are the same as in
Example 3, except that S first assumes the T
debt owed to B and subsequently T transfers
all of its assets to S in exchange for S stock
with a fair market value of $100x. If S’s
assumption of the T debt is made in
connection with the subsequent transfer of T
assets to S, under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this
section, T does not surrender net value
because the fair market value of the property
transferred by T ($100x) does not exceed the
sum of the amount of liabilities of T assumed
by S in connection with the exchange
($160x). Therefore, under paragraph (f) of
this section, there is no exchange of net
value.
Example 5. P owns 70% of the stock of T.
A owns the remaining 30% of the stock of
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
T. T has assets with a fair market value of
$100x and liabilities of $160x, all of which
are owed to P. T merges into P. A receives
nothing in exchange for its T stock. Under
(f)(2)(i) of this section, even though T’s
obligation to P is extinguished in the
transaction, it is treated as a liability assumed
by P. Thus, under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this
section, T does not surrender net value
because the fair market value of the property
transferred by T ($100x) does not exceed the
sum of the amount of liabilities of T assumed
by P in connection with the exchange
($160x). Therefore, under paragraph (f) of
this section, there is no exchange of net
value.
Example 6. A owns all of the stock of S.
S has assets with a fair market value of $200x
and liabilities of $500x, all of which are
owed to T. The S debt has a fair market value
of $200x. In addition to the S debt, T has
other assets that have a fair market value of
$700x. T has no liabilities. T transfers all of
its assets to S in exchange for S stock with
a fair market value of $900x. T distributes the
S stock to its shareholders in exchange for
their T stock. T dissolves. S cancels all of its
stock held by its shareholders immediately
prior to the exchange. Under paragraph
(f)(2)(i) of this section, T surrenders net value
because the fair market value of the property
transferred by T ($900x) exceeds the sum of
the amount of liabilities of T assumed by S
in connection with the exchange ($0x) and
the amount of any money and the fair market
value of any other property (other than stock
permitted to be received under section 361(a)
without the recognition of gain) received by
T in connection with the exchange ($0x). In
addition, under paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this
section, T receives net value because the fair
market value of the assets of S ($900x)
exceeds the amount of the liabilities of S
($0x) immediately after the exchange.
Therefore, under paragraph (f) of this section,
there is an exchange of net value.
Example 7. P owns all of the stock of S.
T has assets with a fair market value of $300x
and liabilities of $650x, $500x of which are
owed to P and $150x of which are owed to
A. T merges into S. In the merger, P stock is
issued to A in satisfaction of the debt owed
to A by T. Also in the merger, P contributes
to the capital of T the debt P is owed.
Assume the merger would qualify as a
reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(A) by
reason of section 368(a)(2)(D) if the exchange
of net value requirement in paragraph (f)(1)
of this section did not apply. Whether there
is a surrender of net value is determined by
reference to the actual merger of T into S.
Thus, T surrenders net value because the fair
market value of the property transferred by
T ($300x) exceeds the sum of the amount of
liabilities of T assumed by S in connection
with the exchange ($0x) and the amount of
any money and the fair market value of any
other property (other than stock permitted to
be received under section 361(a) without the
recognition of gain) received by T in
connection with the exchange ($0x). Whether
there is a receipt of net value is determined
by reference to the issuing corporation, in
this case, P. T receives net value because the
fair market value of the assets of P exceeds
the amount of the liabilities of P immediately
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
11911
after the exchange. Therefore, under
paragraph (f) of this section, there is an
exchange of net value.
Example 8. P owns all of the stock of both
S and T. T transfers all of its assets to S in
exchange for $34x, the assets’ fair market
value. Following this transfer, T pays its
debts of $2x and dissolves, distributing the
remaining $32x to P. Assume the transaction
would qualify as a reorganization under
section 368(a)(1)(D) by reason of section 354
or so much of section 356 as relates to section
354 if the net value requirement in paragraph
(f)(1) of this section did not apply. Under
paragraph (f)(2) of this section, there is no
exchange of net value because the fair market
value of the property transferred by T ($34x)
does not exceed the amount of money
received by T in connection with the
exchange ($34x). However, under paragraph
(f)(4) of this section, because the transaction
would otherwise qualify as a reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(D) and the other
requirements of paragraph (f)(4) of this
section are satisfied, the exchange of net
value requirement does not apply.
Accordingly, the transaction qualifies as a
reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(D).
Example 9. A and B own all of the stock
of T. T has assets with a fair market value
of $500x and liabilities of $900x, all of which
are owed to C and D, security holders of T.
P acquires all of the stock and securities of
T in exchange for P voting stock. In the
transaction, A and B receive nothing in
exchange for their stock of T. C and D
exchange all of their securities of T for stock
of P. Under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this section,
there is a surrender of net value because the
fair market value of the assets of T held
immediately prior to the exchange that are
held immediately after the exchange ($500x)
exceeds the sum of the amount of liabilities
of T immediately prior to the exchange ($0x,
disregarding the liabilities of $900x
extinguished in the exchange) and the
amount of any money and the fair market
value of any other property (other than stock
permitted to be received under section 354
without the recognition of gain and
nonqualified preferred stock within the
meaning of section 351(g)) received by the
shareholders of T ($0x). In addition, under
paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, there is a
receipt of net value because the fair market
value of the assets of P exceeds the amount
of the liabilities of P immediately after the
exchange. Therefore, under paragraph (f) of
this section, there is an exchange of net
value.
Example 10. A and B own all of the stock
of P, and C and D own all of the stock of T.
P has assets with a fair market value of $400x
and liabilities of $500x, and T has assets with
a fair market value of $1000x and liabilities
of $600x. P acquires all of the stock of T. C
and D exchange all of their T stock, with a
fair market value of $400x, for P stock with
a fair market value of $300x immediately
after the transaction. P cancels all of the stock
held by A and B immediately prior to the
exchange. Under paragraph (f)(3)(i) of this
section, there is a surrender of net value
because the fair market value of the assets of
T held immediately prior to the exchange
that are held immediately after the exchange
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
11912
Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 46 / Thursday, March 10, 2005 / Proposed Rules
($1000x) exceeds the amount of liabilities of
T ($600x) immediately prior to the exchange
and the amount of any money and the fair
market value of any other property (other
than stock permitted to be received under
section 354 without the recognition of gain
and nonqualified preferred stock within the
meaning of section 351(g)) received by the
shareholders of T ($0x). In addition, under
paragraph (f)(3)(ii) of this section, there is a
receipt of net value because the fair market
value of the assets of P ($800x), which
includes the fair market value of the stock of
T, exceeds the amount of its liabilities
($500x) immediately after the exchange.
Therefore, under paragraph (f) of this section,
there is an exchange of net value. To the
extent that C and D surrender T stock with
a value in excess of the value of the P stock
they receive, the tax consequences of the
surrender of the additional stock are
determined based on the facts and
circumstances.
stock is satisfied if the only additional
consideration is an assumption of
liabilities.
(ii) Paragraph (d)(1)(i) of this section
applies to transactions occurring after
the date these proposed regulations are
published as final regulations in the
Federal Register.
Mark E. Matthews,
Deputy Commissioner for Services and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 05–4384 Filed 3–9–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4830–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
33 CFR Chapter I
§ 1.368–2
SUMMARY: At the request of the Attorney
General of Rhode Island, the Coast
Guard is reopening the public comment
period on a petition from the City of Fall
River, Massachusetts. Fall River?s
petition asks the Coast Guard to
promulgate regulations establishing
thermal and vapor dispersion exclusion
zones for marine spills of liquefied
natural gas, similar to Department of
Transportation regulations for such
spills on land. The Attorney General of
Rhode Island asked that we reopen the
comment period for an additional sixty
days, to allow his office to review a
threat analysis being prepared for its
consideration.
Definition of terms.
