Spring 2010 - Deutsch

initiative
Issue 1 • Spring 2010
The magazine for members of the German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce
View from the top
“In fact, our most effective marketing tool…
is word of mouth.”
Klaus Lohmann, Director,
German National Tourist Office
SEE PAGE 4
GermANY iNVeStS
SUrVeY reSULtS
SEE PAGES 12 & 13
Hong Kong International Lighting Fair
(Autumn Edition) 2010
Joining the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting
Fair (Autumn Edition) 2010 places you among the stars
of the industry. In 2009, more than 1,780 exhibitors
from 31 countries and regions made the fair the largest
in Asia, and the second biggest of its kind in the world.
Almost 28,000 buyers came from around the world to
source from these exhibitors.
A world class lighting event
Hong Kong is not only a focal point for global trade, it
has its own internationally reputed lighting & manufacturing industry. The trend towards energy-saving
lighting is also providing a boost to the lighting market,
with new technologies constantly being developed and
exciting new products coming on line. The fair makes
every effort to reflect industry trends by outing the
focus on key product zones, making the latest products
easily accessible to buyers.
Your contact point for Hong Kong International
Lighting Fair is DEinternational, London in cooperation with Germany Industry and Commerce
Greater China, Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Trade
Development Council.
Major exhibit categories
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hall of Aurora
Commercial Lighting
Household Lighting
LED and Green Lighting
Outdoor Lighting
Lighting Accessories, Parts and Components
Lighting Management, Design and Technology
Trade Services and Publications
Space options
9 sqm Standard Box A
9 sqm Standard Box B
raw space (per sqm)
US$4,122
US$4,446
US$407
Facts and figures from last event
• Total number of exhibitors:
• Number of exhibitors from
outside Hong Kong:
• Total number of visitors:
• Number of visitors from
outside Hong Kong:
1,788
1,382
27,838
19,180
Ian Wivell
Tel: 020 7976 4150
Email: hkilf@deinternational.co.uk
Website: www.deinternational.co.uk
For more information: http://hklightingfarae.hktdc.com
CONTENTS
initiative
Green shoots have finally
arrived but harvest season
is still a long way off
Even as the UK economy is slowly moving
out of recession, we should not forget
that it will take more than three years to
make good the loss in output the recent
downturn has created. This is also true for
Germany and many other European countries. Furthermore, we have
to be careful not to repeat past mistakes by believing that we can go
back to the old economic models.
The UK has to become much more aware of the dangers of a bubble
economy, especially as, due to artificially low interest rates, the one in
the residential housing market has not yet burst. You can live with the
illusions created by a bubble for many years but eventually there is
price to pay for inflated asset prices. Net real wealth will have to give,
either by prices coming down or by inflation going up. My fear is that
politics will eventually opt for the latter thereby avoiding harsh
decisions, the benefits of which will only be felt in the long run.
A stronger focus on the real economy is necessary for the UK to
embark on a sustainable growth path. Germany, on the other hand, has
to become more consumption driven as the old export model will not
be enough to underpin growth in future years. Both countries suffered
more or less to the same extent in the downturn but they were
coming from different ends of the economic spectrum – one economy
heavily skewed toward financial services, the other one strongly
dependent on manufactured exports. What we can learn from this is
that a more balanced economic model is probably the best insurance
against the effect of future downturns.
Both the UK and Germany can learn form each other when moving
towards a more balanced middle ground. Let us hope that in the
coming months and years politicians in both our countries do not
revert to the old habits of focusing too strongly on past strengths.
Dr Ulrich Hoppe
Director General, German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce
CONTENTS
4
VIEW FROM THE TOP – Director German National Tourist Office
5
ROUND-UP OF CHAMBER EVENTS
6
CHAMBER AND MEMBERS’ NEWS
11 LEGAL COMMENT – Änderungen bei der Umsatzsteuer
12 GERMANY INVESTS – Survey Results
14 BUSINESS TO BUSINESS – German companies looking
for representation
15 STATISTICS & TOOLBOX
Cover photo: “Zollverein Colliery” Copyright: Essen Marketing
GmbH/German National Tourist Office/Peter Wieler
sustaining members
3
4 VIEW FROM THE TOP
STAND UP
Klaus Lohmann,
Director, German
National Tourist
Office, London
AND BE COUNTED FOR GERMAN TOURISM
GERMANY AMONG “TOP TEN” DESTINATIONS FOR BRITISH TRAVELLERS
“We’ve been to Germany many
times and always thought, what a
pity that so few British travellers
visit your beautiful country.”
How often do we hear this remark in
conversations with our British friends? It’s at
this point that we at the German National
Tourist Office usually feel the need to grit our
teeth and reply: “But so many Brits do!” In fact,
Germany happily hob-knobs with the likes of
Italy and Greece as one of Britain’s “Top Ten”
most popular travel destinations and in 2008
alone, 2.4 million British visitors enjoyed over
4 million nights in German hospitality, an
increase of nearly 20% over the last 10 years.
Customer surveys tell us that those who
have been to Germany return time and time
again to explore not only our popular cities
such as Berlin, Cologne, Munich or Hamburg,
but areas of great natural beauty such as
the Rhine Valley, the Black Forest and ever
popular Bavaria. Customer satisfaction has
always been very high in a country that
has a superb infrastructure with a train and
transport system to match. Accommodation
and gastronomic experiences are available
in every price range and are, generally
speaking, very good value for money –
despite the current exchange rate. Check out
our website www.germany.travel for more
on affordable hospitality in Germany.
