After valuation, one of the most important negotiated numbers in an M&A transaction is tax. Tax in corporate M&A is pretty much a “zero-sum” game — tax impact from a deal structure that is tax-beneficial to the seller will usually be tax-adverse to the buyer, and vice versa.

Today, I’m going to offer up a concise M&A tax planning checklist. The basic idea here is to gather the info and run the numbers to analyze both the present and future tax effects of each deal structure under consideration; that is, a) the immediate taxes associated with the acquisition, and b) the future taxes and benefits associated with realizable basis step-ups, NOL carryovers, and so forth over time. Both present and future details must be analyzed for all deal structures. Only then can a negotiation ensue where buyer and seller compare figures and divide up perceived costs and benefits…ideally, equitably.

If you’re a competent financial modeler, you can easily do your own back of the envelope tax analyses. You can find a good explanation of NOLs and a template to run different transaction scenarios here. A tax professional is needed, of course, to crunch the definitive numbers.*

Here is the information you’ll need to run your analyses:

1. Stock and asset basis
2. Seller plans for proceeds (i.e., “individual shareholders to receive proceeds and hold purchaser stock for negotiated period”, etc.)
3. Applicable tax rates for all parties (target, target shareholders, purchaser)
4. Depreciation and amortization schedules for acquired assets
5. Tax status of sellers (suspended losses, special tax status, relevant estate planning considerations, etc.)
6. Management participation and compensation related to deal structure (if any)
7. Planned asset dispositions (if any)
8. Available target NOLs and other loss/credit carryovers
9. Purchaser NOLs (may limit target gains)
10. Availability and timing of taxable income vis a vis applicable deductions/loss carryovers

Understanding tax implications of deal structures from the seller’s perspective frequently means the difference between closing and not closing a strategic acquisition. Use this checklist and methodology to balance your motivations with your seller’s chief concern and goal: maximizing after tax proceeds from selling the business.

Posted by: Mory Watkins

*This posting doesn’t constitute tax advice; always seek tax guidance from a tax professional.