*
*
*
*
(d) * * *
(1)(i) One corporation must acquire
substantially all the properties of
another corporation solely in exchange
for all or part of its own voting stock,
or solely in exchange for all or a part of
the voting stock of a corporation which
is in control of the acquiring
corporation. For example, Corporation P
owns all the stock of Corporation A. All
the properties of Corporation W are
transferred to Corporation A either
solely in exchange for voting stock of
Corporation P or solely in exchange for
less than 80 percent of the voting stock
of Corporation A. Either of such
transactions constitutes a reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(C). However, if
the properties of Corporation W are
acquired in exchange for voting stock of
both Corporation P and Corporation A,
the transaction will not constitute a
reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(C). In determining whether the
exchange meets the requirement of
‘‘solely for voting stock,’’ the
assumption by the acquiring corporation
of liabilities of the transferor
corporation, or the fact that property
acquired from the transferor corporation
is subject to a liability, shall be
disregarded. Section 368(a)(1)(C) does
not prevent consideration of the effect of
an assumption of liabilities on the
general character of the transaction but
merely provides that the requirement
that the exchange be solely for voting
VerDate jul<14>2003
18:23 Mar 09, 2005
Jkt 205001
[USCG–2004–19615]
Exclusion Zones for Marine LNG Spills
Coast Guard, DHS.
Request for comments;
reopening of comment period.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Comments and related material
must reach the Docket Management
Facility on or before May 9, 2005.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
identified by Coast Guard docket
number USCG–2004–19615 to the
Docket Management Facility at the U.S.
Department of Transportation. To avoid
duplication, please use only one of the
following methods:
(1) Web site: https://dms.dot.gov.
(2) Mail: Docket Management Facility,
U.S. Department of Transportation, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC
20590–0001.
(3) Fax: 202–493–2251.
(4) Delivery: Room PL–401 on the
Plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC,
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday
through Friday, except Federal holidays.
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4702
If
you have questions on this notice, call
Commander John Cushing at 202–267–
1043 or e-mail
JCushing@comdt.uscg.mil. If you have
questions on viewing or submitting
material to the docket, call Andrea M.
Jenkins, Program Manager, Docket
Operations, telephone 202–366–0271.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Public Participation and Request for
Comments
(6) Effective date. This paragraph (f)
applies to transactions occurring after
the date these proposed regulations are
published as final regulations in the
Federal Register.
Par. 5. Section 1.368–2 is amended by
revising paragraph (d)(1) to read as
follows:
*
The telephone number is 202–366–
9329.
Sfmt 4702
We encourage you to submit
comments and related material on the
petition for rulemaking. All comments
received will be posted, without change,
to https://dms.dot.gov and will include
any personal information you have
provided. We have an agreement with
the Department of Transportation (DOT)
to use the Docket Management Facility.
Please see DOT’s ‘‘Privacy Act’’
paragraph below.
Submitting comments: If you submit a
comment, please include your name and
address, identify the docket number for
this notice (USCG–2004–19615), and
give the reason for each comment. You
may submit your comments and
material by electronic means, mail, fax,
or delivery to the Docket Management
Facility at the address under ADDRESSES;
but please submit your comments and
material by only one means. If you
submit them by mail or delivery, submit
them in an unbound format, no larger
than 81⁄2 by 11 inches, suitable for
copying and electronic filing. If you
submit them by mail and would like to
know that they reached the Facility,
please enclose a stamped, self-addressed
postcard or envelope. We will consider
all comments and material received
during the comment period.
Viewing the comments: To view the
comments, go to https://dms.dot.gov at
any time and conduct a simple search
using the docket number. You may also
visit the Docket Management Facility in
room PL–401 on the Plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street,
SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
Privacy Act: Anyone can search the
electronic form of all comments
received into any of our dockets by the
name of the individual submitting the
comment (or signing the comment, if
submitted on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may
review the Department of
Transportation’s Privacy Act Statement
in the Federal Register published on
E:\FR\FM\10MRP1.SGM
10MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 46 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11903-11912]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-4384]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
Internal Revenue Service
26 CFR Part 1
[REG-163314-03]
RIN 1545-BC88
Transactions Involving the Transfer of No Net Value
AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Treasury.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document contains proposed regulations providing guidance
regarding corporate formations, reorganizations, and liquidations of
insolvent corporations. These regulations provide rules requiring the
exchange (or, in the case of section 332, a distribution) of net value
for the nonrecognition rules of subchapter C to apply to the
transaction. The regulations also provide guidance on determining when
and to what extent creditors of a corporation will be treated as
proprietors of the corporation in determining whether continuity of
interest is preserved in a potential reorganization. Finally, the
regulations provide guidance on whether a distribution in cancellation
or redemption of less than all of the shares one corporation owns in
another corporation satisfies the requirements of section 332. The
proposed regulations affect corporations and their shareholders.
DATES: Written and electronic comments and requests for a public
hearing must be received by June 8, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Send submissions to: CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-163314-03), room
5203, Internal Revenue Service, POB 7604, Ben Franklin Station,
Washington DC 20044. Submissions may be hand delivered Monday through
Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to CC:PA:LPD:PR (REG-
163314-03), Courier's Desk, Internal Revenue Service, 1111 Constitution
Avenue, NW., Washington DC or sent electronically, via the IRS Internet
site at https://www.irs.gov/regs or via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
at https://www.regulations.gov (IRS and REG-163314-03).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Concerning the proposed regulations on
the reorganization provisions and regarding issues raised by the
proposed regulations with respect to provisions other than those
related to corporate liquidations and subchapter K, Jean Brenner, (202)
622-7790; concerning the proposed regulations on corporate
liquidations, Sean McKeever, (202) 622-7750; concerning the application
of the principles of the proposed regulations to transfers of property
to partnerships under subchapter K, Jeanne Sullivan or Michael Goldman,
(202) 622-3070; concerning submissions of comments and/or requests for
a public hearing, Treena Garrett, (202) 622-7180 (not toll-free
numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
General Background
The IRS and the Treasury Department believe that there is a need to
provide a comprehensive set of rules addressing the application of the
nonrecognition rules of subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code
(Code) to transactions involving insolvent corporations and to other
transactions that raise similar issues. The proposed regulations
provide three sets of rules, the principal one of which is that the
nonrecognition rules of subchapter C do not apply unless there is an
exchange (or, in the case of section 332, a distribution) of net value
(the ``net value requirement''). The proposed regulations also provide
guidance on the circumstances in which (and the extent to which)
creditors of a corporation will be treated as proprietors of the
corporation in determining whether continuity of interest is preserved
in a potential reorganization. The proposed regulations further provide
guidance on whether a distribution in cancellation or redemption of
less than all of the shares one corporation owns in another corporation
satisfies the requirements of section 332. Each of these rules is
discussed separately in this preamble.
[[Page 11904]]
Explanation of Provisions
Exchange of Net Value Requirement
Background
In subchapter C, each of the rules described below that provides
for the general nonrecognition of gain or loss refers to a distribution
in cancellation or redemption of stock or an exchange for stock.
Section 332 provides, in part, that ``[n]o gain or loss shall be
recognized on the receipt by a corporation of property distributed in
complete liquidation of another corporation * * * only if * * * the
distribution is by such other corporation in complete cancellation or
redemption of all its stock.'' Section 351 provides, in part, that
``[n]o gain or loss shall be recognized if property is transferred to a
corporation by one or more persons solely in exchange for stock in such
corporation.'' Section 354 provides, in part, that ``[n]o gain or loss
shall be recognized if stock or securities in a corporation a party to
a reorganization are * * * exchanged solely for stock or securities * *
* in another corporation a party to the reorganization.'' Finally,
section 361 provides that ``[n]o gain or loss shall be recognized to a
corporation if such corporation is a party to a reorganization and
exchanges property * * * solely for stock or securities in another
corporation a party to the reorganization.''
