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Demergers

Last updated 3 March 2016

A demerger involves the restructuring of a corporate or fixed trust group by splitting its operations into two or more entities or groups. Under a demerger the owners of the head entity of the group (that is, the shareholders of the company or unit holders of the trust) acquire a direct interest (shares or units) in an entity that was formerly part of the group (the demerged entity).

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Example – Demerger

Peter owns shares (his original interest) in Company A. Company B is a wholly owned subsidiary of Company A. Company A undertakes a demerger by transferring all of its shares in Company B to its shareholders. Following the demerger, all of the shareholders in Company A, including Peter, will own all of the shares in Company B (their new interests) in the same proportion that they hold their shares in Company A.

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