Class Ruling CR 2007/9
Date of effect: 1 July 2006

What this ruling is about: 1. This Ruling sets out the Commissioner's opinion on the way in which the relevant provision(s) identified below apply to the defined class of entities, who take part in the scheme to which this Ruling relates. Relevant provision(s) 2. The relevant provisions dealt with in this Ruling are: Class of entities 3. The class of entities to which this Ruling applies is the shareholders of Tower Limited (Tower) who: 4. In this Ruling this class of entities is referred to as the 'participating shareholders'. Qualifications 5. The Commissioner makes this Ruling based on the precise scheme identified in this Ruling. 6. The class of entities defined in this Ruling may rely on its contents provided the scheme actually carried out is carried out in accordance with the scheme described in paragraphs 14 to 33 of this Ruling. 7. If the scheme actually carried out is materially different from the scheme that is described in this Ruling, then: 8. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to:

Class of entities or scheme: 3. The class of entities to which this Ruling applies is the shareholders of Tower Limited (Tower) who: 4. In this Ruling this class of entities is referred to as the 'participating shareholders'. | Qualifications: 5. The Commissioner makes this Ruling based on the precise scheme identified in this Ruling. 6. The class of entities defined in this Ruling may rely on its contents provided the scheme actually carried out is carried out in accordance with the scheme described in paragraphs 14 to 33 of this Ruling. 7. If the scheme actually carried out is materially different from the scheme that is described in this Ruling, then: 8. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 , no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to: 9. This Ruling applies from 1 July 2006 to 30 June 2007. However, the Ruling continues to apply after this date to all entities within the specified class who entered into the specified scheme during the term of the Ruling, subject to there being no change in the scheme or in the entities involved in the scheme. 10. The Ruling does not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of a settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Ruling. Furthermore, the Ruling only applies to the extent that: 11. If this Ruling is inconsistent with a later public or private ruling, the relevant class of entities may rely on either ruling which applies to them (item 1 of subsection 357-75(1) of Schedule 1 to the Taxation Administration Act 1953 (TAA)). 12. If this Ruling is inconsistent with an earlier private ruling, the private ruling is taken not to have been made if, when this Ruling is made, the following two conditions are met: 13. If the above two conditions do not apply, the relevant class of entities may rely on either ruling which applies to them (item 3 of subsection 357-75(1) of Schedule 1 to the TAA). 14. The following description of the scheme is based on information provided by the applicant. Note: where certain information has been provided on a commercial-in-confidence basis, it will not be disclosed or released under the Freedom of Information legislation. | Background: 15. The scheme that is the subject of this Ruling involved the demerger of the Australian businesses that were operated by the Tower group of companies. The businesses located in New Zealand remained in Tower. | The Tower group: 16. Tower is a company incorporated in New Zealand that was demutualised and listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZSE) and the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) in September 1999 following a NZ$350 million initial public offer. It is also the head company of the Tower group of companies (the Tower group). The demerged entity, Tower Australia Group Limited (TAL), was a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Tower group. 17. At the time of the demerger, Tower had approximately 359.8 million ordinary shares on issue. Australian residents owned approximately 36% of the shares on issue. The largest foreign resident shareholder held 19.8% of the shares on issue. 18. All Tower shares on issue were acquired by shareholders on or after 20 September 1985. 19. Tower also had a total of 13,515,757 options on issue (the executive options) at the time of the demerger. These options were issued to a number of key executives of Tower, and gave the holder the right to acquire ordinary Tower shares. Prior to the demerger, the options represented approximately 3.75% of the total number and approximately 1.5% of the total market value of ownership interests in Tower. | Pre-demerger transactions: 20. Prior to the demerger, the Tower group undertook a number of transactions (including the transfer of shares) that resulted in TAL and its subsidiaries owning the Australian business. | The demerger: 21. Tower then undertook a restructure to demerge TAL to its shareholders. As a result of the demerger, Tower shareholders acquired ordinary shares in TAL. 22. The demerger was undertaken pursuant to a New Zealand Court approved scheme of arrangement. Tower shareholders voted at a special meeting to approve (by way of special resolution) the scheme of arrangement under which: 23. Under this scheme of arrangement, Tower cancelled a total of approximately 171.3 million shares in Tower, and transferred a total of approximately 234.3 million shares in TAL to its shareholders. This happened on 20 November 2006. 24. Tower accounted for the cancellation of the Tower shares by: 25. Tower shareholders did not receive any distribution in cash as a result of this transaction. 