[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 26, Volume 4]
[Revised as of April 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 26CFR1.338-6]

[Page 119-123]
 
                       TITLE 26--INTERNAL REVENUE
 
    CHAPTER I--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 1_INCOME TAXES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 1.338-6  Allocation of ADSP and AGUB among target assets.

    (a) Scope--(1) In general. This section prescribes rules for 
allocating ADSP and AGUB among the acquisition date assets of a target 
for which a section 338 election is made.

[[Page 120]]

    (2) Fair market value--(i) In general. Generally, the fair market 
value of an asset is its gross fair market value (i.e., fair market 
value determined without regard to mortgages, liens, pledges, or other 
liabilities). However, for purposes of determining the amount of old 
target's deemed sale tax consequences, the fair market value of any 
property subject to a nonrecourse indebtedness will be treated as being 
not less than the amount of such indebtedness. (For purposes of the 
preceding sentence, a liability that was incurred because of the 
acquisition of the property is disregarded to the extent that such 
liability was not taken into account in determining old target's basis 
in such property.)
    (ii) Transaction costs. Transaction costs are not taken into account 
in allocating ADSP or AGUB to assets in the deemed sale (except 
indirectly through their effect on the total ADSP or AGUB to be 
allocated).
    (iii) Internal Revenue Service authority. In connection with the 
examination of a return, the Internal Revenue Service may challenge the 
taxpayer's determination of the fair market value of any asset by any 
appropriate method and take into account all factors, including any lack 
of adverse tax interests between the parties.
    (b) General rule for allocating ADSP and AGUB--(1) Reduction in the 
amount of consideration for Class I assets. Both ADSP and AGUB, in the 
respective allocation of each, are first reduced by the amount of Class 
I assets. Class I assets are cash and general deposit accounts 
(including savings and checking accounts) other than certificates of 
deposit held in banks, savings and loan associations, and other 
depository institutions. If the amount of Class I assets exceeds AGUB, 
new target will immediately realize ordinary income in an amount equal 
to such excess. The amount of ADSP or AGUB remaining after the reduction 
is to be allocated to the remaining acquisition date assets.
    (2) Other assets--(i) In general. Subject to the limitations and 
other rules of paragraph (c) of this section, ADSP and AGUB (as reduced 
by the amount of Class I assets) are allocated among Class II 
acquisition date assets of target in proportion to the fair market 
values of such Class II assets at such time, then among Class III assets 
so held in such proportion, then among Class IV assets so held in such 
proportion, then among Class V assets so held in such proportion, then 
among Class VI assets so held in such proportion, and finally to Class 
VII assets. If an asset is described below as includible in more than 
one class, then it is included in such class with the lower or lowest 
class number (for instance, Class III has a lower class number than 
Class IV).
    (ii) Class II assets. Class II assets are actively traded personal 
property within the meaning of section 1092(d)(1) and Sec. 1.1092(d)-1 
(determined without regard to section 1092(d)(3)). In addition, Class II 
assets include certificates of deposit and foreign currency even if they 
are not actively traded personal property. Class II assets do not 
include stock of target affiliates, whether or not of a class that is 
actively traded, other than actively traded stock described in section 
1504(a)(4). Examples of Class II assets include U.S. government 
securities and publicly traded stock.
    (iii) Class III assets. Class III assets are assets that the 
taxpayer marks to market at least annually for Federal income tax 
purposes and debt instruments (including accounts receivable). However, 
Class III assets do not include--
    (A) Debt instruments issued by persons related at the beginning of 
the day following the acquisition date to the target under section 
267(b) or 707;
    (B) Contingent debt instruments subject to Sec. 1.1275-4, Sec. 
1.483-4, or section 988, unless the instrument is subject to the non-
contingent bond method of Sec. 1.1275-4(b) or is described in Sec. 
1.988-2(b)(2)(i)(B)(2); and
    (C) Debt instruments convertible into the stock of the issuer or 
other property.
    (iv) Class IV assets. Class IV assets are stock in trade of the 
taxpayer or other property of a kind that would properly be included in 
the inventory of taxpayer if on hand at the close of the taxable year, 
or property held by the taxpayer primarily for sale to customers in the 
ordinary course of its trade or business.

