Joint M&A and Tax Winter Seminar 2025 - Slippery Slope: Taxation in M&A Transactions

Schruns, Austria

22 January 2025 - 25 January 2025


Wednesday 22 January 2025

18:00 » 19:30 Welcome reception at Löwen hotel
19:30 Optional dinner at Löwen hotel
The dinner is not included in the registration fee and is payable in advance

Thursday 23 January 2025

08:30 Opening of the registration desk
09:00 » 09:30 Welcome address by the AIJA President, the Commission Officers and the Organising Committee
09:30 » 10:45 Transaction structures of M&A deals

The first session of the seminar sets the scene by providing an overview of different M&A transaction structures and their tax implications. The panelists will explore key drivers behind the structuring and financing choices in transactions and provide practical tips for documenting the agreed terms in terms sheets / letters of intent.

Moderator: Tomasz KrzywaƄski, KORDIA, Poland

Speakers:
  • Oksana Zoppini, BG2V, France
  • Patricio J. Gutierrez, Gutierrez Law Group, United States
  • Laetitia Fracheboud, Homburger, Switzerland

10:45 » 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 » 12:00 (Tax) Due Diligence

During this panel we will dive into (tax) due diligence in M&A transactions. What are typical (tax) findings? And what may be discovered from balance sheets and loss & profit statements? The panel takes a practical view, including tips, best practices and where relevant a comparison between jurisdictions.

Moderator: Marc Schamaun, MLL Legal, Switzerland

Speakers:
  • Pauline Waalkens, Atlas, Netherlands
  • Julie Cathrin Hartvig-Rovsing, Lundgrens, Denmark
  • Sara Sahranavard, Schwärzler, Liechtenstein
In partnership with

12:00 » 13:00 Lunch
15:00 » 17:00 Optional curling activity 
Maximum capacity of 30 participants
The activity is not included in the registration fee and is payable in advance
19:30 Dinner at Posthotel Taube

Friday 24 January 2025

08:00 Opening of the registration desk
08:30 » 09:00 Commissions meetings
09:00 » 09:45 Understanding employee incentives in M&A transactions and their tax implications

This panel will explore how management incentives play a crucial role in transactions and discuss their tax implications. The theory-focused panel will provide a comprehensive overview of topics concerning management roll-over and employee incentives, such as stock options, use of ‘penny shares’, and RSUs. After this panel, participants will be equipped with the theoretical knowledge to draft tax-efficient incentive plans, taking into account key differences between jurisdictions.

Moderator: Judith Hasler, Ospelt & Partner, Liechtenstein

Speakers:
  • Nicky de Groot, Pallas, Netherlands
  • Laurent Lehner, Altenburger, Switzerland
  • Marco Sibold, Kellerhals, Switzerland
  • Barry McGettrick, Matheson, Ireland

09:45 » 10:45 Designing effective employee incentive plans in M&A transactions

Now that we understand the role of employee incentives in M&A transactions and their tax implications, it is time for a more practical view. With case studies and/or an interactive panel, this session gives tangible substance to the designing of effective employee incentive plans in M&A transactions.

Moderator: Jan Huniken, Graf von Westphalen, Germany

Speakers:
  • Sol Sanchez Bacharach, Cuatrecasas, Spain
  • Maximilian Zrenner, GLNS, Germany
  • Fabio Stefani, Dupont Spiller Fadanelli, Brazil
  • Dominik Vogt, Gasser Partner Rechtsanwälte, Liechtenstein
10:45 » 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 » 12:00 W&I and tax risk insurance

Is there such a thing as “clean exit” for the sellers? Instead of settling the risk allocation between the seller and buyer, the parties sometimes prefer to revert to an external party. After a quick introduction to the insurance product, the panelists will dive into frequently asked questions and current trends in the W&I market, including with respect to special (tax) coverage / specific tax risk insurance.

Speakers:
  • Paul Schouten, Head of tax risk insurance Benelux, AON, Netherlands
  • Pablo Albrecht, Director M&A and Transaction Solutions, AON, Germany
In partnership with

12:00 » 13:00 Lunch
13:00 » 16:00 Optional toboggan activity
Maximum capacity of 30 participants
The activity is not included in the registration fee and is payable in advance
20:00 Dinner at Vinnova

Saturday 25 January 2025

08:30 Opening of the registration desk
09:00 » 10:00 Risk allocation in the transaction documentation

Once the due diligence has been conducted, the identified (tax) risks have to find their way into the transaction documentation. We are all familiar with the tax warranties and tax indemnities. But which are the “must haves”, and which are “nice to haves”? This panel discusses the most seen tax warranties and tax indemnities, as well as drafting tips and common pitfalls.

Moderator: Raphael Valenta, KWR , Austria

Speakers:
  • Zeno Grabmayr, Wolf Theiss, Austria
  • Mallory Vincelli, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd, United States
  • Florian Angstmann, MME, Switzerland
10:00 » 10:30 Coffee break
10:30 » 11:30 Post-closing integration: reportings and compliance obligations

M&A transactions always cause numerous (tax) filings and (tax) compliance obligations. Often not the most exciting, nonetheless at least as important as the structuring and negotiations. The second panel discusses the various (tax) reportings, (tax) filing obligations and conduct arrangements, and also touches upon the most common post-closing integration matters, such as the utilisation of loss carry-forwards, the establishment of tax groups and the do’s and don’ts of (re)structurings and (re)financing.

Moderator: Salome Wieser, Ruoss Vögele, Switzerland

Speakers:
  • Ahmed El Jilali, Tiberghien, Belgium
  • Dr. Jacqueline Sievers, Legal Counsel, Integration Advisory, UBS, Switzerland
  • Clemens Willvonseder, Binder Grösswang, Austria
11:30 » 11:45 Concluding remarks from the OC 
11:45 » 13:00 Lunch
19:30 Optional dinner at Löwen hotel
The dinner is not included in the registration fee and is payable in advance