Subsidiary Definition

What is a subsidiary?

A subsidiary is a company owned by another company, called a “parent company” or “holding company.” The holding company controls the subsidiary by appointing its choice of directors and managers. To be a holding company, it must own a “controlling interest” in the subsidiary, meaning it owns at least 51% of that company’s shares. If the parent owns 100% of the subsidiary, it’s called a “wholly owned” subsidiary. Read the holding company definition for more information.

Subsidiary Benefits

Having one or more subsidiary companies can be advantageous for a business. Here are some of the most common benefits of subsidiaries:

• Tax benefits — The parent company can save on taxes by accounting for the subsidiary’s profits and losses on a consolidated return.
• Brand differentiation — Companies can use subsidiaries to separate brand identities or operate in different industries.
• Operational continuity — When purchasing an existing company, acquiring it as a subsidiary allows it to continue operating without much change.
• Risk management — Business owners can choose to keep a subsidiary private even if the parent is a public company.
• Liability protection — Creditors of the subsidiary usually cannot reach the assets of the parent company to pay for the subsidiary’s liabilities.

Whether a business purchases another existing company’s shares or forms a new company, it might use the subsidiary structure as a way to handle that acquisition.

Subsidiary Disadvantages

The subsidiary exists as a separate legal entity within the conglomerate. Therefore, a subsidiary can require more paperwork and taxation and potentially faces more red tape than a single business. Operating a subsidiary can also leave the business owner with a decreased focus on the original business. Finally, if the two companies have a conflict of interest, such as a duplicative product or market, it can cause management clashes. 

Other Names for a Subsidiary

Just as the holding company is sometimes called the “parent,” the subsidiary company is sometimes called the “daughter company.” While there can be some variations in terminology, these names typically refer to the same entities.

Subsidiary Examples

A subsidiary and its parent can be corporations or limited liability companies (LLCs). Here are some famous examples of subsidiary companies and their parents:

• Frito-Lay and PepsiCo
• ABC Television Group and The Walt Disney Company
• Dairy Queen and Berkshire Hathaway
• Oscar Mayer and Kraft-Heinz
• Ben & Jerry’s and Unilever

Many companies around the world use subsidiaries to control and manage large, diversified businesses.

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