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Date

Tags:

Rule
801.10
Staff
Janice Johnson
Response/Comments
Yes, you would include the cash. The parties are adjusting the purchase price to $72 million because they didn't take the cash on hand into account when they agreed on $70 million. M Verne concurs.

Question

From: Johnson, Janice C
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 3:44 PM
To:
(Redacted)

(Redacted), in discussions with other staff, I've come up with a different response:

Yes, you would include the cash. The parties are adjusting the purchase price to $72 million because they didn't take the cash on hand into account when they agreed on $70 million.

 

From: (Redacted)
Sent: Friday, November 22, 2013 1:02PM
To: Johnson, Janice C.

Subject: Hypothetical

Ms. Johnson:

Many thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. This email contains the hypothetical we discussed.
Company Y is purchasing all the equity of Company X. The purchase price, as set forth in the relevant agreement, is $70 million.

The parties are not sure at this point of the amount of cash that Company X will have at the time of closing. Company X intends to leave that undetermined amount in the Company rather than distribute it prior to closing. Company Y agrees to reimburse Company X the amount of cash at closing.

It is my understanding that the "swapped" cash will NOT be included in the valuation for HSR purposes. That is to say that if $2 million in cash is swapped, the transaction value for HSR purposes does not become $72 million but rather remains at $70 million.

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. 

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