Linda E Carlisle Miller amp Chevalier Chartered Philip B Wright Bryan Cave LLP R David Wheat Thompson amp Knight LLP David B Strong Morrison amp Foerster LLP ID: 237861
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Panelists:" is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Slide1
Panelists: Linda E. Carlisle, Miller & Chevalier Chartered Philip B. Wright, Bryan Cave LLP R. David Wheat, Thompson & Knight, LLP David B. Strong, Morrison & Foerster LLP
Practising Law InstituteChicago: April 29 – May 1, 2014New York: May 20-22, 2014San Francisco: June 10-12, 2014
Tax Planning for Domestic & ForeignPartnerships, LLCs, Joint Ventures &Other Strategic Alliances 2014Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past YearSlide2
Table of ContentsPremier IPO Extended Stay Stapled Stock IPOPlains GP IPO – Up-C StructureVerizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessInteresting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year2Slide3
I. Premier IPO – Initial StructurePremier Supply Chain Improvements, Inc. “PSCI”Premier Healthcare Solutions Inc.“PHSI”
1%PremierPlans, LLCPremier Purchasing Partners, LP “Premier LP”
99%Member Owners
100%
100%
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
Premier is a healthcare performance improvement alliance of approximately 2,900 U.S. community hospitals and 100,000 alternative sites providing supply chain services and performance services. The supply chain services segment includes one of the largest healthcare group purchasing organizations in the U.S. , specialty pharmacy, and direct sourcing activities. The performance services segment includes one of the largest informatics and advisory services business in the U.S. focused on healthcare providers
.
3Slide4
I. Premier IPO – Reorganization/IPOPSCIPHSI
1%PremierPlans, LLCPremier LP
99%Member Owners
100%
100%
100%
Merge
Premier,
Inc.
Premier Services, LLP
“Premier GP”
Contribute PHSI
to Premier LP
Form Premier Inc.
and Premier GP
Public
IPO $$$
IPO $$$
IPO $$$
IPO $$$
Premier LP Units
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
4Slide5
I. Premier IPO – Resulting StructurePSCTPremier, Inc.
20% (Class A Unit Holders)
100%PremierGPPremierLP
80% (Class B Unit Holders)
PHSI
Public
Member Owners
Voting
Trust
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
Class A Common
20% Voting Power
100% Economic
Class B Common
80% Voting Power
0% Economics
5Slide6
I. Premier IPO – Structuring ConsiderationsA. Structuring Features LLC AgreementDistributions 20% to Class A Units – 80% to Class B Units proportional to Units. Class B Units divided into two Tranches – Class A Tranche – Participation Percentage / Tranche B – Residual – Proportional. GPO Participation Agreement Members have entered into five year GPO participation agreements where each member owner will receive revenue share from Premier LP 30% of all gross administrative fees collected by the Premier LP based upon purchasing by such member owner’s member facilities through Premier LP GPO supplier contracts.
