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  • Demergers

    We focus on transactions and schemes that exploit the demerger provisions for a tax benefit.

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    What a demerger is

    A demerger involves the restructuring of a corporate group by splitting its operations into 2 or more entities or groups. When a demerger happens, the shareholders of the head entity of the group acquire a direct interest in the demerged entity.

    The demerger provisions offer CGT and income tax relief at both the entity and shareholder level. This tax relief is intended for genuine demergers that offer business benefits through restructuring. Demergers should not be undertaken to achieve a tax benefit.

    Demerger situations that attract our attention

    Situations that attract our attention include:

    • disposing of the demerged entity or business after the demerger event
    • shareholders acquiring more than their share of the new interests in the demerged entity
    • schemes aiming to inappropriately obtain CGT rollover concessions through a corporate restructure that does not satisfy the demerger requirements
    • demergers that appear to have been undertaken to obtain a tax benefit rather than to improve business efficiency
    • demergers that eliminate or significantly reduce assessable capital gains or dividends.

    Guidance on demergers

    For more guidance on demergers and restructuring, refer to:

    Last modified: 01 May 2023QC 69436