Publication
The UK Football Governance Bill: Impact on ownership
The UK Football Governance Bill (the Bill), reintroduced by the current Labour government in 2024, marks a significant shift in the regulation of English football.
Global | Publication | May 11, 2016
On March 30, 2016, the Italian Tax Authorities issued Circular Letter no. 6 (“Letter 6”), which clarifies issues related to the structure of certain acquisitions, in particular those involving investments by private equity funds. The clarifications are based on para. 1.64 sbq. of OECD Transfer Pricing Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and Tax Administrations 2010.
Letter 6 also indicates the criteria by which the Italian Tax Authorities might assess shareholders’ loans as equity contributions, thereby challenging the deduction of passive interests. According to the Italian Tax Authorities, a shareholders’ loan might be qualified as an equity contribution in the following instances:
In any event, the re-characterization of a shareholders’ loan as an equity contribution will be determined on a case by case basis, following evaluation of the factual background of the case under investigation. The Authorities will scrutinize, in particular, whether the circumstance materially differs from a transaction involving third parties. In that case, the Authorities point out that the relevant assessment will also affect the notional interest deduction mechanism and the applicability of withholding taxes on dividends (instead of on interests).
Letter 6 refers not only to investment structures which will be set up in the future, but also those already existing. Penalties for non-compliance, however, will only be applied to transactions effectuated after March 30, 2016.
Publication
The UK Football Governance Bill (the Bill), reintroduced by the current Labour government in 2024, marks a significant shift in the regulation of English football.
Publication
Our report last year included a summary of the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR) and discussed both how owners have reacted to the rules and our predictions for the likely impact on future ownership of Premier League clubs.
Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest legal news, information and events . . .
© Norton Rose Fulbright LLP 2025