Exchange AgreementClass B Units – Class B Member may sell each year 1/7 of its Class B Units (vested units) to corporation for Common Stock. Unvested shares are subject to purchase at lower of fair market value or capital account in certain circumstances - e.g. member fails to maintain participation agreements. Tax Receivables Agreement
Members receive 85% of the federal and state income tax savings actually realized as a result of the basis increase from the exchange of units. Payments made over the period of the step-up. Payments may be accelerated or terminated in certain cases. Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year6Slide7
I. Premier IPO – Tax Issues B. Tax IssuesLLC AgreementTranche A Distributions to Class B Members based on ParticipationSection 707(a)(2)(A), Rev. Rul. 81-300, 1981-2 CB 143, Rev. Rul. 81-301, 1981-2 CB 144Section 704(b) Allocations – Targeted AllocationsTranche B Allocations to Tax-Exempt Holders – UBIT Exposure Unvested Shares – purchase at lower of capital account or fair market valueCapital shift on purchase of Unvested Units
e) Dividend Distributions to Premier LPSection 243 Dividend Received Deduction (80% versus 70%)Section 754 Election and Tax Receivables Agreement
Exchange AgreementTax CharacterizationGPO Participation Agreement Tax Characterization Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year7Slide8
II. Extended Stay Stapled Stock IPO
A. Pre-IPO StructureESH REIT LLC was a “private REIT” engaged in the extended stay hotel business.In a typical structure for hotel REITs, ESH REIT
formed “taxable REIT subsidiaries” (TRS’s) to operate the hotels.The TRS’s enter into a management agreement with HVM LLC (an eligible independent contractor).CenterbridgePaulsonBlackstoneManagementAgreementESHHospitality
Holdings, LLC
Property
Owning
Entities
HVM LLC
100
SHs
ESH REIT LLC
100% PUs
100%
C
Us
Lease
Operating
Lessees
(TRS’s
)
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
8Slide9
II. Extended Stay Stapled Stock IPOB. Pre-IPO RestructuringSponsors form IPO Corp (to be the operating company).ESH REIT, LLC converts to ESH REIT, Inc with two classes of stock: Class A and Class B.IPO Corp forms New Operating Lessee to acquire all of the assets of the Operating Lessees.IPO Corp forms New HVM to acquire all of the assets of HVM LLC.
SponsorsAssets
OperatingLessees(TRS’s)NewHVMNew Operating LesseeESH REIT, INC.
IPO Corp
HVM
LLC
Assets
100%
100%
Property Owning Entities
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
9Slide10
II. Extended Stay Stapled Stock IPOC. Closing of IPOSponsors transfer 100% of Class A stock of ESH REIT to IPO Corp for IPO Corp common stock (approx. 55% of the value of ESH REIT).IPO Corp issues common stock to the Public and ESH REIT issues Class B shares to the Public
for a total of $566 million; these two shares are stapled and trade as a unit.SponsorsESH REIT, INC.
IPO CorpPublicClass AStockClass BStockClass B Stock$$
IPO Corp
Stock
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
10Slide11
II. Extended Stay Stapled Stock IPOD. Post-IPO StructureProperty Owning Entities lease properties to New Operating Lessees.New HMV manages the properties.
SponsorsESH REIT, INC.
IPO CorpPublicClass BStockPropertyOwningEntitiesClass AStock
Class B
Stock
Lease
New
HMV
New
Operating Lessee
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
11Slide12
II. Extended Stay Stapled Stock IPOE. Tax IssuesGenerally Section 269B treats “stapled entities” as a single entity.This would mean testing REIT status on a combined basis.Counsel opines that shares “should” not be treated as stapled, provided the Class B REIT shares represent less than 50% of value of all of the stock of ESH REIT.
REIT shares must be freely transferable.Lease from Property Owning Entities to New Operating Lessee must be a true lease.
Lease must not result in rent from a related party under Section 856(d).REIT cannot own 10% or more of the lessee (by vote or value).REIT is not treated as owning stock of IPO Corp. Rev. Rul. 74-605.Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year12Slide13
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureA. Pre-IPO StructurePAA is a publicly traded
MLP that is engaged in the transportation, storage, terminalling and marketing of crude oil and refined products, as well as the processing, transportation, fractionation, storage and marketing of natural gas liquids.
PAA GP is a disregarded entity owned by AAP, a limited partnership controlled by the Existing Owners, which are the various entities and individuals that had LP interests in AAP prior to the IPO.AAP has Incentive Distribution Rights (IDRs) which go to the benefit of the Existing Owners and AAP Management Unit Owners.Some Existing Owners that are either current or former members of PAA’s senior management own their interests in AAP through Management, L.P. LP (95%)GP (2%)
GP LLC
AAP
Existing Owners
AAP Management Owners
PAA Public Investors
PAA
LP (3%)
Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(IDRs)
GP (1%)
LP
(92.2%)
LP (6.8%)
PAA GP
Manage-
ment
, L.P.
