A business owner can structure their company in different ways. They can run it independently, create a subsidiary under a main company, or set up a holding company that owns and controls other businesses. A holding company is a parent company that doesn’t trade goods or services but owns shares in other companies. This article explains the difference between a holding company and a subsidiary, focusing on how they work in India.
A holding company is a business that owns and controls other companies but does not run any operations or make products itself. Its main job is to manage investments, own shares in other businesses, and oversee how they are run. A company is considered a holding company if it either decides who is on the board of directors or owns more than 50% of another company’s shares.
A subsidiary company is a business owned fully or partly by another company. If the owner also runs other businesses, it’s called a parent company, and if it only owns subsidiaries, it’s a holding company. Subsidiaries help businesses expand, reduce risk, and create separate brands. A company is a subsidiary if another company owns more than 50% of its shares or controls its board.
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Holding Company |
Subsidiary Company |
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A Holding Company owns more than half of another company’s stock, giving it control over that company’s operations. |
A Subsidiary Company is one where another firm owns more than 50% of the shares and thus controls its operations completely. |
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A Holding Company manages and controls its subsidiaries, including appointing and removing board members, directors, and other key personnel. |
A subsidiary usually operates independently but is financially controlled by its parent company, the Holding Company. |
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The Holding Company has all ownership rights and duties over its subsidiaries. |
On the other hand, the Subsidiary Company is dependent on the Holding Company, and major decisions taken by the Holding Company |
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A Holding Company invests in various businesses through subsidiaries to lower risk, cut losses, and save on taxes. |
When a holding company owns a subsidiary, it also owns all of that subsidiary’s own subsidiaries. |
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By making a company a Subsidiary, the Holding Company can use its big capital and reduce competition for the company. |
A Subsidiary Company helps protect itself from business risks and losses. |
If Company A holds 60% shares in Company B, then:
A holding company’s relationship with its subsidiary is similar to that of a parent and child.
When one company owns all the equity of another company, the latter becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of the first company.
A subsidiary can become a holding company by acquiring a majority stake in another company.
The subsidiary company’s shares become assets for the holding company.
To prevent shareholder claims, the assets of the holding company and the subsidiary are kept separate through strategic accounting maneuvers.
The holding company and its subsidiaries are treated as a single economic unit.
A holding company can own stock in its subsidiaries, but a subsidiary cannot own stock in its holding company.
This rule also applies if the shares are held by a nominee on behalf of the subsidiary.
However, a subsidiary can be a member of its holding company in certain cases:
Investments made before a company became a subsidiary may be retained, but the subsidiary will lose its voting rights in the holding company.
The holding company and its subsidiary operate under different legal rules and serve different purposes. The subsidiary handles daily business operations, while the holding company focuses on control and major decisions. They have separate legal identities, meaning the subsidiary is responsible for its own debts and financial issues.
Shareholding rights of a subsidiary company
Roles of a Foreign Subsidiary company
Branch Office vs Indian Subsidiary
Features & Functions of Indian Subsidiary
Foreign Subsidiary Company Compliance in India
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