Earn-outs and NOLs ?

tax question for which I have not been able to find any info on the net.
in M&A , the amount of possible NOLs as per IRC 382 is Price*IRS exemption rate.
in the case of an earn out where the price may change, what Price is taken into account for this?

 

The quoted Macabacus answer above applies to GAAP accounting not tax. This would be highly subject to the terms of the earnout and there is no "hard and fast" answer. Earnouts are bespoke, highly negotiated arrangements.

If you're just trying to show the illustrative impact for financial model, probably best to use the expected earnout amount in the consideration value. The tax code is more stringent, so my guess is that in reality, you wouldn't be able to apply the earnout to the use of NOLs until the earnout had been paid. An expected amount is not a realized amount. But using the expected amount is probably a good representative approach.

 
Best Response

thanks this was clearer. what you suggest is a sort of optimistic case. the way I thought about it initially is that the earnout would be structured like this: Get 40m > transfer ownership ; a sale happened. IRS says this is the price and thus limits annual nol to 40m*rate Drug passes FDA Phase I tests ; Get a subsequent 80m. now why would the IRS allow us to get Nols on this too? thus effectively subsidizing our purchase ? i'm working on a case study comp and have to value a pre-clinical phase pharma venture. i'm still a student and have no real world experience doing this. this is my first real option model. The other issue I have with the optimistic NOL case is that 70+% of the value would come from the NOLs :/

 

70% of value coming from NOLs does not pass the sniff test. 70% of value should not be coming from NOLs.

I agree with your qualms regarding the optimistic case above. I think it is conservative and safe to limit the value in the first year to the 382 allowance arising from the 40m and then after the earnout apply a higher limitation.

Think for purposes of your case study opt for the conservative approach and footnote that structuring maneuvers could potentially yield a higher 382 limitation in Y1.

 

Laudantium est cupiditate optio perferendis sed harum. Quisquam quia quas non et debitis dolores. Dolorem necessitatibus et qui enim enim voluptatum. Necessitatibus rerum totam sit quo.

Aliquam optio suscipit maiores quis est repellat. Eaque quae aliquid quaerat voluptates assumenda. Nulla blanditiis quidem exercitationem error quis veritatis aut. Odio est molestias aut non fugiat error.

Ad at quia error qui ipsum nam suscipit accusamus. Velit ea aspernatur consequatur dolorem quae vitae. Et veritatis reprehenderit error ipsum aut praesentium nihil molestiae.

Career Advancement Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Jefferies & Company 02 99.4%
  • Goldman Sachs 19 98.8%
  • Harris Williams & Co. New 98.3%
  • Lazard Freres 02 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 03 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Harris Williams & Co. 18 99.4%
  • JPMorgan Chase 10 98.8%
  • Lazard Freres 05 98.3%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.7%
  • William Blair 03 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Lazard Freres 01 99.4%
  • Jefferies & Company 02 98.8%
  • Goldman Sachs 17 98.3%
  • Moelis & Company 07 97.7%
  • JPMorgan Chase 05 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

April 2024 Investment Banking

  • Director/MD (5) $648
  • Vice President (19) $385
  • Associates (87) $260
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (14) $181
  • Intern/Summer Associate (33) $170
  • 2nd Year Analyst (66) $168
  • 1st Year Analyst (205) $159
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (146) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
3
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
99.0
4
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
5
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
6
kanon's picture
kanon
98.9
7
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
numi's picture
numi
98.8
10
Jamoldo's picture
Jamoldo
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”