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subsidiaries of companies registered in the UK.
4. There have been a few difficult cases. For these
the Advisory Group have adopted the following criteria, with which we and DTI officials agree:
a) Companies whose ownership has been affected by
take-overs
Companies which are now British-owned should qualify,
including for any period when not British-owned;
companies, like Leyland Bus or Coates Brothers, who
continue to have a wholly British flavour, British
management and who source from the UK should also qualify despite ultimate ownership now being elsewhere.
b) Large Groups
Large groups like Swires, Jardines, Inchcape,
Kier/Beazer each have many companies within their
groups, some wholly owned subsidiaries, some less than 50% owned. Staff working within the groups
are often moved from one subsidiary to another.
The Advisory Group consider that all service within the
Group should count except in those subsidiaries where the parent group interest is very small.
c) Franchises run on British lines which seek to present
a wholly British image but are locally owned
The
Cases which have cropped up include the Hilton Hotel, Bentleys restaurants and Habitat shops. Advisory Group intends to approve these on the grounds that they are perceived to be British even though ultimate ownership and control is local.
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