A corporate spin-off, also known as a spin-out,[1] or starburst or hive-off,[2] is a type of corporate action where a company "splits off" a section as a separate business or creates a second incarnation, even if the first is still active.[3] It is distinct from a sell-off, where a company sells a section to another company or firm in exchange for cash or securities.
^New Zealand Master Tax Guide (2013 edition) – p. 771 1775470024 CCH New Zealand Ltd – 2013 "Essentially, a 'spinout' involves the transfer by a parent company of shares in a wholly owned subsidiary to the shareholders in the parent. To the extent that there is a common interest in the old and new holding companies, the spinout ..."