26. Following the demerger: 27. Tower shareholders that were not residents of Australia or New Zealand (foreign shareholders) had a proportion of their Tower shares cancelled on the same basis as other Tower shareholders. However, the TAL shares provided as consideration for the cancellation were transferred to a nominee on behalf of each of those foreign shareholders. The nominee has or will sell these TAL shares and has or will remit the net proceeds to each of the foreign shareholders. 28. The holders of executive options did not receive TAL shares under the scheme of arrangement. As part of the scheme, the terms of these executive options were reconstructed in a manner that took into account the effect of the demerger on these options, adjusting them in a manner that preserved the intrinsic value of these options for the holders. | Reasons for the demerger: 29. The demerger resulted in the separation of TAL and Tower into two independent listed companies. TAL will focus on its life insurance and investment business and will operate in Australia. Tower will focus on its insurance and investment businesses operating in New Zealand. 30. Tower's Board of Directors believes that the separation will: | Other matters: 31. Tower confirms that there have been no transfers to its share capital account, as defined in section 975-300 of the ITAA 1997, from any of its other accounts. 32. Just after the demerger, at least 50% of the market value of the CGT assets owned by TAL and its demerger subsidiaries were used in the carrying on of a business by those entities. 33. Tower did not elect under subsection 44(2) of the ITAA 1936 that subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936 not apply to the scheme of arrangement. | CGT event C2: 34. CGT event C2 happened for each participating shareholder on the cancellation of their Tower shares (section 104-25 of the ITAA 1997). 35. Participating shareholders received A$3.17 as the capital proceeds in respect of the cancellation of each of their Tower shares (the market value of the share consideration worked out at the time of the CGT event (subsection 116-20(1) of the ITAA 1997). 36. To the extent that the capital proceeds received by each shareholder in respect of the cancellation of their share exceed its cost base, a capital gain will result. This capital gain will be reduced by the amount of the demerger dividend received (subsection 118-20(4) of the ITAA 1997). 37. To the extent that the reduced cost base of each cancelled share exceeds the capital proceeds amount, a capital loss will arise (subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997). | Demerger rollover: 38. Tower and its subsidiary, TAL, were part of a demerger group under subsection 125-65(1) of the ITAA 1997. 39. A demerger, as described under section 125-70 of the ITAA 1997, happened to this demerger group under the scheme. 40. Participating shareholders are eligible to choose demerger rollover relief under subsection 125-55(1) of the ITAA 1997 for each of their Tower shares cancelled. | Participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover: 41. Participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover for their cancelled Tower shares can disregard any capital gain or capital loss made in respect of CGT event C2 happening to those Tower shares (subsection 125-80(1) of the ITAA 1997). 42. If a participating shareholder chooses demerger rollover for their cancelled Tower shares, the first element of the cost base of each remaining Tower share and corresponding TAL share they received under the demerger is worked out by taking the sum of the cost bases of their Tower shares (just before the demerger) and apportioning it over their remaining Tower shares and new TAL shares. The apportionment of this sum is done on a basis that is reasonable having regard to the market values (just after the demerger) of the Tower shares and TAL shares, or a reasonable approximation of those market values (subsections 125-80(2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997). | Participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover: 43. For participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover: | Acquisition date of the TAL shares for the purposes of the CGT discount: 44. For the purpose of accessing the CGT discount, the TAL shares received by the participating shareholders are taken to have been acquired on the date that the shareholder acquired the corresponding Tower shares that were cancelled (subsection 115-30(1) of the ITAA 1997 (item 2)). | Demerger dividend: 45. Any dividend arising under the demerger is a demerger dividend (subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936). 46. The demerger dividend is neither assessable income nor exempt income of the participating shareholders (subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936). 47. As the capital reduction amount was debited to Tower's share capital account it is not a dividend, as defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936. | Application of sections 45B and 45C: 48. The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(a) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45BA of the ITAA 1936 applies to the whole or any part of any demerger benefit provided to participating shareholders under the demerger. 49. The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(b) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45C of the ITAA 1936 applies to the whole or any part of the capital benefit provided to participating shareholders under the demerger. Commissioner of Taxation 7 February 2007 | CGT event C2: 50. CGT event C2 happens if ownership of an intangible CGT asset ends by the asset being redeemed or cancelled (paragraph 104-25(1)(a) of the ITAA 1997). Under the scheme of arrangement, CGT event C2 therefore happened in relation to the Tower shares that were cancelled. 