Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitions

Subject LAWS70331 (2016)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2016.

Credit Points: 12.5
Level: 7 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period 25-Jul-2016 to 23-Oct-2016
Assessment Period End 18-Nov-2016
Last date to Self-Enrol 31-Jan-2016
Census Date 31-Aug-2016
Last date to Withdraw without fail 23-Sep-2016

This subject has a quota of 30 students. Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.



Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 24-26 hours
Total Time Commitment:

136-150 hours

The pre-teaching period commences four weeks before the subject commencement date. From this time, students are expected to access and review the Reading Guide that will be available from the LMS subject page and the subject materials provided by the subject coordinator, which will be available from Melbourne Law School. Refer to the Reading Guide for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences.

Prerequisites:

Melbourne Law Masters Students: Successful completion of either of the below subjects, or an equivalent subject, or significant professional tax experience:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
October, Semester 1
12.5
Semester 2
12.5

JD Students: Successful completion of the below subject:

Subject
Study Period Commencement:
Credit Points:
Semester 1, Semester 2
12.5
Corequisites:


Recommended Background Knowledge:

Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.

Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

The Melbourne Law Masters welcomes applications from students with disabilities. The inherent academic requirements for study in the Melbourne Law Masters are:

  • The ability to attend a minimum of 75% of classes and actively engage in the analysis and critique of complex materials and debate;
  • The ability to read, analyse and comprehend complex written legal materials and complex interdisciplinary materials;
  • The ability to clearly and independently communicate in writing a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and to critically evaluate these;
  • The ability to clearly and independently communicate orally a knowledge and application of legal principles and interdisciplinary materials and critically evaluate these;
  • The ability to work independently and as a part of a group;
  • The ability to present orally and in writing legal analysis to a professional standard.

Students who feel their disability will inhibit them from meeting these inherent academic requirements are encouraged to contact Student Equity and Disability Support.

Contact

Lecturers

Mr Aldrin De Zilva (Coordinator)
Mr Michael Charles

Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/masters

Subject Overview:

Taxation of Mergers and Acquisitionsis a capstone subject in the Master of Taxation, designed for tax professionals and government officials who wish to complete or update their education in corporate tax law and practice. Coordinated and taught by some of Australia’s leading tax advisers, it is focused around a series of topical issues. Using a detailed analysis of these issues, it provides students with in-depth, commercially relevant knowledge of the tax rules for mergers and acquisitions of public and private companies and consolidated corporate groups.

Topics include the application of rollovers that benefit shareholders and companies engaged in takeovers and mergers, especially involving consolidated groups, as well as applicable tax integrity rules and recent and ongoing tax reform.

Principal topics include:

  • Corporate capital gains tax rollovers for mergers, acquisitions and disposals, including Divisions 124, 125 and 126 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth), in particular scrip for scrip, demerger and various corporate restructure rollovers
  • The interaction of tax rules relating to mergers, acquisitions and restructures with key elements of the tax rules for consolidated corporate groups in Part 3-90 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 (Cth) including rules for tax cost setting on entry and exit, foreign-owned multiple entry consolidated groups, tax-sharing and payment, due diligence and corporate risk
  • The interaction of tax rules relating to mergers, acquisitions and disposal with the imputation system and corporate financing tax rules.
Learning Outcomes:

A student who has successfully completed this subject will:

  • Understand the detailed legal rules applicable in the taxation of corporate mergers and acquisitions, particularly as they apply to consolidated groups
  • Have a good knowledge of legal and tax structures used for corporate mergers and acquisitions in practice
  • Be aware of current problems and reforms in taxation of corporate mergers and acquisitions.
Assessment:
  • Assignment (30%) (7 September)
  • Take-home examination (5,000-6,000 words as specified in the subject reading guide) (70%) (18 - 21 November)

A minimum of 75% attendance is a hurdle requirement.

Prescribed Texts:

Specialist printed materials will be made available free of charge from the Melbourne Law School prior to the pre-teaching period.

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Links to further information: www.law.unimelb.edu.au/subject/LAWS70331/2016
Related Course(s): Graduate Diploma in Corporations and Securities Law
Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies
Graduate Diploma in Tax
Juris Doctor
Master of Commercial Law
Master of Laws
Master of Tax

Download PDF version.