In order to entice more Brits to take that
crucial first step, the German National
Tourist Office has created a strategic
approach which will not only address
specific target groups of consumers, but
will also promote major world-class events
and generic marketing themes. For instance,
in 2010 we intend to promote the
Oberammergau Passion Play and The Ruhr
(as European Capital of Culture) and we will
also champion the creative side of our
country with the marketing campaign
“Inspired by Germany” to create an umbrella
for German brands to showcase their
innovation and creativity.
Modest
Unfortunately, British visitors to Germany
seem very modest and almost shy when
discussing their German holidays with
friends. Some whisper as though they are
letting you into a great secret, others feel
their enthusiastic view of Germany is not
welcome in some quarters and they will
only admit to having enjoyed a trip to
Germany amongst the cognoscenti. And
although the great British tradition to
explore the continent is alive and well –
after all, Thomas Cook discovered the Rhine
valley for the rest of the world – holidays
in Germany can still be a contradiction in
terms for the novice traveller.
And yet, in the past 50 years the German
National Tourist Office has seen great
changes in attitude and fashion. Yes,
countries are fashionable too and the flavour
of the month depends on many factors:
from exchange rates to general press
coverage to world political news and even
cinematic blockbusters. All of these – and
the opinion of our nearest and dearest –
shape our view of a country. In fact, our most
effective marketing tool, without any doubt,
is word of mouth and with the many close
links in European politics, the arts, sports
(don’t forget the football) and trade and
industry, all German companies have a
responsibility and a role to play in this
creation of Germany’s image. So, our appeal
goes out to all those travellers returning
from Germany: Stand up and be
counted and tell all your friends
in Britain about your last great
experience in Germany!
Klaus Lohmann,
Director, German
National Tourist
Office, London
Rhine V
alley
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arket Sq
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Qued
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Photos: German National Tourist Office
Copyright: Stadt Rüdesheim / Jochen Keute / Dirk Topel
ROUND-UP OF CHAMBER EVENTS
Round-up of Chamber events
On 12 November 2009, HE Georg Boomgaarden,
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany, addressed
some 100 members and guests at a
luncheon in Birmingham. The event
took place at Opus Restaurant and
was sponsored by Advantage West
Midlands. Following the luncheon,
guests were then treated to the
opening of the annual Frankfurt
Christmas Market in Birmingham
Ms Chris Everall, Chair of the
city centre.
Chamber’s Midlands Committee,
Dr Richard Hutchins of Advantage
Member
West Midlands and HE Georg
company JBA
Boomgaarden
Training Ltd held
a seminar on Tuesday, 17 November 2009 at the
German-British Chamber in London. Titled “Building a
Bullet Proof Brand”, the seminar covered the essential
ingredients for brand building and brand development. Some 20 participants followed the excellent
Gavin Whitwell
and intereractive presentation by Gavin Whitwell.
Mr Keith Haywood of BNP Paribas-Fortis and Mr Nigel Wood,
Secretary of the Chamber’s Midland’s Committee
The Midlands regions welcomed some 60 members to a
reception on 2 February, to celebrate the start of the New
Year at Birmingham’s Must Dim Sum Bar & Restaurant.
Sponsored by Rödl & Partner, guests welcomed this
opportunity to network and enjoyed the lively atmosphere
as well as delightful drinks and canapés.
The German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce
requests the pleasure of your company
at their Annual Dinner
Wednesday 9 June 2010 – 7.30pm for 8.00pm
The Landmark Hotel, London NW1
Guest of Honour and Speaker:
Peter Löscher, President and Chief Executive Officer, Siemens AG
Peter Löscher has been President and Chief Executive Officer at
Siemens AG since 1 July 2007, previous to which he sat on the executive
boards of various prominent companies, including Merck & Co., Inc..
Tickets cost 125.00 (incl. VAT) for members and their guests
and £144.00 (incl. VAT) for non-members.
Company tables for 10 persons are available at £1,100.00 (incl. VAT) for
members and their guests and at £1,300.00 (incl. VAT) for non-members
Photo credit Siemens press picture
Register online at www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
or email events@ahk-london.co.uk
Dress code: Black Tie
5
6 CHAMBER & MEMBERS’ NEWS
CHAMBER WELCOMES
NEW COUNCILLOR
Andreas Berger has been Chief Executive Officer,
Regional Unit London of Allianz Global Corporate
& Specialty since July 2009. His responsibilities include
various markets, such as South Africa. Before Andreas
joined the Allianz Group, he held various management
positions in the insurance and consulting industry. As
Global Head of Market Management & Communication at
the corporate insurance arm of the Allianz Group, Allianz
Global Corporate & Specialty he was responsible for
establishing the role of market management as part of the
new target operating model and was the spokesperson
for the corporate client segment.
Andreas spearheaded
the broker management
initiative for Allianz SE as
part of the sustainability
distribution project
under the aegis of
Michael Diekmann as
its programme
sponsor.
Andreas
Berger
CLAIM BACK YOUR GERMAN
VAT BY 30 SEPTEMBER 2010
If you went to Germany on a business trip or exhibited
at a German trade fair in 2009, you can potentially
save approximately 19 percent of your business
expenses by claiming back the German VAT you
incurred during the trip.