51. A capital gain will arise under CGT event C2 if the capital proceeds received in relation to the ending of the asset exceeds the cost base of that asset (subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997). If an amount from the CGT event happening is treated as non-assessable non-exempt income (NANE income), the capital gain will be reduced by that amount of NANE income (subsection 118-20(4) of the ITAA 1997). 52. A capital loss will arise under CGT event C2 if those capital proceeds are less than the asset's reduced cost base (subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997). | Capital proceeds: 53. Section 116-20 of the ITAA 1997 provides that capital proceeds from a CGT event are the money and the market value of any property received or are entitled to be received (worked out at the time of the event happening). 54. The amount paid in respect of the cancelled Tower share was 1.3677758 of the market value of a TAL share (subsections 116-20(1) and 116-40(1) of the ITAA 1997). For the purposes of determining the market value of a TAL share, the Commissioner accepts that the market value may be calculated using the volume weighted average price of TAL shares over the first five ASX trading days after TAL was listed (this was A$2.32). A Tower shareholder therefore received A$3.17 in capital proceeds for each Tower share cancelled. 55. [Omitted] 56. [Omitted] | Capital gain or loss amount: 57. Participating shareholders will therefore make a capital gain on the cancellation of their Tower share to the extent that the capital proceeds (A$3.17) exceed the cost base of the cancelled Tower share. This amount is then reduced by the amount of the demerger dividend for the cancelled Tower share, since it constitutes NANE income (paragraph 80 of this Ruling explains that the demerger dividend is $A0.88 per cancelled Tower share). 58. Participating shareholders will make a capital loss to the extent that the capital proceeds (A$3.17) are less than the reduced cost base of the cancelled Tower share. | Demerger rollover: 59. Demerger rollover enables a shareholder to disregard a capital gain or capital loss as a result of CGT event C2 happening when a share is cancelled under a demerger. 60. In order for the demerger rollover to apply the following conditions must be met. | Requirements for a demerger - Division 125: 61. Subsection 125-55(1) of the ITAA 1997 provides that rollover may be chosen if, at the time of the scheme: 62. Since the participating shareholders to whom this Ruling applies is limited to Australian residents, the condition in subsection 125-55(2) of the ITAA 1997 is not relevant. 63. Therefore, participating shareholders may choose rollover for the demerger. | Was Tower the head entity of a demerger group?: 64. A demerger group comprises one head entity and at least one demerger subsidiary (subsection 125-65(1) of the ITAA 1997). The demerger group in this case included Tower as head entity and TAL as a demerger subsidiary (Tower demerger group). 65. Tower was the head entity because: 66. TAL was a demerger subsidiary of Tower because Tower, together with other members of the Tower group, owned ownership interests that carried the right to: | Did a demerger happen to a demerger group?: 67. A demerger happened (subsections 125-70(1), (2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997) to the Tower demerger group because: 68. The executive options are ownership interests for the purposes of subsection 125-60(1) of the ITAA 1997 since they give the owner the entitlement to acquire a share in Tower. However, they are also adjusting instruments for the purposes of subsection 125-75(4) of the ITAA 1997. Since the executive options accounted for approximately 3.75% of the total ownership interests in Tower at the time of the demerger, these options were disregarded in working out whether the requirements in subsection 125-70(2) of the ITAA 1997 were met (subsection 125-75(4) of the ITAA 1997). | Participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover: 69. For participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover, a capital gain or capital loss made from CGT event C2 happening to their cancelled Tower shares under the demerger is disregarded (subsection 125-80(1) of the ITAA 1997). 70. Each participating shareholder was required to calculate the first element of the cost base and reduced cost base of their remaining Tower shares and their corresponding new TAL shares just after the demerger (subsections 125-80(2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997). 71. Section 125-80 of the ITAA 1997 requires participating shareholders to have apportioned the total cost bases of their pre-demerger Tower shares over their remaining Tower shares and the new TAL shares. The apportionment must have had regard to the relative market values of the Tower and TAL shares (or anticipated reasonable approximations of those market values) just after the demerger. Tower has advised shareholders of these proportions following the demerger; they are as follows: These proportions are based on the volume weighted average price of the Tower and TAL shares in the first five ASX trading days after TAL was listed. | Participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover: 72. For participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover, any capital gain or capital loss made from CGT event C2 happening to their cancelled Tower shares under the demerger is not disregarded. Any capital gain made by a participating shareholder under CGT event C2 is reduced by the amount of the demerger dividend received under the demerger (subsection 118-20(4) of the ITAA 1997). 