Skip to main content
Date
Rule
801.10
Staff
B. Michael Verne
Response/Comments
I agree that this appears to be a reasonable approach.

Question

May 15, 2002

Michael Verne

Pre-Merger Notification Office

Bureau of Competition

Federal Trade Commission

Room 301

600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20580

Re: Advice Confirmation

Dear Mike:

This letter serves to confirm the advice you gave during our telephone call on Friday, May 10, 2002. The facts which we discussed follow.

My client, Company X, is acquiring a .portfolio of energy trading contracts from Company Y. There is no determined purchase price for the acquisition. As market conditions change, the profits or losses associated with each of the contracts changes as well. It is likely that at the time of the fair market value determination required by 16 C.F.R. 801.10, that some of the contracts will be losers or "out of the money" and some will be winners or "in the money". In making the fair market value determination my client intends to net the losers against the winners and if the positive value exceeds $50 million to file. Similarly, if the net value does not exceed $50 million the client will not file. It is my understanding that you agreed that this is the correct approach for determining the fair market value of the portfolio.

If my understanding of your advice is incorrect, please contact me by close of business May 17, 2002. Thanks for your help.

About Informal Interpretations

Informal interpretations provide guidance from previous staff interpretations on the applicability of the HSR rules to specific fact situations. 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.