Since 1 January 2010 British businesses can submit their
claims via a new online system with HM Revenue and
Customs (HMRC). Claims for 2009 have to be submitted
to HMRC by 30 September 2010. VAT may be claimed
back on many products and services, such as hotel
accommodation, training courses, expenses for
conferences and exhibitions, meals and beverages, car
rental and car fuel, parking, public transport and taxi fares.
More information on reclaiming your VAT can be obtained
from the Tax Services Department of the German-British
Chamber of Industry & Commerce. The staff can also
carry out the whole application process on behalf of
your company: from preparing your application to filing it
online and responding to enquiries of the German tax
authorities in German. For more information email
vat.refund@ahk-london.co.uk .
GOODWILLE AND ENLINK
FORM PARTNERSHIP
To help foreign companies lower the barrier to market entry in the UK,
Goodwille Limited and Enlink Limited have established a partnership which offers
a wider range of outsourced business solutions. This partnership has been established to
support high growth international companies of all sizes, operating nationwide and across
industry sectors with a focus on the Midlands, the North of England and the South East.
Clients can choose between a broad portfolio of business services and expertise including:
financial advice, corporate legal functions, human resources, order handling, financial
administration, HR, payroll and employee benefits, giving both country managers and
their headquarters peace of mind. www.enlink.ltd.uk
Smith & Williamson launches Fast
Tracking Funding Review service
With pressures on cash flow and changing terms set by banks upon
credit renewal, organisations need to understand their bank lending
position and how to negotiate the best possible terms. Top ten accountancy
firm Smith & Williamson has launched a fast track funding review service to
provide organisations with a clearer sense of their position. Their funding
experts, with both bank underwriting and venture capitalist experience,
can help any business with more than £2million turnover or over £500k in
bank debt to better understand and successfully negotiate its bank and
other financing. For more information or to book a free one-hour
review meeting please visit www.smith.williamson.co.uk
Arts Martini organises Art Week in Karlsruhe
ARTS MARTINI Languages, Arts & Culture Ltd is planning a workshop for
British people with an interest in the German language as well as German
arts and culture. The week-long summer project offers the participants the
opportunity to work in south-west Germany. Based in Karlsruhe, the participants
will be able to visit places of cultural significance and be part of the town’s
vibrant arts community. This German-British project, organised by Gudrun Lydia
Martini, director of ARTS MARTINI, will be documented in a catalogue. The artists'
paintings created during that week will be exhibited at the end of their stay.
For detailed information call ARTS MARTINI on +44 (0) 7930 852108.
Lovells and Hogan & Hartson join forces
Partners at Lovells and US-based firm Hogan & Hartson will merge their two firms.
Subject to regulatory clearances, Hogan Lovells will commence business from 1 May 2010.
The new firm will have approximately 2,500 lawyers and will operate out of more than 40
offices located around the world. It will offer a broad range of legal services to clients with
particular and distinctive strengths in the areas of dispute resolution, regulatory, antitrust,
corporate, finance, intellectual property and real estate; and access to a significant depth
of legal knowledge and resource in many key industry sectors. www.lovells.com
Marktentwicklung befördern
Deutsche Unternehmen, die die Ausweitung ihrer Geschäfte nach
Großbritannien erwägen oder bereits erste Erfahrungen im britischen Markt
haben, können bei Konduit Ltd Tipps zur effizienteren Kommunikation mit
ihren britischen Geschäftspartnern erhalten. Gegenseitige Anerkennung und
die Akzeptanz der kulturellen Unterschiede bilden dabei die Basis für eine
langfristige und erfolgreiche Geschäftsbeziehung. Kurz, aber prägnant
gibt ein Leitfaden Hinweise zu wichtigen Regeln bei der Anbahnung
deutsch-britischer Kontakte sowie zu Strategien für die weitere
Marktentwicklung. Ihr Exemplar erhalten Sie unter info@konduit.co.uk
CHAMBER CONTACTS
FIND YOUR PERFECT BUSINESS MATCH
AT HANNOVER MESSE 2010
The success of a trade fair depends on the number and quality
of contacts generated. But how can British companies get the
contacts they want at a trade fair as large as Hannover Messe,
the world's leading showcase for industrial technology?
The b2fair matchmaking event at Hannover Messe (19 – 23 April
2010) offers much more than regular "get to know" meetings between
companies and represents a professional business cooperation
exchange platform, aimed at opening new markets and establishing
sustainable partnerships via tailored and qualified business contacts.
These meetings are arranged and targeted in advance so participants
have a schedule of meetings when they arrive.
Last year at Hannover Messe, b2fair registered over 300 companies
and arranged more than 2,400 meetings – an average of around 7
meetings per participant. “Organised meetings during an event such
as this are an invaluable aid to targeting and networking with the
people you want to meet,” comments Ian Wivell, Deputy Director
General of the German-British Chamber, a UK partner for b2fair.
“Furthermore, participants will be marketed to both exhibitors and
visitors through their online profile.”
Participation costs EUR 175 for exhibitors or EUR 200 for visitors.
