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Business valuations
We offer expert valuation advice in transactions, regulatory and administrative matters, and matters subject to dispute – valuing businesses, shares and intangible assets in a wide range of industries.
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Capital markets
You need corporate finance specialists experienced in international capital markets on your side if you’re buying or selling financial securities.
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Complex and international services
Our experience of multi-jurisdictional insolvencies coupled with our international reputation allows us to deliver the best possible outcome for all stakeholders.
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Corporate insolvency
Our corporate investigation and recovery teams can help you manage insolvency situations and facilitate the best outcome.
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Debt advisory
An optimal funding structure for your organisation presents unprecedented opportunities, but achieving this can be difficult without a trusted advisor.
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Expert witness
Our expert witnesses analyse, interpret, summarise and present complex financial and business-related issues which are understandable and properly supported.
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Financial models
A sound financial model will help you understand the impact of your decisions before you make them. Talk to us about our user-friendly models.
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Forensic and investigation services
We provide investigative accounting and litigation support services for commercial, matrimonial, criminal, business valuation and insurance disputes.
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Independent business review
Is your business viable? Will it remain viable in the future? A thorough independent business review can help your organisation answer these fundamental questions.
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IT forensics
Effective ESI analysis is integral to the success of your business. Our IT forensics experts have the technical expertise to identify, preserve and interrogate electronic data.
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Mergers and acquisitions
Grant Thornton provides strategic and execution support for mergers, acquisitions, sales and fundraising.
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Raising finance
Raising finance - funders value partners who can deliver a robust financial model, a sound business strategy and rigorous planning. We can guide you through the challenges that these transactions can pose and help you build a foundation for long term success once the deal is done.
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Relationship property services
Grant Thornton offers high quality independent advice on the many financial issues associated with relationship property from considering an individual financial issue to all aspects of a complex settlement.
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Restructuring and turnaround
Grant Thornton’s restructuring and turnaround service capabilities include cash flow, liquidity management and forecasting; crisis and interim management; financial advisory services to companies and parties in transition and distress
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Transaction advisory
Our depth of market knowledge will steer you through the transaction process. Grant Thornton’s dynamic teams offer range of financial, commercial and operational expertise.
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Virtual asset advisory
Helping you navigate the world of virtual currencies and decentralised financial systems.
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Corporate tax
Grant Thornton can identify tax issues, risks and opportunities in your organisation and implement strategies to improve your bottom line.
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Employment tax
Grant Thornton’s advisers can help you with PAYE (payroll tax), Kiwisaver, fringe benefits tax (FBT), student loans, global mobility services, international tax
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Global mobility services
Our team can help expatriates and their employers deal with tax and employment matters both in New Zealand and overseas. With the correct planning advice, employee allowances and benefits may be structured to avoid double taxation and achieve tax savings.
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GST
GST has the potential to become a minefield and can be expensive when it goes wrong. Our technical knowledge can help you minimise the negative impact of GST
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International tax
International tax rules are undergoing their biggest change in a generation. Tax authorities around the world are increasingly vigilant, especially when it comes to global operations.
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Research and Development
R&D tax incentives are often underused and misunderstood – is your business maximising opportunities for making claims?
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Tax compliance
Our advisers help clients manage the critical issue of compliance across accountancy regulations, corporation law and tax. We also offer business and wealth advisory services, which means we can provide a seamless and tax-effective offering to our clients.
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Tax governance
Mitigate tax risks and implement best practice governance that will stand up to IRD scrutiny and audits.
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Transfer pricing
Tax authorities are demanding transparency in international arrangements. We businesses comply with regulations and use transfer pricing as a strategic planning tool.
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Audit methodology
Our five step audit methodology offers a high quality service wherever you are in the world and includes planning, risk assessment, testing internal controls, substantive testing, and concluding and reporting
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Audit technology
We apply our audit methodology with an integrated set of software tools known as the Voyager suite. Our technology has been developed to produce quality audits that are effective and efficient.
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Financial reporting advisory
Our financial reporting advisers have the expertise to help you deal with the constantly evolving regulatory environment.
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Business architecture
Our business architects help businesses with disruptive conditions, business expansion and competitive challenges; the deployment of your strategy is critical to success.
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Cloud services
Leverage the cloud to keep your data safe, operate more efficiently, reduce costs and create a better experience for your employees and clients.