The authorities interpreting section 332 have consistently
concluded that the language of the statute referring to a distribution
in complete cancellation or redemption of stock requires a distribution
of net value. Section 1.332-2(b) provides that section 332 applies only
if a parent receives at least partial payment for the stock that it
owns in the liquidating corporation. Such payment could not occur
unless there were a distribution of net value. The courts have focused
in numerous cases on the effect of liabilities on the distribution
requirement of section 332. In H. G. Hill Stores, Inc. v. Commissioner,
44 B.T.A. 1182 (1941), a subsidiary liquidated and distributed its
assets and liabilities to its parent in cancellation of its
indebtedness to its parent. The court interpreted the phrase ``in
complete cancellation or redemption of all its stock'' as requiring
that a distribution be made to the parent in its capacity as a
stockholder in order for section 112(b)(6) (the predecessor of section
332) to apply and, thus, held that section 112(b)(6) did not apply
because the parent corporation received payment in its capacity as a
creditor and not in its capacity as a stockholder. See also Rev. Ruls.
2003-125 (2003-52 I.R.B. 1243), 70-489 (1970-2 C.B. 53), and 59-296
(1959-2 C.B. 87).
Rev. Rul. 59-296 holds that the principles relevant to liquidations
under section 332 also apply to reorganizations under section 368.
However, other authorities are not consistent with the approach of Rev.
Rul. 59-296. Most notably, in Norman Scott, Inc. v. Commissioner, 48
T.C. 598 (1967), the Tax Court held that a transaction involving an
insolvent target corporation qualified as a reorganization under
section 368(a)(1)(A).
The IRS and the Treasury Department have decided to resolve the
uncertainties by generally adopting a net value requirement for each of
the described nonrecognition rules in subchapter C. The net value
requirement generally requires that there be an exchange of property
for stock, or in the case of section 332, a distribution of property in
cancellation or redemption of stock. The IRS and the Treasury
Department believe that the net value requirement is the appropriate
unifying standard because it is more consistent with the statutory
framework of subchapter C, case law, and published guidance than any
other approach considered. In addition, the IRS and the Treasury
Department believe that the net value requirement is the appropriate
standard because transactions that fail the requirement, that is,
transfers of property in exchange for the assumption of liabilities or
in satisfaction of liabilities, resemble sales and should not receive
nonrecognition treatment.
The IRS and the Treasury Department considered several other
approaches to unify and rationalize the nonrecognition rules of
subchapter C as they applied to transactions involving insolvent
corporations. The IRS and the Treasury Department considered whether
there should be special rules for potential nonrecognition transactions
between members of a consolidated group. Such rules might disregard the
various exchange requirements in the statute because of the single
entity principles generally applicable to corporations joining in the
filing of a consolidated return. This approach was rejected because
there is no consolidated return policy that compels a different set of
rules for potential nonrecognition transactions between members of a
consolidated group. Cf. Sec. 1.1502-35T(f)(1); Notice 94-49 (1994-1
C.B. 358). The current intercompany transaction rules (in particular
those regarding successors in Sec. 1.1502-13(j)) could be modified to
extend deferral of gain and loss to additional situations as long as
the assets remained in the consolidated group pending later
acceleration events that befall the assets or successor entities.
However, no such rules are being proposed because the case for treating
the transferor and transferee members as a single entity seems weakest
when the group's equity investment in the transferor has been
eliminated.
The IRS and the Treasury Department also considered whether
satisfying the words of the relevant statutory provisions that describe
the relationship of the parties to a transaction should be sufficient
for applying the nonrecognition rules to a transaction between the
parties. This approach would essentially take the position that the
words of distribution or exchange in the statute do not state a
separate requirement but merely describe the most common form of the
transaction to which the provision is intended to apply. For example,
under this approach, it would be sufficient for a transaction to
qualify as a distribution in complete liquidation under section 332 if
the corporation to which assets are transferred owned stock meeting the
requirements of section 1504(a)(2) at the time of the transfer. Also,
under this approach, it would be sufficient for a transaction to
qualify as a transfer under section 351 if a transferor of assets were
in control (as defined in section 368(c)) of the corporation to which
assets are transferred immediately after the transaction. However, this
approach would require distinguishing, when the structure of the
statute does not, between parts of a statute that impose requirements
and other parts that do not.
Explanation of rules
Net Value Requirement
For potential liquidations under section 332, the net value
requirement is effected by the partial payment rule in Sec. 1.332-2(b)
of the current regulations. The proposed regulations make no
modifications to this rule, except, as discussed below, for
transactions in which the recipient corporation owns shares of multiple
classes of stock in the dissolving corporation. The proposed
regulations also make minor changes to other sections of the
regulations under section 332 to conform those regulations to changes
in the statute.
For potential transactions under section 351, the proposed
regulations add Sec. 1.351-1(a)(1)(iii)(A), which requires a surrender
of net value and, in paragraph (a)(1)(iii)(B), a receipt of net value.
This rule is similar to that for potential asset reorganizations,
[[Page 11905]]
discussed below. The proposed regulations make minor changes to other
sections of the regulations under section 351 to conform those
regulations to changes in the statute.
For potential reorganizations under section 368, the proposed
regulations modify Sec. 1.368-1(b)(1) to add the requirement that
there be an exchange of net value. Section 1.368-1(f) of the proposed
regulations sets forth the rules for determining whether there is an
exchange of net value. These rules require, in paragraph (f)(2)(i) for
potential asset reorganizations and paragraph (f)(3)(i) for potential
stock reorganizations, a surrender of net value and, in paragraph
(f)(2)(ii) for potential asset reorganizations and paragraph (f)(3)(ii)
for potential stock reorganizations, a receipt of net value. In a
potential asset reorganization (one in which the target corporation
would not recognize gain or loss under section 361), the target
corporation surrenders net value if the fair market value of the
property transferred by it to the acquiring corporation exceeds the sum
of the amount of liabilities of the target corporation that are assumed
by the acquiring corporation and the amount of any money and the fair
market value of any property (other than stock permitted to be received
under section 361(a) without the recognition of gain) received by the
target corporation. This rule ensures that a target corporation
transfers property in exchange for stock. The IRS and the Treasury
Department believe that the proposed rule better identifies whether a
target corporation transfers property in exchange for stock than a rule
that looks to the issuance or failure to issue stock because, when the
parties are related, the issuance or failure to issue stock might be
meaningless.
In a potential stock reorganization (one which would be described
in section 368(a)(1)(B) or section 368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section
368(a)(2)(E)), the rules are modified to reflect the fact that the
target corporation remains in existence. A potential reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section 368(a)(2)(E) must
satisfy the asset reorganization test for the merger of the controlled
corporation into the target corporation (for which test the controlled
corporation is treated as the target corporation) and the stock
reorganization test for the acquisition of the target corporation.
In a potential asset reorganization, the target corporation
receives net value if the fair market value of the assets of the
issuing corporation exceeds the amount of its liabilities immediately
after the exchange. This rule ensures that the target corporation
receives stock (or is deemed to receive stock under the ``meaningless
gesture'' doctrine) having value. This rule is necessary because the
IRS and the Treasury Department believe that the receipt of worthless
stock in exchange for assets cannot be part of an exchange for stock.
Scope of Net Value Requirement
The proposed regulations provide in Sec. 1.368-1(b)(1) that the
net value requirement does not apply to reorganizations under section
368(a)(1)(E) and 368(a)(1)(F). The IRS and the Treasury Department
recently issued final regulations (T.D. 9182, 70 FR 9219 (Feb. 25,
2005)) stating that a continuity of business enterprise and a
continuity of interest are not required for a transaction to qualify as
a reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(E) or (F) because applying the
requirements in those contexts is not necessary to protect the policies
underlying the reorganization provisions. Because the purpose
underlying the net value requirement is the same as that underlying the
continuity of interest requirement, the IRS and the Treasury Department
have similarly concluded that applying the net value requirement to
transactions under section 368(a)(1)(E) or (F) is not necessary to
protect the policies underlying the reorganization provisions.