The fee includes entrance as a visitor to the Hannover Messe trade
fair as well as to the workshops and conferences organised within
the Global Business & Markets, free interpretation service if needed,
professional assistance & advice from the b2fair Coordination Unit
and refreshments at the VIP Lounge. More information can be
found at www.ahk-london.co.uk
CHAMBER CONTACTS
Honorary Officers /
Präsidium und Vorstand
Patron / Schirmherr
HE Georg Boomgaarden
Ambassador of the Federal
Republic of Germany
President / Präsident
Sir Nigel Broomfield, KCMG
Vice-Presidents / Vizepräsidenten
Lambert Courth
George W von Mallinckrodt, KBE
Schroders plc
Barry Stickings, CBE
Gerhard Storch
The Rt Hon Lord Walker of
Worcester, MBE, PC
Dresdner Kleinwort
Councillors / Vorstandsmitglieder
Chairman / Vorsitzender
Alan Wood, CBE
Siemens Holdings plc
Vice-Chairperson / Stellv. Vorsitzende
Patricia Godfrey
Nabarro
Councillors / Vorstandsmitglieder
Andreas Berger
Allianz Global
Corporate & Specialty
Robert A Bischof
Vitalize Health Products Ltd
Martin Dawkins
Bayer plc
Dr Klaus Peter Fouquet
Robert Bosch Ltd
Dr Stefan Georg
Bayern LB, London Branch
INVITATION TO CHAMBER
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Due to popular demand, the 22nd Annual Golf Tournament of
the German-British Chamber will again take place at Stoke Park
Club, Stoke Poges in Buckinghamshire on 16 June 2010.
The challenging and demanding landscape also provides exquisite
views. The 27 hole course includes three nine hole courses Colt,
Alison and Jackson.
Teams will consist of four players. Play will commence at 8.00 am.
The afternoon session commences at 1.00pm.
Supported by BDO, the 2010 Tournament offers 30 places, so entries
will be accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information
and registration please visit www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk.
Andreas Goss
Siemens plc
Dr Ulrich Hoppe
German-British Chamber of Industry
& Commerce
Chris J Maidment
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Guido Paris
Landesbank Baden-Württemberg,
London Branch
Marianne Sammann
Lufthansa German Airlines
Franz W Smet
ACI Group Ltd
Wilfried Steffen
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd
Uwe Weiler
Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd
Nigel R Wood
The Wilkes Partnership
Marcus Wuest
Deutsche Bank AG, London
Company Secretary
Chris Putt
Speechly Bircham LLP
Honorary Auditors
PKF (UK) LLP
Management / Geschäftsführung
Dr Ulrich Hoppe
Director General /
Hauptgeschäftsführer
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4112
Thesy Lobitzer
PA to Director General / Assistentin
des Hauptgeschäftsführers
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4112
Finance & Organisation
Sabine Marland
Manager Finance & Organisation /
Finanzen und Organisation
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4120
Michaela Böttcher
Finance & Organisation /
Finanzen und Organisation
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4187
Marketing Services
Ian Wivell
Deputy Director General / stellv.
Hauptgeschäftsführer
Head of Marketing Services /
Leiter Marketing Services
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4150
Sven Riemann
Manager Marketing Services
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4185
Marguerite McCaughan
Marketing Services
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4183
Jana Lindner
Press & Public Relations /
Presse- & Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4188
Members’ Services
Evelyn Mensah
Manager Membership & Events /
Mitgliedschaft & Veranstaltungen
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4145
Kerstin Tamminga
Membership & Events /
Mitgliedschaft & Veranstaltungen
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4146
Legal & Tax Services / Rechts- und
Steuerabteilung
Angelika Baumgarte
Deputy Director General / stellv.
Hauptgeschäftsführerin
Head of Legal & Tax Services / Leiterin
der Rechts- und Steuerabteilung
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4140
Martin Fischer
Manager Legal Services /
Rechtsabteilung
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4141
Alexander Altmann
Manager Tax Services /
Steuerabteilung
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4166
Anja Reeves
Manager Tax Services / Steuerabteilung
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4161
Nastaran Amidi
Michael Dickert
Verena Gronewold
Manuela Kergassner
Elisabeth Marks
Christopher Otto
Tax Services / Steuerabteilung
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4160
For details of the Chamber’s
regional committees please email
members@ahk-london.co.uk
7
8 EVENTS DIARY
CHRISTMAS
PARTY 2009
The annual Members’ Christmas Party was celebrated at the
German-British Chamber on Thursday, 3 December 2009. As
popular as ever, members and guests met with business partners
and associates and enjoyed traditional Stollen and Glühwein. The
event was kindly sponsored by Bahlsen and Xmas Markets Ltd.
Mr Ian Pinder and Ms Michaela Hupe of Gardner Croft,
Mr Gerald Wolf, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
HE Georg Boomgaarden, Ambassador
of the Federal Republic of Germany
Ms Frauke Harms of Menzies LLP and Mr Peter Adams of Baker Tilly Tax
and Accounting Ltd
Ms Verity Reily-Collins of Shows UK, Ms Tanya Bridgen of
Euro London Appointments and Mr Andrew Phillips of
Giles Travel Ltd
Mr Toby Schumacher of Veolia
Water Systems (UK) Ltd and
Ms Gabriele Klemm of Dorda
Brugger Jordis
EVENTS DIARY
Mr Thorsten Terweiden of Swiss Business Hub UK and Mr Mark Arnold of MSK Global
Mr Andrew Kaufman of Fladgate LLP
and Ms Christine Turner of Türner & Co
NEW YEAR
RECEPTION 2010
The German-British Chamber welcomed the New Year with a reception on Wednesday,
6 January 2010. Some 100 members and guests discussed the challenges ahead as well
as nurtured and encouraged new business contacts. Dr Eckard Lübkemeier, Minister
Plenipotentiary at the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany addressed the
audience. The event was sponsored by Air Berlin PLC, with a raffle prize of flight tickets.
