AGN international tax planning New Orleans October 2012

AGN international tax planning New Orleans- October 2012

Today’s speakers 1 Name: Jeroen in ‘t Hout Title: International tax partner Company Daamen & van Sluis (Rotterdam) / the Netherlands Mobile: + 31 (0) 6 317 81 910 E-mail: jinthout@daasluis. nl

Today’s agenda 1. Corporate income tax planning 2. Personal income tax planning 3. Asset protection and confidentiality structures 2

Corporate income tax planning (also applicable for personal income tax optimization) 3

Corporate income tax planning 1. Principles of tax planning 2. Examples of international tax structures / explanation principles 4

Principles of tax planning 1. Credit position / reduction of withholding tax 2. Deferral of income in case of country with credit system and double taxation treaty, such as US 3. Transferring assets, functions or risks to low tax entities 4. Using hybrid structures (hybrid instruments, hybrid entities) 5. Anticipating exit scenario 6. Beneficial ownership 5

Corporate income tax planning 1. Principles of tax planning 2. Examples of international tax structures / explanation principles 6

Example credit position / reduction of withholding tax Owner Loan / sub-license Dividend Holdco Dividend Loan / license Foreign Co 1 Foreign Co 2 Foreign Co 3 Reduction of withholding tax rates: § Possibility to reduce local withholding tax on dividends, interests and royalties; § Holdco country concluded tax treaties in which the withholding tax rate is reduced to a very low percentage; § By interposing a holding, finance and licensing company these tax treaties can be used by parent companies as well; § Beneficial ownership needs to be secured 7

Example deferral of income Owner holdco Dividend Loans / investments Foreign Co 1 Foreign Co 2 Foreign Co 3 Holding company-parking dividends/deferral of upstream dividends: § Possibility to reinvest in affiliates/share capital increase; § EU holdco (such as Dutch holdco) receives dividends from (EU) subsidiaries tax exempt; § Instead of distributing to owner, Holdco increases interests in participations, makes new investments or loans (in combination with for instance a cash pool arrangement or treasury function). 8

Example transferring assets to a tax haven Considerations: US Parent § Exit tax (transfer assets as from the beginning, call option, national grid within EU); § Direct ownership, US Subpart-F regulations, planning possible in combination with deferral structure (by using a foreign holding company) holding Co Tax haven Owning Ll assets 9 § Transfer pricing of income relating to assets (for instance royalty, lease). Combination with holding structure possible to reduce withholding taxes)

Example transferring functions and risks to tax haven (1) Current Model Central Entrepreneur Model Value Add allocation Third party Suppliers Manufacturing Sites Regional Management Costs Local Sales Offices Regional Management Costs Manufacturing Central Entrepreneur Local Sales Offices Stripped Risk Allocation of profit to a low taxed principal / central entrepeneur Profit SOs Profit Mfg. Profit CE Tax SOs Tax Mfg. Profit SOs Profit Mfg. Tax savings Tax CE Tax SOs Tax Mfg. Requirement: functions and risks should be transferred to the principal (see next slide) 10

Example transferring functions and risks to tax haven (2) Functions and risks should be transferred to the low taxed principal / central enterpreneur (NL: excess profit is considered informal capital instead of taxable income): Traditional Manufacturing The manufacturer owns intangibles and manufactures product for its own risk and reward. buy materials Manufacturer sell finished goods Risks: • Inventory • Warranty • Intangibles • Capital Contract Manufacturing The manufacturer produces goods to order for and for the risk of the principal company. A contract manufacturer has less risk and earns a lower profit than a traditional manufacturer. buy materials Manufacturer sell finished goods Central Enterpreneur sell Distributor sell Customer 11 Distributor sell Customer Risks: • Capital • Working capital Risks • Inventory • Warranty • Intangibles • Working capital Consignment (toll) manufacturing A consignment manufacturer processes goods belonging to the principal company and never takes ownership. It assumes less risk and earns a lower return than a traditional manufacturer. Manufacturer processing Services Risks: • Capital service fee Risks • Inventory buy Central • Warranty materials Enterpreneur • Intangibles • Working capital sell Distributor sell Customer

Example using hybrid structures (hybrid instrument) Foreign Co • Loan is profit participating (so-called profit participating loan, short: PPL); • Different qualifications of this kind of loan are possible (debt vs equity); • For example: the Netherlands: loan qualifies as equity – remuneration tax exempt under participation exemption; • Foreign jurisdiction: loan remains true loan – remuneration tax deductible (subject to local rules); • Based on Dutch case law, a loan qualifies as equity if: i) interest depends on profits of the debtor; ii) the loan is subordinated to all other creditors; iii) there is no fixed repayment date or a repayment date of more than 50 years; • Not only possible with direct 5% shareholdings, but also with other group entities (i. e. sister entities provided a 33. 33% relation exists). PPL Dutch Co PPL Foreign Co 12

