Part 3Companies with small profits

Supplementary

33Interpretation of section 32(2) and (3)

1

For the purposes of section 32(2)(a), a company (“A”) is a 51% subsidiary of another company (“B”) only at times when—

a

B would be beneficially entitled to more than 50% of any profits available for distribution to equity holders of A, and

b

B would be beneficially entitled to more than 50% of any assets of A available for distribution to its equity holders on a winding up.

2

The requirement in subsection (1) is in addition to the requirements of section 1154(2) (meaning of “51% subsidiary”).

3

In determining for the purposes of section 32(2)(a) whether or not a company is a 51% subsidiary of another company (“C”), C is treated as not being the owner of share capital if—

a

it owns the share capital indirectly,

b

the share capital is owned directly by a company (“D”), and

c

a profit on the sale of the shares would be a trading receipt for D.

4

In section 32(2)(b) and this section—

a

trading company” means a company whose business consists wholly or mainly of carrying on a trade or trades, and

b

relevant holding company” means a company whose business consists wholly or mainly of holding shares in or securities of trading companies that are its 90% subsidiaries.

5

For the purposes of section 32(3), a company is owned by a consortium if at least 75% of the company's ordinary share capital is beneficially owned by two or more companies each of which—

a

beneficially owns at least 5% of that capital,

b

would be beneficially entitled to at least 5% of any profits available for distribution to equity holders of the company, and

c

would be beneficially entitled to at least 5% of any assets of the company available for distribution to its equity holders on a winding up.

6

The companies meeting those conditions are called the members of the consortium.

7

Chapter 6 of Part 5 (equity holders and profits or assets available for distribution) applies for the purposes of subsections (1) and (5) as it applies for the purposes of section 151(4)(a) and (b).