73. The method of calculating the first element of the cost base and reduced cost base for a participating shareholder's remaining Tower shares and the new TAL shares is the same whether or not rollover is chosen (see paragraph 71 of this Ruling, subsection 125-85(2) of the ITAA 1997 and Note 1 to subsection 125-80(2) of the ITAA 1997). | Acquisition date of the TAL shares for the purposes of the CGT discount: 74. Before a capital gain can be reduced by the CGT discount, one of the conditions that must be satisfied is that the capital gain relates to an asset that was owned for at least 12 months (subsection 115-25(1) of the ITAA 1997). 75. For the purposes of this 12 month ownership condition, participating shareholders are taken to have acquired the TAL shares received under the demerger on the date they acquired the corresponding cancelled Tower shares (item 2 in the table in subsection 115-30(1) of the ITAA 1997). Note: for general CGT purposes, shareholders acquired their TAL shares when those shares were received under the demerger (section 109-10 of the ITAA 1997). This means, for example, that when calculating a capital gain on the subsequent disposal of these TAL shares, indexation will not be included in the cost base of those shares. | Demerger dividend: 76. Subsection 44(1) of the ITAA 1936 operates to include in a shareholder's assessable income any dividends, within the meaning of that term in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936, paid to a shareholder out of company profits. 77. Paragraph (d) of the definition of dividend in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 provides that a dividend excludes amounts debited against an amount standing to the credit of the share capital account of the company. 78. In the circumstances of this demerger, Tower debited an amount of NZ$454 million (or approximately NZ$2.65 (A$2.29)) per cancelled share) to its 'share capital account' as that term is defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 and section 975-300 of the ITAA 1997. This amount is therefore not a dividend for the purposes of subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 and is not assessable as a subsection 6(1) dividend under subsection 44(1) of the ITAA 1936. 79. However, participating shareholders did receive a dividend to the extent that the market value of the TAL shares distributed under the demerger exceeded the amount debited against the share capital account (see Taxation Ruling TR 2003/8). 80. The market value of the 1.3677758 TAL shares received under the demerger as consideration for the cancellation of each Tower share was A$3.17. The dividend received by Tower shareholders for each Tower share that was cancelled was therefore A$0.88 (A$3.17 - A$2.29). 81. This dividend is neither an assessable income nor an exempt income amount (subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936) if: 82. In the present circumstances, each of the conditions in paragraph 81 of this Ruling are satisfied. Therefore, the dividend received by participating shareholders under the demerger is neither assessable income nor exempt income by operation of subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936. | Application of sections 45B, 45BA and 45C: 83. Section 45B of the ITAA 1936 applies to ensure that relevant amounts are treated as dividends for taxation purposes if: 84. Specifically, the provision applies where: 85. Where the requirements of subsection 45B(2) of the ITAA 1936 are met, subsection 45B(3) of the ITAA 1936 empowers the Commissioner to make a determination under either section 45BA of the ITAA 1936 in relation to a demerger benefit or section 45C of the ITAA 1936 in relation to a capital benefit. | Scheme, demerger and capital benefit: 86. The restructure that is the subject of this Ruling constitutes a 'scheme' within the broad meaning of that term (subsection 45B(10) of the ITAA 1936). 87. The provision of ownership interests to a shareholder under a demerger constitutes the shareholder being provided with a demerger benefit (subsection 45B(4) of the ITAA 1936) and a capital benefit (subsection 45B(5) of the ITAA 1936) to the extent that the demerger benefit is not a demerger dividend (subsection 45B(6) of the ITAA 1936). 88. In the present scheme, therefore, the provision of the TAL shares constitutes the participating shareholders receiving a demerger benefit and a capital benefit. | Tax benefit: 89. For most shareholders, the tax payable on the demerger benefit and the capital benefit is less than it would be if they had been an assessable dividend or a dividend, respectively. This arises because the CGT and dividend concessions ensure that the demerger is largely free of tax for shareholders. As such, the provision of those benefits constitutes the participating shareholders obtaining a tax benefit (subsection 45B(9) of the ITAA 1936). | Purpose: 90. In this case, while the conditions of paragraphs 45B(2)(a) and 45B(2)(b) of the ITAA 1936 are met, the requisite purpose of enabling the participating shareholders to obtain a tax benefit (by way of a demerger benefit or a capital benefit) is not present. In other words, having regard to the relevant circumstances of the scheme set out in subsection 45B(8) of the ITAA 1936, it would not be concluded that any of the parties to the demerger entered into or carried out the scheme to obtain a tax benefit in the form of a demerger benefit or a capital benefit. 91. Those circumstances, particularly those enumerated in paragraph 177D(b) of the ITAA 1936 and incorporated by operation of paragraph 45B(8)(k) of the ITAA 1936, are concerned with the commercial or business effects of the demerger. Under the scheme, it is apparent that a substantial purpose of the demerger was to achieve the geographic separation of two distinct businesses which, following their separation, will apply independent business strategies tailored to their own specific commercial objectives. This is consistent with the underlying object of the demerger measures. 92. It is also apparent from the circumstances of the demerger that the capital and profit components of the demerger allocation are consistent with the commercial circumstances of the transaction. The share capital distributed under this demerger was determined by reference to the market value of TAL relative to the market value of the Tower group. 93. In addition, there is nothing in the other relevant circumstances of the demerger, including Tower's distribution history or the known circumstances of the shareholders, to suggest that the favourable tax outcome under the demerger for the participating shareholders is anything more than a natural incident of the business restructure. 94. Therefore, the Commissioner will not make a determination under either paragraph 45B(3)(a) or (b) of the ITAA 1936 that sections 45BA or 45C of the ITAA 1936 apply to the scheme. 95. The following is a detailed contents list for this Ruling: Not previously issued as a draft