100%
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
13Slide14
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureB. Formation of IPOCo and the General Partner
Management, L.P. formed General Partner and received all member interests in the General Partner.General Partner and Management, L.P. formed IPOCo and received a controlling, non-economic GP interest and LP interests representing 100% of the economics in
IPOCo, respectively.IPOCo elected to be treated as a corporation for tax purposes.Plains GP Holdings, LP(“IPOCo”)
LP
(95%)
GP
(2%)
GP LLC
AAP
Existing Owners
AAP Management Unit Owners
PAA Public Investors
PAA
LP
(3%)
Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(IDRs)
GP
(1%)
LP
(92.2%)
LP
(6.8%)
PAA GP
Manage-
ment
, L.P.
General Partner
100%
LP
(100%)
GP (0%)
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
14Slide15
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureC. Conversion and Distribution of AAP UnitsGP LLC’s 1% GP interest in AAP is converted into (
i) a non-economic GP interest and (ii) AAP LP units representing a 1% limited partnership interest in AAP.GP LLC distributed its AAP LP units pro rata to the Existing Owners. GP LLC retains a non-economic GP interest in AAP.The conversion and distribution described above is treated as a distribution under section 731.
Distribution of 1% LP interest in AAPPlains GP Holdings, LP(“IPOCo”)PAA GP
LP
(95%)
GP
(2%)
GP LLC
AAP
Existing Owners
AAP Management Unit Owners
PAA Public Investors
PAA
LP
(3%)
Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(IDRs)
GP
(1%)
LP
(92.2%)
LP
(6.8%)
Manage-
ment
, L.P.
General Partner
100%
LP
(100%)
GP (0%)
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
15Slide16
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureD. Existing Owners Contributed GP LLC Interests to General PartnerExisting Owners contributed all their interests in GP LLC to the General Partner in exchange for (1) 100% of the member interests in General Partner and (2) all of the Class B shares in IPOCo
(obtained by General Partner in step #2 below).General Partner then contributed all membership interests in GP LLC to IPOCo in exchange for all the Class B shares in IPOCo. General Partner continued its non-economic GP interest in
IPOCo.Management, L.P.’s interest in the General Partner was cancelled.Contributions of all interests in GP LLC100%
Plains GP Holdings, LP
(“
IPOCo
”)
PAA GP
LP
(95%)
GP
(2%)
GP LLC
AAP
Existing Owners
AAP Management Unit Owners
PAA Public Investors
PAA
LP
(3%)
Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(IDRs)
GP
(
0
%)
LP
(93.2%)
LP
(6.8%)
Manage-
ment
, L.P.
General Partner
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
16Slide17
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureE. The IPOOn October 15,
2013, IPOCo sold 128 million Class A shares to the public for $22 each ($2.82 billion total).In a taxable sale, some Existing Owners
sold 128,000,000 AAP LP units and an equal number of General Partner units to IPOCo in exchange for the right to receive all the proceeds from the IPO. As a result of the sale of the 128,000,000 AAP LP units, the Existing Owners’ pre-IPO 93.2% LP interest in AAP was reduced to a 73.5% LP interest in AAP.Plains GP Holdings, LP(“IPOCo”)PAA GP
LP
(95%)
GP
(2%)
AAP
Existing Owners
AAP Management Unit Owners
PAA Public Investors
PAA
LP
(3%)
Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(IDRs)
GP
(
0
%)
LP
(19.7%)
LP (6.8%) General Partner
GP LLC
Public
IPOCo
Investors
Class A (100%)
Class B
(0%)
GP (0%)
LP
(73.5%)
100%
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
17Slide18
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureF. Post- IPO Structure and Exchange RightsEach
Existing Owner has an “Exchange Right” entitling it to exchange (1) its AAP LP Units (along with a like number of Class B shares in IPOCo and units in the General Partner) for (2) Class A shares in
IPOCo on a one-for-one basis. The Exchange Right of the Existing Owners provides for future sales of AAP units to IPOCo with a corresponding basis step up because AAP and PAA have made section 754 elections. The Existing Owners capture the value of the tax benefits on exchange through a one-to-one exchange ratio because an IPOCo share represents a larger economic interest than an AAP unit by approximately 7%.If IPOCo remains publicly traded in December 2015, AAP Management Unit Owners will obtain a right to exchange AAP Management Units for Class B shares in IPOCo with an approximately 0.9-to-1 ratio.
