Powered by Lexis+®
Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom
CASE STUDY

“In some areas of research there were also significant time savings. You get to what you are looking for more quickly, which all goes to the value of the product.”

Harper Mcleod

Access all documents on Relevant legal entity

Relevant legal entity meaning

What does Relevant legal entity mean?
In practice, a relevant legal entity (RLE) is a non‑individual (for example, a company or LLP) in a UK company’s ownership chain that would meet a “person with significant control” (PSC) condition if it were an individual, and that is itself subject to a transparency regime. The term is defined in the Companies Act 2006, s.790C. An entity is an RLE where it: (1) holds (directly or indirectly) more than 25% of shares or voting rights, has the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors, or otherwise exercises significant influence or control; and (2) is “subject to its own disclosure requirements” (for example, it keeps a PSC register, is subject to the UK Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (DTR 5), or is traded on specified equivalent markets). Practical significance: a company enters a registrable relevant legal entity in its PSC register (and files it at Companies House) when it is the first such entity in the chain, avoiding duplicate tracing to individuals higher up. The statutory definition and usage are consistent across England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ireland operates a separate beneficial ownership regime for corporate and other entities; the specific term “relevant legal entity” is not used there.
Speed up all aspects of your legal work with tools that help you to work faster and smarter. Win cases, close deals and grow your business–all whilst saving time and reducing risk.

View the related Checklists about Relevant legal entity

CHECKLISTS
Rooftop solar PV on let buildings: legal checklist covering leases, PPAs, REGOs, SDLT, planning, grid, regulation, funding and redevelopment/early removal

For more practical, step-by-step guidance on solar projects, including viewpoints from several jurisdictions, consult the textbook also: Solar Power: A Practical Handbook. Negotiating a rooftop lease for solar PV panels When arranging a rooftop lease for solar PV panels, the matters at stake will differ according to the interests of the party you represent. Those issues shift depending upon whether one acts for the landlord, the occupier, or the solar tenant. Here, 'landlord' describes the owner of the freehold or a long lease of the relevant building; 'occupier' means the party in occupation; and 'solar tenant' is the entity proposing to install and own the panels. The solar tenant may equally be the building’s occupier, or could be a dedicated solar developer. A growing number of landlords are fitting solar panels to their properties—either via the same corporate vehicle that holds the building, or through a related solar company. This note addresses rooftop leases and, accordingly, assumes a structure in which the solar tenant is a distinct legal...

Read More Right Arrow
CHECKLISTS
Construction letters of intent: employer’s checklist for drafting binding terms—key clauses, payment and liability caps, subcontracts, site/CDM issues, IP, termination and dispute resolution

This checklist outlines the principal points an employer should assess, and the provisions it ought to require, to achieve a clear and binding letter of intent (LOI) on a construction project. Although the terms ‘contractor’ and ‘employer’ are used, the same approach applies to arrangements between a contractor and a sub-contractor. When drafting and negotiating an LOI, not every matter listed will be relevant; each should be considered in light of the specific circumstances. See Practice Note: Letters of intent—construction for further detail on letters of intent and, for an example of client guidance, see Precedent: Advice to clients—use of letters of intent. Key issues and clauses Parties’ particulars: Check that the employer’s and contractor’s full details are set out at the start of the LOI (including exact company names and, where appropriate, the company number) to prevent any doubt about the identity of the contracting parties. If either is within a corporate group, ensure the correct group company is named as the contracting entity... ...

Read More Right Arrow
CHECKLISTS
UK asset sale tax due diligence checklist: key questions on trading stock, intangibles (IFA), capital allowances and fixtures, VAT/TOGC, and SDLT/LBTT/LTT

This Checklist offers a series of prompts that may help in assessing the tax consequences of an asset sale. It should be read together with Practice Note: Key tax considerations in an asset sale. For further detail on pre-contract enquiries, see also Practice Notes: Capital allowances on property sales—pre-contract enquiries and Commercial Property Standard Enquiries—CPSE (the CPSEs, compiled by members of the London Property Support Lawyers Group and endorsed by the British Property Federation, set out standard questions relevant to a sale of commercial real estate)... Key tax considerations in an asset sale General questions What is the status of the parties: companies, individuals or other entities, for example a partnership, trust or charity? Are there multiple sellers? Are there multiple buyers? Does the seller hold both legal and beneficial ownership of the assets? On actual completion, will the buyer obtain legal and beneficial ownership of the assets? Are the parties connected with one another for tax purposes? If...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related News about Relevant legal entity

