§ 800.213 Covered transaction.

The term covered transaction means any of the following:

(a) A covered control transaction;

(b) A covered investment;

(c) A change in the rights that a foreign person has with respect to a U.S. business in which the foreign person has an investment, if that change could result in a covered control transaction or a covered investment; or

(d) Any other transaction, transfer, agreement, or arrangement, the structure of which is designed or intended to evade or circumvent the application of section 721.

(e) Examples:

(1) Example 1. Corporation A, a foreign person, acquires a 10 percent non-controlling equity interest in Corporation X, a U.S. business. Corporation X subsequently provides Corporation A the right to appoint the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Technical Officer of Corporation X. Corporation A does not acquire any additional equity interest in Corporation X. Assuming no other relevant facts, the change in rights is a covered transaction.

(2) Example 2. Corporation A, a foreign person that is not an excepted investor, acquires a 10 percent non-controlling equity interest in Corporation X, an unaffiliated TID U.S. business, but Corporation A is not afforded any of the access, rights, or involvement specified in § 800.211(b) at the time of its investment. Corporation X later expands its board of directors and provides Corporation A with the right to appoint a director. Assuming no other relevant facts, the change in rights is a covered transaction.

(3) Example 3. Corporation A is organized under the laws of a foreign state and is wholly owned and controlled by a foreign national. With a view towards circumventing section 721, Corporation A transfers money to a U.S. citizen, who, pursuant to informal arrangements with Corporation A and on its behalf, purchases all the shares in Corporation X, a U.S. business. The transaction is a covered transaction.

(4) Example 4. Corporation A is organized under the laws of a foreign state, is wholly owned and controlled by a foreign national, and is not an excepted investor. With a view towards circumventing section 721, Corporation A transfers money to a U.S. citizen, who, pursuant to informal arrangements with Corporation A and on its behalf, makes a non-controlling minority equity investment in Corporation X, an unaffiliated TID U.S. business that maintains and collects sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens. In connection with the investment, the U.S. citizen is afforded the right to be involved in substantive decisionmaking regarding the release of sensitive personal data of U.S. citizens maintained by Corporation X. The transaction is a covered transaction.

[85 FR 3124, Jan. 17, 2020, as amended at 85 FR 57128, Sept. 15, 2020]