Example: hybrid profit participating loan Foreign Co Dutch Co Foreign Co Note: at least 33. 33% relation PPL Playing with alternatives at borrowing level, some examples: Malta / IRL Foreign Co Interest-free loan CPEC / PPL Lux Co Foreign Co loan 13 Dutch Co Foreign Co loan

Use of a hybrid entity, example CV/BV structure Considerations US INC (LP) Loan • CV is reversed hybrid entity, transparant for NL and a corporate for US tax purposes; • Interest deduction at level of operating companies (1); • Interest deduction at the level of US Inc (2); • No taxation of interest at level of CV; • US tax deferral for interest (and dividends) paid to CV Equity US LLC(GP) CV Loan Dutch Co Loan Op Co’s 14 Other • Reduction of WHT (tax treaties); • Dutch Co receives dividends tax free (participation exemption); • 0% available under tax treaty (specific situation) and LOB test • Real activities: hybrid provision art 24 -4 treaty

Example using hybrid structures (hybrid entity) Considerations US INC Loan BV 1 Equity • BV 1 is checked transparent, BV 2 is an entity for US tax purposes; • Interest deduction at level of operating companies (1); • Interest deduction at the level of US Inc (2) if financed through a loan; • No taxation of interest income in US (because BV 1 is disregarded for US purposes) and the income can be deferred indefinitely; • BV 1 and BV 2 form a fiscal unity, small spread reported as income; BV 2 Loan Op Co’s 15

Use of a hybrid treatment, example Lux/NL Luxembourg tax Loan US INC Equity Lux Loan • Luxembourg tax authorities should treat NL SPV as NL branch of Lux; • 95% of interest income is allocated to NL branch and thus exempt; • NL SPV should not be on EU parent subsidiary list (because in that case it follows home state qualification of the entity); • NL SPV should be a non-EU limited partnership Dutch tax NL SPV • NL SPV should be considered non-transparent (decree December 18, 2004); • NL SPV needs to fulfil art 8 b (substance requirements, minimum risk) Loan Group entities US tax • Manage Subpart F Group entities • 16 Interest deduction

Hybrid finance structure: Lux/NL structure Luxembourg tax Loan Foreign Co Equity Lux Loan • Luxembourg tax authorities should treat NL SPV as NL branch of Lux; • 95% of interest income is allocated to NL branch and thus exempt; • NL SPV should not be on EU parent subsidiary list (because in that case it follows home state qualification of the entity); • NL SPV should be a non-EU limited partnership. Dutch tax NL SPV • NL SPV should be considered non-transparent (decree December 18, 2004); • NL SPV needs to fulfil substance and minimum risk requirements; Loan Group entities 17 Group entities • Interest deduction

Example anticipating exit scenario Example: Foreign Co Dutch Co Foreign Co 18 • Interpose a company with exemption system; • Check all underlying participations as transparent entities; • Foreign companies can be transferred without US consequences; • Financing between companies can change; • Note currency exchange risks

Example beneficial ownership – important in structuring Important development • More and more important for international holding and finance companies (i. e. important international case law, 2011 OECD report); • Beneficial owner if (i) risk and (ii) full right to use [no agent, nominee or mere conduit]; • More and more tax treaties include limitation of benefits clause (i. e. US, Japan); • Domestic anti look through legislation (i. e. Germany, Spain) including beneficial ownership requirements; • Managing beneficial ownership and analysing local developments on a regular basis becomes relevant in order to stay in control; • Solutions (i. e. equity wall, at arm’s length remunerations); • Substance and risk increasingly important 19

Some additional examples of tax planning structures 20

Acquisition structures (1) Common features § Debt push down (local profit offset against interest deduction); § Use of local group tax regime; § Combination with financing structure; § Tax efficient repatriation, not within the scope of this presentation; § Bringing or adjusting the business model in line with tax model (i. e. principal structure, excess profit structure). 21

