medium · Investment Banking accounting

What is the primary difference between a 'Stock Purchase' and an 'Asset Purchase' regarding the tax treatment of asset write-ups?

  1. Asset purchases result in the creation of a Deferred Tax Liability (DTL) on the balance sheet that is amortized down over time and is never repaid.
  2. In an asset purchase, the write-ups are tax-deductible via depreciation/amortization, whereas in a stock purchase, they are generally not.
  3. In a stock purchase, the buyer can immediately expense the full dollar amount of any goodwill created for both book and tax reporting purposes.
  4. Stock purchases are always preferred by buyers because they allow for the immediate, unrestricted utilization of all target NOLs.

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