The proposed regulations also provide in Sec. 1.368-1(b)(1) and
Sec. 1.368-1(f)(4) that the net value requirement does not apply to a
limited class of transactions that qualify as reorganizations under
section 368(a)(1)(D). That class of transactions are the transactions
exemplified by James Armour, Inc. v. Commissioner, 43 T.C. 295 (1964),
and Rev. Rul. 70-240 (1970-1 C.B. 81). The IRS and the Treasury
Department acknowledge that the conclusions of the described
authorities are inconsistent with the principles of the net value
requirement. Nevertheless, the IRS and the Treasury Department
currently desire to preserve the conclusions of these authorities while
they more broadly study issues relating to acquisitive reorganizations
under section 368(a)(1)(D), including the continuing vitality of
various liquidation-reincorporation authorities after the enactment of
the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Public Law 99-514 (100 Stat. 2085 (1986)).
Consistent with the described authorities, the exception is limited to
acquisitive reorganizations of solvent target corporations. The
proposed regulations provide no specific guidance (other than in an
example incorporating the facts of Rev. Rul. 70-240 (1980-1 C.B. 81)),
other than with regard to the application of the net value requirement,
on when a transaction will qualify as a reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(D). In this regard, compare Armour with Warsaw Photographic
Associates, Inc. v. Commissioner, 84 T.C. 21 (1985).
Definition of Liabilities
In applying the proposed regulations, taxpayers must determine the
amount of liabilities of the target corporation that are assumed by the
acquiring corporation. Although the proposed regulations do not define
the term liability, the IRS and the Treasury Department intend that the
term be interpreted broadly. Thus, for purposes of the proposed
regulations, a liability should include any obligation of a taxpayer,
whether the obligation is debt for federal income tax purposes or
whether the obligation is taken into account for the purpose of any
other Code section. Generally, an obligation is something that reduces
the net worth of the obligor. The IRS and the Treasury Department have
proposed adopting a similar definition of liability for purposes of
implementing section 358(h) in subchapter K. See Prop. Reg. Sec.
1.752-1(a)(1)(ii) and Prop. Reg. Sec. 1.752-7(b)(2)(ii) (REG-106736-
00, 68 FR 37434 (June 24, 2003), 2003-28 I.R.B. 46).
Amount of Liabilities
The proposed regulations provide no specific guidance on
determining the amount of a liability. The IRS and the Treasury
Department are currently considering various approaches to determining
the amount of a liability. One approach would be to treat the amount of
a liability represented by a debt instrument as its adjusted issue
price determined under sections 1271 through 1275 of the Code (the OID
rules) (perhaps with exceptions for certain contingent payment debt
instruments) while treating the amount of other liabilities as the
value of such liabilities. Another approach would be to treat the
amount of all liabilities as the value of such liabilities. Other
approaches could borrow in whole or in part from other authorities such
as those relevant to the determination of insolvency under section
108(d)(3). One method for valuing liabilities is to determine the
amount of cash that a willing assignor would pay to a willing assignee
to assume the liability in an arm's-length transaction. Cf. Prop. Reg.
Sec. 1.752-7(b)(2)(ii).
[[Page 11906]]
In the course of developing these regulations, the IRS and the
Treasury Department considered special issues related to the assumption
of nonrecourse liabilities in the context of a transaction to which
section 332, 351, or 368 might apply. The IRS and the Treasury
Department are considering a rule similar to the one in Rev. Rul. 92-53
(1992-2 C.B. 48) that would disregard the amount by which a nonrecourse
liability exceeds the fair market value of the property securing the
liability when determining the amount of liabilities that are assumed.
For example, under such a rule, if an individual transfers an apartment
building with a fair market value of $175x subject to a nonrecourse
obligation of $190x and an adjacent lot of land with a fair market
value of $10x to a corporation, the transferor will have surrendered
net value because the fair market value of the assets transferred
($175x + $10x) exceeds the amount of the liabilities assumed ($190x-
$15x, the amount of the excess nonrecourse indebtedness). Any rule
disregarding excess nonrecourse indebtedness would be limited to the
application of the net value requirement and would have no relevance
for other federal income tax purposes, such as the determination of the
amount realized under section 1001. Comments are requested regarding
the treatment of nonrecourse indebtedness and the effect of such
treatment when both property subject to the nonrecourse indebtedness
and other property are transferred.
Assumption of Liabilities
In general, the IRS and the Treasury Department believe that the
principles of section 357(d) should be applied to determine whether a
liability is assumed when more than one person might bear
responsibility for the liability. Comments are requested regarding
whether and to what extent the principles of section 357(d) should be
incorporated into the regulations.
The IRS and the Treasury Department believe that transfers of
assets in satisfaction of liabilities should be treated the same as
transfers of assets in exchange for the assumption of liabilities.
Accordingly, in determining whether there is a surrender of net value,
the proposed regulations treat any obligation of the target corporation
for which the acquiring corporation is the obligee as a liability
assumed by the acquiring corporation.
In Connection With
The proposed regulations take into account not only liabilities
assumed in the exchange, but also liabilities assumed ``in connection
with'' the exchange. The proposed regulations include this rule so that
the timing of an acquiring corporation's assumption of a target
corporation's liability (or a creditor's discharge of a target
corporation's indebtedness), whether before an exchange, in the
exchange, or after the exchange, will have the same effect in
determining whether there is a surrender of net value in the exchange.
The proposed regulations also take into account, in determining whether
there is a surrender of net value, money and other nonstock
consideration received by the target corporation in connection with the
exchange.
The IRS and the Treasury Department intend that the substance-over-
form doctrine and other nonstatutory doctrines be used in addition to
the ``in connection with'' rule in determining whether the purposes and
requirements of the net value requirement are satisfied. Cf. Rev. Rul.
68-602 (1968-2 C.B. 135) (holding that a parent corporation's
cancellation of a wholly-owned subsidiary's indebtedness to it that is
an integral part of a liquidation is transitory and, therefore,
disregarded).
Section 368(a)(1)(C)
The proposed regulations remove the statement in Sec. 1.368-
2(d)(1) that the assumption of liabilities may so alter the character
of a transaction as to place the transaction outside the purposes and
assumptions of the reorganization provisions. Because the proposed
regulations provide more specific guidance regarding when the
assumption of liabilities will prevent a transaction from qualifying as
a reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(C), the IRS and the Treasury
Department believe the statement is unnecessary.
Section 721
The IRS and the Treasury Department recognize that the principles
in the proposed rules under section 351 may be applied by analogy to
other Code sections that are somewhat parallel in scope and effect,
such as section 721, dealing with the contribution of property to a
partnership in exchange for a partnership interest. The IRS and the
Treasury Department request comments on whether rules similar to the
rules of the proposed regulations should be proposed in the context of
subchapter K and the considerations that might justify distinguishing
the relevant provisions in subchapter K from those provisions that are
the subject of these proposed regulations.
Continuity of Interest
Background
The Code provides general nonrecognition treatment for
reorganizations described in section 368. A transaction must comply
with both the statutory requirements of the reorganization provisions
and various nonstatutory requirements, including the continuity of
interest requirement, to qualify as a reorganization. See Sec. 1.368-
1(b). The purpose of the continuity of interest requirement is to
ensure that reorganizations are limited to readjustments of continuing
interests in property under modified corporate form and to prevent
transactions that resemble sales from qualifying for nonrecognition of
gain or loss available to corporate reorganizations. See Sec. Sec.
1.368-1(b), 1.368-1(e)(1). Continuity of interest requires that a
substantial part of the value of the proprietary interests in the
target corporation be preserved in the reorganization. See Sec. 1.368-
1(e)(1); see also LeTulle v. Scofield, 308 U.S. 415 (1940); Helvering
v. Minnesota Tea Co., 296 U.S. 378 (1935); Pinellas Ice & Cold Storage
Co. v. Commissioner, 287 U.S. 462 (1933); Cortland Specialty Co. v.
Commissioner, 60 F.2d 937 (2d Cir. 1932), cert. denied, 288 U.S. 599
(1933).
