OPINION
This matter is before the Court on the parties' cross-motions for partial summary judgment pursuant to Rule 121. 1 The parties have complied with the requirements of Rule 121, and we find that a partial summary judgment is appropriate in this case. The issue raised by each motion is whether the shares of International common stock received by petitioners in exchange for McDermott common stock constitute "property" within the meaning of section 304(a)(2)(A).
All the facts have been agreed upon (stipulated) for purposes of these Rule 121 motions.
Petitioners Rohinton and Patricia Bhada were residents of Alliance, Ohio, and petitioners Edward and Janice Caamano were residents of New Orleans, Louisiana, when the petitions in these cases were filed. There are approximately 87 docketed cases in this Court involving the same transaction, and these two cases have been identified as test cases for the purpose of resolving the preliminary issue concerning the applicability of section 304 to the transaction in question.
McDermott, Inc. (McDermott), was a Delaware corporation at all relevant times. From 1959 until December 10, 1982, McDermott was the parent corporation to a group of corporations hereinafter referred to as the McDermott Group. From 1959 until December 10, 1982, McDermott International, Inc. (International), was a wholly owned subsidiary of McDermott and a controlled foreign corporation within the meaning of section 957.
Pursuant to a plan of reorganization adopted on October 28, 1982, by the boards of directors of McDermott and International, International made an offer to exchange cash and shares of its own stock (International common) for shares of the common stock of McDermott (McDermott common). International distributed a prospectus dated November 24, 1982 (the prospectus), which stated the terms and conditions on which the offer was made.
The prospectus stated:
The principal purpose of the reorganization is to enable the McDermott Group to retain, reinvest and redeploy earnings from operations outside the United States without subjecting such earnings to United States income tax. This will enable the McDermott Group to compete more effectively with foreign companies by taking advantage of additional opportunities for expansion which require long-term commitments, the redeployment of assets and the reinvestment of earnings. The reorganization will also result in direct shareholder participation in the accumulated and future profits of International earned abroad rather than shareholder participation in such foreign earnings only after they are first distributed to the Delaware Company and subjected to corporate income tax at a rate substantially higher than the average rate prevailing in the areas in which International operates. Finally, the reorganization will permit International to invest its accumulated foreign earnings in the United States without Federal income tax being imposed on the Delaware Company upon the making of such investment.
* * * *
The aggregate amount reported by [McDermott] as Subpart F income of International in the five years ended March 31, 1982 was approximately $ 20,000,000 and the aggregate United States income tax imposed thereon was approximately $ 9,000,000. * * * If, however, the business of International continues in its present form and at levels now anticipated by management for the five succeeding years, it is anticipated that the aggregate Subpart F income generated by International will be approximately $ 585,000,000 for such years and the aggregate United States income tax imposed on that total amount would (at currently prevailing rates) be approximately $ 220,000,000. In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, United States Counsel to International, the reorganization, under present laws and regulations, will enable the McDermott Group to avoid future Subpart F income tax costs because, after the exchanges pursuant to the offer, International will no longer be a CFC [controlled foreign corporation].
Under the terms of the offer, International was to exchange 1 share of International common plus $ 0.35 for each outstanding share of McDermott common. The offer was conditioned upon the tendering of a minimum of 22 million shares of McDermott common. International also retained the right to refuse to accept more than 30 million shares of McDermott common.
On December 10, 1982, International accepted, pursuant to the terms of the offer, all shares of McDermott common tendered by each shareholder holding 99 or fewer of such shares and accepted a portion of all the shares of McDermott common tendered by each shareholder holding 100 or more of such shares, as was determined on the terms concerning proration stated in the Prospectus. International acquired 30 million shares of McDermott common for which it gave $ 10,500,000 and 30 million shares of International common. As a result of the exchange, International held approximately 68 percent of the voting power in McDermott, and former holders of McDermott common who participated in the exchange held approximately 90 percent of the voting power in International.