Ruling: CGT event C2: 34. CGT event C2 happened for each participating shareholder on the cancellation of their Tower shares (section 104-25 of the ITAA 1997). 35. Participating shareholders received A$3.17 as the capital proceeds in respect of the cancellation of each of their Tower shares (the market value of the share consideration worked out at the time of the CGT event (subsection 116-20(1) of the ITAA 1997). 36. To the extent that the capital proceeds received by each shareholder in respect of the cancellation of their share exceed its cost base, a capital gain will result. This capital gain will be reduced by the amount of the demerger dividend received (subsection 118-20(4) of the ITAA 1997). 37. To the extent that the reduced cost base of each cancelled share exceeds the capital proceeds amount, a capital loss will arise (subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997). | Demerger rollover: 38. Tower and its subsidiary, TAL, were part of a demerger group under subsection 125-65(1) of the ITAA 1997. 39. A demerger, as described under section 125-70 of the ITAA 1997, happened to this demerger group under the scheme. 40. Participating shareholders are eligible to choose demerger rollover relief under subsection 125-55(1) of the ITAA 1997 for each of their Tower shares cancelled. | Participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover: 41. Participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover for their cancelled Tower shares can disregard any capital gain or capital loss made in respect of CGT event C2 happening to those Tower shares (subsection 125-80(1) of the ITAA 1997). 42. If a participating shareholder chooses demerger rollover for their cancelled Tower shares, the first element of the cost base of each remaining Tower share and corresponding TAL share they received under the demerger is worked out by taking the sum of the cost bases of their Tower shares (just before the demerger) and apportioning it over their remaining Tower shares and new TAL shares. The apportionment of this sum is done on a basis that is reasonable having regard to the market values (just after the demerger) of the Tower shares and TAL shares, or a reasonable approximation of those market values (subsections 125-80(2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997). | Participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover: 43. For participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover: | Acquisition date of the TAL shares for the purposes of the CGT discount: 44. For the purpose of accessing the CGT discount, the TAL shares received by the participating shareholders are taken to have been acquired on the date that the shareholder acquired the corresponding Tower shares that were cancelled (subsection 115-30(1) of the ITAA 1997 (item 2)). | Demerger dividend: 45. Any dividend arising under the demerger is a demerger dividend (subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936). 46. The demerger dividend is neither assessable income nor exempt income of the participating shareholders (subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936). 47. As the capital reduction amount was debited to Tower's share capital account it is not a dividend, as defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936. | Application of sections 45B and 45C: 48. The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(a) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45BA of the ITAA 1936 applies to the whole or any part of any demerger benefit provided to participating shareholders under the demerger. 49. The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(b) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45C of the ITAA 1936 applies to the whole or any part of the capital benefit provided to participating shareholders under the demerger. Commissioner of Taxation 7 February 2007


Appendix: CGT event C2: 50. CGT event C2 happens if ownership of an intangible CGT asset ends by the asset being redeemed or cancelled (paragraph 104-25(1)(a) of the ITAA 1997). Under the scheme of arrangement, CGT event C2 therefore happened in relation to the Tower shares that were cancelled. 51. A capital gain will arise under CGT event C2 if the capital proceeds received in relation to the ending of the asset exceeds the cost base of that asset (subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997). If an amount from the CGT event happening is treated as non-assessable non-exempt income (NANE income), the capital gain will be reduced by that amount of NANE income (subsection 118-20(4) of the ITAA 1997). 52. A capital loss will arise under CGT event C2 if those capital proceeds are less than the asset's reduced cost base (subsection 104-25(3) of the ITAA 1997). | Capital proceeds: 53. Section 116-20 of the ITAA 1997 provides that capital proceeds from a CGT event are the money and the market value of any property received or are entitled to be received (worked out at the time of the event happening). 