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Taxand Global Conference 2013 > Leadership in an Uncertain Global Economy

24 - 26 April, New York

Please select the purple links below to download what you seek.

Taxand’s Take special edition conference newsletter 
Delegate pack of all presentations
Individual plenary session presentations, media commentary and films
Client Talk Film
Plenary Session Films
Conference Highlights Film
Photo Album
Delegate Leaflet & Programme

The Taxand Global Conference 2013, hosted by Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US, took place at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City from April 24 to April 26 2013. A blend of more than 550 Taxand clients and Taxanders from nearly 50 countries joined us this year to discuss topical tax issues, share expertise and enhance relationships. Using a mix of presentations, dynamic multi-media and video content, Taxanders were joined on stage by key business leaders, guest speakers and clients to share their views and key pointers to help drive business performance in an uncertain economy.

Key Conference Message

Today, the greatest uncertainty for multinationals stems from the impact of tax and legislative change. Now more than ever before multinationals need to keep up to speed with and anticipate this change. Achieving compliance at the same time as managing reputational risk and undertaking substantive tax planning  are imperative to compete in a volatile, global economy.

Key Conference Pointers

  • Current global tax trends include a sweeping wave of compliance, regulatory requirements, the implementation of the OECD report on Base Erosion and Profits Sharing alongside a push for harmonisation. The development of FATCA legislation from the US, CFC reform and increases in information exchange agreements are also of major impact to multinationals and your tax departments. Above all else tax audits are on the rise worldwide and collaboration by authorities across borders is on the increase. Multinationals need to have your house in order, with protocols, systems and documentation in place ready to respond to audits in every jurisdiction.
  • Having a considered strategy in place with the right people, the right location, the right documents, at the right time is crucial to ensure multinationals can pass increasingly challenging substance requirements, globally. Letterbox and conduit companies are not viable. The potential of double taxation, severe retrospective tax claims, reputational risk and director liability are too severe a threat. Sufficient substance needs to be demonstrated throughout the entire structure of your business abiding strictly to shifting local legislation around residency, beneficial ownership and permanent establishment. Tax risk must be on your Board’s agenda.
  • As the ‘virtual’ way we do business evolves the location of taxable profits is ever more complex.  Cloud-based software poses the next big challenge to tax authorities as they struggle to classify whether a product or service, which is neither transferred on a tangible medium nor electronically deliverable, should be taxed as a service, taxed as tangible personal property or not subject to tax at all. Because of the varying approaches taken by different jurisdictions to this software, it makes determining whether a transaction is subject to tax much more difficult. Issues can arise over the source of income, tax deferral on foreign earnings, permanent establishment, withholding tax, VAT and transfer pricing. At the same time this technology provides readily available data that can be reviewed as part of a cross-border audit by the tax authorities. Multinationals operating online must review your structures, intangible assets portfolios, transfer pricing approach and procedures thoroughly or risk retrospective taxation.
  • By attacking the reputation of multinationals we are in danger of curtailing investment, thwarting growth and compressing innovation. Commercial objectives and shareholder duty drive supply chain planning and any assessment of the tax obligations that accompany these strategic decisions must be realistic and fair. Activity which initially necessitated simple transfer pricing documentation now demands a long list of justifications around issues including substance, commercial rationale and permanent establishment. New business models require new solutions and the linkage between business restructuring and tax planning is more important than ever. Multinationals must be prepared to restructure to optimise tax efficiencies and shareholder profits as well as confront and defend against reputational risk.
  • Tax controversy is expanding globally both in scope and ferocity. Multinationals need a clear strategy to manage tax controversy risk in addition to a sound understanding of where challenge lies, what form it will take and how to defend against it.
  • VAT is collected in just under 150 countries worldwide. It is only going to get more burdensome in terms of rates and compliance. Applying common policies to VAT planning worldwide, investing in technology to get tax determination and reporting right and having a small team of very focused individuals managing your VAT well can add real value to your tax department and your organisation as a whole.

Taxand’s Take         

Find out all you need to know about our annual global conference in NYC, including key content, films, photos and much more in our Taxand’s Take newsletter - COMING SOON!

  • Register for future issues of our global newsletter, Taxand's Take and our weekly news alert    


Client Talk

At our Taxand Global Conference 2013 we shared case studies and personal experiences to help clients picture how to apply Taxand's expertise to your businesses. Over 100 pre-booked bespoke client meetings were arranged throughout the conference to discuss specific advisory areas and jurisdictions of interest. Client feedback from the event has been excellent with many quoting the Taxand Global Conference 2013 as the best yet!

View our Client Talk Film - to see what clients were saying at the event.

