Tax treatment of Conrail public sale

For periods after the public sale, for purposes of title 26, Conrail shall be treated as a new corporation which purchased all of its assets as of the beginning of the day after the date of the public sale for an amount equal to the deemed purchase price. The deemed purchase price shall be allocated among the assets of Conrail in accordance with the temporary regulations prescribed under section 338 of title 26 (as such regulations were in effect on October 21, 1986). The Secretary shall establish specific guidelines for carrying out the preceding sentence so that the basis of each asset will be clearly ascertainable. For purposes of applying the regulations referred to in the first sentence, accounts receivable and materials and supplies shall be treated as cash equivalents. For purposes of this subsection, the deemed purchase price is an amount equal to the gross amount received pursuant to the public sale, multiplied by a fraction— No amount shall be included in the gross income of any person by reason of any cancellation of any obligation (or preferred stock) of Conrail in connection with the public sale. No deduction shall be allowed to Conrail for any amount which is paid after the date of the public sale to employees of Conrail for services performed on or before the date of the public sale. For purposes of determining whether the employee stock ownership plans of Conrail meet the qualifications of sections 401 and 501 of title 26— For purposes of this section— The term “Conrail” means the Consolidated Rail Corporation. Such term includes any corporation which was a subsidiary of Conrail immediately before the public sale. The term “public sale” means the sale of stock in Conrail pursuant to a public offering under the Conrail Privatization Act [45 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.]. If there is more than 1 public offering under such Act, such term means the sale pursuant to the initial public offering under such Act. The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Treasury or his delegate.