Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 Explanatory Notes

Limited partnerships

529.Where a limited partnership is deemed to hold shares or rights in a company, the limited partners will hold those shares or rights jointly and will meet the specified conditions accordingly (see paragraph 11).

530.Limited partners in limited partnerships registered under the Limited Partnerships Act 1907 will not however normally be involved in the management of the partnership business (see section 6(1) of that Act). They do not therefore have control over the company in the same way as other holders of shares or rights. Similar considerations apply in relation to particulars in certain overseas arrangements.

531.Paragraph 25 accordingly provides that an individual does not meet the first, second or third specified condition (see above) by virtue only a being a limited partner, unless they are involved in the management of the partnership business (see definition of “limited partner” in sub-paragraph (4)) or a foreign limited partner (see definition of “foreign limited partner” in sub-paragraph (5)).

532.Similarly, sub-paragraph (2) provides that individuals who directly or indirectly hold shares or rights in relation to a limited partner are not considered to meet the first, second or third specified condition by virtue only of that interest.

533.Sub-paragraphs (1) and (2) do not apply in relation to identifying whether a firm meets the specified condition in paragraph 6(a).

534.Sub-paragraph (5) defines “foreign limited partner” by reference to regulations made under the power in sub-paragraph (6). This power allows the Secretary of State to prescribe the characteristics of non-UK arrangements in regulations subject to the affirmative resolution procedure.

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