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Holding period meaning

What does Holding period mean?
The holding period is the length of time an asset or investment is owned, measured from acquisition to disposal. For example, if shares are bought on 15 July 2020 and sold on 15 July 2023, the holding period is three years. The term is a descriptive expression used across corporate, tax and investment practice; specific statutes and reliefs prescribe their own minimum holding periods. Its key legal significance is in tax and deal mechanics: - Capital gains tax (CGT) and corporation tax: eligibility for reliefs often depends on a minimum holding period. Examples include the UK Business Asset Disposal Relief (two‑year qualifying period) and the Substantial Shareholdings Exemption (typically a 10% holding for 12 months within the previous six years). In Ireland, the participation exemption for gains on certain share disposals generally requires at least 5% for a continuous 12 months within the preceding 24 months, and other reliefs impose minimum ownership periods. - Securities/M&A: lock‑up or lock‑in undertakings, vesting and leaver provisions effectively impose contractual holding periods. For CGT purposes, acquisition and disposal dates are determined by statutory rules (for example, the date of an unconditional contract). Usage is consistent across England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland, though the...
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View the related Checklists about Holding period

CHECKLISTS
Section 27 LTA 1954 tenant termination of business tenancies: checklist on fixed-term requirement, timing, s25/s26 interplay, holding over, notice content/service and rent apportionment (England and Wales)

To bring a business tenancy to an end on the contractual expiry date or at any point thereafter, a tenant may rely on a notice given under section 27 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954). This Checklist sets out the circumstances and procedure for serving such a notice. For wider guidance on ending LTA 1954 tenancies, refer to Practice Note: LTA 1954 business lease renewal—termination. It outlines timing and the method of service in clear terms. Is the tenancy for a fixed term? A section 27 notice is available only where the tenancy is for a fixed term. It is not available for periodic tenancies. Nevertheless, a tenant may end a periodic tenancy by giving a common law notice to quit (see Practice Note: LTA 1954 business lease renewal—termination under the heading Termination of LTA 1954 tenancies). Have any other notices been served? Once a tenant has served a section 26 request, they cannot then serve a section 27 notice...

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NEWS
Empty rates mitigation via short leases upheld under pre‑2024 England regime (City of London v 48th Street Holding): genuine intermittent occupation satisfies Laing; Hurstwood distinguished

The Mayor and Commonality and Citizens of The City of London v 48th Street Holding Ltd and another company [2025] EWHC 1130 (KB) What was the background? The second defendant (‘POLL’) traded in devising rate mitigation schemes (the RMS) for empty premises for third parties. The first defendant, 48SHL, implemented one such arrangement and relied on it as a defence to a claim for non‑domestic rates. Under the arrangement, once relevant property fell vacant, section 45(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 together with the Non‑Domestic Rating (Unoccupied Property) (England) Regulations 2008, SI 2008/386, regs 3 and 4a, operated to confer an exemption from liability for unoccupied rates for three months and, on the expiry of that three‑month period. To facilitate this, 48SHL granted POLL a lease of the premises and, at the same time, served a break notice bringing the lease to an end six weeks after the grant. This was done to demonstrate occupation by POLL for the scheme’s purposes...

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NEWS
UK Budget 2018: Entrepreneurs' Relief changes on dilution elections, tightened personal company economic rights test, and two-year holding period; timing and practical impact

What changes to entrepreneurs’ relief were announced at the Budget 2018 and what was the motivation behind them? What is their likely impact? There will be three amendments to entrepreneurs’ relief in the Finance Act 2019. Diluted holdings The first reform permits a shareholder whose interest falls below the 5% qualifying threshold to elect to be treated as having disposed of, and immediately reacquired, their shares just before the dilution, effectively banking entrepreneurs’ relief for the qualifying holding period. The driver for this was a perceived obstacle to third-party investment in entrepreneurial businesses, where fundraising could push existing owners under the 5% line. In practice, the arrangement demands two distinct elections: one to crystallise the deemed sale and repurchase, and a separate one—on different deadlines—to defer the liability until an actual disposal, unless the person prefers to pay the capital gains tax upfront as a ‘dirty’ tax charge. Consequently, the approach is relatively intricate and uses two elections where one would do. It also necessitates...

