Finance Act 2002

Meaning of “trading group”

10 (1) In paragraph 22(1) (interpretation), for the definition of “trading group” substitute—

““trading group” has the meaning given by paragraph 22B below;”.

(2) After paragraph 22A (inserted by paragraph 9 above) insert—

“Meaning of “trading group”

22B (1) In this Schedule “trading group” means a group of companies—

(a) one or more of whose members carry on trading activities, and

(b) the activities of whose members, taken together, do not include to a substantial extent activities other than trading activities.

(2) For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) above “trading activities” means activities carried on by a member of the group—

(a) in the course of, or for the purposes of, a trade being carried on by any member of the group,

(b) for the purposes of a trade that any member of the group is preparing to carry on,

(c) with a view to any member of the group acquiring or starting to carry on a trade, or

(d) with a view to any member of the group acquiring a significant interest in the share capital of another company that—

(i) is a trading company or the holding company of a trading group, and

(ii) is not a member of the same group of companies as the acquiring company.

(3) Activities do not qualify as trading activities under sub-paragraph (2)(c) or (d) above unless the acquisition is made, or (as the case may be) the group member in question starts to carry on the trade, as soon as is reasonably practicable in the circumstances.

(4) The reference in sub-paragraph (2)(d) above to the acquisition of a significant interest in the share capital of another company is to an acquisition of ordinary share capital in the other company—

(a) such as would make that company a member of the same group of companies as the acquiring company, or

(b) such as would give the acquiring company a qualifying shareholding in a joint venture company without making the joint venture companies a member of the same group of companies as the acquiring company.

(5) For the purposes of this paragraph the activities of the members of the group shall be treated as one business (with the result that activities are disregarded to the extent that they are intra-group activities).”.

(3) The amendments in this paragraph apply to disposals on or after 17th April 2002 and as they so apply have effect in relation to periods of ownership on or after that date.