Example acquisition structure – Spain (2) Spanish tax US INC Equity Dutch tax group • Interest deduction at the level of the Spanish group; • No Spanish WHT on interest and dividend payments to the NL (note: anti treaty shopping rules) Dutch BV Dutch tax Dutch BV Loan • The SC is considered transparant and therefore the interest income is not taxable at the level of the Dutch BV; • Application of the participation exemption at the level of the Dutch fiscal unity in relation to the income from target Spanish tax group SC US tax Equity Target 22 • Dividends received from Dutch BV subject to tax in US unless it qualifies as a tax free return of capital (basis)

Example acquisition structure – Germany (3) German tax US INC • Equity Interest deduction at the level of Gmb. H & Co KG because the debt within Dutch tax group is linked with Gmb. H & Co KG; Dutch tax group Dutch tax Dutch BV • The KG is considered non-transparent for Dutch tax purposes; • No pick up of interest in the NL; • Dividends received from Gmb. H & Co KG are exempt as a result of the application of the participation exemption Loan Dutch BV Equity German tax group Gmb. H & Co KG Target 23 US tax Equity • Dividend received from Dutch BV subject to tax in US unless it qualifies as a tax free return of capital (basis)

Example acquisition structure – US (4) Benefit BV • Dutch tax BV • GP US should be considered transparent for Dutch tax purposes; • If no US substance is required, no US PE issue arises; • Dividends received from US target are exempt as a result of the application of the participation exemption US tax group US GP Bank loan Interest deduction in the Netherlands and the US (double dip); US target US tax 24 • GP US qualifies as an entity and can be head of the US tax group; • Interest on bank loan deductible (note: parent guarantee can create a problem) • O% WHT possible on dividend payments

Use of Dutch cooperative entity – changes as from 2012 Considerations Group • Dutch Coop frequently used because Coop is not subject to DWT; • Possibility to form a fiscal unity in the Netherlands; • As from 2012 legislation changed: anti-abuse measure, if Coop is solely interposed for DWT purposes than Coop becomes subject to DWT; • Coop needs a business function (i. e. Distribution, principal entity); • If shareholder (member) and subs are involved in entrepreneurial activities (combinations capital and labour) than Coop can have an intermediate holding function; • Coop structure does not work anymore if individuals ultimately hold Coop membership without entrepreneurial function in between; • Solution: Malta, Lux, Cyprus O% WHT Dutch tax group possible COOP BV dividends Group 25

Example leasing structure Dutch tax RF • RF contributes the ownership of machinery to Dutch BV. This Dutch BV rents the machinery to a Dutch subsidiary. The Dutch subsidiary has a branch office abroad (i. e. a project); • As a result of the fiscal unity (consolidation) the internal rent is eliminated; • For Dutch CIT purposes the fiscal unity has a branch / permanent establishment abroad. The profit of the branch is exempt in the NL. Equity Dutch tax group Dutch BV Rent Dutch BV Local tax Branch / project 26 • The rent between the two Dutch BV reduces the local profit as a deductible expense while the rent is not taxed in the NL.

Cash pool structure Owner Dutch holdco Loan Excess cash Foreign Co 1 Foreign Co 2 Loan Foreign Co 3 Purpose of cash management arrangement and some tax aspects: § More efficient use of cash worldwide. Excess cash can be pooled in a master account on a day-to-day basis. Consequently, the local interest burden on debit accounts can be decreases; § Reduction of interest withholding tax (WHT) under NL tax treaties and the Netherlands do not levy interest WHT; § Cost plus arrangement for the Dutch cash pool activities possible 27

Intangible property (IP) structure, an example: Dutch tax RF Contract NL (R&D) R&D • The Netherlands provide a payment discount for wage tax due with respect to employees involved in R&D activities provided requirements are met; • The R&D activity can be taxed for corporate income tax purposes on a cost-plus basis; • A further facility exists to obtain an additional deduction for non-labour R&D costs (so-called RDA). Affiliated group entity Malta / Ireland • Owner (Ireland/Malta) As a result of specific transfer pricing regulations in Ireland / Malta the royalty payments paid by group entities for the use of the IP are not taxed (an intermediate license company needs to be interposed in between) Group entities Group license payments 28 • Royalty payments for the use of the IP is deductible

Set-up foreign joint venture at Dutch level (example Brazil): Brazil tax Brazil partner NL partner CV NL joint venture BV Brazil business 29 • CV is considered an entity for Brazil purposes and transparent for NL purposes. Deferral structure whereby CV income is not taxed in NL and Brazil. Distribution of income from NL to Brazil can be deferred indefinitely. Dutch tax • Participation exemption; • Use of Dutch investment subsidy possible; • Matching credit for interest income possible (thus credit for interest withholding tax is deemed 20% in stead of actual paid interest)