Plenary session presentations, media commentary and films

To review the full presentations, films sharing introductions and conclusions and for Taxander contact details please select the purple links below to download what you seek. View the plenary session descriptions >

  • Welcome & Introduction
    • Presentation                      Film                       
  • Keynote I: Feature Panel Discussion: Leading in Challenging Times
  • Plenary Session I: Fireside Discussion: Global Tax Trends
  • Plenary Session III: Getting Ahead of E-Commerce and the Cloud - COMING SOON
  • Plenary Session IV: The Evolution of Business Restructuring to Combat Reputational Attack
  • Plenary Session VI: The Importance of VAT Today and in the Future
  • Closing Remarks
    • Presentation                      Film                       

Download the full delegate pack containing the full suite of conference presentations, case studies and speaker details

Media

Media interviews took place, key comments were issued and coverage was achieved:

Revisit our Taxand Global Conference Delegate Leaflet & Programme

Plenary Session Descriptions

Welcome presentation
Robert N. Lowe, CEO, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US and host of our Taxand Global Conference 2013 welcomed circa 585 delegates to our 13th global conference.

Feature Panel Discussion: Leading in Challenging Times
Speakers: Tony Alvarez II, Chief Executive Officer, Alvarez & Marsal, Jeffrey Atwater, CFO, State of Florida, Richard Hoey, Chief Economist, BNY Mellon; Christine Jacobs, CEO, Theragenics; James Metcalfe, VP of Tax, Scientific Games; Robert Stack, US Department of the Treasury moderated by Dr. Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld, Yale University’s School of Management and the Founder of the Yale CEO Summit    
Our Taxand Global Conference convened with a thought-provoking feature panel discussion. Renowned business and government leaders exchanged views and strategies for effective business leadership in an uncertain global economy. Looking beyond fiscal cliffs and the dark days of economic recession, old paradigms no longer apply. We discussed what actions and insights will be needed by global organisations to accelerate growth and maintain momentum. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld.

Fireside Discussion: Global Tax Trends
Speakers: Robert Stack, US Department of the Treasury; Darryl Steinberg, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc; Philip West, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, and moderated by Ernesto Perez, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US     
Ernesto Perez, Managing Director, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US, moderated a discussion between Philip West – perhaps best known for his work advising the U.S. Treasury under President Clinton – and Darryl R. Steinberg, Managing Director and Senior Tax Counsel for Lehman Brothers Holdings. Mr. West discussed his wider views on the latest global tax trends and their impact, while Mr. Steinberg shared his observations of how tax authorities around the world are approaching audits, in particular he focused on how, in their search for revenue, they are challenging arrangements that would have previously gone unchallenged.

The Board's Agenda: Tax Risks
Speakers: Kevin Hindley, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand UK, Alistair Armstrong, Development Securities PLC, Olivier Vergniolle, Arsene Taxand France, Marc Sanders, VMW Taxand Netherlands
Taxanders covered tax residency, permanent establishment exposures and beneficial ownership issues in claiming relief under tax treaties. Alistair Armstrong, Head of Tax at a U.K.-multinational, Development Securities PLC, shared his practical experience of presenting at Board-level to achieve risk mitigation.

Getting Ahead of E-Commerce and the Cloud
Speaker: Albert Liguori, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US
Is Web commerce taxable anywhere? Using a presentation housed in the cloud, this multimedia session highlighted how to stay ahead when business occurs in the cloud. Through a dynamic series of video vignettes, Taxanders from around the globe explained how to deal with some of the tax issues that arise when clients deal with a technology that changes far faster than tax law.

The Evolution of Business Restructuring to Combat Reputational Attack
Speakers: Kent Wisner, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US, Julie Diehl, Alvarez & Marsal, Tom MacFarlane, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand UK
Tax planning with commercial purpose is not dead. This session took our conference delegates on a journey through the tax profile of multinationals. From the evolution of supply chain optimisation to sourcing, marketing and distribution, covering tax planning, business process improvement, and intangible value creation and development, Taxanders addressed why recent media coverage and political debate must be put into proper context.

Tax Controversy: Building a Watertight Defense
Speakers: Stephen Labrum, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand UK, Alain Recoules, Arsene Taxand France, Angel Calleja, Garrigues Taxand Spain
As governments worldwide seek to maximise tax revenue, controversy risk continues to escalate. Building directly on the case studies in the previous session, this discussion provided practical guidance to deliver effective defense strategies.

The Importance of VAT Today and in the Future
Speaker: Richard Baxter, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand UK
Taxand’s global indirect tax team leader commented on the importance of VAT for the tax leader of the organisation. The session covered the economic background to the world’s VAT systems, the differences between countries which are commercially significant, the key areas of risk and opportunity and considered the debate about the possibility of a U.S. VAT and what that might mean for businesses worldwide if it were ever to be implemented.

Workshop: Demystifying Tax Technology 
Clients: Chemtura and Immofinanz 
Taxand Tax Technology Speakers: Richard Baxter, Michael Stenftenagel, Stewart Nivison, Jose Lamela, Christoph Kromer, Andrew Burman, John Curry 
In the 21st century, every tax professional needs to understand how IT can help them and how it can hurt them. This breakout session, which was run as a client workshop, aimed to demystify the tax technology landscape. With the help of clients who have been through significant changes in their international tax technology environments, leaders of the Taxand Global Technology practice addressed the basics that everyone needs to know, what makes a tax technology project work, the pitfalls for the unwary and the benefits of getting it right first time.

