Simona Catuogno » 2.Scope of groups

Scope of groups

Legislators never offer a clear definition of the concept of enterprise group.
Gaps in legislation have to be interpreted and compensated for by administrative policy, in line with existing regulations.

Enterprise groups

The literature identifies specific features common to all:
1. Include a number of legally separate companies;
2. Structure is that of a corporation;
3.1. Controlled through shareholders;
3.2. Controlled through other means like contracts, statutes or personal ties.

Single economic entity

When one company exercises control over the other entities in the group, it implies a single economic subject; either those whose interests the company safeguards (i.e. the owners) or those who decide company policy (the management).

In short, groups have unified financial management and revenue autonomy.

Legal and financial control

The concept of legal control varies from country to country.
In the United States this means owning the majority of shares (+ than 50%) and having more than half the voting power.
In the United Kingdom it means owning more than 50% of net assets.
Financial control (which is very common in Germany) implies a different approach, as it has nothing to do with shares but with the contractual, statutory and governance relationship between the different entities.

Legal and financial control

The introduction of the Seventh Directive spelt a compromise between the Anglo-American and German approach, as it stipulates that legal control is the priority but accepts the idea of financial control.

Italian legislation has been influenced by the Seventh Directive but favours legal control, limiting financial control to very few, explicitly-stated cases.

Companies required to present a consolidated financial statement

The legislative decree 127/1991 states that companies have to present a consolidated financial statement when:
1. The relationship between holding company and subsidiaries is one of control;
2. The parent company is:
- A corporation;
- A public body involved in for-profit business, a cooperative or mutual insurance company as long as they control one or more corporations.
Companies exempt from presenting a consolidated financial statement are therefore partnerships, associations and foundations, individual entrepreneurs and consortiums, even if they control limited companies.

Companies required to present a consolidated financial statement

IAS 27 states that every company that exercises sole or joint control over one or more subsidiaries needs to present information about all entities within the group regardless of their legal status.
This can be wavered if the parent itself is a wholly or partially-owned subsidiary of another entity.

Control of corporations article 26 legislative decree 127/1991

Legal control is presumed when in possession of an absolute majority of voting rights in an ordinary assembly (art. 2359, comma 1, no. 1, C.C.)
De facto control is presumed when in possession of a relative majority of voting rights and therefore can exert a dominant influence in an ordinary assembly (art. 2359, comma 1, no. 2, C.C.)
Where nos. 1 and 2 above are concerned, the indirect control exercised through subsidiaries, trust companies or third parties is also taken into account. However, voting rights on behalf of a third party are not taken into consideration.

Control of corporations article 26 legislative decree 127/1991

An entity will also have de facto control if they exert a dominant influence over voting rights because of a contract or statute clause (contractual and statutory power, art. 2359, comma 1, no. 3, C.C.).
An entity will also have de facto control if voting arrangements are made with other shareholders (voting syndicates) giving them the majority of votes (absolute or relative majority).

Controlled entities IAS 27

Control is evidenced by acquisition of over more than one half of the voting rights:
Control may be evidenced by power (even without shares):
- over more than one half of the voting rights by virtue of an agreement with other investors;
- to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity under a statute or an agreement;
- to appoint or remove the majority of the members of the board of directors;
- to cast the majority of votes at a meeting of the board of directors.