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NEWS
UK and EU competition: High Court refuses NSI divestment interim relief; CJEU clarifies damages jurisdiction; Commission 2025 Work Programme; State aid Aarhus access to justice consultation; practical updates

In this issue: UK NSI 2021 EU antitrust EU competition policy EU State aid LexTalk®Competition: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts New and updated content Caselex UK NSI 2021 High Court refuses application for interim relief by FTDI Holding regarding national security order to sell its shares in Future Technology Devices International Limited The High Court has handed down its judgment in FTDI Holding Ltd v Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, arising from FTDI Holding Ltd’s attempt to obtain interim relief against the defendant’s direction requiring it to divest its 80.2% interest in Future Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI). The proceedings addressed FTDI Holding’s request to pause enforcement of that order. The court declined to grant the interim relief sought. Background On 5 November 2024, following a national security assessment, the Government made a final order under section 26 of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA 2021). The...

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View the related Practice Notes about Holding period

PRACTICE NOTES
UK DTR 2: issuer obligations on disclosure, delay, control and selective disclosure of inside information—FCA/ESMA guidance, case law, COVID‑19 context and enforcement (post‑Brexit UK MAR)

Resource Note This Resource Note signposts key commentary, analysis and materials to aid interpretation and offer practical direction on using Chapter 2 of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR 2). Where relevant, it draws on: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Handbook FCA Knowledge Base—Procedural and Technical notes (formal guidance binding on the FCA) FCA consultation and discussion papers, policy and feedback statements, and warnings Primary Market Bulletins and other FCA publications legacy UKLA technical and procedural notes and the UKLA’s newsletter List!, where still pertinent assimilated EU legislation EU Directives and EU Regulations, where helpful to construing a provision Lexis+® UK analysis and resources Setting the scene What it covers: DTR 2 prescribes the framework for issuers to disclose and manage inside information, supporting timely and even-handed release of market-sensitive information. It also identifies specific situations permitting a delay to public disclosure of inside information, together with the safeguards required to keep such information...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Skilled Worker route applications: practitioner guide to English-language, financial and genuineness requirements, switching, dependants, conditions, settlement and administrative review (2024–2026 updates)

The Skilled Worker route The Skilled Worker route allows UK employers holding a valid sponsor licence to hire, or continue to employ, skilled individuals who are neither British nor Irish nationals. It is the principal route for entry to, and residence in, the UK for employment. The Practice Note: Sponsoring a Skilled Worker reviews the eligibility requirements connected to a sponsor issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), including the necessary skill level and salary. Once a CoS has been issued, and provided the applicant meets all other criteria, they can apply for entry clearance or permission to stay...

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PRACTICE NOTES
UK Employee Share Schemes on Interposing a New Holding Company: EMI, CSOP, SAYE, SIP, Rollover and Tax Considerations

Why do companies have reorganisations? Groups of companies carry out reorganisations for numerous and varied reasons. These steps will frequently have implications for existing share plans and other employee equity arrangements. In some instances, the consequences are commercial in nature. Examples include: the reorganisation prompting early vesting, exercise and/or lapse of awards because the relevant provisions in the share plan rules on a change in control of the parent company, or on the participant’s employment ending, have been engaged; and a requirement for awards over shares in the current parent to be swapped for awards over shares in a newly formed parent company. In certain situations, if the right steps are not taken within a defined period, valuable tax advantages may ultimately be lost entirely. Common types of reorganisation The most frequent forms of reorganisation include the following: placing a new group holding or parent entity above an existing company or group, often to enable an initial...

