Finance Act 2003

Cases in which group relief not withdrawn

4 (1) Group relief is not withdrawn under paragraph 3 in the following cases.

(2) The first case is where the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the vendor because the vendor leaves the group.

(3) The vendor is regarded as leaving the group if the companies cease to be members of the same group by reason of a transaction relating to shares in—

(a) the vendor, or

(b) another company that as a result of the transaction ceases to be a member of the same group as the purchaser.

(4) The second case is where the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the vendor by reason of anything done for the purposes of, or in the course of, winding up the vendor or another company that is above the vendor in the group structure.

(5) For this purpose a company is “above” the vendor in the group structure if the vendor, or another company that is above the vendor in the group structure, is a 75% subsidiary of the company.

(6) The third case is where—

(a) the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the vendor as a result of an acquisition of shares by another company (“the acquiring company”) in relation to which—

(i) section 75 of the Finance Act 1986 (c. 41) applies (stamp duty: acquisition relief), and

(ii) the conditions for relief under that section are met,

and

(b) the purchaser is immediately after that acquisition a member of the same group as the acquiring company.

(7) But if in a case within sub-paragraph (6)—

(a) the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the acquiring company—

(i) before the end of the period of three years beginning with the effective date of the relevant transaction, or

(ii) in pursuance of, or in connection with, arrangements made before the end of that period,

and

(b) at the time the purchaser ceases to be a member of the same group as the acquiring company, it or a relevant associated company holds a chargeable interest—

(i) that was acquired by the purchaser under the relevant transaction, or

(ii) that is derived from an interest so acquired,

and that has not subsequently been acquired at market value under a chargeable transaction for which group relief was available but was not claimed,

the provisions of this Part relating to group relief apply as if the purchaser had then ceased to be a member of the same group as the vendor.

(8) In sub-paragraph (7)—

• “arrangements” includes any scheme, agreement or understanding, whether or not legally enforceable; and

• “relevant associated company”, in relation to the purchaser, means a company that is a member of the same group as the purchaser that ceases to be a member of the same group as the acquiring company in consequence of the purchaser so ceasing.