54. The amount paid in respect of the cancelled Tower share was 1.3677758 of the market value of a TAL share (subsections 116-20(1) and 116-40(1) of the ITAA 1997). For the purposes of determining the market value of a TAL share, the Commissioner accepts that the market value may be calculated using the volume weighted average price of TAL shares over the first five ASX trading days after TAL was listed (this was A$2.32). A Tower shareholder therefore received A$3.17 in capital proceeds for each Tower share cancelled. 55. [Omitted] 56. [Omitted] | Capital gain or loss amount: 57. Participating shareholders will therefore make a capital gain on the cancellation of their Tower share to the extent that the capital proceeds (A$3.17) exceed the cost base of the cancelled Tower share. This amount is then reduced by the amount of the demerger dividend for the cancelled Tower share, since it constitutes NANE income (paragraph 80 of this Ruling explains that the demerger dividend is $A0.88 per cancelled Tower share). 58. Participating shareholders will make a capital loss to the extent that the capital proceeds (A$3.17) are less than the reduced cost base of the cancelled Tower share. | Demerger rollover: 59. Demerger rollover enables a shareholder to disregard a capital gain or capital loss as a result of CGT event C2 happening when a share is cancelled under a demerger. 60. In order for the demerger rollover to apply the following conditions must be met. | Requirements for a demerger - Division 125: 61. Subsection 125-55(1) of the ITAA 1997 provides that rollover may be chosen if, at the time of the scheme: 62. Since the participating shareholders to whom this Ruling applies is limited to Australian residents, the condition in subsection 125-55(2) of the ITAA 1997 is not relevant. 63. Therefore, participating shareholders may choose rollover for the demerger. | Was Tower the head entity of a demerger group?: 64. A demerger group comprises one head entity and at least one demerger subsidiary (subsection 125-65(1) of the ITAA 1997). The demerger group in this case included Tower as head entity and TAL as a demerger subsidiary (Tower demerger group). 65. Tower was the head entity because: 66. TAL was a demerger subsidiary of Tower because Tower, together with other members of the Tower group, owned ownership interests that carried the right to: | Did a demerger happen to a demerger group?: 67. A demerger happened (subsections 125-70(1), (2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997) to the Tower demerger group because: 68. The executive options are ownership interests for the purposes of subsection 125-60(1) of the ITAA 1997 since they give the owner the entitlement to acquire a share in Tower. However, they are also adjusting instruments for the purposes of subsection 125-75(4) of the ITAA 1997. Since the executive options accounted for approximately 3.75% of the total ownership interests in Tower at the time of the demerger, these options were disregarded in working out whether the requirements in subsection 125-70(2) of the ITAA 1997 were met (subsection 125-75(4) of the ITAA 1997). | Participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover: 69. For participating shareholders who choose demerger rollover, a capital gain or capital loss made from CGT event C2 happening to their cancelled Tower shares under the demerger is disregarded (subsection 125-80(1) of the ITAA 1997). 70. Each participating shareholder was required to calculate the first element of the cost base and reduced cost base of their remaining Tower shares and their corresponding new TAL shares just after the demerger (subsections 125-80(2) and (3) of the ITAA 1997). 71. Section 125-80 of the ITAA 1997 requires participating shareholders to have apportioned the total cost bases of their pre-demerger Tower shares over their remaining Tower shares and the new TAL shares. The apportionment must have had regard to the relative market values of the Tower and TAL shares (or anticipated reasonable approximations of those market values) just after the demerger. Tower has advised shareholders of these proportions following the demerger; they are as follows: These proportions are based on the volume weighted average price of the Tower and TAL shares in the first five ASX trading days after TAL was listed. | Participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover: 72. For participating shareholders who do not choose demerger rollover, any capital gain or capital loss made from CGT event C2 happening to their cancelled Tower shares under the demerger is not disregarded. Any capital gain made by a participating shareholder under CGT event C2 is reduced by the amount of the demerger dividend received under the demerger (subsection 118-20(4) of the ITAA 1997). 73. The method of calculating the first element of the cost base and reduced cost base for a participating shareholder's remaining Tower shares and the new TAL shares is the same whether or not rollover is chosen (see paragraph 71 of this Ruling, subsection 125-85(2) of the ITAA 1997 and Note 1 to subsection 125-80(2) of the ITAA 1997). | Acquisition date of the TAL shares for the purposes of the CGT discount: 74. Before a capital gain can be reduced by the CGT discount, one of the conditions that must be satisfied is that the capital gain relates to an asset that was owned for at least 12 months (subsection 115-25(1) of the ITAA 1997). 