Legislation – Finance Act 2026

“(a)

if at that date the relevant company is a knowledge-intensive company (see section 331A and subsection (6A)) and—

(i)

not a specified Northern Ireland company, £20 million;

(ii)

a specified Northern Ireland company, £10 million, and

(b)

if at that date the relevant company is not a knowledge-intensive company and—

(i)

not a specified Northern Ireland company, £10 million;

(ii)

a specified Northern Ireland company, £5 million.”.

(4)

In section 292AA(1) (maximum risk finance investments when relevant holding is issued requirement), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

“(a)

if at the investment date the relevant company is a knowledge-intensive company (see section 331A) and—

(i)

not a specified Northern Ireland company, £40 million;

(ii)

a specified Northern Ireland company, £20 million, and

(b)

if at the investment date the relevant company is not a knowledge-intensive company and—

(i)

not a specified Northern Ireland company, £24 million;

(ii)

a specified Northern Ireland company, £12 million.”.

(5)

In section 292AB(4) (maximum risk finance investments during the 5-year post-investment period requirement), for paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

“(a)

if at the investment date the relevant company is a knowledge-intensive company (see section 331A) and—

(i)

not a specified Northern Ireland company, £40 million;

(ii)

a specified Northern Ireland company, £20 million, and

(b)

if at the investment date the relevant company is not a knowledge-intensive company and—

(i)

not a specified Northern Ireland company, £24 million;

(ii)

a specified Northern Ireland company, £12 million.”.

(6)

In section 293 (the use of the money raised requirement)—

(a)

in subsection (1), for “The” substitute “A”;

(b)

after subsection (5A) insert—

“(5B)

Another requirement of this section is that, of the money raised by the issue of the relevant holding, only such part of that money as could have been raised by an issue of shares and securities falling within subsection (5C) is employed for the purposes of a qualifying business activity that is carried on by one or more specified Northern Ireland companies.

(5C)

Shares and securities fall within this subsection if the requirements in section 286(2) as they apply in relation to a relevant company that is a specified Northern Ireland company are met in respect of them.”.

(7)

In section 297 (the gross assets requirement)—

(a)

before subsection (1) insert—

“A1

The requirement of this section in the case of a relevant company that is a single company and not a specified Northern Ireland company is that the value of the company’s gross assets—

(a)

did not exceed £30 million immediately before the issue of the relevant holding, and

(b)

did not exceed £35 million immediately afterwards.

A2

The requirement of this section in the case of a relevant company that is a parent company and not a specified Northern Ireland company is that the value of the group assets—

(a)

did not exceed £30 million immediately before the issue of the relevant holding, and

(b)

did not exceed £35 million immediately afterwards.”;

(b)

in subsection (1), after “single company” insert “and a specified Northern Ireland company”;

(c)

in subsection (2), after “parent company” insert “and a specified Northern Ireland company”.

(8)

After section 331B, insert—

“331CMeaning of “specified Northern Ireland company”

For the purposes of this Part, a “specified Northern Ireland company” means a company that—

(a)

has its registered office in Northern Ireland, and

(b)

carries on a trade involving—

(i)

a trade in goods, or

(ii)

the generation, transmission, distribution, supply, wholesale trade or cross-border exchange of electricity.”.

(9)

The amendments made by this section come into force on 6 April 2026.