General characteristics of the Netherlands (1) Considerations to invest in the Netherlands: § Excellent expat community facilities (schooling, tax rules, housing etc); § Multi-lingual, highly educated workforce available; § Highly developed and efficient infrastructure; § The Netherlands is a stable and reliable OECD member has a ditto tax regime; § Open, informal and co-operative governmental institutions (business minded approach) including red carpet treatment foreign investors; § EU member State; thus benefits from the EU treaty (Freedoms, no currency exchange risks, VAT, etc); § “Gateway to Europe” function: Amsterdam Schiphol Area and Rotterdam Harbour are top end locations for setting up logistics/distribution/transportation business through Europe; § Venlo area (South Netherlands) upcoming location for logistics/transportation (especially for South Europe/CE/Russia market); 3 0

General characteristics of the Netherlands (2) Considerations to use the Netherlands for international legal and tax structuring: The Netherlands is not on any black list of other countries as a tax haven country or from a transfer pricing point of view; § Business minded approach; § Extensive experience in setting-up international tax, legal and confidentiality structures; § A horizontal relation with the tax authorities is possible (for instance by concluding advance agreements with the tax authorities); § The Dutch tax authorities and advisors are aware and anticipate the developments in the international area (i. e. managing beneficial ownership, substance and risk requirements etc); § The Netherlands is internationally focused (historic), the Netherlands was one of the countries in the world that initiated international tax structures, the Dutch approach has been copied and is still being copied by many other European countries § Daamen & van Sluis and related business partners are available to assist setting-up your legal and tax structure and maintain the structure (accounting). 3 1

Short overview Dutch taxes (1) • Corporate income tax • Foreign business profits are exempt (0%) and local Dutch profits are taxed (20%-25%); • Value added tax (VAT) • A company performing business operations in the Netherlands is subject to VAT (21%) and needs a VAT registration. As a result the company is required to send invoices increased with VAT and on the other hand input VAT can be recovered; • Wage tax • Employers need to withhold wage tax for employees, which is an advance levy in respect of personal income tax; • Personal income tax • Individuals working in the Netherlands are subject to Dutch personal income tax (1. 85% - 52%). A possibility exists to obtain a 30% ruling foreign people assigned to the Netherlands (as a result 30% of the income is tax free). Salary split possibilities for directors of Dutch companies exist; • Capital tax • No capital tax exist in the Netherlands; 32

Short overview Dutch taxes (2) • Withholding taxes (WHT) • Interest and royalty payments: no WHT exists Dividend payments: 15% dividend WHT. Reduction to nil possible under (i) tax treaties, (ii) EU law, (iii) obtaining a specific exemption for contributed retained earnings or (iv) as a result of specific tax structuring (i. e. [a] based on 1994 case law, [b] emigration and subsequent liquidation or other possibilities); • Real estate transfer tax • 2% RET tax on transfer of private property (for living purposes); 6% RET tax on transfer of business property (exemptions are possible); • Insurance tax • Tax on insurance premiums or related services (9. 7%), increase to approx 21% expected in 2013; • Inheritance / gift tax is levied from individuals who are a residents of the Netherlands for Dutch tax purposes. Thus individuals who are a tax resident of RF under the NL/RF double tax treaty would not be subject to Dutch Inheritance / gift taxes if they would have a Dutch company; • Municipal property taxes • Dutch municipalities levy local tax with respect to ownership of real estate. 33

Personal income tax planning 34

Personal income tax planning 1. Principles of tax planning 2. Examples of tax structures 3 5

Principles of tax planning 1. Personal income tax planning 2. Improve the tax relation between the personal holding company (corporate tax) and the private owner (personal tax) 3. Migration to a tax friendly country 4. Inheritance tax planning 3 6

Personal income tax planning 1. Principles of tax planning 2. Examples of tax structures 3 7

Example personal income tax planning Salary split of wage: • Difference employee and director; • Physical presence at foreign board meetings preferred; • Contracts; • Social security position needs to be secured International joint ventures (i. e. global partnership laywers): • Partnerships profits allocated to various countries (low taxed); • Legal situation needs to be considered (extension of liability) 3 8

Example relation holding and private owner (1) Private owner Taxation private owner • Branch profit can be exempt under tax treaties provided various requirements are met (for instance real business activities) Local tax Branch (owning business) • Allocation of shares to a company; • Conversion / relation corporate income tax and personal income tax. In this respect we note that private owner is considered a foreign tax payer for personal income tax purposes and not for corporate income tax purposes. The exemption of foreign profits can be difference in the personal income tax (i. e. Luxembourg 50% in stead of 100% in case of corporate income tax payer) • Alternatively the activities of the group can be preformed through the branch (no separate legal entities) Group 39

