Roadchef (Employee Benefits Trustees) Ltd v Hill & Ors [2014] EWHC 3109 (Ch) (01 October 2014)

Roadchef (Employee Benefits Trustees) Ltd v Hill & Ors [2014] EWHC 3109 (Ch) (01 October 2014)

The phrase 'employees from time to time' in the EBT1 trust deed refers only to current employees at the time of distribution, not to former employees or their estates. The natural meaning of the words and the purpose of the trust support this construction.

Citation
[2014] EWHC 3109 (Ch)
Parties
Claimant: Roadchef (Employee Benefits Trustees) Limited; Defendants: Timothy Ingram Hill and ors
Jurisdiction
England and Wales
Judgment Date
01 October 2014
Procedural Posture
Chancery Division Civil Claim / Application for Court's Agreement on Class of Trust Beneficiaries Post Judgment
Outcome
Declaration sought by trustees refused
Legal Topics
Interpretation of Trust Deeds, Employee Benefit Trusts, Beneficiary Class Definition
Trusts Employment Law Interpretation of Trust Deeds Employee Benefit Trusts Beneficiary Class Definition

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Parties

Roadchef (Employee Benefits Trustees) Limited

Claimant

Timothy Ingram Hill and ors

Defendants

Procedural Posture

Chancery Division Civil Claim / Application for Court's Agreement on Class of Trust Beneficiaries Post Judgment

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether 'Beneficiaries' in the EBT1 trust deed includes all past and present employees or only current employees at the time of distribution

Ratio Decidendi

The phrase 'employees from time to time' in the EBT1 trust deed refers only to current employees at the time of distribution, not to former employees or their estates. The natural meaning of the words and the purpose of the trust support this construction.

Court Disposition

Declaration sought by trustees refused

Orders

  • Court refuses to declare that 'Beneficiaries' includes all past and present employees or their estates; only current employees at the time of distribution are beneficiaries.