Demergers, though intricate, play a pivotal role in restructuring for individuals and organisations. These strategic maneuvers create clear divisions within an entity, serving various purposes. Let’s delve into the world of demergers and explore their significance.
Why Demergers?
1. Protection of CGT and IHT Reliefs
- Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT) reliefs are critical for business owners.
- However, holding investment assets within a trading company can jeopardise these reliefs.
- Key reliefs at risk:
- Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) or Entrepreneurs Relief (ER): Offers a reduced CGT rate (10%) on qualifying share disposals (up to £1 million).
- Investors Relief (IR): Provides a similar CGT reduction (10%) for qualifying share disposals (up to £10 million).
- Business Property Relief (BPR) or Business Relief (BR): Grants 100% IHT relief on shares in qualifying companies.
2. Navigating Shareholder Disputes
- Shareholder disagreements are common, especially when key decisions diverge.
- Demergers allow shareholders to part ways while retaining their stake.
- Conventional share/asset gifting can trigger CGT liabilities, redirecting funds.
3. Anticipating Future Sales
- Post-pandemic, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity surged.
- Business sales offer lucrative opportunities for shareholders.
- Barriers faced:
- Selective Disposal: Shareholders may want to sell specific divisions or segments.
- Differing Views: Disagreements on sale offers.
The Demerger Solution
- What is a Demerger?
- A strategic division of a business into distinct sections.
- Purpose: Separate trading and investment portions.
- Result: Two groups—one eligible for reliefs, the other investment-focused.
- Mitigating IHT Exposure
- Explore alternative IHT planning mechanisms (e.g., growth and freezer shares).
- Tax-Efficient Carving
- Demergers allow businesses to prepare for future sales while overcoming barriers.
- Efficiently segment the business to meet shareholder objectives.
In summary, demergers empower businesses to protect reliefs, resolve disputes, and strategically position themselves for future transactions. Understanding this complex tool can lead to tax-efficient success.