NEWS
Irish High Court imposes five-year director restrictions for failing to prioritise separate company interests; key lessons on group structures, documentation, record-keeping and managing multiple directorships

In Downtul Ltd [In Liquidation] v Companies Act [2025] IEHC 358, the Irish High Court imposed restrictions for a period of five years on two directors, after determining that they did not act prudently or have proper regard to the interests of Downtul Limited (the Company) as a distinct entity within a complex corporate arrangement. The decision underlines the intricate nature of directors’ obligations in group scenarios and the need to prioritise the interests of each separate company. As a result of the restriction order, the two individuals—each currently sitting on the boards of more than 100 Irish companies—are barred from acting as company directors for five years unless the relevant company has a nominal share capital of at least €100,000 (or €500,000 where the entity is a public limited company or an unlimited company). Background The individuals were directors of the Company, which leased a commercial premises later occupied and run as a Starbucks café by another company, Atercin. They also served as directors of Atercin...

Read More Right Arrow
NEWS
English Commercial Court: EU sanctions freeze on-demand bonds; NCA findings determinative; ownership/control including trusts and firewalls analysed; foreign illegality in France/Italy renders payment unenforceable under English law

LLC Eurochem North-West-2 and another company v Societe Generale S.A. and other companies [2025] EWHC 1938 (Comm) This is a highly important decision for practitioners dealing with international sanctions, as the court delivers a detailed examination of how EU sanctions interface with domestic sanctions authorities in such circumstances. It also provides an in-depth consideration of the notions of ‘ownership’ and ‘control’ for the purpose of sanctions, including where trust arrangements feature, which is not unusual when there is a link to a designated individual. The ruling is likewise of real assistance to those working with performance bonds and related trade finance instruments in the sanctions context. The background facts The relevant parties The dispute stemmed from six on-demand bonds (Bonds) issued in 2021 and 2022 by Société Générale (SocGen) and ING Bank (ING) (the Banks) in favour of EuroChem North-West-2 (EuroChem NW2), a Russian entity. The Bonds were issued under contracts between EuroChem NW2 and Tecnimont S.P.A (Tecnimont), an Italian engineering company, and its Russian affiliate...

Read More Right Arrow
NEWS
UK and EU banking and finance—Land Registry, SFDR, T+1, Listing Act, PRIIPs, ISDA, MiFIR, case law and key dates: weekly update, 8 May 2025

In this issue Security Sustainable finance Debt capital markets Derivatives Regulation for derivatives lawyers Claims and remedies Daily and weekly news alerts Updated Practice Notes Useful information Security HM Land Registry has revised Practice Guide 29—Registration of legal charges and deeds of variation of charge. An update to section 4 now explains how to remove a note recorded in the charges register pursuant to section 859H of the Companies Act 2006. See: LNB News 06/05/2025 2. Source: Registration of legal charges and deeds of variation of charge (PG29). Sustainable finance The European Commission has opened a call for evidence to review the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 (EU SFDR). The initiative targets unnecessary burdens by simplifying and streamlining obligations, including easing environmental, social and governance reporting for financial market participants so they can focus on information most relevant to investors. Responses are requested by 30 May 2025, and the feedback will guide...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Practice Notes about Relevant legal entity

PRACTICE NOTES
UK tax-advantaged Share Incentive Plans: qualifying companies, group eligibility, ordinary share capital and listing/control requirements, restrictions and disqualifying events

The company establishing a SIP The company setting up a share incentive plan (SIP) does not need to be the same entity whose shares are allocated. However, both: the shares to be granted, and the connection between the SIP-establishing entity and the company whose shares are issued must satisfy the relevant legislative conditions. A SIP can be created either: solely for employees of the company that establishes it; or for those employees and for employees of other companies it controls (a group plan)—see Constituent companies below. In a group where the parent company’s shares are to be awarded, there are two options: the parent company may establish the SIP and extend it to the appropriate subsidiaries; or each subsidiary may establish its own SIP, provided the other statutory requirements concerning the shares under award are met—see Requirements for the shares. The advantage of each subsidiary operating its...