Generally, it is the shareholders who hold the proprietary
interests in a corporation. However, when a corporation is in
bankruptcy, the corporation's stock may be worthless and eliminated in
the restructuring. In this case, when the corporation engages in a
potential reorganization, its creditors may receive acquiring
corporation stock in exchange for their claims and its shareholders may
receive nothing. Thus, without special rules, most potential
reorganizations of corporations in bankruptcy would fail the continuity
of interest requirement. The Supreme Court addressed this problem in
Helvering v. Alabama Asphaltic Limestone Co., 315 U.S. 179 (1942), in
which it held that, for practical purposes, the old continuity of
interest in the shareholders shifted to the creditors not later than
the time ``when the creditors took steps to enforce their demands
against the insolvent debtor. In this case, that was the date of the
institution of bankruptcy proceedings. From that time on, they had
effective command over the property.'' See also Palm Springs Holding
Corp. v. Commissioner, 315 U.S. 185 (1942) (holding that the legal
procedure employed by the creditors to obtain effective command over a
corporation's property was not material when the corporation was
insolvent).
[[Page 11907]]
Notwithstanding Palm Springs, it is not clear when creditors of an
insolvent corporation not in a title 11 or similar case may be
considered proprietors for purposes of satisfying the continuity of
interest requirement.
In Atlas Oil & Refining Corp. v. Commissioner, 36 T.C. 675 (1961),
the court held that only creditors who in fact receive stock in the
acquiring corporation, by relation back, can be deemed to have been
equity owners at the time of the transfer. The court stated that the
fact that a more senior class of creditors may have had ``effective
command'' over the assets in the case will not make them proprietors if
they do not in fact exercise their right to receive stock in the
acquiring corporation.
In the Bankruptcy Tax Act of 1980, Public Law 96-589 (94 Stat. 3389
(1980)), Congress added section 368(a)(1)(G), providing for a new type
of reorganization applicable to corporations in title 11 or similar
cases. In the legislative history to that statute, Congress stated its
expectation that the courts and the Treasury Department would determine
whether the continuity of interest requirement is satisfied in a
potential reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(G) by treating as
proprietors the most senior class of creditors who received stock,
together with all interests equal and junior to them, including
shareholders. See S. Rep. No. 1035, 96th Cong., 2d Sess. 36-37 (1980).
This formulation is similar to the relation back analysis that the Tax
Court used in Atlas Oil.
Explanation of Provisions
The proposed regulations add new Sec. 1.368-1(e)(6), which
describes the circumstances in which creditors of a corporation
generally, and which creditors in particular, will be treated as
holding a proprietary interest in a target corporation immediately
before a potential reorganization. In general, the proposed rules adopt
the standard for reorganizations under section 368(a)(1)(G) recommended
in the Senate Finance Committee Report to the Bankruptcy Tax Act of
1980. The proposed regulations also provide that creditors of an
insolvent target corporation not in a title 11 or similar case may be
treated as holding a proprietary interest in the corporation even
though they take no steps to obtain effective command over the
corporation's property, other than their agreement to receive stock in
the potential reorganization. The proposed regulations, at Sec. 1.368-
1(e)(6)(ii), provide specific guidance on how to quantify the
proprietary interest of the target corporation so that taxpayers may
determine whether a substantial part of the value of the proprietary
interests in the target corporation is preserved in the potential
reorganization. Because a creditor of a corporation may hold claims in
more than one class, the proposed regulations generally refer to claims
of a particular class of creditors rather than to creditors in a
particular class.
The proposed regulations treat claims of the most senior class of
creditors to receive a proprietary interest in the issuing corporation
and claims of all equal classes of creditors (together, the senior
claims) differently from the claims of classes of creditors junior to
the senior claims (the junior claims). The proposed regulations treat
senior claims as representing, in part, a creditor claim against the
corporation, and, in part, a proprietary interest in the corporation.
This rule mitigates the adverse effect on continuity of interest of
senior creditors seeking payment primarily in nonstock consideration
while still taking some payment in shares of stock of the acquiring
corporation. The determination of what part of a senior claim is a
proprietary interest in the target corporation is made by calculating
the average treatment for all senior claims. Thus, the proposed
regulations, at Sec. 1.368-1(e)(2)(ii)(B), provide that the value of a
proprietary interest in the target corporation represented by a senior
claim is determined by multiplying the fair market value of the
creditor's claim by a fraction, the numerator of which is the fair
market value of the proprietary interests in the issuing corporation
that are received in the aggregate in exchange for the senior claims,
and the denominator of which is the sum of the amount of money and the
fair market value of all other consideration (including the proprietary
interests in the issuing corporation) received in the aggregate in
exchange for such claims. The effect of this rule is that there is 100
percent continuity of interest if each senior claim is satisfied with
the same ratio of stock to nonstock consideration and no junior claim
is satisfied with nonstock consideration.
The proposed regulations, at Sec. 1.368-1(e)(6)(ii)(A), provide
that the entire amount of a junior claim represents a proprietary
interest in the target corporation immediately before the potential
reorganization. Thus, the value of the proprietary interest represented
by that claim is the fair market value of the claim (which value is
generally determined by reference to the amount of money and the fair
market value of the consideration received in exchange therefor).
The rules in the proposed regulations are intended to work in
conjunction with the current continuity of interest rules. Accordingly,
the proposed regulations modify Sec. 1.368-1(e)(1)(ii), relating to
the effect on continuity of interest of distributions or redemptions
before a potential reorganization, and Sec. 1.368-1(e)(2), relating to
the effect on continuity of interest of acquisitions of proprietary
interests by persons related to the issuing corporation, to ensure that
the purpose of these rules is effected when creditors' claims represent
the proprietary interests in the target corporation.
Section 332
Background
Section 332 requires that a subsidiary's liquidating distribution
to its parent corporation be in complete cancellation or redemption of
all its stock. In Spaulding Bakeries, Inc. v. Commissioner, 252 F.2d
693 (2d Cir. 1958), aff'g 27 T.C. 684 (1957), the Second Circuit
concluded that for a distribution to be made in cancellation or
redemption of ``all the stock,'' payment must be made on each class of
stock. See also H. K. Porter Co. v. Commissioner, 87 T.C. 689 (1986).
Explanation of Provisions
The current regulations provide that section 332 applies only to
those cases in which the recipient corporation receives at least
partial payment for the stock that it owns in the liquidating
corporation. The proposed regulations clarify that section 332 applies
only to those cases in which the recipient corporation receives at
least partial payment for each class of stock that it owns in the
liquidating corporation, an interpretation consistent with the Second
Circuit's holding in Spaulding Bakeries and the Tax Court's holding in
H. K. Porter. The IRS and the Treasury Department have adopted this
approach because they believe that it is appropriate for a taxpayer to
recognize loss when it fails to receive a distribution on a class of
stock in liquidation of its subsidiary. The recipient corporation would
recognize such a loss if the distribution qualified as a
reorganization.
The proposed regulations also confirm that when the liquidation
fails to qualify under section 332 because the recipient corporation
did not receive at least partial payment for each class of stock but
did receive at least partial payment for at least one class of stock,
the transaction may qualify as a
[[Page 11908]]
corporate reorganization under section 368.
Proposed Effective Date
These proposed regulations will apply to transactions that occur
after the date they are published as final regulations in the Federal
Register.
Special Analyses
It has been determined that this notice of proposed rulemaking is
not a significant regulatory action as defined in Executive Order
12866. Therefore, a regulatory assessment is not required. It has also
been determined that section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedures
Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 5) does not apply to these proposed regulations
and, because the regulation does not impose a collection of information
on small entities, the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. chapter 6)
does not apply. Pursuant to section 7805(f) of the Internal Revenue
Code, this notice of proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Chief
Counsel for Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comment
on its impact on small business.
