Finance (No. 2) Act 2005

54 Loan relationships U.K.

(1) After paragraph 12A of Schedule 9 to FA 1996 (loan relationships: gains and losses: continuity of treatment for groups) insert—

“Formation of SE by merger

12B (1) This paragraph applies where—

(a) an SE is formed by the merger of two or more companies in accordance with Articles 2(1) and 17(2)(a) or (b) of Council Regulation (EC) 2157/2001 on the Statute for a European Company (Societas Europaea),

(b) each merging company is resident in a member State,

(c) the merging companies are not all resident in the same State, and

(d) either—

(i) immediately after formation the SE is resident in the United Kingdom and within the charge to corporation tax in accordance with section 6 of the Taxes Act 1988, or

(ii) immediately after formation the SE is not resident in the United Kingdom but is within the charge to corporation tax in accordance with section 11 of the Taxes Act 1988.

(2) Where this paragraph applies, the transfer in the course of the merger of an asset or liability which represents a loan relationship shall be disregarded except—

(a) for the purpose of determining the debits or credits to be brought into account in respect of exchange gains or losses and identifying the company which is to bring them into account, and

(b) for the purpose of identifying the company in whose case a debit or credit which does not relate to the transfer is to be brought into account.

(3) Where this paragraph applies, the transferor and the transferee companies of an asset or liability which represents a loan relationship shall be deemed, except for the purposes specified in sub-paragraph (2)(a) and (b), to be the same company.

(4) Paragraph 12(2A) shall have effect (with any necessary modifications) in relation to this paragraph as in relation to paragraph 12.

(5) Sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) shall apply in relation to the formation of an SE by merger only if—

(a) it is effected for bona fide commercial reasons, and

(b) it does not form part of a scheme or arrangements of which the main purpose, or one of the main purposes, is avoiding liability to corporation tax, capital gains tax or income tax.

(6) But sub-paragraph (5) shall not have the effect of preventing sub-paragraphs (2) and (3) from applying if before the merger Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs have on the application of the merging companies notified them that Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs are satisfied that sub-paragraph (5) will not have that effect.

(7) For the purposes of this paragraph a company is resident in a member State if—

(a) it is within a charge to tax under the law of the State as being resident for that purpose, and

(b) it is not regarded, for the purposes of any double taxation relief arrangements to which the State is a party, as resident in a territory not within a member State.”

(2) Subsection (1) shall have effect in relation to the formation of an SE which occurs on or after 1st April 2005.