Read More Right Arrow
PRACTICE NOTES
UK purchaser acquiring an overseas business: tax considerations on acquisition, profit repatriation, structuring, exit, anti-avoidance and compliance

A UK-based purchaser of an overseas business should evaluate the following tax considerations: the prospective overseas and UK tax outlays linked to the acquisition tax-efficient ways to repatriate profits from the overseas entity to the UK buyer a tax-efficient exit strategy maximising the tax-efficiency of the target business This Practice Note is written from a UK tax perspective and also flags typical overseas tax points to address, including reporting, filing and compliance obligations. Local advice should be obtained in each jurisdiction in which the target operates. Overseas and UK tax costs associated with the acquisition of an overseas business The common UK and overseas tax costs relevant to acquiring an overseas business are summarised below. Transfer taxes Share acquisitions may attract local transfer or registration taxes, usually calculated as a percentage of the consideration for those shares, together with notary fees...

Read More Right Arrow
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...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Precedents about Relevant legal entity

PRECEDENTS
Sanctions definitions, warranties and compliance undertakings for share purchase agreement (pro-seller, individual sellers, unconditional long form): clause 1 and Schedule 4 insertions

Insert the following definitions as new definitions into clause 1 of Precedent: Share purchase agreement—pro-seller—individual sellers—unconditional—long form: 1 Definitions and interpretation Sanctioned Activity • any conduct subject to sanctions set by a Sanctioning Body; Sanctioning Body • the UK, USA, EU and any other relevant authority imposing/administering sanctions; Sanctioned Entity • any person or entity that is, or is owned/controlled (directly or indirectly, per Sanctions Laws) by, a party sanctioned or listed by a Sanctioning Body; Sanctions Laws • all applicable law on Sanctioned Activities binding any Party or this Agreement’s performance; Sanctions Policy • the Sellers’ sanctions policy in Appendix [ insert Appendix number ], as updated and notified to the Buyer; 1.2 The Sellers and the Group Companies, as at the date of this Agreement and throughout its term: are not Sanctioned Entities; have not been notified of any investigation into a Sanctioned Activity; are unaware of Business circumstances that could give rise...

Read More Right Arrow
PRECEDENTS
Pro-supplier B2B terms and conditions for sale of goods and services (precedent), with compliance clauses, retention of title, indemnities and liability caps (England and Wales)

1 Definitions and interpretation 1.1 Within these Conditions, the terms below shall have the following meanings: Adequate Procedures – to be interpreted in accordance with BA 2010 and the guidance issued under it; Affiliate – any entity that, directly or indirectly, Controls, is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, another entity; Applicable Law – all applicable laws, legislation, statutory instruments, regulations, and governmental guidance having binding effect, whether local or national [ or international in any relevant jurisdiction ]; Associated Person – means any or all of: (a) a party’s officers, employees, agents, subcontractors, subsidiaries, and persons Associated With that party (the Associates); and (b) persons Associated With any of the Associates, in each case engaged in performing services for or on behalf of that party, the Services and/or the Contract; Associated With – when used: (a) in clause 10 and in respect of bribery, shall be read in accordance with BA 2010 and the guidance published under it; (b)...

Read More Right Arrow
PRECEDENTS
Sanctions compliance definitions, seller warranties and covenants for short-form asset purchase agreement

Insert the following definitions as new definitions into clause 1 of Precedent: Asset purchase agreement—short form: 1 Definitions and interpretation Sanctioned Activity • means any act subject to sanctions imposed by the Sanctioning Body; Sanctioning Body • includes the United Kingdom, United States of America, European Union, plus any other relevant local, national or multinational governmental agency, ministry, official parliament, public or statutory person, or any governmental or professional body, regulator or supervisory authority, board or other entity charged with imposing and/or administering sanctions; Sanctioned Entity • denotes any individual or organisation that is, or that is owned or controlled ...

Read More Right Arrow

View the related Q&As about Relevant legal entity

Q&As
Cooling-off after pre-revenue Skilled Worker refusal: Expansion Worker licence now?

Refer to the relevant Practice Notes: Applying for a sponsor licence under Workers and Temporary Workers: eligibility and suitability (covering pre-revenue businesses) and Applying for a Workers and Temporary Workers sponsor licence: procedure (concerning licence re-application). Cooling off period and who it applies to If a sponsor licence application is refused, the Home Office will, in most cases, impose a cooling off period. This is typically six months, though in some situations it can be as long as five years. The Home Office may choose not to apply the cooling off period, for example where documents were provided late, or where a representative submitted the application. See Practice Note: Applying for a Workers and Temporary Workers sponsor licence: procedure/cooling-off periods...

Read More Right Arrow