Reader's Question: Capital gains on company shares after a takeover has been completed

I held some shares in a company that was subsequently taken over by another company. Would you please advise on what happens in such circumstances. For instance, when will a capital gain occur? Is it when the takeover has been completed or will it be when I sell the shares issued by the acquiring company?
B Irvine, Edinburgh


Angus Rigby replies:

Generally, when one share is exchanged for another, no capital gain will occur until the new shares are sold. Where cash payments are made for shares, they are treated as a capital gain, as if the shares had been sold.

In some corporate actions, companies are now starting to offer shareholders the choice of different options with different tax implications. For example, a shareholder could be offered the choice of a cash or stock adjustment (or a combination of both) that could be treated either as income or as a capital gain.

Information regarding tax implications should be provided within the documentation explaining your options, and investors who are unsure can always contact the company registrar for clarification.