Mr Steven Bruck of Blick Rothenberg and Ms Ute
Müller of Dawsons LLP
Mr Andrew Gunman of Deutsche Leasing UK Ltd, Dr Eckhard Lübkemeier, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Dr Ulrich
Hoppe, German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce and Mr Titus Johnson of Air Berlin PLC
9
10 EVENTS DIARY
EVENTS
CALENDAR
Friday 23 April 2010
Business Luncheon
Guest of Honour and Speaker: Dr Klaus-Peter Fouquet,
President of Robert Bosch Ltd
Venue: Opus Restaurant, 54 Cornwall Street, Birmingham B3 2DE
Time: 12.30pm for 1pm
Cost: £35 (incl. VAT) for members and their guests,
£40 (incl. VAT) for non-members
Company table: £300 (incl. VAT) for members,
£380 (incl. VAT) for non-members
Further information and registration:
www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
Ms Yvonne Esterházy of Wirtschaftswoche, Ms Jeanette McCauley of Norddeutsche
Landesbank, London Branch and Ms Naila Wazir of Klein Solicitors
Wednesday 9 June 2010
Annual Dinner of the German-British Chamber
Members’ Christmas Party
Guest of Honour and Speaker: Peter Löscher,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG
Venue: The Landmark Hotel, 222 Marylebone Road, London NW1 6JQ
Time: 7.30 pm – 10.30 pm
Cost: £125 (incl. VAT) for members and their guests,
£144 (incl. VAT) for non-members
Company table: £1100 (incl. VAT) for members,
£1300 (incl. VAT) for non-members
Dress Code: Black tie
Further information and registration:
www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
Wednesday 16 June 2010
22nd Annual Golf Tournament
Mr Edward John of Lovells LLP, Mr Michael Eldridge of WestLB, London Branch
and Ms Mona Lemp of Lovells LLP
Supported by BDO Stoy Hayward
Venue: Stoke Park Club, Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire SL2 4PG
Time: from 8 am
Cost: £220 (incl. VAT) for members and their guests, £260
(incl. VAT) for non members; Team of four: £880 (incl. VAT)
for members, £1040 (incl. VAT) for non members
Hole Sponsorship opportunities available
Further information and registration:
www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Erfolgreich in Großbritannien
Venue: Volkswagen AG Automobilforum,
Unter den Linden 21, 10117 Berlin
Time: 13:30 -17:30
Cost: Complimentary
Further information and registration:
www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
Wednesday 23 June 2010
Škoda Automotive presentation
with evening reception
Speaker: Reinhard Jung, Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Škoda Auto
Venue: Volkswagen AG Automobilforum,
Unter den Linden 21, 10117 Berlin
Time: 18:00 - 20:00
Cost: Complimentary for members and participants
of “Erfolgreich in Großbritannien”
Further information and registration:
www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
Ms Antje Hornburg of ASB Internship Solutions Ltd and Ms Jennifer Dickson of Dawsons LLP
Please see our website for
registrations and updates on events:
www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
LEGAL COMMENT
Advertise
in initiative
Initiative magazine is the perfect
vehicle to reach decision makers
connected to the German-British
Chamber both here in the UK and
in Germany.
As well as reaching clients and
partners of the Chamber, the
magazine is read by key people in
government departments, associations and other companies within the
German-British business community.
Published three times a year with a targeted circulation of
1,500 you can be sure that your advert will be highly visible
as we restrict advertising space.
You can buy half, quarter and whole pages… or for maximum
exposure, exclusive sponsorship of one issue (members only),
which includes two one-page adverts and a one-page article
(page 11) plus a suitable ‘company picture’ (1/2 page) on the
front cover.
To discuss your advertising needs in detail, please contact:
Ian Wivell
German-British Chamber of Industry
& Commerce
16 Buckingham Gate
London SW1E 6LB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4150
Fax: +44 (0)20 7976 4101
Email: press@ahk-london.co.uk
ÄNDERUNGEN BEI DER
UMSATZSTEUER
Der Rat der Europäischen Union hat mit der Verabschiedung des
Mehrwertsteuerpakets 2010 Richtlinien erlassen, die von den
Mitgliedstaaten zum 1. Januar 2010 in nationales Recht umgesetzt wurden.
Die Änderungen umfassen die Neuregelung bei der Ortsbestimmung von
Dienstleistungen, erweitern das Reverse-Charge-Verfahren sowie Angaben
in der Zusammenfassenden Meldung. Was diese Neuerungen für das
unternehmerische Tagesgeschäft bedeuten, wird nachfolgend in
Auszügen erläutert.
Grenzüberschreitende Dienstleistungen
Grenzüberschreitende Dienstleistungen, die der Empfänger für den
unternehmerischen Bereich erwirbt, werden nach der neuen Grundregel
an dem Ort ausgeführt, an dem der Empfänger sein Unternehmen betreibt
(Empfängerortprinzip). Hat ein Unternehmen eine Hauptniederlassung
und eine oder mehrere Betriebsstätten in verschiedenen Ländern, ist der
Leistungsempfänger zu ermitteln. Berücksichtigt werden muss hierbei
u. a., welche Niederlassung die Leistung tatsächlich nutzt, wo die
Entscheidungen über die Durchführung der Dienstleistung getroffen
wurden und wer sich anhand der geführten Korrespondenz als
Auftraggeber ergibt.