Example relation holding and private owner (2) Private owner Holding $$ Group 40 Possibilies • Special tax regime for holding possible (i. e. Netherlands) • Migrate holding to a different low taxed country. Consider exit taxation

Example migration of private owner Private owner Holding $$ Group 41 Possibilies • Migrate private owner to a different low taxed country; • Consider exit taxation; • Consider dividend withholding tax after migration. In order to anticipate this, consider migration of holding as well

Example consider inheritance tax planning Family Private owner Holding Group 42 Possibilies • In particular in case the assets exit of active business operation transfer of the ownership to the family can be considered; • This is possible if facility in this respect exists; • Structure can be set-up that legal ownership and decisive power remains at private owner (for instance by using a specific foundation for this purpose).

Introduce tax exempt Dutch holding vehicle (VBI) Possibilies Private owner • Normally income of a holding company is subject to 20%-25% corporate income tax; • In addition at private owner level 25% personal income tax is levied; • In case holding only holds portfolio investments the status of the holding can be converted from a taxed BV into a tax exempt BV (Exempt Investments Fund: in Dutch: “Vrijgestelde Beleggingsinstelling”, short VBI); • Thus corporate taxation at holding level is eliminated and only 25% personal income tax applies to profits of holding; • The reason to introduce the VBI was to compete against foreign tax regimes. However, VBI needs to fulfil various requirements and as a result a foreign holding could be preferred in certain situations. Holding $$ VBI 43

Migration of private owner Possibilies Private owner Holding $$ 44 • A private owner is due 25% personal income tax if he receives a dividend from the holding; • This personal income tax due can be recuded to a lower percentage by migrating to a different country (Cyprus, Netherlands Antilles, Switzerland, Austria); • Upon migration the Dutch tax authorities impose an assessment to preserve the right to tax the excess value of the shares in the BV held by the private owner. The assessment does not result in an immediate tax liability but will be realized if certain acts by the private owner are done (such as sale of shares etc). After a period of 10 years the assessments expires. Thus after 10 years the shares can be sold. Under tax treaties the right to tax the excess value may be limited (thus limiting the 10 years period). However, during the 10 years period the private owner is allowed to borrow money from BV or it is allowed that distributes 90% of its profits reserves; • Anticipate 15% Dutch dividend withholding tax and find ways to avoid it (i. e. migrate holding to Luxembourg and subsequently liquidate it)

Asset protection and confidentiality structures 45

Asset protection and confidentiality structures 1. Look for countries with international investment protection treaties in case of foreign investment. In case of countries like Africa and Latin America look for countries that had a colony in the past (Belgium, Spain ect); 2. Confidentially: structure are set-up in order to avoid that beneficial owners are known in public register and business can be traced to them (i. e. required in the market or for safety purposes). 46

Voting trust (in Dutch “Stichting Administratiekantoor”) Voting trust: § the shares in NV or BV are converted into depository receipts; RF individual § The depository receipts are held by a foundation (the voting trust) which is fully transparent for tax purposes; NL VT BV / NV Business owned by RF individual 47 § the person holding the depository receipts is not registered with the trade register. In the deed of foundation it can be arranged that the depository receipts can be transferred through a private contract (thus without notary even for BV receipts); § only the management of the voting trust is registered with the trade register and could consist of an independent Dutch trust office or an individual other than the RF individual in order to avoid that RF individual is registered in a Dutch public register; § if shares in a foreign company can be converted into depository receipts of a Dutch voting trust interposing a Dutch BV / NV is not strictly necessary

Partnership structure § a Dutch partnership can be formed through a private contract; RF individual Limited partner (i. e. 99%) Foundation NL General partner Partnership (0. 01%) Tax haven structure Portfolio investments 48 Partnership structure: § the general partner is registered with the Dutch trade register. This could be for instance a foundation managed by an independent Dutch trust office or an individual other than the RF individual in order to avoid that RF individual is registered in a Dutch public register; § the partnership contract can be drafted in such a way that it is considered fully transparent for Dutch tax purposes. The general partner receives a limited management fee (could be taxable at the level of foundation) and the majority of the income flows to the RF individual at the moment the underlying tax haven entity would distribute a dividend; § Possibility to structure foreign portfolio investments. We note that such investments would not qualify for the participation exemption except for real estate portfolio investments (95%).