(1)This Chapter applies if—
(a)there is a change in the ownership of a company (“the company”), and
(b)condition A or B is met.
(2)Condition A is that within any period of 3 years in which the change in ownership occurs there is a major change in the nature or conduct of a trade carried on by the company.
(3)Condition B is that the change in ownership occurs at any time after the scale of the activities in a trade carried on by the company has become small or negligible and before any significant revival of the trade.
(4)In this section “major change in the nature or conduct of a trade” includes—
(a)a major change in the type of property dealt in, or services or facilities provided in, the trade, or
(b)a major change in customers, outlets or markets of the trade.
This Chapter applies even if the change is the result of a gradual process which began before the period of 3 years mentioned in subsection (2).
(5)In this Chapter—
“the change in ownership” means the change in ownership mentioned in subsection (1),
“the company” has the same meaning as in this section, and
“trade” includes an office.