Nicht immer lässt sich die Umsatzbesteuerung bestimmter Leistungsarten
am Ort der tatsächlichen Verwendung durch das Empfängerortprinzip
sicher feststellen. Für diese Fälle sehen die neuen Richtlinien
Ausnahmeregelungen vor. Werden Leistungen wie z. B. Grundstücks-,
Verpflegungs- und Personenbeförderungsleistungen erbracht, so gilt
das Verbrauchsortprinzip. Danach werden die Leistungen an dem Ort
ausgeführt, an dem sie tatsächlich verwendet werden.
Bei Ausführung einer grenzüberschreitenden Dienstleistung, die unter
die neue Grundregel fällt, muss der leistende Unternehmer das ReverseCharge-Verfahren anwenden. Damit wird die Umsatzbesteuerung auf den
Leistungsempfänger übertragen. Sollten bestimmte Voraussetzungen
nicht erfüllt sein, kann die Umsatzbesteuerung durch den leistenden
Unternehmer vorzunehmen sein.
initiative is the official membership magazine of the German-British
Chamber and is published three times a year.
Publisher:
German-British Chamber
of Industry & Commerce
16 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6LB
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4100
Fax: +44 (0)20 7976 4101
Email: mail@ahk-london.co.uk
Web: www.germanbritishchamber.co.uk
www.ahk-london.co.uk
11
Editorial & Advertising
Jana Lindner
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4188
Ian Wivell
Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4150
Email: press@ahk-london.co.uk
The reproduction in whole or in part of any material published in initiative
requires the prior written consent of the publisher. The publisher cannot
accept any liability for the accuracy or completeness of any material published
in initiative. Opinions expressed in initiative do not necessarily reflect the
views of the German-British Chamber.
EC Sales List
Zusätzlich zum innergemeinschaftlichen Warenverkehr müssen seit
Januar 2010 auch grenzüberschreitende Dienstleistungen, die unter
das Empfängerortprinzip fallen, in einer Zusammenfassenden Meldung
angegeben werden. Haben EU-Warenlieferungen eines Unternehmens in
einem der Quartale 2009 den Grenzwert von 70.000 GBP überschritten,
muss die so genannte EC Sales List ab 2010 nun nicht mehr vierteljährlich,
sondern monatlich abgegeben werden.
Intrastat
Die Grenze für die Meldung zur Statistik des Warenverkehrs im
Europäischen Binnenmarkt (Intrastat) wurde ab Januar 2010 für
Wareneingänge in das Vereinigte Königreich von 270.000 GBP auf 600.000
GBP heraufgesetzt. Für Warenversendungen aus dem Vereinigten
Königreich wurde die Grenze für die Meldung von 270.000 GBP auf 250.000
GBP gesenkt.
Außerdem wurde das Vorsteuer-Vergütungsverfahren in der EU neu
geregelt. Näheres hierzu erklärt der Artikel auf Seite 5 dieser Ausgabe.
Alexander Altmann
Manager Tax Services, German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce
12 GERMANY INVESTS
Germany Invests
Trends and Views on Direct Investment by German Companies in the United Kingdom
The German-British Chamber of Industry & Commerce promotes trade and investment between the United Kingdom and Germany. As part of this
function, a comprehensive survey about the trends and views of German subsidiaries in the United Kingdom is carried out on a regular basis.
The most recent survey was conducted in 2009. Over 100 companies responded.
The survey highlights the current trends in direct investment by German companies in the UK and investigates factors such as turnover,
employment and market focus as well as trends on future developments. In this issue and the next, we will be publishing the results and findings.
I.3 Impact of the current economic downturn
I. German subsidiaries in the UK –
sectors and activities
The current economic climate has had a significant effect on the
activities of the German subsidiaries in the UK. Only 18% state that their
operations have not been affected.
I.1 Sectoral distribution of German subsidiaries
Mechanical and electrical engineering still counts for a third of all
German investment in the UK. Compared to 2007, the construction
industry, business services, retailing and tourism have gained; the
automotive and logistics industries’ shares decreased.
Tourism 4%
Not at all 18%
Other 2%
Very severely
20%
Construction
industry 11%
Severely 62%
Mechanical
and electrical
engineering 31%
Energy
and utilities 2%
Financial
services 8%
II. Sales by German subsidiaries
Business
services 9%
Wholesale/
Logistics 9%
Retailing 3%
IT and telecommunications
equipment 2%
Automotive 12%
Chemicals and chemical
engineering 6%
Pharmaceuticals 1%
I.2 Main activity of German subsidiaries in the UK
Compared to our last survey, the main activities have remained
unchanged. A slight shift from services back to sales and distribution
was noticed.
II.1 Total sales by German subsidiaries in the UK
Over the last ten years, sales by German subsidiaries have steadily grown
and represent nearly 450% of the value Germany exports directly to the
UK. (2008: £62.4 bn).
• Sales by subsidiaries total approximately £266 bn p.a.