Plains GP Holdings, LP
(“
IPOCo
”)
LP
(95%)
GP
(2%)
AAP
Existing Owners
AAP Management Unit Owners
PAA Public Investors
PAA
LP
(3%)
Incentive
Distribution
Rights
(IDRs)
GP
(
0
%)
LP
(19.7%)
LP
(6.8%)
General Partner
GP LLC
Public
IPOCo
Investors
Class A (100%)
Class B
(0%)
GP (0%)
LP
(73.5%)
PAA GP
100%
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
18Slide19
III. Plains GP IPO – Up-C StructureG. Benefits of the UP-C StructureExisting Owners monetized their economic interest in the PAA IDRs.Structure allows public investors to obtain the benefit of the PAA IDRs through a C corporation.Potential for substantial tax benefits to IPOCo and its Class A shareholders through basis step up (and increased depreciation) if Existing Owners exchange their AAP units for Class A shares in IPOCo.AAP LP units could be sold by IPOCo or the Existing Owners resulting in a valuable basis step up for the buyer.Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
19Slide20
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessTransaction involves Verizon’s $130 billion purchase of Vodaphone’s interest in Verizon Wireless (a U.S. partnership).One of the largest deals in corporate history.Widely reported as though Vodaphone will “pay no tax” and that “tax strategy was key to the deal.”So what happened?Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year20Slide21
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessA. OverviewOn September 2, 2013, Verizon Communications Inc. (“Verizon”), Vodafone Group Plc (“Vodaphone”) and Vodafone 4 Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vodafone (“Seller”), entered into a stock purchase agreement pursuant to which Verizon agreed to acquire Vodafone’s indirect 45% interest in Cellco Partnership d/b/a “Verizon Wireless” in exchange for transaction consideration totaling approximately $130 billion, consisting of the following:
Approximately $58.9 billion in cash (subject to a cash election and requirement to pay additional cash if the transaction closes after May 1, 2014); That number of shares of Verizon common stock, par value $0.10 per share, calculated pursuant to the stock purchase agreement by dividing $60.15 billion by the average trading price, and subject to a stock consideration collar mechanism and cash election; Senior unsecured Verizon notes in an aggregate principal amount of $5.0 billion;
Verizon’s indirect 23.1% interest in Vodafone Omnitel N.V., valued at $3.5 billion; and Other consideration valued at approximately $2.5 billion. The acquisition was structured as the acquisition by Verizon of 100% of the stock of Vodafone’s U.S. holding entity, Vodaphone Americas Finance 1, Inc. (“Holdco”) that indirectly held Vodafone’s 45% interest in Verizon Wireless. Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year21Slide22
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessB. The Parties structured the transaction as Verizon’s purchase of Holdco for:Cash ($58.9B);Verizon stock ($60.15B);Verizon notes ($5.0B);Verizon’s Omnitel stake ($3.5B); andOther consideration ($2.5B).
Verizon
Wireless(U.S. Partnership)Holdco(U.S. Corporation)
45%
Partnership
Interest
Seller
(Non-U.S.)
(Luxembourg?)
Vodaphone
(Non-U.S. – British plc)
Verizon
Shareholders
Verizon
(U.S. Corporation)
55%
Partnership
Interest
Unwanted
Assets
(Non-U.S. Subs)
Vodaphone
Shareholders
Omnitel
NV
(Non-U.S
.)
23.1%
interest
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
22Slide23
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessC. To effect the transaction, the Parties undertook the following general steps:A “Reorganization” (whereby Holdco disposed of certain non-U.S. subsidiaries that Verizon did not want) and related exchange of notes.The “Omnitel Transaction” (whereby Verizon effectively sold its indirect 23.1% interest in Omnitel to Vodaphone).A UK “Scheme of Arrangement” at Vodaphone
(whereby Vodaphone recapitalizes / consolidates its share capital and distributes Class B and Class C shares to its shareholders).