Petitioners participated in the December 1982 transactions. In response to the offer, petitioners Rohinton and Patricia Bhada tendered to International 26 shares of McDermott common and received in return 26 shares of International common and $ 9.10 in cash. Petitioners Edward and Janice Caamano tendered to International 50 shares of McDermott common and received in return 50 shares of International common and $ 17.50 in cash. On December 10, 1982, the fair market value of one share of International common was $ 19.
Section 304(a)(2) provides:
(2) Acquisition by subsidiary. -- For purposes of sections 302 and 303, if -- (A) in return for property, one corporation acquires from a shareholder of another corporation stock in such other corporation, and
(B) the issuing corporation controls the acquiring corporation,
then such property shall be treated as a distribution in redemption of the stock of the issuing corporation.
Section 304(c) provides, in part, that control, for purposes of section 304, means ownership of stock possessing at least 50 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote, or at least 50 percent of the total value of shares of all classes of stock.
If section 304(a)(2) applies to the December 1982 transaction, the International common and cash received by petitioners must be treated as a distribution in redemption of their stock in McDermott, and it will be necessary to apply section 302 to determine the character of the amounts received by petitioners in International common and cash. The parties have agreed that the cash received by petitioners is property for purposes of section 304(a)(2) and that if section 304 does not apply to the International common received by petitioners, the tax consequences of the receipt of that stock will then be governed by section 1001. 2
Section 304 does not apply to the International common received by petitioners unless this stock was "property" for purposes of section 304(a)(2). 3The term "property" is defined in section 317(a), which provides:
For purposes of this part, the term "property" means money, securities, and any other property; except that such term does not include stock in the corporation making the distribution (or rights to acquire such stock).
The receipt of stock of a corporation which is not stock of the distributing corporation is "property." See H. Rept. 1337, 83d Cong., 2d Sess. A 100 (1954).
Respondent argues that the true nature of the transaction between International and petitioners was an exchange of International common for McDermott common rather than a distribution by International of its stock in exchange for McDermott common. It is respondent's position that the term "distribution" in section 317(a) refers only to a distribution by a corporation with respect to its stock to its shareholders in their capacity as shareholders. Because International gave its stock to McDermott's shareholders and not to its own shareholders, respondent maintains that there was no distribution as defined in section 317(a). We disagree.
The terms "property" and "distribution" are defined in section 317 for purposes of part I of subchapter C of the Internal Revenue Code. Section 317(a); Anderson v. Commissioner, 67 T.C. 522, 561 (1976), affd. per curiam 583 F.2d 953 (7th Cir. 1978). Respondent finds support for his definition of the term "distribution" by asserting that the term "distribution" as it appears in every section in part I of subchapter C refers to a distribution by a corporation to its shareholders in relation to its stock. However, in section 304, itself, Congress has used the term "distribution" in its generic sense. Section 304(b)(3)(A), provides, "Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, subsection (a) (and not section 351 and not so much of sections 357 and 358 as relates to section 351) shall apply to any property received in a distribution described in subsection (a)."
At first glance, it is difficult to determine whether the term distribution in section 304(b)(3)(A) refers to the distribution of property by the acquiring corporation to shareholders of the parent corporation that triggers the application of section 304 or to the hypothetical redemption distribution by the parent to its own shareholders that follows when section 304(a)(2) applies. This ambiguity is resolved, however, by section 304(b)(3)(B), which provides in pertinent part: (B) Certain assumptions of liability, etc. --
(i) In general. -- In the case of an acquisition described in section 351, subsection (a) shall not apply to any liability --
(I) assumed by the acquiring corporation, or
(II) to which the stock is subject,
if such liability was incurred by the transferor to acquire the stock. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term "stock" means stock referred to in paragraph (1)(B) or (2)(A) of subsection (a).