75. For the purposes of this 12 month ownership condition, participating shareholders are taken to have acquired the TAL shares received under the demerger on the date they acquired the corresponding cancelled Tower shares (item 2 in the table in subsection 115-30(1) of the ITAA 1997). Note: for general CGT purposes, shareholders acquired their TAL shares when those shares were received under the demerger (section 109-10 of the ITAA 1997). This means, for example, that when calculating a capital gain on the subsequent disposal of these TAL shares, indexation will not be included in the cost base of those shares. | Demerger dividend: 76. Subsection 44(1) of the ITAA 1936 operates to include in a shareholder's assessable income any dividends, within the meaning of that term in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936, paid to a shareholder out of company profits. 77. Paragraph (d) of the definition of dividend in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 provides that a dividend excludes amounts debited against an amount standing to the credit of the share capital account of the company. 78. In the circumstances of this demerger, Tower debited an amount of NZ$454 million (or approximately NZ$2.65 (A$2.29)) per cancelled share) to its 'share capital account' as that term is defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 and section 975-300 of the ITAA 1997. This amount is therefore not a dividend for the purposes of subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 and is not assessable as a subsection 6(1) dividend under subsection 44(1) of the ITAA 1936. 79. However, participating shareholders did receive a dividend to the extent that the market value of the TAL shares distributed under the demerger exceeded the amount debited against the share capital account (see Taxation Ruling TR 2003/8). 80. The market value of the 1.3677758 TAL shares received under the demerger as consideration for the cancellation of each Tower share was A$3.17. The dividend received by Tower shareholders for each Tower share that was cancelled was therefore A$0.88 (A$3.17 - A$2.29). 81. This dividend is neither an assessable income nor an exempt income amount (subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936) if: 82. In the present circumstances, each of the conditions in paragraph 81 of this Ruling are satisfied. Therefore, the dividend received by participating shareholders under the demerger is neither assessable income nor exempt income by operation of subsections 44(3) and (4) of the ITAA 1936. | Application of sections 45B, 45BA and 45C: 83. Section 45B of the ITAA 1936 applies to ensure that relevant amounts are treated as dividends for taxation purposes if: 84. Specifically, the provision applies where: 85. Where the requirements of subsection 45B(2) of the ITAA 1936 are met, subsection 45B(3) of the ITAA 1936 empowers the Commissioner to make a determination under either section 45BA of the ITAA 1936 in relation to a demerger benefit or section 45C of the ITAA 1936 in relation to a capital benefit. | Scheme, demerger and capital benefit: 86. The restructure that is the subject of this Ruling constitutes a 'scheme' within the broad meaning of that term (subsection 45B(10) of the ITAA 1936). 87. The provision of ownership interests to a shareholder under a demerger constitutes the shareholder being provided with a demerger benefit (subsection 45B(4) of the ITAA 1936) and a capital benefit (subsection 45B(5) of the ITAA 1936) to the extent that the demerger benefit is not a demerger dividend (subsection 45B(6) of the ITAA 1936). 88. In the present scheme, therefore, the provision of the TAL shares constitutes the participating shareholders receiving a demerger benefit and a capital benefit. | Tax benefit: 89. For most shareholders, the tax payable on the demerger benefit and the capital benefit is less than it would be if they had been an assessable dividend or a dividend, respectively. This arises because the CGT and dividend concessions ensure that the demerger is largely free of tax for shareholders. As such, the provision of those benefits constitutes the participating shareholders obtaining a tax benefit (subsection 45B(9) of the ITAA 1936). | Purpose: 90. In this case, while the conditions of paragraphs 45B(2)(a) and 45B(2)(b) of the ITAA 1936 are met, the requisite purpose of enabling the participating shareholders to obtain a tax benefit (by way of a demerger benefit or a capital benefit) is not present. In other words, having regard to the relevant circumstances of the scheme set out in subsection 45B(8) of the ITAA 1936, it would not be concluded that any of the parties to the demerger entered into or carried out the scheme to obtain a tax benefit in the form of a demerger benefit or a capital benefit. 91. Those circumstances, particularly those enumerated in paragraph 177D(b) of the ITAA 1936 and incorporated by operation of paragraph 45B(8)(k) of the ITAA 1936, are concerned with the commercial or business effects of the demerger. Under the scheme, it is apparent that a substantial purpose of the demerger was to achieve the geographic separation of two distinct businesses which, following their separation, will apply independent business strategies tailored to their own specific commercial objectives. This is consistent with the underlying object of the demerger measures. 92. It is also apparent from the circumstances of the demerger that the capital and profit components of the demerger allocation are consistent with the commercial circumstances of the transaction. The share capital distributed under this demerger was determined by reference to the market value of TAL relative to the market value of the Tower group. 93. In addition, there is nothing in the other relevant circumstances of the demerger, including Tower's distribution history or the known circumstances of the shareholders, to suggest that the favourable tax outcome under the demerger for the participating shareholders is anything more than a natural incident of the business restructure. 94. Therefore, the Commissioner will not make a determination under either paragraph 45B(3)(a) or (b) of the ITAA 1936 that sections 45BA or 45C of the ITAA 1936 apply to the scheme.


