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Date
Rule
802.10
Staff
Kathryn Walsh, Michael Verne
Response/Comments
Refer to comments.

Question

To: Walsh,Kathryn; Berg, Karen E. Subject: FW:

Have a look at this please. I think 802.10 works for theshareholders of B because they are acquiring a lower percentage in Newco thanwhat they currently hold in B. Also, B already controls all of the underlyingLLCs and the LP. I don't think 802.10 will work for A because it will holdvoting securities of Newco, which will control B and A currently has nointerest in B. So if A's 22.22% of the voting securities of Newco is valued inexcess of $59.8 MM, A has a reporting obligation. I think the fact that theassets that B holds directly are valued under $59.8 MM is irrelevant. To see if802.4 exempts A's acquisition of Newco voting securities, you would have tovalue the non-exempt assets held directly by B and all of the non-exempt assetsof the LLCs and LP that B controls. Any thoughts?

OriginalMessage----------------------------------

From: (redacted)

Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:51 PM

To: Verne, B.Michael

Cc: (redacted)

Subject:RE:

Here are some facts relating to our call.

(redacted)

---Original Message-------------------------------

From: Verne, B.Michael [mailto:MVERNE@ftc.gov]

Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:45 PM

To: (redacted)

Subject:RE:

Sure

---------Original Message

From: (redacted)

Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 12:42 PM

To: Verne, B.Michael

Subject:RE:

shall we arrange a call for 1:45?

FACTS

PresentStructure

1.A owns 33.33% of LLC-l.

2.B owns 66.66% of LLC-1.

3.LLC-1 owns100% of LLC-2, whichowns 75% of LLC-3, whichowns 80% of LP-1. B also owns 10% of LP-1 through another entity.

4.A also owns adirect 5% interest in LP-1

Re-organization

1.B spins-off a subsidiarybut retains certain assets valued at $30 million - $60 million.

2.B merges with a Newco and stockholdersof B receive Newco shares.

3.A contributes its33.33% interest in LLC-1 to Newco and its 5% directinterest in LP-1 to Newco in exchangefor 22.22% of Newco's voting securities.

4.As a result,stockholders of B will own 77.78% of Newco, A will own 22.22% of Newco.

Analysis

This reorganizationfalls under Rule 802.10. Under this rule, the conversion of a LLC to acorporation is exempt if no new assets are contributed and either there is noincrease in the acquiring person's percentage ownership or the acquiring personcontrolled the original entity. However, new assets, not owned directly orindirectly by A, are being contributed, but they may fall below thejurisdictional threshold.

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.

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