Asked by Isaiah Diller on Jun 16, 2024

verifed

Verified

In general, which of the following statements about the income tax implications of the form of a business combination is true?

A) An acquisition of shares is generally better for the acquirer but worse for the vendor.
B) An acquisition of net assets is generally better for the acquirer but worse for the vendor.
C) An acquisition of shares is generally better for both the acquirer and the vendor.
D) An acquisition of net assets is generally better for both the acquirer and the vendor

Business Combination

The coming together of separate companies or entities to form a single economic entity through various forms of financial transactions.

Income Tax Implications

The effects of current and future taxation policies on business transactions and operations, involving both expenses and liabilities.

Acquisition of Shares

The process of obtaining ownership in a company by purchasing its shares, effectively transferring equity interest from one party to another.

  • Determine and examine the elements that impact the decision to opt for an asset purchase versus a share purchase in business mergers.
verifed

Verified Answer

HG
Hardik GambhirJun 23, 2024
Final Answer :
B
Explanation :
In general, an acquisition of net assets is better for the acquirer as they can step up the basis of the acquired assets for tax purposes. This results in higher tax deductions and potentially lower future tax liabilities. On the other hand, an acquisition of shares may result in fewer tax benefits for the acquirer. For the vendor, an acquisition of shares may result in lower capital gains taxes compared to an acquisition of net assets. However, there may be differences in tax implications depending on the specific circumstances of the business combination.