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Date
Rule
801.11
Staff
Premerger Notification Office
Response/Comments

No, there is no such window for the size of person determination. You must use the last regularly prepared financial statement before closing. If there is a chance size of person will be met, you should file to avoid being in violation of the Act.

Question

We are looking for some assistance with the size-of-person analysis. 

The basic “size of person test” established by Section 7A(a)(2) of the Act requires a filing in transactions valued in excess of $50 million (as adjusted) but at $200 million (as adjusted) or less only where at least one of the persons involved in the transaction has $100 million (as adjusted) or more in annual net sales or total assets, and the other has $10 million (as adjusted) or more. Generally, a person’s annual net sales and total assets are as stated on its last regularly prepared annual statement of income and last regularly prepared balance sheet. In a circumstance where a party regularly prepares balance sheets on a monthly basis, and the amount of total assets fluctuates, similar to the FMV determination, is there a 60-day period that filers can rely on to make their size-of-person determination?

We think in a situation where a party regularly prepares monthly balance sheets and its total assets fluctuate, there may be a similar 60-day window for the filing parties to rely on in their good faith determination of whether the size-of-person test is met. Can you confirm?

About Informal Interpretations

Informal interpretations provide guidance from PNO staff on the applicability of the HSR rules to specific fact situations. They do not necessarily reflect the position of the Commission. You should not rely on them as a substitute for reading the Act and the Rules themselves. These materials do not, and are not intended to, constitute legal advice. 

Learn more about Informal Interpretations.