Finance Act 2002

Change of control due to exempt share acquisition

4 (1) Section 113 does not apply by reason of control of the acquiring company changing as a result of a transfer of shares (“the exempt transfer”) to another company (“the parent company”) in relation to which share acquisition relief applies.

(2) For this purpose—

(a) “share acquisition relief” means relief under section 77 of the Finance Act 1986 (c. 41); and

(b) references to a transfer in relation to which such relief applies are to a transfer such that an instrument effecting the transfer is exempt from stamp duty by virtue of that provision.

(3) But if before the end of the period of two years beginning with the date on which the relevant instrument was executed—

(a) control of the parent company changes at a time when that company holds any shares transferred to it by the exempt transfer, or any shares derived from shares so transferred, and

(b) the acquiring company, at that time, holds an estate or interest in land—

(i) that was transferred to it by the relevant instrument, or

(ii) that is derived from an estate or interest so transferred,

and that was not subsequently transferred to it by a duly stamped instrument on which ad valorem duty was paid and in relation to which section 76 relief was not claimed,

the following provisions apply.

(4) In those circumstances—

(a) section 76 relief in relation to the relevant instrument (or an appropriate proportion of that relief) is withdrawn, and

(b) the additional stamp duty that would have been paid on stamping the relevant instrument but for that relief if the land in question had been transferred by that instrument at market value, or an appropriate proportion of that additional duty, is payable by the acquiring company within 30 days after control of the parent company changed.