Closing Remarks
Robert N. Lowe, CEO, Alvarez & Marsal Taxand US,  host of our Taxand Global Conference 2013, and Frederic Donnedieu, Chairman, Taxand, thanked our clients and Taxanders for joining us in the Big Apple for yet another successful conference and bid farewell until April 2014 – when our conference will be held in … SHANGHAI !

General Queries
If you would like to know more about any of these topics please contact our Taxand speakers or your nearest Taxand advisor. If you would like to be considered for an exclusive invitation to our global conference next year in Shanghai or have any general queries your Taxand contact is:

Abbie Tarren
COO
Taxand
T. +44 20 7715 5243
E. atarren@taxand.com

Taxand Global Conference 2012 > Maximising Value

Delegate pack of all presentations
Individual plenary session presentations and films
Client Talk Film
Gala Dinner Film
Photo Album
Conference Programme

Hosted by Taxand Spain, this year's Taxand Global Conference took place at the Eurostars Hotel in Madrid from the 25th to 27th April and brought together multinational clients and tax advisors from around the world to discuss topical tax issues, share expertise and enhance relationships. A blend of nearly 600 Taxand clients and Taxanders from almost 50 countries joined us this year.

Taking teaming with our clients to a new level in 2012 we asked them to join us on the conference platform for each of our plenary sessions to give their views on how they have coped with the changing tax environment in these difficult times.

Keynotes on the economy by José Juan Ruiz, Director of Analysis & Strategy, Latam, Banco Santander and policy reform by Paulo Nuncio, the Secretary of State for Portugal and Tim Wach, Taxand Canada, set the context for a sequence of sessions sharing how to deal with real and potential changes in tax systems, managing tax risk in planning, identifying opportunities to maximise tax attributes, developing enhanced relationships with tax authorities and examining pitfalls and opportunities when investing in emerging markets.

The key message was: as economies worldwide continue to drive efficiencies, whether you’re consolidating, acquiring or streamlining, value can be maximised through strategic tax optimisation.

To experience or revisit the conference plenaries and networking events from the Taxand Expo and Casino to the Welcome Reception and the Gala dinner at the Palacio de Cibeles just read our special edition Taxand’s Take and click on the links above and below.

Key pointers from the conference included:

  • Regularly review your tax strategy – you need to be more agile and flexible to maximise value
  • Plan for changes to PE rules worldwide and VAT “establishment rules” in Europe
  • Tax planning needs real substance – be ready to invest time and effort and be prepared to go into battle for tax planning to succeed
  • Be transparent about your tax planning to avoid corporate reputational issues in the face of increasing public interest
  • Prepare for compliance and regulatory burden to continue to grow by keeping abreast of change
  • Remember that business operations come first and tax strategies implemented must align with your strategic objectives
  • Consider how to effectively maximise cash repatriation and balance your bottom line
  • Ensure your accounting systems can cope with supply chain planning to maximise VAT cash flow, customs management and compensation plans to avoid leakage, increase profitability and competitiveness
  • Consider working with the tax authorities to reach agreements and minimise extended audits in line with the new OECD recommendations
  • Emerging markets hold many investment and expansion opportunities but remember to review your deal structures, taxation of sale, seller’s conditions and valuation issues carefully before proceeding

Taxand’s Take

Find our all you need to know about our annual global conference in Madrid, including key content, films, photos and much more in our Taxand’s Take newsletter

At our Taxand Global Conference 2012 we shared case studies and personal experiences to help clients picture how to apply Taxand's expertise to your businesses. Over 100 pre-booked bespoke client meetings were arranged throughout the conference to discuss specific advisory areas and jurisdictions of interest. Client feedback from the event has been excellent with many quoting the Taxand Global Conference 2012 as the best yet! View our Client Talk Film here to see what clients were saying at the event.

Plenary session presentations and films

To review the full presentations, videos sharing introductions and conclusions and for Taxander contact details select the purple links below to download what you seek. View the plenary session descriptions

Please note with due respect Keynote slides are only available directly from external speakers.

Download the full delegate pack containing the full suite of conference presentations, case studies and speaker details

Media Commentary

Key comments were issued to the media over the two days of our Taxand global conference:

Taxand’s Take Newsletter May 2012

  • Read our special edition Taxand’s Take newsletter, dedicated to the Taxand Global Conference
  • Register for future issues of our global newsletter, Taxand’s Take

Revisit our Taxand Global Conference Programme

Plenary Session Descriptions

Welcome presentation
Ricardo Gomez, Joint Managing Partner, and Vicente Bootello, Partner, Garrigues, Taxand Spain and Hosts of our Taxand Global Conference 2012 welcomed nearly 600 delegates to our twelfth global conference.

Plenary I - Dealing with Changing Tax Systems Worldwide
Speakers: Richard Baxter, UK (Ch); John Buchanan, Imperial Tobacco; Dale Hill, Canada; Gokul Chaudhri, India; Gonzalo Gallardo, Spain
The opening plenary session of Taxand’s Global Conference 2012 discussed the increasing impact of governments driving global efficiencies to cut the costs of collection whilst striving to boost revenues. The burden of which is falling on large international groups. This is a challenging environment in which multinationals and indeed governments have to operate. Together with key Taxand client John Buchanan, Imperial Tobacco, Taxanders from around the globe shared how multinationals can proactively drive value from these challenges.

