Part 9Special rules about settlements and trustees

Chapter 5Share incentive plans

488Application of section 479 to trustees of F5Schedule 2 share incentive plans

1

This section applies if—

a

income arises to the trustees of F1a Schedule 2 share incentive plan, and

b

the income consists of dividends or other distributions in respect of shares held by the trustees in relation to which the requirements of Part 4 of Schedule 2 to ITEPA 2003 (F6... share incentive plans: types of shares that may be awarded) are met.

2

Section 479 applies in relation to the income only if and when condition A or condition B has been met.

3

Condition A is that—

a

the applicable period in relation to the shares has ended, and

b

that period came to an end without the shares being awarded to a participant in accordance with the plan.

4

Condition B is that the trustees disposed of the shares before the end of the applicable period in relation to the shares.

5

For the purpose of determining whether shares are awarded to a participant within the applicable period in relation to them, shares acquired by the trustees at an earlier time are taken to be awarded to a participant before shares of the same class acquired by the trustees at a later time.

6

References in this section to shares being awarded to a participant include references to the shares being acquired on behalf of the participant as dividend shares.

489The applicable period” in relation to shares

1

This section sets out how the applicable period in relation to any shares (“the relevant shares”) is determined for the purposes of section 488.

2

The length of the applicable period depends on whether any shares in the relevant company were readily convertible assets at the time the relevant shares were acquired by the trustees.

3

If any were, the applicable period is the period of two years beginning with the acquisition date.

4

If none were, the applicable period is—

a

the period of 5 years beginning with the acquisition date, or

b

if within that period any shares in the relevant company become readily convertible assets, the period of two years beginning with the date on which they did so,

whichever ends first.

5

Subsections (2) to (4) are subject to subsection (6).

6

If the relevant shares were acquired by the trustees by virtue of a payment in respect of which a deduction is allowed under F3section 989 of CTA 2009 (deduction for contribution to plan trust), the applicable period is the period of 10 years beginning with the acquisition date.

7

In this section—

  • the acquisition date” means the date on which the trustees acquired the relevant shares,

  • “readily convertible assets” has, subject to subsection (8), the meaning given by sections 701 and 702 of ITEPA 2003, and

  • the relevant company” means the company in which the relevant shares are shares.

8

In determining for the purposes of this section whether shares are readily convertible assets, ignore any market for the shares that—

a

is created by virtue of the trustees acquiring shares for the purposes of the F2Schedule 2 share incentive plan, and

b

exists solely for the purposes of that plan.

490Interpretation of Chapter

1

This Chapter forms part of the SIP code (see section 488 of ITEPA 2003 (F4... share incentive plans)).

2

Therefore expressions used in this Chapter and contained in the index at the end of Schedule 2 to ITEPA 2003 have the meaning indicated by that index.

3

For the purposes of this Chapter shares which are subject to provision for forfeiture are treated as acquired by the trustees if and when the forfeiture occurs.