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Internal audit
Our internal audits deliver independent assurance over key controls within your riskiest processes, proving what works and what doesn’t and recommending improvements.
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IT advisory
Our hands on product experience, extensive functional knowledge and industry insights help clients solve complex IT and technology issues
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IT privacy and security
IT privacy and security should support your business strategy. Our pragmatic approach focuses on reducing cyber security risks specific to your organisation
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Payroll assurance
Our specialist payroll assurance team can conduct a review of your payroll system configuration and processes, and then help you and your team to implement any necessary recalculations.
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PCI DSS
Our information security specialists are approved Qualified Security Assessors (QSAs) that have been qualified by the PCI Security Standards Council to independently assess merchants and service providers.
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Process improvement
As your organisation grows in size and complexity, processes that were once enabling often become cumbersome and inefficient. To maintain growth, your business must remain flexible, agile and profitable
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Procurement/supply chain
Procurement and supply chain inputs will often dominate your balance sheet and constantly evolve for organisations to remain competitive and meet changing customer requirements
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Project assurance
Major programmes and projects expose you to significant financial and reputational risk throughout their life cycle. Don’t let these risks become a reality.
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Risk management
We understand that growing companies need to establish robust internal controls, and use information technology to effectively mitigate risk.
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Robotic process automation (RPA)
RPA is emerging as the most sophisticated form of automation used to help businesses become more agile and remain competitive in the face of today’s ongoing digital disruption.
Budget 2012: Exporting financial services
Just over two years ago, John Key announced his desire to set up New Zealand as a financial services hub. The Ministry of Economic Development (MED) was quick to pour cold water over the idea, saying the Magna Carta of documents would need to be delivered first. Since then, a Government working group was set up, the International Funds Services Development Group (IFSDG), to assess the export opportunities and hurdles of this initiative.
Last year, the IFSDG released a report outlining their findings. The main opportunity identified was the creation of a New Zealand funds domicile. This would essentially see a funds industry, based in New Zealand, taking care of functions such as account administration, transfer and registration of shareholders, performance of caretaking roles with respect to investments, calculation of daily pricing and other related accounting and legal matters. In other words New Zealand would become an exporter of financial services for the Asia Pacific region.
The external research commissioned by the IFSDG concluded that by 2030 a New Zealand based funds industry could potentially generate up to 5,000 high quality jobs, annual New Zealand revenues of up to $1.3 billion and tax revenues of up to $360 million.
In response to the report, a range of regulatory impact issues have been highlighted by officials. The MED have said that while a financial services hub is a good idea, there are a range of barriers such as regulation, priority and conflict with other programmes. The main barrier is the $700,000 cost required to determine if this initiative could take off. However, by not investing in this analysis, it’s impossible to know if the $1.3 billion revenue is there for the taking. One has to wonder why our bureaucrats are being so conservative at a time when we need them to be ambitious. The Government will need to keep the pressure on this initiative to avoid it falling by the wayside.
The IFSGD set out their recommendations via a two stage process. Stage one includes the introduction of a zero per cent tax rate on foreign sourced income for non-residents as a necessity. It is positive that tax changes, for example the zero rate PIE changes, have already come to fruition. However, wider and bolder tax changes will be needed as New Zealand centric PIE rules are unlikely to grab the attention of offshore investors who are more used to dealing with other investment vehicles.
Stage two is focused on attracting domicile activities to New Zealand by establishing a funds servicing agency, gaining mutual recognition from major Asia Pacific regulators, undertaking and implementing various regulatory initiatives, marketing the New Zealand brand and attracting business to New Zealand.
Another necessary component is regulation to ensure non-resident investor protections are in place which either meet or exceed existing global standards. Success is also contingent on relationship building throughout the Asia Pacific region, the development of New Zealand’s market capability and obtaining community and political support. Government support needs to be consistent and a commitment to the required tax changes, public sector prioritisation of work programmes and engagement of the private sector is needed to ensure international advisor and regulator interests are met.
The benefits of this initiative are clear. The tide is coming in on this issue but the Government needs to help the flow by taking an active role in pushing the public sector’s commitment to change and to fund and prioritise the work required to make this happen. This month’s Budget is the perfect opportunity for the Government to signal its desire for investment in and commitment to this initiative.
Further enquiries, please contact:
Murray Brewer
Partner, Tax
T +64 (0)9 308 2570
E Murray.Brewer@nz.gt.com