Plenary II - Managing Risk in Uncertain Times
Speakers: Kent Wisner, US (Ch); Eve Lominac, Bayview Asset Management; Arne Riis, Denmark; Christoph Kromer, Germany; Marc Sanders, Netherlands; Luis Guerreiro, Spain
Managing risk in a climate which combines increased scrutiny from tax authorities, personal liability issues for Boards of Directors, the need to protect corporate reputation, as well as to demonstrate economic substance, is an ongoing challenge. In this session we zoomed in on holding company structures in Europe to share key pitfalls to avoid. Particular insights from recent cases in Denmark, Germany, Netherlands and Spain were exemplified alongside client Eve Lominac from  Bayview Asset Management’s views to deliver a practical view on how to maximise value and manage risk.

Plenary III – Maximising Tax Attributes To Achieve Competitiveness
Speakers: Ramon Lopez, Global Transfer Pricing (Ch); Nacho Box, Hewlett Packard; Henk Hop, Global VAT Compliance, Marc Brocardi, Global Customs, Jaime Sol, Global Compensation
Achieving competitiveness through maximising the tax attributes of your operational model is no mean feat. Using an international supply chain model as a basis for discussion our multidisciplinary team of global Taxand service line leaders for VAT, transfer pricing and compensation joined Taxand client, Nacho Box, Hewlett Packard to present a coordinated approach to maximise value.

Keynote II – Changing Tax Policy: A Global Perspective*
Speakers: Tim Wach, Canada; Paulo Nuncio, Secretário de Estado dos Assuntos Fiscais, Government of Portugal
Tax planning for multinationals requires an understanding of how tax laws are likely to develop in the short to medium term. This includes having an understanding of government priorities and perspectives and how they are likely to affect the development of tax policy, especially in a context of economic crisis. Many Taxanders worldwide are key advisors to government panels, agencies and departments on tax reform and policy, and many Taxanders have been seconded to government and been at the forefront of tax reform. This plenary shared these experiences and focused on key pointers for multinationals to consider.
* Please note with due respect Keynote slides are only available directly from external speakers.

Plenary IV – Enhancing Relationships with Tax Authorities
Speakers: Ricardo Gomez, Spain (Ch) & Luis Jones, Head of Spanish Tax Auditors Office
Tax Authorities worldwide face a difficult dilemma. On the one hand they are enforcing systems designed to generate revenue. On the other, they are working in an environment where their governments are also seeking to incentivise inward investment. Better relationships are sought with multinationals yet the taxpayer is wary of scrutiny. This lively discussion focused on how multinationals can develop enhanced relationships with tax authorities.

Plenary V – Emerging Market Opportunities
Speakers: Daniel Armesto, Spain (Ch); Jose Luis Migoya, Iberdrola; Jonathan Wu, China; Mukesh Butani, India
As the BRICs’ economic growth continues to outpace western financial centres, more and more investors are considering these markets as operational hubs. Many transactions create tax opportunities that companies overlook in the rush to get the deal done. In this plenary, we showcased case studies to provide practical guidance for multinationals with an eye on these markets. Iberdrola’s recent acquisition of an energy company in Brazil showcased an investor view and Taxanders from China and India shared further case studies from an advisory perspective.

Taxand Expo
Remaining true to tradition the Taxand Expo took place on Thursday afternoon at the Taxand Global Conference 2012. Attended by nearly 600 Taxanders and clients from around the world, delegates enjoyed networking with each other in one room. For entertainment there was the opportunity to test our knowledge at our wine casino, experience and sample traditional Iberico ham cutting whilst enjoying a delicious variety of Spanish Tapas and complementary drinks from the bar all to a background of Flamenco chillout music.

General Queries
If you would like to know more about any of these topics please contact our Taxand speakers or your nearest Taxand advisor. If you would like to be considered for an exclusive invitation to our global conference next year in New York or have any general queries your Taxand contact is:

Abigail Tarren
COO
Taxand
T. +44 20 7715 5243
E. atarren@taxand.com

Read on to find out more about our Taxand Global Conference 2011 in Paris:

Taxand Global Conference 2011 > Tax on the Board Agenda
Click here to view delegate pack of presentations 
Click here to view individual plenary session presentations and videos
Click here to view Client Talk Film
Click here to view Photo Album

Hosted by Taxand France, this year's Taxand Global Conference took place at the InterContinental Paris Le-Grand Hotel, in Paris from the 27th to 29th April. Nearly 200 Taxand clients attended alongside over 280 Taxanders. The key message from clients and Taxanders alike this year was: tax needs to be firmly placed on the Board’s agenda. As governments worldwide use tax rates and scrutiny to manage the impact of the global economic meltdown, tax implications must be considered before making any commercial decisions. Tax professionals need to be business advisors as well as tax advisors to help Boards deliver shareholder return at the same time as managing the impact of this change. Taxand will do our utmost to influence this shift in the year ahead.  