Comments and Requests for Public Hearing
Before these proposed regulations are adopted as final regulations,
consideration will be given to any written comments (a signed original
and 8 copies) or comments transmitted via Internet that are submitted
timely to the IRS. The IRS and the Treasury Department request comments
on the clarity of the proposed rules and how they can be made easier to
understand. All comments will be available for public inspection and
copying. A public hearing will be scheduled if requested in writing by
any person that timely submits written comments. If a public hearing is
scheduled, notice of the date, time, and place for the public hearing
will be published in the Federal Register.
Drafting Information
The principal authors of these proposed regulations are Jean
Brenner and Sean McKeever of the Office of Associate Chief Counsel
(Corporate). However, other personnel from the IRS and the Treasury
Department participated in their development.
List of Subjects in 26 CFR Part 1
Income taxes, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Proposed Amendments to the Regulations
Accordingly, 26 CFR part 1 is proposed to be amended as follows:
PART 1--INCOME TAXES
Paragraph 1. The authority citation for part 1 is amended by
revising the entry for ``Section 1.351-1'' to read, in part, as
follows:
Authority: 26 U.S.C. 7805 * * *
Section 1.351-1 also issued under 26 U.S.C. 351. * * *
Par. 2. Section 1.332-2 is amended by:
1. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (a).
2. Revising paragraph (b).
3. Revising the heading of the Example in paragraph (e).
4. Adding Example 2 to paragraph (e).
The revisions and addition read as follows:
Sec. 1.332-2 Requirements for nonrecognition of gain or loss.
(a) The nonrecognition of gain or loss is limited to the receipt of
property by a corporation that is the actual owner of stock (in the
liquidating corporation) meeting the requirements of section
1504(a)(2). * * *
(b) Section 332 applies only when the recipient corporation
receives at least partial payment for each class of stock that it owns
in the liquidating corporation. If section 332 does not apply, see
section 165(g) regarding the allowance of losses for worthless
securities for a class of stock for which no payment is received.
Further, if section 332 does not apply and the recipient corporation
receives partial payment for at least one class of stock that it owns
in the liquidating corporation, see section 368(a)(1) regarding
potential qualification of the distribution as a reorganization. If
section 332 does not apply and the distribution does not qualify as a
reorganization, see section 331 for those classes of stock for which
partial payment is received.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
Example 1. * * *
Example 2. P Corporation owns all of the outstanding preferred
and common stock of Q Corporation. The preferred stock is not stock
described in section 1504(a)(4). The fair market value of Q
Corporation's assets exceeds the amount of its liabilities but does
not exceed the liquidation preference on the Q Corporation's
preferred stock. Q Corporation liquidates and distributes all of its
assets to P Corporation. P Corporation receives partial payment for
its Q Corporation preferred stock but receives nothing for its Q
Corporation common stock. The receipt by P Corporation of the
properties of Q Corporation is not a distribution received by P
Corporation in complete liquidation of Q Corporation within the
meaning of section 332. Thus, under section 165(g), P Corporation is
entitled to a worthless security deduction for its Q Corporation
common stock. The transaction may qualify as a reorganization under
section 368(a)(1)(C). If the transaction does not qualify as a
reorganization, P Corporation will recognize gain or loss on its Q
Corporation preferred stock under section 331.
Par. 3. Section 1.351-1 is amended by:
1. Revising the first sentence of paragraph (a)(1) introductory
text.
2. Adding a sentence after the last sentence in paragraph (a)(1)
introductory text and revising the phrase ``For purposes of this
section'' at the end of paragraph (a)(1) introductory text to read ``In
addition, for purposes of this section''.
3. Revising paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii).
4. Removing the concluding text immediately following paragraph
(a)(1)(ii).
5. Adding paragraphs (a)(1)(iii) and (a)(1)(iv).
6. Adding Example 4 at the end of paragraph (a)(2).
7. Revising paragraph (b)(1).
The revisions, removal, and additions read as follows:
Sec. 1.351-1 Transfer to corporation controlled by transferor.
(a)(1) Section 351(a) provides, in general, for the nonrecognition
of gain or loss upon the transfer by one or more persons of property to
a corporation solely in exchange for stock of such corporation if,
immediately after the exchange, such person or persons are in control
of the corporation to which the property was transferred. * * * For
purposes of this section, stock rights and stock warrants are not
included in the term stock. In addition, for purposes of this section--
(i) Stock will not be treated as issued for property if it is
issued for services rendered or to be rendered to or for the benefit of
the issuing corporation;
(ii) Stock will not be treated as issued for property if it is
issued for property which is of relatively small value in comparison to
the value of the stock already owned (or to be received for services)
by the person who transferred such property and the primary purpose of
the transfer is to qualify under this section the exchanges of property
by other persons transferring property; and
(iii) Stock will not be treated as issued for property if either--
(A) The fair market value of the transferred property does not
exceed the
[[Page 11909]]
sum of the amount of liabilities of the transferor that are assumed by
the transferee in connection with the transfer and the amount of any
money and the fair market value of any other property (other than stock
permitted to be received under section 351(a) without the recognition
of gain) received by the transferor in connection with the transfer.
For this purpose, any obligation of the transferor for which the
transferee is the obligee that is extinguished for federal income tax
purposes in connection with the transfer is treated as a liability
assumed by the transferee; or
(B) The fair market value of the assets of the transferee does not
exceed the amount of its liabilities immediately after the transfer;
(iv) Paragraph (a)(1)(iii) of this section applies to transfers
occurring after the date these proposed regulations are published as
final regulations in the Federal Register.
(2) * * *
* * * * *
Example 4. A, an individual, transfers an apartment building
with a fair market value of $175x to Corporation X. The building is
subject to a nonrecourse obligation of $190x and no other asset is
subject to that liability. A receives 10 shares of Corporation X
stock in the exchange. Immediately after the exchange, Corporation X
is solvent and A owns 100% of its outstanding stock. Under paragraph
(a)(1)(iii) of this section, the 10 shares of Corporation X stock
received by A will not be treated as issued for property because the
fair market value of the apartment building does not exceed the
amount of A's liabilities assumed by Corporation X. Therefore,
section 351 does not apply to the exchange.
* * * * *
(b)(1) When property is transferred to a corporation by two or more
persons in exchange for stock, as described in paragraph (a) of this
section, and the stock received is received in disproportion to the
transferor's prior interest in such property, the entire transaction
will be given tax effect in accordance with its true nature, and the
transaction may be treated as if the stock had first been received in
proportion and then some of such stock had been used to make gifts
(section 2501 et seq.), to pay compensation (sections 61(a)(1) and
83(a)), or to satisfy obligations of the transferor of any kind.
* * * * *
Par. 4. Section 1.368-1 is amended by:
1. Removing the last sentence of paragraph (a).
2. Redesignating paragraph (b) as paragraph (b)(1).
3. Removing the third sentence of paragraph (b)(1) and adding two
sentences in its place.
4. Removing the seventh sentence of paragraph (b)(1).
5. Adding paragraph (b)(2).
6. Adding a sentence after the fifth sentence of paragraph
(e)(1)(i).
7. Adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (e)(1)(ii).
8. Revising the text of paragraph (e)(2).
9. Redesignating paragraphs (e)(6) and (e)(7) as paragraphs (e)(7)
and (e)(8), respectively, and adding a new paragraph (e)(6).
10. Adding Example 10 to the end of paragraph (e)(7).
11. Adding a sentence at the end of paragraph (e)(8).
12. Adding paragraph (f).
The additions and revisions read as follows:
Sec. 1.368-1 Purpose and scope of exception to reorganization
exchanges.
