Finance Act 1993

154 Definitions connected with assets. U.K.

(1) Subject to the following provisions of this section, a company becomes entitled to an asset when it becomes unconditionally entitled to it.

(2) In determining whether or not a company is unconditionally entitled to an asset, any transfer by way of security of the asset or of any interest or right in or over the asset shall be ignored.

(3) Where a company agrees to acquire an asset by transfer it becomes entitled to it when the contract is made and not on a later transfer made pursuant to the contract; but the preceding provisions of this subsection do not apply where the agreement is by way of a currency contract.

(4) Where a company agrees to dispose of an asset by transfer it ceases to be entitled to it when the contract is made and not on a later transfer made pursuant to the contract.

(5) If a contract is conditional (whether on the exercise of an option or otherwise) for the purposes of subsections (3) and (4) above it is made when the condition is satisfied.

[F1 (5A) The question whether a company becomes unconditionally entitled at a particular time to an asset falling within section 153(1)(a) above shall be determined without reference to the fact that there is or is not a later time when, or before which, the whole or any part of the debt is required to be paid.

(5B) Where an asset falling within section 153(1)(a) above consists of a right to interest—

(a) a company becomes unconditionally entitled to the asset at the time when or (as the case may be) before which the interest is required to be paid to the company, and

(b) subsection (5A) above shall not apply.]

(6) Where a company ceases to be entitled to an asset and at a later time becomes entitled to the same asset, with effect from the later time the asset shall be treated as if it were a different asset.

(7) In a case where—

(a) at different times a company becomes entitled to rights to settlement under debts on securities, and

(b) the rights are of the same kind,

the rights shall be treated as different assets and not part of the same asset.

(8) Whether a transaction involves a company becoming entitled to—

(a) one asset consisting of a right to settlement under a debt on a security, or

(b) a number of such assets,

shall be determined according to the facts of the case concerned.

(9) For the purpose of deciding whether rights to settlement under debts on securities of a particular kind are held by a company, rights of that kind acquired earlier shall be treated as disposed of before rights of that kind acquired later; and references here to acquisition and disposal are references to becoming entitled and ceasing to be entitled.

(10) For the purpose of deciding whether shares of a particular kind are held by a company, shares of that kind acquired earlier shall be treated as disposed of before shares of that kind acquired later; and references here to acquisition and disposal are references to becoming entitled and ceasing to be entitled.

(11) In a case where—

(a) a rule is used for the purpose mentioned in subsection (9) or (10) above when the company’s accounts are prepared,

(b) the rule differs from that contained in the subsection, and

(c) the accounts are prepared in accordance with normal accountancy practice,

the rule used when the accounts are prepared (and not the rule in the subsection) shall be used for the purpose.

(12) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) become entitled to an asset at a particular time (the later time) by virtue of the preceding provisions of this section,

(b) the asset falls within section 153(1)(a) above,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as becoming entitled to the asset is a time (the earlier time) earlier than the later time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with normal accountancy practice,

the company shall be taken to have become entitled to the asset at the earlier time and not at the later time.

(13) Where subsection (12) above applies, as regards any time beginning with the earlier time and ending immediately before the later time the nominal amount of the debt shall be taken to be—

(a) such amount as the company treats as the nominal amount in its accounts, or

(b) such amount as it would so treat in accordance with normal accountancy practice (if that amount is different from the amount found under paragraph (a) above).

[F2 (13A) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) become entitled to an asset at a particular time (the earlier time) by virtue of subsections (1) to (11) above,

(b) the asset falls within section 153(1)(a) above and the debt concerned is a debt on a security, or the asset is a share,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as becoming entitled to the asset is a time (the later time) later than the earlier time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with normal accountancy practice,

the company shall be taken to become entitled to the asset at the later time and not at the earlier time.

(13B) In a case where—

(a) a company would (apart from this subsection) cease to be entitled to an asset at a particular time (the earlier time) by virtue of subsections (1) to (11) above,

(b) the asset falls within section 153(1)(a) above and the debt concerned is a debt on a security, or the asset is a share,

(c) the time at which the company, in drawing up its accounts, regards itself as ceasing to be entitled to the asset is a time (the later time) later than the earlier time, and

(d) the accounts are drawn up in accordance with normal accountancy practice,

the company shall be taken to cease to be entitled to the asset at the later time and not at the earlier time.]

(14) A company holds an asset at a particular time if it is entitled to it at that time.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 154(5A)(5B) inserted (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 114(1)

F2 S. 154(13A)(13B) inserted (3.5.1994) by 1994 c. 9, s. 114(2)