What this Ruling is about | NOT LEGALLY BINDING SECTION: | A public ruling is an expression of the Commissioner's opinion about the way in which a relevant provision applies, or would apply, to entities generally or to a class of entities in relation to a particular scheme or a class of schemes. | If you rely on this ruling, we must apply the law to you in the way set out in the ruling (or in a way that is more favourable for you if we are satisfied that the ruling is incorrect and disadvantages you, and we are not prevented from doing so by a time limit imposed by the law). You will be protected from having to pay any underpaid tax, penalty or interest in respect of the matters covered by this ruling if it turns out that it does not correctly state how the relevant provision applies to you. | [ Note: This is a consolidated version of this document. Refer to the Tax Office Legal Database (http://law.ato.gov.au) to check its currency and to view the details of all changes.] | Appendix 2 - Detailed contents list


Related rulings: TR 2003/8
Legislative references: ITAA 1936 6(1) ITAA 1936 44 ITAA 1936 44(1) ITAA 1936 44(2) ITAA 1936 44(3) ITAA 1936 44(4) ITAA 1936 44(5) ITAA 1936 45B ITAA 1936 45B(2) ITAA 1936 45B(2)(a) ITAA 1936 45B(2)(b) ITAA 1936 45B(2)(c) ITAA 1936 45B(3) ITAA 1936 45B(3)(a) ITAA 1936 45B(3)(b) ITAA 1936 45B(4) ITAA 1936 45B(5) ITAA 1936 45B(6) ITAA 1936 45B(8) ITAA 1936 45B(8)(k) ITAA 1936 45B(9) ITAA 1936 45B(10) ITAA 1936 45BA ITAA 1936 45C ITAA 1936 177D(b) ITAA 1997 104-25 ITAA 1997 104-25(1)(a) ITAA 1997 104-25(3) ITAA 1997 109-10 ITAA 1997 115-25(1) ITAA 1997 115-30(1) ITAA 1997 116-20 ITAA 1997 116-20(1) ITAA 1997 116-40(1) ITAA 1997 118-20(4) ITAA 1997 Div 125 ITAA 1997 125-55(1) ITAA 1997 125-55(2) ITAA 1997 125-60(1) ITAA 1997 125-65(1) ITAA 1997 125-65(3) ITAA 1997 125-65(4) ITAA 1997 125-65(6) ITAA 1997 125-70 ITAA 1997 125-70(1) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(a) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(b)(i) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(c)(i) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(d) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(e)(i) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(f) ITAA 1997 125-70(1)(g) ITAA 1997 125-70(2) ITAA 1997 125-70(2)(a) ITAA 1997 125-70(2)(b) ITAA 1997 125-70(3) ITAA 1997 125-70(4) ITAA 1997 125-70(5) ITAA 1997 125-75(4) ITAA 1997 125-80 ITAA 1997 125-80(1) ITAA 1997 125-80(2) ITAA 1997 125-80(3) ITAA 1997 125-85(1) ITAA 1997 125-85(2) ITAA 1997 960-50(6) ITAA 1997 975-300 TAA 1953 TAA 1953 Sch 1 357-75(1) Copyright Act 1968
Subject references: capital benefit capital gains cost base adjustments demerger demerger allocation demerger benefit demerger dividend demerger group demerger subsidiary return of capital rollover schemes to provide certain benefits