[[Page 121]]

    (v) Class V assets. Class V assets are all assets other than Class 
I, II, III, IV, VI, and VII assets.
    (vi) Class VI assets. Class VI assets are all section 197 
intangibles, as defined in section 197, except goodwill and going 
concern value.
    (vii) Class VII assets. Class VII assets are goodwill and going 
concern value (whether or not the goodwill or going concern value 
qualifies as a section 197 intangible).
    (3) Other items designated by the Internal Revenue Service. Similar 
items may be added to any class described in this paragraph (b) by 
designation in the Internal Revenue Bulletin by the Internal Revenue 
Service (see Sec. 601.601(d)(2) of this chapter).
    (c) Certain limitations and other rules for allocation to an asset--
(1) Allocation not to exceed fair market value. The amount of ADSP or 
AGUB allocated to an asset (other than Class VII assets) cannot exceed 
the fair market value of that asset at the beginning of the day after 
the acquisition date.
    (2) Allocation subject to other rules. The amount of ADSP or AGUB 
allocated to an asset is subject to other provisions of the Internal 
Revenue Code or general principles of tax law in the same manner as if 
such asset were transferred to or acquired from an unrelated person in a 
sale or exchange. For example, if the deemed asset sale is a transaction 
described in section 1056(a) (relating to basis limitation for player 
contracts transferred in connection with the sale of a franchise), the 
amount of AGUB allocated to a contract for the services of an athlete 
cannot exceed the limitation imposed by that section. As another 
example, section 197(f)(5) applies in determining the amount of AGUB 
allocated to an amortizable section 197 intangible resulting from an 
assumption-reinsurance transaction.
    (3) Special rule for allocating AGUB when purchasing corporation has 
nonrecently purchased stock--(i) Scope. This paragraph (c)(3) applies if 
at the beginning of the day after the acquisition date--
    (A) The purchasing corporation holds nonrecently purchased stock for 
which a gain recognition election under section 338(b)(3) and Sec. 
1.338-5(d) is not made; and
    (B) The hypothetical purchase price determined under paragraph 
(c)(3)(ii) of this section exceeds the AGUB determined under Sec. 
1.338-5(b).
    (ii) Determination of hypothetical purchase price. Hypothetical 
purchase price is the AGUB that would result if a gain recognition 
election were made.
    (iii) Allocation of AGUB. Subject to the limitations in paragraphs 
(c)(1) and (2) of this section, the portion of AGUB (after reduction by 
the amount of Class I assets) to be allocated to each Class II, III, IV, 
V, VI, and VII asset of target held at the beginning of the day after 
the acquisition date is determined by multiplying--
    (A) The amount that would be allocated to such asset under the 
general rules of this section were AGUB equal to the hypothetical 
purchase price; by
    (B) A fraction, the numerator of which is actual AGUB (after 
reduction by the amount of Class I assets) and the denominator of which 
is the hypothetical purchase price (after reduction by the amount of 
Class I assets).
    (4) Liabilities taken into account in determining amount realized on 
subsequent disposition. In determining the amount realized on a 
subsequent sale or other disposition of property deemed purchased by new 
target, Sec. 1.1001-2(a)(3) shall not apply to any liability that was 
taken into account in AGUB.
    (d) Examples. The following examples illustrate Sec. Sec. 1.338-4, 
1.338-5, and this section:

    Example 1. (i) T owns 90 percent of the outstanding T1 stock. P 
purchases 100 percent of the outstanding T stock for $2,000. There are 
no acquisition costs. P makes a section 338 election for T and, as a 
result, T1 is considered acquired in a qualified stock purchase. A 
section 338 election is made for T1. The grossed-up basis of the T stock 
is $2,000 (i.e., $2,000 + 1/1).
    (ii) The liabilities of T as of the beginning of the day after the 
acquisition date (including the tax liability for the deemed sale tax 
consequences) that would, under general principles of tax law, properly 
be taken into account at that time, are as follows:

Liabilities (nonrecourse mortgage plus unsecured liabilities)..     $700
Taxes Payable..................................................      300
                                                                --------
    Total......................................................    1,000



[[Page 122]]

    (iii) The AGUB of T is determined as follows:

Grossed-up basis...............................................   $2,000
Total liabilities..............................................    1,000
                                                                --------
    AGUB.......................................................    3,000


    (iv) Assume that ADSP is also $3,000.
    (v) Assume that, at the beginning of the day after the acquisition 
date, T's cash and the fair market values of T's Class II, III, IV, and 
V assets are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Fair
         Asset class                        Asset                 market
                                                                  value
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I...........................  Cash.............................   * $200
II..........................  Portfolio of actively traded           300
                               securities.
III.........................  Accounts receivable..............      600
IV..........................  Inventory........................      300
V...........................  Building.........................      800
V...........................  Land.............................      200
V...........................  Investment in T1.................      450
                                                                --------
                               Total...........................   2,850
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Amount.