Key pointers from the conference included:

  • regularly review your tax strategy to accommodate fluctuating tax rates
  • proving substance has to be your go forward mantra to combat increased legislation and anti-avoidance enforcement
  • consider the protection of your corporate reputation as a subset of tax risk and bring PR competency into your tax team to cope with “moralising” public and media
  • avoid common pitfalls at the outset of any international tax structuring project; share knowledge and use “what if” planning to prepare too
  • consider appointing a Project Practice Director to minimise risk and “unknown unknowns”
  • spend some time thinking about how your tax strategies can be more aligned with your company’s strategic direction; the time is now
  • work on your relationships with tax authorities – collaboration is key
  • as part of your M&A strategic planning consider tax implications before making any moves: global acquisition means global tax structuring
  • carefully review your Holdco management and control infrastructures to demonstrate substance
  • embrace technological solutions to deal with increased scrutiny


Taxand The CFO – Taxand Global Survey 2011

Anecdotes and case studies were also shared to help clients picture how to apply Taxand's experience to their businesses. Serge Grudzinski, Humour Consulting Group and European Partners from Accuracy, both delivered engaging keynote speeches identifying a comic take on “Practical & Innovative Worldwide Tax Strategies for the Future” and a research driven view on “M&A Trends & Market Moves Across Europe” respectively.

Over 50 bespoke client meetings were also arranged throughout the conference to discuss specific areas and jurisdictions of interest. 

Client feedback from the event has been excellent with many quoting the Taxand Global Conference 2011 as the best yet! View our Client Talk Film here to see what clients were saying at the event.

Plenary session presentations and videos

To review the full presentations, videos sharing introductions and conclusions and for Taxander contact details select the purple links below to download what you seek. View plenary session descriptions here.

  • Plenary Session I: Changing Times - Changing Tax Environment
    Presentation            Video
  • Plenary Session II: International Tax Structuring That Works; Implementation Pitfalls to Avoid
    Presentation            Video
  • Plenary Session III: Multinationals Under Fire - Improving Relationships with Tax Authorities Worldwide
    Presentation            Video
  • Plenary Session IV: M&A Global Transactions - New Considerations Under Scrutiny
    Presentation            Video 
  • Keynote II: M&A Trends & Market Moves Across Europe
    Presentation     
  • Plenary Session V: Taxand the CFO: Taxand Global Survey 2011
    Presentation            Video     
  • Client Panel Discussion
    Presentation

Full delegate pack

View the full suite of conference presentations, case studies and speaker details here.


Media Commentary

Key comments were issued to the media over the two days of the conference:

Taxand’s Take Newsletter May 2011

Conference agenda
Revisit the conference agenda here.

Plenary Session Descriptions


Welcome presentation

Frederic Donnedieu, Taxand Chairman and Host of our Taxand Global Conference 2011 welcomed nearly 500 delegates to our eleventh annual global conference.

Plenary Session I: Changing Times - Changing Tax Environment

Speakers: Keith O’Donnell, Luxembourg; Gokul Chaudhri, India; Ernie Perez, US; Jaime Sol, Spain; Kevin Wang, China;
The opening plenary session of Taxand’s Global Conference 2011 outlined Taxand’s firm belief that it’s not just tax rates and systems that have changed worldwide to stimulate economic growth, attitudes and behaviour have shifted too. This session focused on the practical implications of these changes for multinationals: dealing with the broadening of tax bases, managing tighter CFC controls, coping with beneficial ownership audits and the new reputational threat of public protests.

Plenary Session II: International Tax Structuring That Works; Implementation Pitfalls to Avoid

Speakers: Richard Baxter, UK; Rutger Hafkenscheid, Netherlands; Christoph Kromer, Germany; Albert Liguori, US
Achieving tax optimisation in global tax projects is a challenge. Determining what can be done and then making sure implementation is thorough and durable is a constant headache for global tax directors. During this session Taxanders from around the world used a number of practical case studies to share insights into how to avoid implementation pitfalls and deliver international tax structures and systems that make tangible, commercial sense.

Plenary Session III: Multinationals Under Fire - Improving Relationships with Tax Authorities Worldwide

Speakers: Angel Calleja, Spain; Jonathan Leigh Pemberton, OECD, Tax Administration Division; Arthur Pleijsier, Medtronic, Global Tax Director
The pressure on tax authorities worldwide to increase revenue has put multinationals in the firing line. Harsher audits, more anti-avoidance legislation and severe transfer pricing assessments have been some of the knock-on effects. Through this session involving the OECD and a multinational CFO, Taxand provided an overview of the new model the OECD are developing to improve relationships with tax authorities and how multinationals can prepare for its implementation.

Plenary Session IV: M&A Global Transactions - New Considerations Under Scrutiny

Speakers: Ian Fleming, UK; Laurent Partouche, France; Abhishek Goenka, India; Meral Ucar, Turkey
Centred around one of the biggest global acquisitions and subsequent carve out transactions of late, this session provided multinationals with new insights into dealing with the increased scrutiny of tax authorities worldwide. A global view of the key tax issues surrounding the closing of a joint venture was provided with a particular focus on the impact of Vodafone case law in India.

