CG64155 - Entrepreneurs’ Relief: shares/securities: company reorganisations - share exchanges etc

TCGA92/S169Q

Where shares or securities are exchanged (in whole or in part) by other shares or securities in the course of a reorganisation of share capital, or a company reconstruction, whereby shares or debentures are issued by a company in exchange for shares in or debentures of another company then in these cases (and subject to certain conditions), TCGA92/S127 (by virtue of TCGA92/S135 or S136) treats the transactions as involving no disposal of the original shares or securities nor acquisition of the new shares or securities received see CG52500+.

Instead, the “original shares” (this phrase covers debentures as well as shares) and the “new holding” following the transactions are treated as the same asset, acquired as the original shares were acquired.

Where these rules apply, it is possible that a disposal of the original shares at the time of the reorganisation, exchange or reconstruction would result in a gain that could qualify for Entrepreneurs’ Relief. But the gain on a later disposal of the new holding may not qualify. This may be because the shareholdings after the reorganisation, exchange or reconstruction are such that the company is no longer the individual’s personal company.

TCGA92/S169Q (2) enables an election to be made for Entrepreneurs’ Relief to be available on the basis that the ‘no disposal’ treatment of TCGA92/S127 does not apply. The result is that a gain, in respect of which Entrepreneurs’ Relief can be claimed, accrues at the time of the reorganisation, exchange or reconstruction.

On a disposal of trust business assets any election must be made jointly by the trustees and the qualifying beneficiary concerned. In other cases the election is made by the individual.

It is NOT possible to make a partial election in respect of only some of the shares (or securities) included in the reorganisation.

Time limit for claims

Elections (as with claims for Entrepreneurs’ Relief itself) must be made on or before the first anniversary of the 31 January following the tax year in which the qualifying business disposal is made – TCGA92/S169Q (4).

Example

D has been managing director of her personal trading company, E Ltd, for many years. In 2009 she disposes of her shares in E Ltd to F Plc. F Plc makes an issue of new ordinary shares to D in exchange for her shares in E Ltd.

If the normal share exchange rules apply, D is treated as not disposing of her original shares in E Ltd. Instead those shares and the F Plc shares are treated as the same asset.

As there would be no disposal of the E Ltd shares no gain arises in respect of which Entrepreneurs’ Relief may be given. But when D comes to sell her shares in F Plc it is unlikely that Entrepreneurs’ Relief will be due as it would not qualify as her ‘personal company’ and/or she may well not be an officer or employee.

If D makes an election she is treated as disposing of her shares in E Ltd. A gain is calculated by reference to the value of the shares in F Plc received in the exchange (or, if it is not a bargain at arms length, the market value of the E Ltd shares). And the gain on that disposal would be eligible for Entrepreneurs’ Relief if all the conditions for that relief were satisfied.