* * * * *
(b)(1) * * * Requisite to a reorganization under the Internal
Revenue Code are a continuity of business enterprise through the
issuing corporation under the modified corporate form as described in
paragraph (d) of this section, a continuity of interest as described in
paragraph (e) of this section (except as provided in section
368(a)(1)(D)), and an exchange of net value as described in paragraph
(f) of this section. Notwithstanding the requirements of this paragraph
(b)(1), an exchange of net value is not required for a transaction to
qualify as a reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(E) or (F) and, to
the extent provided in paragraph (f)(4), for a transaction to qualify
as a reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(D). * * *
(2) Effective dates. The third and fourth sentences of paragraph
(b)(1) of this section apply to transactions occurring after the date
these proposed regulations are published as final regulations in the
Federal Register. The fifth and sixth sentences apply to transactions
occurring after January 28, 1998, except that they do not apply to any
transaction occurring pursuant to a written agreement which is binding
on January 28, 1998, and at all times thereafter.
* * * * *
(e) * * *
(1) * * *
(i) * * * See paragraph (e)(6) of this section for rules related to
when a creditor's claim against a target corporation is a proprietary
interest in the corporation. * * *
(ii) * * * A proprietary interest in the target corporation is not
preserved to the extent that creditors (or former creditors) of the
target corporation that own a proprietary interest in the corporation
under paragraph (e)(6) of this section (or would be so treated if they
had received the consideration in the potential reorganization) receive
payment for the claim prior to the potential reorganization.
(2) * * * A proprietary interest in the target corporation is not
preserved if, in connection with a potential reorganization, a person
related (as defined in paragraph (e)(3) of this section) to the issuing
corporation acquires either a proprietary interest in the target
corporation or stock of the issuing corporation that was furnished in
exchange for a proprietary interest in the target corporation for
consideration other than stock of the issuing corporation. The
preceding sentence does not apply to the extent those persons who were
the direct or indirect owners of the target corporation prior to the
potential reorganization maintain a direct or indirect proprietary
interest in the issuing corporation.
* * * * *
(6) Creditors' claims as proprietary interests--(i) In general. A
creditor's claim against a target corporation may be a proprietary
interest in the target corporation if the target corporation is in a
title 11 or similar case (as defined in section 368(a)(3)) or the
amount of the target corporation's liabilities exceeds the fair market
value of its assets immediately prior to the potential reorganization.
In such cases, if any creditor receives a proprietary interest in the
issuing corporation in exchange for its claim, every claim of that
class of creditors and every claim of all equal and junior classes of
creditors (in addition to the claims of shareholders) is a proprietary
interest in the target corporation immediately prior to the potential
reorganization.
(ii) Value of proprietary interest--(A) In general. Generally, if a
creditor's claim is a proprietary interest in the target corporation,
the value of the proprietary interest is the fair market value of the
creditor's claim.
(B) Claims of creditors of most senior classes. For a claim of the
most senior class of creditors receiving a proprietary interest in the
issuing corporation and a claim of any equal class of creditors, the
value of the proprietary interest in the target corporation represented
by the claim is determined by multiplying the fair market value of the
claim by a fraction, the numerator of which is the fair market value of
the proprietary interests in the issuing corporation that are received
in the aggregate in
[[Page 11910]]
exchange for the claims of those classes of creditors, and the
denominator of which is the sum of the amount of money and the fair
market value of all other consideration (including the proprietary
interests in the issuing corporation) received in the aggregate in
exchange for such claims.
(iii) Bifurcated claims. If a creditor's claim is bifurcated into a
secured claim and an unsecured claim pursuant to an order in a title 11
or similar case (as defined in section 368(a)(3)) or pursuant to an
agreement between the creditor and the debtor, the bifurcation of the
claim and the allocation of consideration to each of the resulting
claims will be respected in applying the rules of this paragraph
(e)(6).
(iv) Effect of treating creditors as proprietors. The treatment of
a creditor's claim as a proprietary interest in the target corporation
shall not preclude treating shares of the target corporation as
proprietary interests in the target corporation.
(7) * * *
* * * * *
Example 10. Creditors treated as owning a proprietary interest.
T has assets with a fair market value of $150x and liabilities of
$200x. T has two classes of creditors, the senior creditors with
claims of $50x, and the junior creditors with claims of $150x. T
transfers all of its assets to P in exchange for $95x and shares of
P stock with a fair market value of $55x. The T senior creditors
receive in the aggregate $40x and P stock with a fair market value
of $10x in exchange for their claims. Each T senior creditor
receives stock and nonstock consideration in the same proportion.
The T junior creditors receive $55x and P stock with a fair market
value of $45x in exchange for their claims. The T shareholders
receive no consideration in exchange for their T stock. Under
paragraph (e)(6) of this section, because the amount of T's
liabilities exceeds the fair market value of its assets immediately
prior to the potential reorganization, the claims of the creditors
of T may be proprietary interests in T. Because the senior creditors
receive proprietary interests in P in the transaction in exchange
for their claims, their claims and the claims of the junior
creditors and the T shareholders are treated as proprietary
interests in T immediately prior to the transaction. Under paragraph
(e)(6)(ii) of this section, the value of the senior creditors'
proprietary interests in T is $10x, the value of the proprietary
interests in P that they received in exchange for their claims. In
addition, the value of the junior creditors' proprietary interests
in T immediately prior to the transaction is $100x, the value of
their claims. Because P is treated as acquiring 50 percent of the
value of the proprietary interests in T in exchange for P stock
($55x/$110x), a substantial part of the value of the proprietary
interests in T is preserved. Therefore, the continuity of interest
requirement is satisfied.
(8) * * * The sixth sentence of paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this
section, the last sentence of paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section,
paragraph (e)(2) of this section, paragraph (e)(6) of this section, and
Example 10 of paragraph (e)(7) of this section apply to transactions
occurring after the date these proposed regulations are published as
final regulations in the Federal Register.
(f) Exchanges of net value--(1) General rule. An exchange of net
value requires that there be both a surrender of net value and a
receipt of net value. Whether there is a surrender of net value is
determined by reference to the assets and liabilities of the target
corporation. Whether there is a receipt of net value is determined by
reference to the assets and liabilities of the issuing corporation (as
defined in paragraph (b) of this section). The purpose of the exchange
of net value requirement is to prevent transactions that resemble sales
(including transfers of assets in satisfaction of liabilities) from
qualifying for nonrecognition of gain or loss available to corporate
reorganizations.
(2) Asset transactions. There is an exchange of net value in a
potential reorganization to which section 361 would apply only if--
(i) Surrender of net value. The fair market value of the property
transferred by the target corporation to the acquiring corporation
exceeds the sum of the amount of liabilities of the target corporation
that are assumed by the acquiring corporation in connection with the
exchange and the amount of any money and the fair market value of any
other property (other than stock permitted to be received under section
361(a) without the recognition of gain) received by the target
corporation in connection with the exchange. For this purpose, any
obligation of the target corporation for which the acquiring
corporation is the obligee that is extinguished for federal income tax
purposes in connection with the exchange is treated as a liability
assumed by the acquiring corporation; and
(ii) Receipt of net value. The fair market value of the assets of
the issuing corporation exceeds the amount of its liabilities
immediately after the exchange.
(3) Stock transactions. There is an exchange of net value in a
potential reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(B) or section
368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section 368(a)(2)(E) only if--
(i) Surrender of net value. The fair market value of the assets of
the target corporation exceeds the sum of the amount of the liabilities
of the target corporation immediately prior to the exchange and the
amount of any money and the fair market value of any other property
(other than stock permitted to be received under section 354 without
the recognition of gain and nonqualified preferred stock within the
meaning of section 351(g)) received by the shareholders of the target
corporation in connection with the exchange. For this purpose, assets
of the target corporation that are not held immediately after the
exchange and liabilities of the target corporation that are
extinguished for federal income tax purposes in the exchange other than
ones, if any, to the corporation into which the target corporation
merges in the case of a potential reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section 368(a)(2)(E) are disregarded; and
(ii) Receipt of net value. The fair market value of the assets of
the issuing corporation exceeds the amount of its liabilities
immediately after the exchange.