Keynote II: M&A Trends & Market Moves Across Europe

European partners, Accuracy
An interactive session led by Accuracy, the corporate financial consultants provided a thought-provoking analysis of the latest key M&A trends and moves across Europe.

Plenary Session V: Taxand the CFO: Taxand Global Survey 2011

Speakers: Frederic Donnedieu, Ch; Mukesh Butani, India; Ernie Perez, US; Nicolas Jacquot, France

Our first Taxand Global Survey conducted with an exclusive selection of our large multinational clients located across the Americas, Europe and Asia, examined the pressing tax challenges affecting businesses today.

Client Panel Discussion

A panel of key Taxand clients and Taxand moderators had a lively debate around topical issues worldwide. The changing role of the tax function; the need to cooperate further with authorities at the same time as generating cash within the business; the firm placement of tax on the Board agenda and the difficulty of keeping up with ever-changing legislation worldwide were some of the areas covered.

Taxand’s Take Newsletter May 2011


Taxand Expo

In true tradition the Taxand Global Expo took place at the Taxand Global Conference 2011. 48 countries showcased their expertise with the Taxand Netherlands team taking part in a cycle challenge to raise money for the victims of the Japan earthquake.

Read more on the cycle challenge here 

General Queries

If you would like to know more about any of these topics please contact our Taxand speakers or your nearest Taxand advisor. If you would like to be considered for an exclusive invitation to our global conference next year or have any general queries your Taxand contact is:

Abigail Tarren
Taxand COO
T. +44 20 7715 5243
E. atarren@taxand.com


For the Taxand Global Conference 2010 > A New Era in Tax Planning delegate pack please click here

For the Taxand Global Conference 2009 > Cash is King delegate pack please click here

Taxand around the world

Taxand advisors regularly attend the world's major tax and financial conferences, symposia and other events as well as coming together with clients at our annual global conference. Find out more about this and where we'll be at events regionally and locally here.


Taxand Global Conference 2010 > A New Era in Tax Planning
Click here for the delegate pack

The opening plenary session of Taxand’s Global Conference 2010 outlined Taxand’s firm belief that the industry is facing a new era in tax planning. Good tax governance is a must as governments worldwide look to tax to claw-back monumental deficits. The rise in scrutiny and its implications for multinationals was a recurring theme as Taxanders from around the world presented a global view of the key tax issues facing clients today and in the future.

Hosted by Luther, Taxand Germany, this year's Taxand Global Conference took place at the Grand Hyatt in Berlin, from the 14th to the 16th April. Over 125 global Taxand clients attended alongside 250 Taxanders, to present and participate in a range of sessions focused on how to handle complex tax issues as we move into a new age of cooperation and transparency.

Key pointers from the conference included:

  • follow 2 test levels for your tax planning: economic substance and business purpose
  • tax mitigation is a duty
  • avoid more than ever black listed countries
  • take a regional / jurisdictional approach as one-size fits all cannot work
  • make sure your internal tax governance procedures are robust
  • focus on enhancing your relationships with the tax authorities
  • always think long term when undertaking tax planning
  • understand how to manage indirect tax risk and maximise opportunity
  • seek to identify the operational and technological root causes of VAT compliance problems and fix them
  • define the business case and direction to take vis-a-vis indirect taxes
  • transfer pricing planning is essential to enhance the bottom line
  • transfer pricing delivers short and long term benefits as long as there is business motive
  • don’t worry about transfer pricing disputes as provided there is adequate documentation, technical and legal grounds, they can be defended
  • how to strengthen the balance sheet through the waiver of debts; debt for equity swaps and debt acquisition
  • how to maximise the deductibility of financing costs
  • how to optimise NOLs in an M&A context

Anecdotes and case studies were also shared to help clients picture how to apply Taxand's experience to their businesses. Dr. Ralph Solveen delivered a stirring keynote speech assessing the soaring public debt and questioning whether or not inflation is around the corner.

All of the materials are downloadable here.

Representatives from the International Tax Review -  the only truly global publication dedicated to technical tax news - also attended the event to present some of the 20 awards Taxand won in 2009, recognising the quality of our international tax advice in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Client feedback from the event has been excellent and many exceptional travel stories by clients and Taxanders alike have been shared as delegates fought the volcanic ash cloud emanating from Iceland to get home. This year’s Taxand global conference will not be forgotten in a hurry as tax issues continue to be hot in the face of scrutiny and travel stories reach unimaginable levels of absurdity!

The 2011 Taxand Global Conference will be held in Paris. Watch this space for further details.

To pick up your conference pointers, review the full presentations and for Taxander contact details select the purple links to download what you seek:

Plenary Session I - Tax Planning and its Limits in the Current Climate
Plenary Session II - The Impact of Indirect Tax Change Worldwide
Plenary Session III - Using Transfer Pricing to Plan Ahead
Keynote Speech - Increase in Public Debt - Is Inflation around the Corner?
Plenary Session IV - M&A Structuring in a Challenging Environment
Client Panel Discussion - How New Political Pressure is Affecting Multinationals' Tax Strategies

Full delegate pack
View all presentations, case studies and speaker details here.

