PARTNERS


British American Business Council 75 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 3DH T: 0121 450 4217


E: babc@babcmidlands.org.uk W: babcmidlands.org.uk


BABC PATRON


US market under investigation


BY PHILIP PARKIN K


idnapping, drugs trafficking – it’s all in a day’s work for BABC member Mark Biggs, who took early retirement from the police to set up an investigation agency.


Mark spent 20 years with the West Midlands and West Mercia police, investing serious and


organised crime – hence the kidnapping and drugs trafficking. His agency, established in March, is probably not going to be looking into that sort of activity, rather Mark will be using his experience to help solve corporate crime. The agency – Eminent Investigations – is based in Bromsgrove, and Mark has been joined by


colleagues from a similar background. “We all have a very specialist background,” he said. “You won’t find another company that


offers the same level of expertise and background.” At the moment, Mark is involved in a hectic bout of networking, to establish contact with


corporates who he might work with in future, in the investigation of such crimes as director fraud, fiddling of expenses – and even leaking company secrets to rival businesses. Mark has joined BABC in order to make contact with US


companies who have a presence in the UK. He said the type of client from the US was likely to be large businesses and the aim would be to nail the corporate cheats.


‘Mark will be using his experience to help solve corporate crime’


Manufacturer set to


build its export base New BABC member Berck Ltd is a family business which was established just after the Second World War, in 1947. The company – based at Lyng Industrial


Estate, West Bromwich – began life producing metal stampings and pressings for the furniture/bedding industry. By 1965, the company had diversified into the automotive sector, using high volume power presses. Today, further diversification has seen Berck


enter a wide variety of markets, including aerospace, defence, domestic appliances, telecommunications and agricultural. Among its products are cabling and routing


brackets, battery terminal contacts, wiper arm mechanisms, and air bag technology. The company also exports more than 50 per


cent of its production, and does so to a wide range of countries, including China, Mexico, India, Brazil, Egypt, most of Europe, and of course, America. Managing director Darren Yates said: “We


have been supplying the US for 25 years. Our customers included TRW, Sensata and Delco Products. We have also liaised with consultancy companies in New York to act as 'trouble shooters' in UK manufacturing facilities. “We are looking to broaden our contacts in the US, increase the amount of business we have there and investigate additional partnerships.”


Tax firm targets America


BABC member BTG Tax wants to develop its links with US businesses, in order to take advantage of the growing attractiveness of the UK as the place to do business with. Kari Campbell, international tax partner at BTG Tax, explains why. The news that George Osborne is keen to


make the UK a top destination for business is welcomed by the US business community. The main hook is to make UK corporation tax


the lowest out of the G20 countries. This will ensure the UK’s tax system is very competitive against its European counterparts (excluding exceptional countries, such as Ireland with its corporate tax rate of 12.5 per cent). Also considering the UK’s regulatory framework,


The world is getting smaller: Kari Campbell


to establish a business here is less complicated than most jurisdictions with fairly simple and quick procedures. The UK is certainly now open for business and looking to attract foreign investors. Having now joined the BABC, BTG Tax, a firm of specialist tax advisers, is looking to increasingly develop business with US enterprises, facilitating relationships and advising on global tax issues.


‘Research and development tax credits are highly important in the early stages of funding’


The key to attracting US investors into the UK is securing a competitive tax regime for innovation and intellectual property. Two areas critical to this, are our research and


development tax credits system, and the proposed patent box regime. Research and development tax credits are highly important in the early stages of funding, while the patent box will allow any income received from exploiting patents to be taxed at a lower tax rate (rates of 10 per cent are proposed). At BTG Tax LLP, we have recognised the need


to be able to provide clients of all sizes with global tax expertise, and this year have partnered with WTS, an international network of tax firms. This partnership has already been very


lucrative for our business; we have given advice to several US companies making UK acquisitions and have been able to pitch for work on a global basis.


OCTOBER 2011 CHAMBERLINK 21


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