Tier 2 sponsor company acquired by a large company

[arnair07]

Hi,

Recently my sponsor company (A) is acquired by a large company(B). The company B doesn't have a sponsorship licence. When I spoke to my HR, they said there won't be any immediate change in your role, duties and responsibilities etc and you will continue as an employee in Company A.. But in a short period of time, things will change and you will receive the pay checks from company B.

1. Should company A need to do anything at the moment?
2. Do the company B need to apply for a licence?

Kindly advice me

[Frontier Mole]

Company A has to inform UKVI about the takeover.

Company B does not have to apply for a licence but may wish to do so if the intention is to merge the businesses or take the staff under TUPE

[shortdays]

Hi,

What happens in the scenerio where company A is the license holder and director sells all shares to company B (non uk), But other than this NO change takes place whatsoever. Old directors are still the directors, company name, business, staff and everything else remain unchanged?

Can company A continue under its existing license?

[Frontier Mole]

If the shares are sold to another legal entity then this has to be declared - this will instigate the need for a new licence as the business has changed hands in effect.

[shortdays]

But even the new application have exactly the same info including the person who will apply. What difference would that make, if company is still operating as ever before?

[shortdays]

Can't the scope of the license be extended so the migrants who are already under co. A sponsorship, can continue to do so?

Key here is, the company B does not have any legal presence in the uk, except company A which is still run by the old owners in the capasity of directors.

[Frontier Mole]

Unfortunately if there is a change in majority ownership then there is no option but for the licence to be surrendered and a new licence to be applied for. Failure to apply for a new licence within 28 days of the transfer can actually lead to the orginal licence being revoked and your visa curtailed. So the risks of not following the correct processes are high.

The geographic location of the owners is irrelevant as is their lack of presence in the U.K.

From a migrant perspective there is nothing that changes as long as the new licence is granted. You don't apply for a new visa.
What happens is your existing visa moves to the new licence.