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Yes. In determining whether there has been a change in the majority ownership of an entity, it is necessary to trace through one of more interposed entities to the ultimate beneficial owners of the entity for the purpose of applying the continuing majority-owned entity test in section 701A-1 of the Income Tax (Transitional Provisions) Act 1997 (IT(TP)A 1997).

A 'continuing majority owned entity' is an entity that was majority (more than 50%) owned at all times by a person or persons from the start of 27 June 2002 until the entity becomes a subsidiary member of a consolidated group. This period includes the date the entity becomes a subsidiary member.

To avoid the integrity measures contained in sections 701A-5 and 701A-10 of the IT(TP)A 1997 applying to a joining entity's trading stock and/or internally generated assets, a joining entity must be able to demonstrate that there has been a change in its majority ultimate beneficial ownership. An entity unable to provide evidence of this change will be required to treat trading stock as a retained cost base asset and to give internally generated assets a dual cost base for income tax purposes.

As at 26 June 2002, PubCo, a publicly listed corporation on the Australian Stock Exchange, owns 100% of the shares in ACo, an Australian-resident company. On that date BCo, an Australian-resident company, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACo, and holds trading stock and internally generated assets.

On 31 December 2002, a hostile takeover of more than 75% of PubCo's listed shares takes place, resulting in a change in majority ownership of PubCo.

On 1 July 2003, PubCo forms a consolidated group comprising itself as head company with subsidiary members ACo and BCo.

There are no changes to PubCo's membership interests in ACo and ACo's membership interests in BCo from 26 June 2002 until the consolidation time of 1 July 2003.

On 31 December 2002, a hostile takeover of PubCo resulted in a change in ownership of PubCo at the ultimate beneficial ownership level. Although there has been no change in PubCo's ownership of ACo or BCo, the test for majority ownership in section 701A-1 of the IT(TP)A 1997 requires a 'bottom-up' tracing approach (through widely held or public companies, including publicly listed companies) to the ultimate beneficial owners to determine whether or not the integrity measures apply.

Given the change in majority beneficial ownership has taken place at the ultimate beneficial ownership level, PubCo, ACo and BCo do not qualify as continuing majority-owned entities. As a result, the integrity measures do not apply to BCo's trading stock and internally generated assets for the purpose of cost setting.

When the final Determination is issued, it is proposed to apply both before and after its date of issue. However, the Determination will not apply to taxpayers to the extent that it conflicts with the terms of settlement of a dispute agreed to before the date of issue of the Determination (see paragraphs 21 and 22 of Taxation Ruling TR 92/20).

We invite you to comment on this draft Taxation Determination. Please forward your comments to the contact officer by the due date. Due date: 15 October 2004 Contact officer details have been removed following publication of the final ruling.