CG27740 - Partnership mergers: SP D12: example 

For the purpose of this example it can be accepted that the market value rule in TCGA92/S17/S18 does not apply, see CG27800+.

Facts

Partnership X 

A and B are equal partners in Partnership X, a firm of solicitors.

Partnership X owns a freehold property which cost £400,000 and goodwill which had no acquisition cost.

The partners' CG base costs in the freehold property and goodwill are:

 

Property X

Goodwill X

Partner A

£400,000 x 50% = £200,000

Nil

Partner B

£400,000 x 50% = £200,000

Nil


The property was revalued to £600,000 in the partnership accounts. The surplus on revaluation, £200,000, was credited to the partners' capital accounts as to:

Partner A

£200,000 x 50% = £100,000

Partner B

£200,000 x 50% = £100,000


Goodwill is not included in the partnership accounts.

Partnership Z 

C and D are equal partners in Partnership Z, a firm of solicitors.

Partnership Z owns a freehold property which cost £800,000 and goodwill which had no acquisition cost.

The partners' CG base costs in the property and goodwill were:

 

Property Z

Goodwill Z

Partner C

£800,000 x 50% = £400,000

Nil

Partner D

£900,000 x 50% = £400,000

Nil


The property is included in the partnership accounts at its cost of £800,000.

Goodwill is not included in the partnership accounts.

Disposals

1) Partners A, B, C and D decide to merge the businesses carried on by Partnerships X and Z and agree to hold equal shares in the assets of the merged entity.

2) Several years later the merged business was sold as a going concern for £3m apportioned as to:

Freehold property X

£840,000

Freehold property Z

£960,000

Goodwill

£1,200,000


The surpluses on sale were credited to the partners' capital accounts as follows:

Freehold property X

(£840,000 - £600,000) £240,000 x 25% = £60,000 each

Freehold property Z

(£960,000 - £800,000) £160,000 x 25% = £40,000 each

Goodwill

£1,200,000 x 25% = £300,000 each

Analysis

1) CG consequences of the merger

Partner A's fractional interests in the property and goodwill of Partnership X have reduced from 50% to 25%. He has acquired a 25% interest in the property and goodwill owned by Partnership Z.

Partner B's fractional interests in the property and goodwill of Partnership X have reduced from 50% to 25%. He has acquired a 25% interest in the property and goodwill owned by Partnership Z.

Partner C's fractional interests in the property and goodwill of Partnership Z have reduced from 50% to 25%. He has acquired a 25% interest in the property and goodwill owned by Partnership X.

Partner D's fractional interests in the property and goodwill of Partnership Z have reduced from 50% to 25%. He has acquired a 25% interest in the property and goodwill owned by Partnership X.

Paragraph 4 of SP D12 applies, see CG27500.

CG computations

 

Partner A

 

Partner B

 

 

Property X

Goodwill X

Property X

Goodwill X

Disposal consideration

 

 

 

 

BSV £600,000 x 25%

£150,000

 

£150,000

 

BSV Nil x 25%

 

Nil

 

Nil

Less cost

 

 

 

 

£200,000 x 25%/50%

£100,000

 

£100,000

 

Nil x 25%/50%

 

Nil

 

Nil

 

Gain £50,000

NG/NL

Gain £50,000

NG/NL


Note that the gains accruing to each of Partners A and B of £50,000 on the disposals of part of their interests in freehold property X are equal to 50% of the surplus on revaluation that was credited to their capital accounts (£100,000 x 25%/50%).

 

Partner C

 

Partner D

 

 

Property Z

Goodwill Z

Property Z

Goodwill Z

Disposal consideration

 

 

 

 

BSV £800,000 x 25%

£200,000

 

£200,000

 

BSV Nil x 25%

 

Nil

 

Nil

Less cost

 

 

 

 

£400,000 x 25%/50%

£200,000

 

£200,000

 

Nil x 25%/50%

 

Nil

 

Nil

 

NG/NL

NG/NL

NG/NL

NG/NL


CG base costs to carry forward:

Freehold property X

Partner A

£200,000 - £100,000 = £100,000

Partner B

£200,000 - £100,000 = £100,000

Partner C

Nil + (£600,000 x 25%) £150,000 = £150,000

Partner D

Nil + (£600,000 x 25%) £150,000 = £150,000


Freehold property Z

Partner A

Nil + (£800,000 x 25%) £200,000 = £200,000

Partner B

Nil + (£800,000 x 25%) £200,000 = £200,000

Partner C

£400,000 - £200,000 = £200,000

Partner D

£400,000 - £200,000 = £200,000


Goodwill X and Z (following the merger the goodwill of X and Z will be treated as a single asset of the merged entity).

Partner A

Nil - Nil + (Nil x 25%) Nil = Nil

Partner B

Nil - Nil + (Nil x 25%) Nil = Nil

Partner C

Nil - Nil + (Nil x 25%) Nil = Nil

Partner D

Nil - Nil + (Nil x 25%) Nil = Nil


2) CG consequences of sale of business 

Paragraph 2 of SP D12 applies, see CG27350.

  1. Freehold property X

 

Partner A

Partner B

Partner C

Partner D

Disposal consideration

 

 

 

 

£840,000 x 25%

£210,000

£210,000

£210,000

£210,000

Less cost

£100,000

£100,000

£150,000

£150,000

Gains

£110,000

£110,000

£60,000

£60,000


The gains accruing to Partners A and B reflect the balance of the surplus arising on revaluation (£100,000 x 25%/50%), £50,000 plus the surplus on sale of £60,000 = £110,000.

The gains accruing to Partners C and D reflect their shares of the surplus on sale of £60,000.

  1. Freehold property Z

 

Partner A

Partner B

Partner C

Partner D

Disposal consideration

 

 

 

 

£960,000 x 25%

£240,000

£240,000

£240,000

£240,000

Less cost

£200,000

£200,000

£200,000

£200,000

Gains

£40,000

£40,000

£40,000

£40,000


The gains accruing to the partners are equal to their shares of the surplus on sale of £40,000.

  1. Goodwill

 

Partner A

Partner B

Partner C

Partner D

Disposal consideration

 

 

 

 

£1,200,000 x 25%

£300,000

£300,000

£300,000

£300,000

Less cost

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Gains

£300,000

£300,000

£300,000

£300,000


The gains accruing to the partners are equal to their shares of the surplus on sale of £300,000.