Section 304(b)(3)(B) provides that in a transaction described in both sections 304(a) and 351, section 304(a) does not apply to certain liabilities assumed by the acquiring corporation or to which the stock is subject. The reference to the assumption of liabilities by the acquiring corporation indicates that section 304(b)(3)(B) refers to the actual transaction, i.e., the distribution of property by the acquiring corporation to shareholders of another corporation rather than the hypothetical redemption under section 304(a). Because section 304(b)(3)(B) refers to the actual transaction that triggers section 304, we can only conclude that section 304(b)(3)(A) also refers to the actual transactions when it uses the term distribution. Accordingly, the term distribution in section 317(a) does not exclusively refer to a distribution by a corporation to its shareholders with respect to its stock.
From this it follows that International "distributed" its own stock to petitioners in the December 1982 exchange, and that such stock is not to be deemed property. This is because the International common was the stock of the corporation making the distribution, it was not property, and section 304 does not apply. 4
Respondent contends, however, that section 304(b)(3)(B) refers to actual transactions but that section 304(b)(3)(A) refers to the hypothetical redemption that occurs when section 304 applies. Respondent reasons that section 304(b)(3)(B) concerns liabilities assumed (a much more difficult matter to express in terms of the hypothetical transaction), whereas the conflict between sections 304 and 351 does not arise until after the hypothetical redemption distribution comes into play. We decline to adopt respondent's reading of the statute. Neither section 304(b)(3)(B) nor section 304(b)(3)(A) applies unless there is a conflict between sections 304 and 351. Respondent's analysis assumes that there is no relationship between sections 304(b)(3)(B) and 304(b)(3)(A). The language of the statute does not support respondent's position nor does anything in the legislative history suggest such a contorted reading of the statute.
Paragraph (3) was added to section 304(b) by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97-248, section 226(a)(1)(A), 96 Stat. 324, 5 to resolve the problems raised by transactions that literally fall within the provisions of both sections 304 and 351. See H. Rept. 97-760 (Conf.) (1982), to accompany H.R. 4961 (Pub. L. 97248), 1982-2 C.B. 600, 635.
Section 3516 provides that no gain or loss shall be recognized if property is transferred to a corporation by one or more persons solely in exchange for stock or securities in that corporation and immediately after the exchange the persons who transferred the property are in control of the corporation. For the purposes of section 351, "control" means ownership of stock possessing at least 80 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote and at least 80 percent of the total number of shares of all other classes of stock of the corporation. (Section 351(a) cross-refers to section 368(c) for the definition of "control" applicable to section 351(a).) If property is received in addition to stock by persons transferring property to the corporation in a transaction to which section 351 applies, gain must be recognized but only to the extent of the amount of money received plus the fair market value of any other property received. Sec. 351(b). In other words, the property received in a section 351 transaction is treated as a sale or exchange rather than a dividend and may qualify for capital gain or loss treatment.
Before section 304(b)(3) was enacted, it was possible for taxpayers to avoid the application of section 304 to property received in addition to stock in an exchange of stock for stock of a related corporation if they met the 80-percent control requirement of section 351. See, e.g., Haserot v. Commissioner, 41 T.C. 562 (1964), remanded 355 F.2d 200 (6th Cir. 1965), 46 T.C. 864 (1966), affd. sub nom. Commissioner v. Stickney, 399 F.2d 828 (6th Cir. 1968).
To prevent such a circumvention of section 304, Congress enacted section 304(b)(3). The Conference report explains:
The conference agreement extends the anti-bailout rules of sections 304 and 306 of present law to the use of corporations, including holding companies, formed or availed of to avoid such rules. Such rules are made applicable to a transaction that, under present law, otherwise qualifies as a tax-free incorporation under section 351.
Section 351 generally will not apply to transactions described in section 304. Thus, section 351, if otherwise applicable, will generally apply only to the extent such transaction consists of an exchange of stock for stock in the acquiring corporation. 7 * * *
[H. Rept. 97-760 (Conf.) (1982), to accompany H.R. 4961 (Pub. L. 97248), 1982-2 C.B. 600, 635.]
