Corporation Tax Act 2009

259 After section 807C insert—

“European cross-border mergers

807D Introduction to section 807E

(1) Section 807E applies if—

(a) conditions A to E,

(b) in the case of a merger within subsection (2)(a), (b) or (c), condition F, and

(c) in the case of a merger within subsection (2)(c) or (d), condition G.

are met.

(2) Condition A is that—

(a) an SE is formed by the merger of two or more companies in accordance with Articles 2(1) and 17(2)(a) or (b) of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2157/2001 on the Statute for a European company (Societas Europaea),

(b) an SCE is formed by the merger of two or more co-operative societies, at least one of which is a society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965, in accordance with Articles 2(1) and 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1435/2003 on the Statute for a European Co-operative Society (SCE),

(c) a merger is effected by the transfer by one or more companies of all their assets and liabilities to a single existing company, or

(d) a merger is effected by the transfer by two or more companies of all their assets and liabilities to a single new company (other than an SE or an SCE) in exchange for the issue by the transferee, to each person holding shares in or debentures of a transferor, of shares or debentures.

(3) Condition B is that each merging company is resident in a member State.

(4) Condition C is that the merging companies are not all resident in the same State.

(5) Condition D is that in the course of the merger a company resident in the United Kingdom (“company A”) transfers to a company resident in another member State all assets and liabilities relating to a business which company A carried on in a member State other than the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment (but see subsection (9)).

(6) Condition E is that the transfer mentioned in subsection (5) includes—

(a) the transfer of an asset or liability representing a loan relationship,

(b) the transfer of rights and liabilities under a derivative contract, or

(c) the transfer of intangible fixed assets—

(i) that are chargeable intangible assets in relation to company A immediately before the transfer, and

(ii) in the case of one or more of which the proceeds of realisation exceed the cost recognised for tax purposes.

(7) Condition F is that—

(a) the transfer of assets and liabilities to the transferee in the course of the merger is made in exchange for the issue of shares or debentures by the transferee to each person holding shares in or debentures of a transferor, or

(b) paragraph (a) is not met in relation to the transfer of those assets and liabilities only because, and only so far as, the transferee is prevented from so issuing such shares or debentures by section 658 of the Companies Act 2006 (general rule against limited company acquiring own shares) or by a corresponding provision of the law of another member State preventing such an issue.

(8) Condition G is that in the course of the merger each transferor ceases to exist without being in liquidation (within the meaning given by section 247 of the Insolvency Act 1986).

(9) In the case of a merger within subsection (2)(a) or (b), in determining whether section 807E applies in respect of such a transfer as is mentioned in subsection (6)(c), condition D is regarded as met even if all liabilities relating to the business which company A carried on are not transferred as mentioned in subsection (5).

(10) For the purposes of this section, a company is resident in a member State if—

(a) it is within a charge to tax under the law of the State as being resident for that purpose, and

(b) it is not regarded, for the purpose of any double taxation relief arrangements to which the State is a party, as resident in a territory not within a member State.

(11) In this section and section 807E—

• “company” means any entity listed as a company in the Annex to the Mergers Directive,

• “co-operative society” means a society registered under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 or a similar society governed by the law of a member State other than the United Kingdom,

• “derivative contract” has the same meaning as in Part 7 of CTA 2009,

• “intangible fixed assets” and “chargeable intangible assets”, in relation to any person, have the same meaning as in Part 8 of CTA 2009,

• “loan relationship” has the same meaning as in Part 5 of CTA 2009,

• “the Mergers Directive” means Council Directive No. 90/434/EEC of 23 July 1990 on mergers, transfers etc,

• “proceeds of realisation”, in relation to intangible fixed assets, has the meaning given in section 739 of CTA 2009,

• “recognised for tax purposes” has the same meaning as in Part 8 of CTA 2009,

• “SE” and “SCE” have the same meaning as in CTA 2009 (see section 1319 of that Act)),

• “the transferee” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a merger within subsection (2)(a), the SE,

  (b)

  in relation to a merger within subsection (2)(b), the SCE,

  (c)

  in relation to a merger within subsection (2)(c) or (d), the company to which assets and liabilities are transferred, and

• “transferor” means—

  (a)

  in relation to a merger within subsection (2)(a), a company merging to form the SE,

  (b)

  in relation to a merger within subsection (2)(b), a co-operative society merging to form the SCE, and

  (c)

  in relation to a merger within subsection (2)(c) or (d), a company transferring all of its assets and liabilities.

(12) In section 807E, “company A”, “the merger” and “the merging companies” have the same meaning as in this section.”