The definition in Jordan’s legislation refers to an entity that directly or indirectly owns stakes or shares in one or more multinational companies. The definition requires that the UPE is committed to preparing consolidated financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards generally accepted in the country in which it is tax resident.
The use of the term “committed” in Jordan’s legislation, when referring to preparing consolidated financial statements, could be read as being optional. The definition in Jordan’s legislation does not adequately capture the requirement to prepare consolidated financial statements, as is required under the standard.
Furthermore, the definition in Jordan’s legislation also fails to cover circumstances where an entity owns directly or indirectly a sufficient interest in one or more other Constituent Entities such that it would required to prepare Consolidated Financial Statements if its equity interests were traded on a public securities exchange in its jurisdiction of tax residence (the “deemed listing provision”), which is required under the standard.
Finally, the definition in Jordan’s legislation does not include the condition that no other Constituent Entity of the MNE Group owns directly or indirectly an interest described the first mentioned Constituent Entity.
It is recommended that Jordan amend the definition of UPE or otherwise clarify the definition to be in line with the standard.