The Government today introduced amendments to the capital gains tax scrip for scrip rollover relief provisions in the law.
The implementation of scrip for scrip rollover relief is a key business tax measure which removes a major impediment to mergers and takeovers. It will also enable start up and innovative enterprises to undergo capital restructuring during the development phase without incurring a tax liability.
The amendments introduced today will put beyond doubt that rollover relief applies to schemes of arrangement and cases involving a cancellation and reissue of equity, in addition to transactions involving a direct exchange of equity.
The amendments will also ensure that the rollover applies where a subsidiary company makes the takeover offer using its parent's scrip (so called 'downstream' acquisitions).
The amendments will apply from 10 December 1999, the commencement date of the scrip for scrip rollover.