Conference agenda
Revisit the conference agenda and review the synopses for each plenary session here.
Bespoke client meetings were also arranged throughout the conference to discuss specific areas and jurisdictions of interest. Download the full Taxand and client meeting agenda here.

Welcome presentation
Ulrich Siegemund: Host & head of Tax of Luther, Taxand Germany. Our host welcomed nearly 400 delegates to our tenth annual global conference and played the Taxand film sharing our story and Vision for the future in the year of our fifth birthday: 'Our Taxand Story.' 

Plenary Session I –  Tax Planning and its Limits in the Current Climate
Chair: Ricardo Gómez, Spain
Mukesh Butani, India; Ernie Perez, US; Olivier Vergniolle, France
Helping you understand the current framework of anti-abuse measures in place in key jurisdictions; hot topics for tax inspectors and the Courts; and providing best practice guidance as well as recommendations to achieving tax transparency.

Plenary Session II – The Impact of Indirect Tax Change Worldwide
Chair: Laurent Grencon, Luxemburg
Rajeev Dimri, India; Henk Hop, Belgium; Mark McCormick, US
For insights into the latest indirect tax changes in Europe, Asia and the Americas and their implications for multinationals in addition to the key considerations for the future to achieve compliance and prepare for further VAT hikes.
Find out more about our Taxand global indirect tax team and services here.

Plenary Session III – Using Transfer Pricing to Plan Ahead
Chair: Antoine Glaize, France
Mukesh Butani, India; Manuel Candal, Venezuela; Ramon Lopez de Haro, Spain; Dale Hill, Canada; Shiv Mahalingham, UK, Mike Murphy, US, Friedhelm Stock, Germany; Dennis Xu, China
Presenting the main transfer pricing techniques across 10 jurisdictions; allaying fears re transfer pricing disputes and how to use transfer pricing to improve your bottom line.
Find out more about our Taxand global transfer pricing tax team and services here.

Keynote Speech – Increase in Public Debt - Is Inflation around the Corner?
Dr. Ralph Solveen, Dep. Head of Economic Research, Commerzbank AG
For economic research reviewing rising public debt and the threat of inflation which could affect us all.

Plenary Session IV – M&A Structuring in a Challenging Environment
Dealing with the tax challenges derived from refinancing pre-crisis high priced operations; analysing new tax trends in connection with the deduction of financing costs and optimising tax losses in an acquisition are discussed in this session, as well as the latest issues and opportunities to consider in the countries where M&A deals are increasing.
Chair: Albert Collado, Spain
Denis Andres, France; Ian Fleming, UK; Martin Williams, USA
Find out more about Taxand global transaction tax team and services here.

Client Panel Discussion – How New Political Pressure is Affecting Multinationals' Tax Strategies
Three Taxand global clients joined Taxand moderators to discuss how multinationals are reviewing tax strategies across the globe in face of mounting political pressure. The changing role of the tax function; the need to cooperate further with authorities at the same time as generating cash within the business; the firm placement of tax on the Board agenda as governance increases and the difficulty of keeping up with ever-changing legislation worldwide were some of the issues covered.

Key comments were issued to the media over the two days of the conference visit www.taxand.com/media to find out more.

General Queries
If you would like to know more about any of these topics please contact our Taxand speakers or your nearest Taxand advisor. If you would like to be considered for an exclusive invitation to our global conference in Paris next year or have any general queries your Taxand contact is:

Abigail Tarren
T. +44 20 7715 5243
E. atarren@taxand.com

For the Taxand Global Conference 2009 > Cash is King delegate pack please click here.

Taxand Global Conference 2009 > Cash is King
Click here for the delegate pack

In his keynote speech at the Taxand 2009 Global Conference, Tony Alvarez advised delegates that in the current economic climate,"Cash Is King".  This perspective was a recurring theme as Taxanders from around the world presented a global view of the key tax issues facing multinational clients today and in the future.

Hosted by Alvarez and Marsal Taxand LLC, Taxand's US member, this year's Taxand Global Conference took place at The Westin Diplomat Hotel in Miami, Florida from the 18th to the 20th February. Over 200 Taxand delegates attended alongside more than 60 global Taxand clients to deliver and contribute to a wealth of sessions focussed on making the most of the economic downturn.

Key pointers from the conference included how to:

  • help our clients generate more cash by managing tax effective supply chain management
  • leverage sophisticated advice to deliver tax efficient operations
  • prepare for the impact of the OECD business restructuring paper
  • structure acquisitions in a cash efficient manner
  • identify refund opportunities
  • realise value from depreciating real estate through distressed asset investment or divestment
  • organise the model tax department of the future
  • restructure the debt of your global operations
  • leverage from changes anticipated in the tax audit arena
  • achieve global tax efficiencies through benefiting from new contract manufacturing regulations

Anecdotes, case studies and surveys carried out across Taxand's 47 member countries were also shared to help clients picture how to apply Taxand's experience to their businesses. All of the materials are downloadable here.

