Inheritance and gifts  [ Return towards  More about  ]

For direct registered shares, contact Shareholder Services; for intermediary registered shares or bearer shares, contact your financial intermediary.

 

You wish to make a gift or Air Liquide Shares :

WHAT IS A SHARED GIFT?

It is both a gift and the anticipated sharing of the donor’s assets. The shared gift is definitive, i.e., as a general rule, the assets distributed are not revalued when the donor dies. It is drawn up before a notary through a deed.

WHAT IS A “GIFT BY HAND”?

Traditionally, it is a gift passed from hand to hand of a sum of money, furniture or jewelry and, by extension, of money or securities by check or bank transfer. The gift by hand may be set down in writing but does not require a notary. Within one month of the gift, the donor must notify the beneficiary’s local tax department of the gift on tax form 2735. The gift by hand must be added to the donor’s estate.

WHAT IS A “CUSTOMARY PRESENT”?

This is a present given on a special occasion (birth, marriage, birthday, graduation, etc.). It may be, for example, securities or a sum of money that is reasonable vis-à-vis the donor’s financial situation and that does not impoverish him. The customary present is not added to the donor’s estate and is not taxed by the fiscal authorities. These authorities consider that the cost of shares received by the recipient is zero.

  Update January 2009: Gifts of up to  

€156,357 per child, €31,271 per grandchild and €7,818 per nephew, can be made every six years tax free.The loyalty bonus is maintained for registered shares in the case of inheritance or gifts.  

Inheritance

Air Liquide or the financial intermediary carry out strict instructions given by the lawyer managing the estate. This may entail transferring the shares to an account held by the heirs, their sale, etc.

A notary’s letter stating the marital status of the deceased, the names of the beneficiaries and the number of Air Liquide shares to be assigned to each heir is sufficient.