Verizon Wireless(U.S. Partnership)
Holdco
(U.S. Corporation)
45%
Partnership
Interest
Seller
(Non-U.S.)
(Luxembourg?)
Vodaphone
(Non-U.S. – British plc)
Verizon
Shareholders
Verizon
(U.S. Corporation)
55%
Partnership
Interest
Unwanted
Assets
(Non-U.S. Subs)
Vodaphone
Shareholders
Omnitel
NV
(Non-U.S
.)
23.1%
interest
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
23Slide24
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessD. Final StructureAs a result of the transaction, the following results occurred:Verizon effectively owns 100% of the interests in Verizon Wireless.Vodaphone owns 100% of Omnitel NV (which checked-the-box to convert from a corporation to a partnership).Vodaphone paid no U.S. tax and little (or no?) UK tax.Vodaphone shareholders received cash and Verizon shares.
Verizon
Wireless(U.S. Partnership)
Holdco
(U.S. Corporation)
45%
Partnership
Interest
Seller
(Non-U.S.)
(Luxembourg?)
Vodaphone
(Non-U.S. – British plc)
Verizon
Shareholders
Verizon
(U.S. Corporation)
55%
Partnership
Interest
Vodaphone
Shareholders
Omnitel
NV
(Non-U.S
.)
69%-71%
interest
$
and
29%-31%
interest
100%
interests
100%
interest
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
24Slide25
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessD. Final Structure (continued)In addition, the following contractual provisions are of note:The parties expressly agreed to treat as a taxable exchange (and not as possibly a reorganization under Section 368 or as an exchange under Section 351).Verizon cannot merge Holdco for 2 years.Holdco must make an election under Section 904(f)(1) to treat any income realized on sale of unwanted assets as U.S. source income so as to reduce, to the greatest extent possible, any “overall foreign loss” (“OFL”).If the Omnitel transaction / liquidation was not completed, and if Verizon was not satisfied that the OFL had been reduced to a de
minimis amount, it appears as though Verizon was entitled to receive an indemnity payment of $300mm. Final payment by Verizon to Vodaphone in respect of tax distributions to be made by Verizon Wireless.
Verizon Wireless(U.S. Partnership)
Holdco
(U.S. Corporation)
45%
Partnership
Interest
Seller
(Non-U.S.)
(Luxembourg?)
Vodaphone
(Non-U.S. – British plc)
Verizon
Shareholders
Verizon
(U.S. Corporation)
55%
Partnership
Interest
Vodaphone
Shareholders
Omnitel
NV
(Non-U.S
.)
69%-71%
interest
$
and
29%-31%
interest
100%
interests
100%
interest
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
25Slide26
IV. Verizon’s Purchase of Vodaphone’s Interest In Verizon WirelessE. Tax Issues / Observations:Was there any practical way to do this deal so that Verizon could have obtained a tax basis step-up?What is Verizon going to do with Holdco and Verizon Wireless (a partnership that it cannot consolidate with its operations)?Tax treatment of “Reorganization” transactions (taxable sales by Holdco) and related exchange of notes.Interesting tax planning with Omnitel liquidation and the Section 901(f)(1) election by Holdco (presumably, Verizon had a large loss in its Omnitel interest?).If Verizon merged Holdco out of existence, presumably it will lose $130B of tax basis (so how best to eliminate the partnership)?
Was it ever possible that the transactions could have been a good Section 368 reorganization or a Section 351 exchange? (no, as fixed $ share consideration?)FIRPTA issues for Verizon? (see acquisition agreement)Backlash in UK against Vodaphone?
Verizon Wireless(U.S. Partnership)
Holdco
(U.S. Corporation)
45%
Partnership
Interest
Seller
(Non-U.S.)
(Luxembourg?)
Vodaphone
(Non-U.S. – British plc)
Verizon
Shareholders
Verizon
(U.S. Corporation)
55%
Partnership
Interest
Vodaphone
Shareholders
Omnitel
NV
(Non-U.S
.)
69%-71%
interest
$
and
29%-31%
interest
100%
interests
100%
interest
Interesting Partnership Transactions of the Past Year
26