Representatives from the International Tax Review, an influential Euromoney publication, also attended the event to present three newcomer awards given in 2008, recognising the quality of our international tax advice in the Americas, Asia and Europe.

Client feedback from the event has been outstanding. One particular client comment really hit home:

                "I would like to thank you [Taxand] on behalf of all of the tax professionals
                 in industry for providing us with an alternative for high quality tax advice".

The 2010 Taxand Global Conference will be held in Berlin. Watch this space for further details.

Delegate Pack 

To pick up your conference pointers, review the full findings of worldwide surveys, view case studies presented on the day and for Taxander contact details select the purple words to download what you seek:

Plenary Session I - Supply Chain Management: Achieving Tax Efficiencies
Plenary Session II - Getting The Deal Done: A Global Guide to Transaction Tax Considerations
Keynote Speech - The Global Economic Downturn
Plenary Session III - Real Estate Tax: Profiting in a Crisis
Plenary Session IV - Emerging Global Tax Issues: A Look Ahead
Plenary Session V - New Contract Manufacturing Regulations: A gentle breeze blowing in the right direction

Full delegate pack
View all presentations, case studies and speaker details here.

Agenda
Revisit the agenda and review the synopses for each plenary session here. 

Welcome presentation
Bob Lowe: Host & CEO of Alvarez & Marsal Taxand LLC, Taxand US
For the conference context, the Taxand story and more ...

Plenary Session I - Supply Chain Management: Achieving Tax Efficiencies
Chair: Shiv Mahalingham, UK
Mike Murphy, US; Laurent Grençon, Luxembourg; Albert Liguori, US; Ramon Lopez de Haro, Spain; Mukesh Butani, India
How to help our clients generate more cash by managing tax effective supply chain management; instigate a repatriation strategy; learn more about the implications of US cost sharing regulations; prepare for the impact of the OECD business restructuring paper and more including detailed case studies.
Find out more about our Taxand global transfer pricing and indirect tax teams and services here.

Plenary Session II - Getting The Deal Done: A Global Guide to Transaction Tax Considerations
Chair: Kevin Hindley, UK
Denis Andres, France; Martin Williams, US; Dennis Xu, China
How to structure acquisitions in a cash efficient manner; restructure financing and planning arrangements to yield efficiencies and collect your tax due diligence check list to guide you through the key considerations surrounding all of your transactions.
Find out more about our Taxand global transaction tax services here and locate your nearest Taxand transaction tax advisor here.  

Keynote Speech - The Global Economic Downturn
Tony Alvarez II, Alvarez & Marsal LLC
An inspiring speech covering how we got to today's economic reality and its implications. Put simply, in line with our conference theme, Cash is King. Liquidity is determining the amount of time and options companies have to acquire, restructure and improve operating performance. "He who has the gold, makes the rules". Never was it truer than in this business environment. And it will get worse before it gets better. But buying opportunities will exist and the economic cycle will eventually move to good times. In the meantime Taxand is positioned to provide the value that its clients seek.

Plenary Session III - Real Estate Tax: Profiting in a Crisis
Chair: Keith O'Donnell, Luxembourg
Pär Sundberg, Sweden; Vince Imerti, Canada; Pedro Saavedra, Spain; Frank Walker, US
How to achieve value from depreciating real estate through distressed asset investment or divestment; take advantage of historically low valuations; structure your investments to lower tax levels and review anecdotes from our Taxand global real estate tax team.
Find our more about our Taxand global real estate tax services here and locate your nearest Taxand real estate tax advisor here.

Plenary Session IV - Emerging Global Tax Issues: A Look Ahead
Chair: Tim Wach, Canada
Richard Baxter, UK; Pedro Fernandez, Spain; Mukesh Butani, India
How to organise the model tax department of the future; restructure restructure the debt of your global operations and leverage from changes anticipated in the tax audit arena. Also provided exclusively here, our Taxand global debt restructuring survey findings delivering a country by country view of the key issues surrounding the application of income tax, indirect tax and stamp in a debt restructuring context.

Plenary Session V - New Contract Manufacturing Regulations: A gentle breeze blowing in the right direction
Chair: Ernie Perez, US
Juan Carlos Ferrucho, US
How to achieve global tax efficiencies through benefiting from new contract manufacturing regulations. Practical guidelines for US multinationals including an overview of US taxation of controlled foreign corporations; new non-physical definition of manufacturing; new branch rules and examples of the application of the new rules.

Client Panel Discussion
Four Taxand global clients joined two Taxand moderators - Frédéric Donnedieu de Vabres, Taxand Chairman and Bob Lowe, US - to discuss the key challenges and opportunities multinationals face today and in particular their expectations from tax advisors and client service requirements. This discussion was an exclusive feature of the day for attendees.

General Queries
If you would like to know more about any of these topics please contact our Taxand speakers or your nearest Taxand advisor. If you would like to be considered for an exclusive invitation to our global conference in Berlin next year or have any general queries your Taxand contact is:

Abigail Tarren
T. +44 20 7715 5243
E. atarren@taxand.com