(a) In the formation of a joint venture or other corporation (other than in connection with a merger or consolidation), even though the persons contributing to the formation of a joint venture or other corporation and the joint venture or other corporation itself may, in the formation transaction, be both acquiring and acquired persons within the meaning of § 801.2, the contributors shall be deemed acquiring persons only, and the joint venture or other corporation shall be deemed the acquired person only.

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(b) Unless exempted by the act or any of these rules, upon the formation of a joint venture or other corporation, in a transaction meeting the criteria of Section 7A(a)(1) and 7A(a)(2)(A) (other than in connection with a merger or consolidation), an acquiring person shall be subject to the requirements of the act.

(c) Unless exempted by the act or any of these rules, upon the formation of a joint venture or other corporation, in a transaction meeting the criteria of Section 7A(a)(1) and the criteria of Section 7A(a)(2)(B)(i) (other than in connection with a merger or consolidation), an acquiring person shall be subject to the requirements of the act if:

(1)(i) The acquiring person has annual net sales or total assets of $100 million (as adjusted) or more;

(ii) The joint venture or other corporation will have total assets of $10 million (as adjusted) or more; and

(iii) At least one other acquiring person has annual net sales or total assets of $10 million (as adjusted) or more; or

(2)(i) The acquiring person has annual net sales or total assets of $10 million (as adjusted) or more;

(ii) The joint venture or other corporation will have total assets of $100 million (as adjusted) or more; and

(iii) At least one other acquiring person has annual net sales or total assets of $10 million (as adjusted) or more.

(d) For purposes of paragraphs (b) and (c) of this section and determining whether any exemptions provided by the act and these rules apply to its formation, the assets of the joint venture or other corporation shall include:

(1) All assets which any person contributing to the formation of the joint venture or other corporation has agreed to transfer or for which agreements have been secured for the joint venture or other corporation to obtain at any time, whether or not such person is subject to the requirements of the act; and

(2) Any amount of credit or any obligations of the joint venture or other corporation which any person contributing to the formation has agreed to extend or guarantee, at any time.

(e) The commerce criterion of Section 7A(a)(1) is satisfied if either the activities of any acquiring person are in or affect commerce, or the person filing notification should reasonably believe that the activities of the joint venture or other corporation will be in or will affect commerce.

Examples:1. Persons “A,” “B,” and “C” agree to create new corporation “N,” a joint venture. “A,” “B,” and “C” will each hold one third of the shares of “N.” “A” has more than $100 million (as adjusted) in annual net sales. “B” has more than $10 million (as adjusted) in total assets but less than $100 million (as adjusted) in annual net sales and total assets. Both “C’s” total assets and its annual net sales are less than $10 million (as adjusted). “A,” “B,” and “C” are each engaged in commerce. “A,” “B,” and “C” have agreed to make an aggregate initial contribution to the new entity of $18 million in assets and each to make additional contributions of $21 million in each of the next three years. Under paragraph (d) of this section, the assets of the new corporation are $207 million. Under paragraph (c) of this section, “A” and “B” must file notification. Note that “A” and “B” also meet the criterion of Section 7A(a)(2)(B)(i) since they will be acquiring one third of the voting securities of the new entity for in excess of $50 million (as adjusted). N need not file notification; see § 802.41.

2. In the preceding example “A” has over $10 million (as adjusted) but less than $100 million (as adjusted) in sales and assets, “B” and “C” have less than $10 million (as adjusted) in sales and assets. “N” has total assets of $500 million. Assume that “A” will acquire 50 percent of the voting securities of “N” and “B” and “C” will each acquire 25 percent. Since “A” will acquire in excess of $200 million (as adjusted) in voting securities of “N”, the size-of-person test in § 801.40(c) is inapplicable and “A” is required to file notification.

[43 FR 33537, July 31, 1978, as amended at 48 FR 34434, July 29, 1983; 52 FR 7082, Mar. 6, 1987; 66 FR 8690, Feb. 1, 2001; 70 FR 4992, Jan. 31, 2005]