(4) Exception. The requirement that there be an exchange of net
value does not apply to a transaction that would otherwise qualify as a
reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(D) by reason of section 354 or
so much of section 356 as relates to section 354, provided that the
fair market value of the property transferred to the acquiring
corporation by the target corporation exceeds the amount of liabilities
of the target corporation immediately before the exchange (including
any liabilities cancelled, extinguished, or assumed in connection with
the exchange), and the fair market value of the assets of the acquiring
corporation equals or exceeds the amount of its liabilities immediately
after the exchange.
(5) Examples. For purposes of the examples in this paragraph
(f)(5), each of P, S, and T is a corporation; all corporations have
only one class of stock outstanding; A, B, C, and D are individuals;
and the transaction is not otherwise subject to recharacterization.
Except as otherwise provided, no person is related to any other person
and the fair market value of the assets of each corporation exceeds the
amount of its liabilities immediately prior to the transaction
described in the example. The following examples illustrate the
application of this paragraph (f).
Example 1. T has assets with a fair market value of $50x and
liabilities of $75x, all of which are owed to A. T transfers all of
its assets to S in exchange for S stock with a fair market value of
$50x. T distributes the S stock to A in exchange for the T debt owed
to A. T dissolves. T's shareholders receive nothing in exchange for
their T stock. Under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, T
surrenders net value because the fair market value of the property
transferred by T ($50x)
[[Page 11911]]
exceeds the sum of the amount of liabilities that are assumed by S
in connection with the exchange ($0x) and the amount of any money
and the fair market value of any other property (other than stock
permitted to be received under section 361(a) without the
recognition of gain) received by T in connection with the exchange
($0x). In addition, under paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section, T
receives net value because the fair market value of the assets of S
exceeds the amount of its liabilities immediately after the
exchange. Therefore, under paragraph (f) of this section, there is
an exchange of net value.
Example 2. P owns all of the stock of both S and T. T has assets
with a fair market value of $100x and liabilities of $160x, all of
which are owed to P. T transfers all of its assets to S in exchange
for S stock with a fair market value of $100x. T distributes the S
stock to P in exchange for the T debt owed to P. T dissolves. P
receives nothing in exchange for its T stock. Under paragraph
(f)(2)(i) of this section, T surrenders net value because the fair
market value of the property transferred by T ($100x) exceeds the
sum of the amount of liabilities of T assumed by S in connection
with the exchange ($0x) and the amount of any money and the fair
market value of any other property (other than stock permitted to be
received under section 361(a) without the recognition of gain)
received by T in connection with the exchange ($0x). In addition,
under paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section, T receives net value
because the fair market value of the assets of S exceeds the amount
of its liabilities immediately after the exchange. Therefore, under
paragraph (f) of this section, there is an exchange of net value.
The result would be the same if no S stock were issued.
Example 3. The facts are the same as in Example 2, except that
T's debt is owed to B. T transfers all of its assets to S in
exchange for the assumption of T's liabilities. T dissolves. The
obligation to B is outstanding immediately after the transfer. P
receives nothing in exchange for its T stock. Under paragraph
(f)(2)(i) of this section, T does not surrender net value because
the fair market value of the property transferred by T ($100x) does
not exceed the sum of the amount of liabilities of T assumed by S in
connection with the exchange ($160x). Therefore, under paragraph (f)
of this section, there is no exchange of net value. The result would
be the same if S stock were issued.
Example 4. The facts are the same as in Example 3, except that S
first assumes the T debt owed to B and subsequently T transfers all
of its assets to S in exchange for S stock with a fair market value
of $100x. If S's assumption of the T debt is made in connection with
the subsequent transfer of T assets to S, under paragraph (f)(2)(i)
of this section, T does not surrender net value because the fair
market value of the property transferred by T ($100x) does not
exceed the sum of the amount of liabilities of T assumed by S in
connection with the exchange ($160x). Therefore, under paragraph (f)
of this section, there is no exchange of net value.
Example 5. P owns 70% of the stock of T. A owns the remaining
30% of the stock of T. T has assets with a fair market value of
$100x and liabilities of $160x, all of which are owed to P. T merges
into P. A receives nothing in exchange for its T stock. Under
(f)(2)(i) of this section, even though T's obligation to P is
extinguished in the transaction, it is treated as a liability
assumed by P. Thus, under paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this section, T
does not surrender net value because the fair market value of the
property transferred by T ($100x) does not exceed the sum of the
amount of liabilities of T assumed by P in connection with the
exchange ($160x). Therefore, under paragraph (f) of this section,
there is no exchange of net value.
Example 6. A owns all of the stock of S. S has assets with a
fair market value of $200x and liabilities of $500x, all of which
are owed to T. The S debt has a fair market value of $200x. In
addition to the S debt, T has other assets that have a fair market
value of $700x. T has no liabilities. T transfers all of its assets
to S in exchange for S stock with a fair market value of $900x. T
distributes the S stock to its shareholders in exchange for their T
stock. T dissolves. S cancels all of its stock held by its
shareholders immediately prior to the exchange. Under paragraph
(f)(2)(i) of this section, T surrenders net value because the fair
market value of the property transferred by T ($900x) exceeds the
sum of the amount of liabilities of T assumed by S in connection
with the exchange ($0x) and the amount of any money and the fair
market value of any other property (other than stock permitted to be
received under section 361(a) without the recognition of gain)
received by T in connection with the exchange ($0x). In addition,
under paragraph (f)(2)(ii) of this section, T receives net value
because the fair market value of the assets of S ($900x) exceeds the
amount of the liabilities of S ($0x) immediately after the exchange.
Therefore, under paragraph (f) of this section, there is an exchange
of net value.
Example 7. P owns all of the stock of S. T has assets with a
fair market value of $300x and liabilities of $650x, $500x of which
are owed to P and $150x of which are owed to A. T merges into S. In
the merger, P stock is issued to A in satisfaction of the debt owed
to A by T. Also in the merger, P contributes to the capital of T the
debt P is owed. Assume the merger would qualify as a reorganization
under section 368(a)(1)(A) by reason of section 368(a)(2)(D) if the
exchange of net value requirement in paragraph (f)(1) of this
section did not apply. Whether there is a surrender of net value is
determined by reference to the actual merger of T into S. Thus, T
surrenders net value because the fair market value of the property
transferred by T ($300x) exceeds the sum of the amount of
liabilities of T assumed by S in connection with the exchange ($0x)
and the amount of any money and the fair market value of any other
property (other than stock permitted to be received under section
361(a) without the recognition of gain) received by T in connection
with the exchange ($0x). Whether there is a receipt of net value is
determined by reference to the issuing corporation, in this case, P.
T receives net value because the fair market value of the assets of
P exceeds the amount of the liabilities of P immediately after the
exchange. Therefore, under paragraph (f) of this section, there is
an exchange of net value.
Example 8. P owns all of the stock of both S and T. T transfers
all of its assets to S in exchange for $34x, the assets' fair market
value. Following this transfer, T pays its debts of $2x and
dissolves, distributing the remaining $32x to P. Assume the
transaction would qualify as a reorganization under section
368(a)(1)(D) by reason of section 354 or so much of section 356 as
relates to section 354 if the net value requirement in paragraph
(f)(1) of this section did not apply. Under paragraph (f)(2) of this
section, there is no exchange of net value because the fair market
value of the property transferred by T ($34x) does not exceed the
amount of money received by T in connection with the exchange
($34x). However, under paragraph (f)(4) of this section, because the
transaction would otherwise qualify as a reorganization under
section 368(a)(1)(D) and the other requirements of paragraph (f)(4)
of this section are satisfied, the exchange of net value requirement
does not apply. Accordingly, the transaction qualifies as a
reorganization under section 368(a)(1)(D).
Example 9. A and B own all of the stock of T. T has assets with
a fair market value of $500x and liabilities of $900x, all of which
are owed to C and D, security holders of T. P acquires all of the
stock and securities of T in exchange for P voting stock. In the
transaction, A and B receive nothing in exchange for their stock of
T. C and D exchange all of their securities of T for stock of P.
Un