    (vi) Under paragraph (b)(1) of this section, the amount of ADSP and 
AGUB allocable to T's Class II, III, IV, and V assets is reduced by the 
amount of cash to $2,800, i.e., $3,000--$200. $300 of ADSP and of AGUB 
is then allocated to actively traded securities. $600 of ADSP and of 
AGUB is then allocated to accounts receivable. $300 of ADSP and of AGUB 
is then allocated to the inventory. Since the remaining amount of ADSP 
and of AGUB is $1,600 (i.e., $3,000--($200 + $300 + $600 + $300)), an 
amount which exceeds the sum of the fair market values of T's Class V 
assets, the amount of ADSP and of AGUB allocated to each Class V asset 
is its fair market value:

Building.......................................................     $800
Land...........................................................      200
Investment in T1...............................................      450
                                                                --------
    Total......................................................    1,450


    (vii) T has no Class VI assets. The amount of ADSP and of AGUB 
allocated to T's Class VII assets (goodwill and going concern value) is 
$150, i.e., $1,600-$1,450.
    (viii) The grossed-up basis of the T1 stock is $500, i.e., $450 x 
1/.9.
    (ix) The liabilities of T1 as of the beginning of the day after the 
acquisition date (including the tax liability for the deemed sale tax 
consequences) that would, under general principles of tax law, properly 
be taken into account at that time, are as follows:

General Liabilities.............................................    $100
Taxes Payable...................................................      20
                                                                 -------
    Total.......................................................     120


    (x) The AGUB of T1 is determined as follows:

Grossed-up basis of T1 Stock....................................   $ 500
Liabilities.....................................................     120
                                                                 -------
    AGUB........................................................     620


    (xi) Assume that ADSP is also $620.
    (xii) Assume that at the beginning of the day after the acquisition 
date, T1's cash and the fair market values of its Class IV and VI assets 
are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Fair
         Asset class                        Asset                 market
                                                                  value
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I...........................  Cash.............................     *$50
IV..........................  Inventory........................      200
VI..........................  Patent...........................      350
                                                                --------
                               Total...........................     600
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Amount.

    (xiii) The amount of ADSP and of AGUB allocable to T1's Class IV and 
VI assets is first reduced by the $50 of cash.
    (xiv) Because the remaining amount of ADSP and of AGUB ($570) is an 
amount which exceeds the fair market value of T1's only Class IV asset, 
the inventory, the amount allocated to the inventory is its fair market 
value ($200). After that, the remaining amount of ADSP and of AGUB 
($370) exceeds the fair market value of T1's only Class VI asset, the 
patent. Thus, the amount of ADSP and of AGUB allocated to the patent is 
its fair market value ($350).
    (xv) The amount of ADSP and of AGUB allocated to T1's Class VII 
assets (goodwill and going concern value) is $20, i.e., $570-$550.
    Example 2. (i) Assume that the facts are the same as in Example 1 
except that P has, for five years, owned 20 percent of T's stock, which 
has a basis in P's hands at the beginning of the day after the 
acquisition date of $100, and P purchases the remaining 80 percent of 
T's stock for $1,600. P does not make a gain recognition election under 
section 338(b)(3).
    (ii) Under Sec. 1.338-5(c), the grossed-up basis of recently 
purchased T stock is $1,600, i.e., $1,600 x (1-.2)/.8.
    (iii) The AGUB of T is determined as follows:

Grossed-up basis of recently purchased stock as determined        $1,600
 under Sec.  1.338-5(c) ($1,600 x (1-.2)/.8)..................
Basis of nonrecently purchased stock...........................      100
Liabilities....................................................    1,000
                                                                --------
    AGUB.......................................................    2,700


    (iv) Since P holds nonrecently purchased stock, the hypothetical 
purchase price of the T stock must be computed and is determined as 
follows:

Grossed-up basis of recently purchased stock as determined        $1,600
 under Sec.  1.338-5(c) ($1,600 x (1-.2)/.8)..................
Basis of nonrecently purchased stock as if the gain recognition      400
 election under Sec.  1.338-5(d)(2) had been made ($1,600 x .2/
 (1-.2)).......................................................
Liabilities....................................................    1,000
                                                                --------
    Total......................................................    3,000



[[Page 123]]

    (v) Since the hypothetical purchase price ($3,000) exceeds the AGUB 
($2,700) and no gain recognition election is made under section 
338(b)(3), AGUB is allocated under paragraph (c)(3) of this section.
    (vi) First, an AGUB amount equal to the hypothetical purchase price 
($3,000) is allocated among the assets under the general rules of this 
section. The allocation is set forth in the column below entitled 
Original Allocation. Next, the allocation to each asset in Class II 
through Class VII is multiplied by a fraction having a numerator equal 
to the actual AGUB reduced by the amount of Class I assets ($2,700-$200 
= $2,500) and a denominator equal to the hypothetical purchase price 
reduced by the amount of Class I assets ($3,000-$200 = $2,800), or 
2,500/2,800. This produces the Final Allocation:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Original      Final
        Class                    Asset            allocation  allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I....................  Cash.....................        $200        $200
II...................  Portfolio of actively             300        *268
                        traded securities.
III..................  Accounts receivable......         600         536
IV...................  Inventory................         300         268
V....................  Building.................         800         714
V....................  Land.....................         200         178
V....................  Investment in T1.........         450         402
VII..................  Goodwill and going                150         134
                        concern value.
                                                 -------------
                        Total...................       3,000      2,700
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* All numbers rounded for convenience.


[T.D. 8940, 66 FR 9929, Feb. 13, 2001; 66 FR 17363, Mar. 30, 2001]