Thus, it appears from the Conference report that Congress was concerned only with the treatment of property received in a transaction that fell under the provisions of both sections 304 and351. Congress must have assumed that section 304 would not apply to the stock of the acquiring corporation received by the shareholders of the related corporation because the stock of the acquiring corporation in a section 304(a) transaction is not property.
Respondent maintains that section 304(b)(3) was directed only at brother-sister transactions described in section 304(a)(1) rather than parent-subsidiary transactions described in section 304(a)(2). Therefore, respondent explains, the stock of a sister corporation received in a 304(a)(1) transaction is not property for purposes of section 304, but the stock of the acquiring subsidiary corporation in a section 304(a)(2) transaction is property. We disagree. Section 304(b)(3) specifically mentions that it applies to both sections 304(a)(1) (brother-sister transactions) and 304(a)(2) (parent-subsidiary transactions). Sec. 304(b)(3)(B)(i).
The legislative history of section 304 supports our conclusion. The predecessor of section 304(a)(2) was enacted in 1950 as section 115(g)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 (hereinafter referred to as section 115(g)(2)), which provided:
(2) Redemption through use of subsidiary corporation. -- If stock of a corporation (hereinafter referred to as the issuing corporation) is acquired by another corporation (hereinafter referred to as the acquiring corporation) and the issuing corporation controls (directly or indirectly) the acquiring corporation, the amount paid for the acquisition of the stock shall constitute a taxable dividend from the issuing corporation to the extent that the amount paid for such stock would have been considered, under paragraph (1), as essentially equivalent to a taxable dividend if such amount had been distributed by the acquiring corporation to the issuing corporation and had been applied by the issuing corporation in redemption of its stock. For the purposes of this paragraph, control means the ownership of stock possessing at least 50 per centum of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock entitled to vote or at least 50 per centum of the total value of shares of all classes of stock of the corporation.
In enacting section 304(a)(2), Congress intended to incorporate the substance of section 115(g)(2). H. Rept. 1337, 83d Cong., 2d Sess. A79 (1954); S. Rept. 1622, 83d Cong., 2d Sess. 239 (1954). Both section 115(g)(2) and section 304(a)(2), when they apply, treat the acquisition of the stock of its parent by a subsidiary corporation as though the parent corporation had redeemed its own stock. 8 If the transfer of International common is to be treated as a distribution by McDermott in redemption of its stock, then the International common is property as defined in section 317(a) because it is not the stock of the corporation making the distribution.
Had Congress reenacted the actual language of 115(g)(2), it is arguable that the International common received by petitioners would have to be tested for dividend equivalency under the provisions of section 115(g)(2). The transaction that would have triggered the application of 115(g)(2) is the acquisition of its parent's stock by a subsidiary, apparently regardless of the type of consideration received, as in this case. 9 Thus, under section 115(g)(2) the International common might have been treated as if it had been received by McDermott's shareholders in redemption of McDermott's stock. Under this analysis, because the International common is not the stock of the deemed distributing corporation (McDermott) under section 115(g)(2), it would have been property.
Congress, however, did not adopt the language of section 115(g)(2) when it enacted section 304(a)(2). Instead, Congress wrote the current statute to require the receipt of property by the shareholders of the parent corporation before section 304 will apply. Accordingly, we must first determine whether the International common distributed by International was property before we can determine whether section 304 applies. Because, as we have above held and for the reasons stated, the distribution by a corporation of its own stock is not property, section 304 does not apply (except as to the cash paid to the McDermott shareholders).
Our conclusion comports with the purpose of section 304(a)(2). Section 115(g)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, from which section 304 is derived, was enacted in response to the decision in Rodman Wanamaker Trust v. , 11 T.C. 365 (1948), affd. 178 F.2d 10 (3d Cir. 1949), in which the Court treated the cash received by the taxpayer from a subsidiary in return for shares of its parent's stock as proceeds of a sale rather than a dividend.
The committee reports reveal Congress' intent to prevent sale or exchange treatment in cases in which assets of a subsidiary are withdrawn from corporate solution in exchange for stock of its parent.
[In Wanamaker, section 115(g) of the Internal