ETASSUM57080 - Enterprise Management Incentives (EMI): Taxation of EMI options: Disqualifying events relating to the relevant company
Section 534 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 (ITEPA)
»Ê¹ÚÌåÓýapp following are disqualifying events relating to the relevant company, i.e. the company whose shares are under option.
Loss of independence is a disqualifying event except where there is a company reorganisation and a qualifying replacement option is granted. If the relevant company becomes a 51% subsidiary of another company, this is not a disqualifying event if a replacement option is granted that satisfies the EMI legislation (Section 534(2) ITEPA).
If the relevant company no longer meets the trading activities requirement it is a disqualifying event.
A company may have originally met the trading activities requirement because it was preparing to carry on a qualifying trade when the option was granted. »Ê¹ÚÌåÓýappre is a disqualifying event if these preparations come to a halt, or if the company (or in the case of a parent company of a group, the relevant group company) does not begin to carry on the qualifying trade within two years of the date of grant of the EMI options (Section 534(4) ITEPA).