Broetje-Automation Group: a successful composition

From the Northwest of Germany, Broetje-Automation Group had become the world's leading expert in specialised production processes in the aviation and aerospace industry, servicing all major aircraft manufacturers around the world. Since the first major acquisition in 2007, the company needed to expand globally across multiple jurisdictions including the US, UK, France, Russia, and China. The company faced the challenge of managing complex international operations, including acquiring local suppliers and distributors, implementing efficient distribution vehicles, and establishing tax-efficient intra-group cooperation strategies across different countries with varying regulatory requirements.

HLB member firms from several countries under the lead of HLB Stückmann, Bielefeld, Germany, helped to successfully acquire local suppliers and distributors, implement efficient distribution vehicles and a tax efficient intra-group cooperation strategy. A team of ten professionals located in Bielefeld covers and coordinates the services in the fields of tax compliance, international taxation, transfer pricing, staff secondment, corporate restructuring, M&A and legal services, mainly concerning contractual structuring. The approach involved an intra-disciplinary approach covering accounting, tax advisory and legal services, all coordinated to suit the operative and strategic needs of Broetje-Automation. In the UK, Menzies advised Broetje at the GmbH level and with the set-up of a new UK company, coordinating the UK position with HLB Stückmann to ensure consistent advice across countries. In the US, Withum Smith+Brown assisted Broetje through two major transitions: moving their US headquarters from Omaha, Nebraska to Buffalo, New York, and handling a change in personnel in the finance & accounting department. Currently, they assist Broetje USA with their year-end income tax provision and US tax compliance filings, working closely with the Broetje team to minimise tax liability. In France, the Broetje project started in summer 2011 with negotiations conducted together with HLB Stückmann to acquire a majority stake in a French company located in South France, with ongoing support for tax, social and legal issues. In China, HLB worked together with HLB Stückmann to support Broetje's understanding of taxes incurred in China for their projects, helped with the Chinese company setup in Shanghai and provided continuous accounting service, tax filing and financial reporting service to Broetje Shanghai, performing both statutory and group audit.

Successfully expanded operations to include presence in the US, UK, France, Russia and China. Established a coordinated team of ten professionals managing services across multiple jurisdictions. Achieved consistent tax compliance and efficient intra-group cooperation strategies across all markets. Developed strong working relationships and cross-border coordination between HLB member firms in Germany, US, UK, Russia, China and Japan.