Happy New Year’s Day**! & some further reasons for the rise and rise of share sales

Last week’s post considered some key aspects impact of the introduction of the 50% general discount on business succession.

A further significant related transaction cost issue that has also changed over the last few years to further encourage purchasers to consider a share acquisition relates to the tax consolidation rules.

In particular, it was historically the case that in order for a purchaser to be able to claim depreciation in relation to the market value of the assets they had acquired, they needed to physically acquire those assets.

In contrast, if the shares in the relevant company were acquired, then there was no adjustment to the tax carrying costs of its assets.

In very broad terms, if a purchaser acquires shares in another company and that company becomes a member of the purchaser’s tax consolidated corporate group, then it is permitted to 'reset' the tax carrying costs of all assets of the company.

Although there can be a number of problems that arise with this resetting, in very general terms, the intention of ensuring that the tax outcome for a purchaser on a share sale as compared to an asset sale in what is otherwise an identical transaction are normally broadly achieved.

One last permutation worth remembering relates to where a purchaser is open to consider a share sale arrangement but wants to ensure that any historical difficulties with the company currently operating the business are quarantined to the maximum extent possible.

In these circumstances, it is often sensible for the vendor to suggest that a restructure be done before completion (often the finalisation of the restructure will be a settlement day condition precedent) whereby the assets of the existing company are 'rolled over' into a cleanskin company.

Obviously, there are a number of commercial, tax and stamp duty issues that need to be considered with this approach, however in many instances, it can deliver the precise outcome that each of the parties are aiming for.

** for the trainspotters, the title here is riffed from the U2 song ‘New Year’s Day’.

Keeping it real** on 30 June – the rise and rise of share sales

Given that it is 30 June, it seemed like an appropriate day to focus on the impact of the introduction of the 50% general discount on business succession.

Since its introduction (and certainly with the various evolutions of the small business capital gains tax concessions), we have seen an ever-increasing number of merger and acquisition transactions take place by way of share sale.

Historically, many (if not all) of these transactions would have taken place by way of asset sale.

Due to the difficulties with accessing the various tax concessions when assets are sold by a company, the attractiveness of a share sale has become significant.

The additional issue in this regard can often be that the share sale will legitimately avoid any stamp duty consequence, which is still in some states not the case in relation to a business sale.

One of the key ramifications of the increased number of share sales is that many vendors will actively embark on a 'vendor due diligence' exercise.

Broadly, this involves, sometimes many months before any sale transaction is entered into, the vendor prepares a complete set of due diligence material from its own perspective.

Such an approach can help to significantly reduce the overall costs and risks that might otherwise be associated with a share sale transaction.

Next week’s post will further explore two other key aspects to consider in relation to share sale arrangements.

** for the trainspotters, the title here is keeping it very real by being riffed from a line in the Hannah Montana song ‘Let’s get crazy’.