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View the related Precedents about Holding period

PRECEDENTS
Precedent: LTIP Matched Award Certificate—Acceptance, Vesting, Performance Targets, Holding Period, Lapse and Dividend Equivalent

[ insert name of company who granted the award pursuant to the long term incentive plan (LTIP) ] ( Company ) [ insert name of LTIP ] ( Plan ) Name Quantity of Shares under the Matched Award Grant Date Standard vesting date[, subject to meeting the Performance Targets] End of Holding Period This confirms that you are the holder of a Matched Award conferring the right to acquire up to the maximum number of Shares in [ insert name of Company whose shares are being granted under both invested and where relevant Matched Awards ], as detailed in the table above...

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PRECEDENTS
LTIP Option Certificate Template: Vesting, Performance Targets, Exercise Restrictions, Holding Period, Cessation of Employment, and Tax/NICs Indemnity

[ insert name of company who granted the option pursuant to the long term incentive plan (LTIP) ] ( Company ) [ insert name of LTIP ] ( Plan ) Name Number of Shares under Option Option Price per Share Date of Grant Normal Vesting date [ , subject to satisfaction of Performance Targets ] End of Holding Period We hereby confirm that you hold an Option permitting you to acquire up to the maximum number of Shares in [ insert name of Company whose shares are being granted under option ] as shown in the table above. The Option was issued on the Date of Grant set out above under a global deed of grant entered into by the Company [ and is conditional upon the Performance Target(s) attached to this certificate ]. The Option Price due per Share when the Option is exercised is likewise specified in the table above...

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PRECEDENTS
Nominee declaration of trust for LTIP shares arising from contingent/matched awards or options during holding period, including voting/dividend directions, transfer restrictions, clawback/malus and nominee protections

This declaration of trust is entered into on [ insert date on which this declaration of trust is executed ] by [ insert name of nominee ] of [ insert address of nominee ] [ , a company registered in England and Wales (registered number [ insert company number ]) ] (the Nominee). BACKGROUND (A) On [ insert date on which LTIP Contingent / Matched Award / Option was granted ] (the Date of Grant), [ insert name of Participant ] (the Participant) received a [ Contingent Award OR Matched Award OR Option ] (the Award) over [ insert number and class of shares under award or option ] in the capital of [ insert name of company whose shares are subject to LTIP awards ] (the Company) pursuant to the terms of the [ insert name of LTIP ] (the Plan)...

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Q&As
Can office‑holders accelerate an unmatured intra‑group loan?

When one company advances funds to another, the contractual provisions govern any restriction on repaying the loan before the ten-year period first contemplated. Should the lending company enter liquidation or administration, that circumstance, by itself, does not alter the contract’s terms. The office-holding insolvency practitioner should nevertheless review the agreement to determine whether it permits earlier repayment, or repayment on alternative terms, if the lending company goes into liquidation or administration. Although that may appear improbable, it remains possible, and the officeholder ought to explore every avenue to secure accelerated repayment of the borrowing. Absent an express clause to the contrary, the insolvency of the lender does not, of itself, accelerate the debt, and timing remains governed by the bargain. It would seem that the office-holding insolvency practitioner holds an appointment that must remain open for at least ten years before the loan can be discharged and a dividend distributed to creditors...

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Q&As
Section 26 notice (LTA 1954): interim rent and rent on grant

Section 26 tenant’s request for a new tenancy As you will be aware, a business tenancy can be brought to an end by serving a tenant’s request for a new tenancy under section 26 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 (LTA 1954). The request must identify the date on which the new tenancy is to commence, and the current tenancy ends (subject to interim continuance under LTA 1954, s 64) immediately before the date stated in that notice. A section 26 notice is valid only if given by a tenant holding under: a term of years certain exceeding one year, whether or not continued under LTA 1954, s 24, or a tenancy granted for a term of years certain, and thereafter from year to year. The request must set a start date that is no less than six months and no more than 12 months from the date the request is made, with the new tenancy to commence, at the...

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