• German exports to the UK total circa £62.4 bn
£300 billion
£266 billion
£250 billion
£215 billion
Services 25%
£200 billion
£194 billion
£150 billion
R&D 2%
£100 billion
Sales/
distribution 57%
Manufacturing 16%
£50 billion
0
2005
2007
2009
GERMANY INVESTS
13
II.2 Breakdown of German subsidiaries by sales turnover
II.4 Main markets of German subsidiaries in the UK
Reflecting the company structure in Germany, most of the subsidiaries
in the UK are small and medium sized enterprises. 81% of the operations
have a turnover of less than £50 million. Compared to our last survey,
the smallest companies seem to have expanded their operations.
This is mirrored in a percentage increase in the turnover band
between £5m and £10m.
The UK market is still the main focus of German subsidiaries (more than
one answer was possible). However, the United Kingdom seems to be
developing in importance as a base for German companies to serve their
customers in other markets around the world (2007: 28%, 2007: 38%).
100
Main market
84%
50
Secondary market
80
43%
40
60
30
20%
40
20
11%
10
34%
32%
11%
8%
7%
18%
20
10%
16%
13%
8%
6%
6%
Central
& Eastern
Europe
Rest of
the World
0
up to 5m
More
than
£5m
and up
to £10m
More
than
£10m
and up
to £20m
More
than
£20m
and up
to £50m
More
than
£50m
and up
to £250m
More than
£250m
II.3 Unique selling proposition of German companies in the UK
Compared to our last survey, German companies still sell mainly on
quality (56%). However, service (32%) and location (4%) have become
more important for the subsidiaries. Only 8% focus on price.
0
UK
Germany
Other
Western
Europe
III. Total employment created by German
subsidiaries in the UK
III.1 Total employment created
The number of employees in German subsidiaries has grown steadily
over the last years, reaching approximately 315,000 in 2009.
Location 4%
Price 8%
350,000
Service 32%
315,000
281,000
300,000
256,000
250,000
200,000
150,000
100,000
Quality 56%
50,000
2005
2007
2009
German-British Chamber launches new ‘Subsidiaries’ database
The German-British Chamber will launch a new edition of its popular database ‘German Subsidiaries in the UK and British subsidiaries in
Germany’ in April. Containing in excess of 1,300 subsidiaries in the UK with their German parent companies and more than 800 subsidiaries
in Germany with their UK parents, this database is both unique and comprehensive. In total, this new version contains over 4,000 company
addresses. The database includes limited (ltd) and public limited (plc) companies as well as partnerships, branches and joint ventures.
Where available, the subsidiaries feature the following information: name, address, telephone and fax number, e-mail, website, contact
persons, number of employees, turnover, year of foundation, type of company and industrial sector or product/service area. The database
is available on a readily accessible CD-ROM, which allows the running of specific queries and searches. This feature also makes it easy to
use the database for individual purposes, such as mailings.
For more information and to request an order form, please contact Jana Lindner, Tel: +44 (0)20 7976 4188 or email press@ahk-london.co.uk
14 BUSINESS TO BUSINESS
initiative provides a regular listing of companies in both the UK
and Germany who are seeking B2B partners and representatives
Business Partners from Germany / Geschäftspartner aus Deutschland
INDUSTRIAL MIXER MANUFACTURER
LA SIESTA – THE WORLD OF THE HAMMOCK
German machine manufacturer is looking for a sales representation to
establish local presence on the UK market. Task area:- Acquisition of
new customers and support of our clients; Counselling of the whole
product range; Monitoring and process tracking up to contract
conclusion; Acquisition of market data. For further information, please
contact: Mr Rüdiger Winkens, MIXACO Dr. Herfeld GmbH & Co. KG,
Niederheide 2, D-58809 Neuenrade, Germany. Tel: +49 (0)2392
9644-0, Fax: +49 (0)2392 62013, Email: winkens@mixaco.de,
Web: www.mixaco.de
As a specialist in the hammock industry, La Siesta (www.lasiesta.com)
has become a premium brand with products that satisfy the highest
demands on quality. Our sales are equally strong in the outdoor, gift
and children sector. We work with retailers, sophisticated garden
centres, catalogue senders and online shops. We are looking for a
distributor with good contacts to this customer base. Ideally you would
be able to handle all logistics for our/your business customers and
consumers in the UK. For further information please contact:
Ms Buschmann, La Siesta GmbH, Im Wiesenweg 4, 55270
Jugenheim, Germany; Tel: 0049 (0)6130 911919, Fax: 0049 (0)6130
911910, Email: info@lasiesta.com, Web: www.lasiesta.com
MODERN SOLUTIONS FOR FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY
ASCOBLOC, a renowned German manufacturer of foodservice
equipment, offers a wide range of products including cooking &
refrigeration equipment, cafeterias, self-service lines and meal
distribution system. Our expertise lies in the high quality standard and
tailor-made manufacturing. For the British market, we are looking for a
representative agent to promote our products to distributors and
dealers. The agent should provide product knowledge & existing
contacts to potential customers. For further information please contact:
Mr J. Wilhelm, ascobloc / Gastro-Gerätebau GmbH, Grüner Weg 29,
01156 Dresden, Germany. Tel: +49-351-4533-350, Fax: +49-3514533-433, Email: j.wilhelm@ascobloc.de, Web: www.ascobloc.de
WE KEEP A GRIP ON WHAT OTHERS KEEP LOSING
Reading glasses are constantly mislaid. We, a family-run business in
Berlin, create the shortest but also the most attractive link between the
reader and the glasses. Her is the trick: a strong magnet is the natural
force in “Le Clic” that prevents losing the reading glasses. We are
searching for a dynamic agent that will introduce the product to the
English market. The glasses come in different strengths (+1 to +3
dioptres), Le Clic in different colours. For further information, please
contact: Ms Johanna Holldack, CSAWA GmbH, Am Karlsbad 10,
10785 Berlin, Germany; Tel: +49 302693 4775; Fax: +49 302693
4774; Email: info@csawa.de; Web: www.csawa.de
SINGLE SOURCE PERFORATION
AND COMPONENT SOLUTIONS
With experience for over 120 years, we offer Perfection in Perforation
worldwide: Drilled, milled, punched, ConiPerf®, laser and electron beam
perforated plates, processed to engineered components ready for
installation. Our products are employed in screening and separation
processes, size reduction and drying. Full product training as well as
reliable marketing, sales and technical support is provided. For further
information, please contact: Mr Markus Klemm, Andritz Fiedler
GmbH, Weidener Strasse 9, 93057 Regensburg, Germany;
T: +49 941 6401 130; F: +49 941 6401 302; Email: markus.klemm@
andritz.com; Web: www.andritz.com/PerfTec
CENTRIFUGAL CASTINGS:
RELIABLE STEEL SOLUTIONS
German foundry specialised in centrifugal casting of high-grade steel
parts looks for an agent for Great Britain. Product-line includes
corrosion, acid, heat, wear and tear resistant materials manufactured
according to DIN, ASTM or customer specifications. No fixed price –
or stock list, because every component is manufactured according
to customers design. A significant number of European steel
processing companies belong to our clientele and benefit from our
50 years of experience. For further information, please contact:
Mr Peter Mönsters, Klaus Kuhn Edelstahlgießerei GmbH,
Otto-Hahn-Straße 12-14, 42477 Radevormwald, Germany.
Tel: +49 (0)2195 671 – 930; Fax: +49 (0) 2185 671 – 49; Email:
p.moensters@kuhn-edelstahl.com; Web: www.kuhn-edelstahl.de
PRACTICAL, VERSATILE AND
PROFESSIONAL RESCUE BLANKETS
Gelsenkirchener Werkstätten produces a range of high quality blankets
that can be used for rescue, recovery and evacuation scenarios and are
used by many emergency services as well as professions with patient
care. The blankets are made from a water-resistant, lightweight
synthetic fabric and have a high load-bearing capacity despite folding
away neatly into a compact and easily portable package. Equipped
with strong fabric handles, the blankets allow for quick and efficient
rescue and recovery work in many different environments. For further
information, please contact: Marguerite McCaughan, German-British
Chamber of Industry & Commerce, 16 Buckingham Gate, London
SW1E 6LB; T: +44 (0)20 7976 4183; F: +44 (0)20 7976 4101; E:
partner.search@ahk-london.co.uk
STATISTICS & TOOLBOX
STATISTICS
TOOLBOX
Statistiken
richtig nutzen
Rigidity of
Employment Index
14
UK
17
Ireland
Bei der Erschließung eines neuen Marktes sind Zahlen zum
Marktvolumen, über potenzielle Käufer oder auch zu
regionalen Marktgegebenheiten unerlässlich. Für die erste
Recherche bieten sich durch die Internetunterstützung
einige Möglichkeiten.
20
Belgium
38
Italy
42
Netherlands
44
Germany
France
56
Spain
56
0
10
20
30
50
40
60
Source: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln - 2008
Rigidity of employment is an index which measures the state
regulation of employment, specifically hiring and firing of
employees and the rigidity of working hours. Higher values
indicate more rigid regulations.
Index of Economic Freedom
Italy
France
Spain
Germany
7
7.1
7.2
7.7
Ireland
UK
Switzerland
7.9
8.1
8.2
6.4 6.6 6.8 7.0 7.2 7.4 7.6 7.8 8.0 8.2 8.4
Source: Institut der deutschen Wirtschaft Köln - 2006
The Economic Freedom Index is calculated from a series of
measurements. Nations are scored according to ten indicators
of economic freedom, among them freedoms of movement
for labour, capital and goods.
Besonders für Zielgruppenanalysen werden häufig Daten über
lokale Märkte oder das lokale Käuferverhalten eingesetzt. Bisher
waren diese Daten schwer zugänglich, da vom Britischen Amt für
Statistik (ONS) nur regionale bzw. nationale Daten zur Verfügung
gestellt werden. Seit kurzem gibt es nun die Möglichkeit, auch
lokale Daten des öffentlichen Sektors online einzusehen. Die Seite
www.data.gov.uk wurde mit Unterstützung von Sir Tim BernersLee und Professor Nigel Shadbolt entwickelt und liefert alle
Basisdaten zum öffentlichen Sektor.
Für weitere Daten zur Wirtschaft Großbritanniens eignet sich die
umfangreiche Webseite des ONS (www.statistics.gov.uk). Hier
werden nicht nur allgemeine ökonomische Zahlen zusammengestellt, sondern es werden auch detaillierte Angaben zu
Herstellung, Export und Import einzelner Produkte veröffentlicht.
Im europäischen Warenverzeichnis des Außenhandels (Eurostat)
werden eine Vielzahl von Produkten durch Zolltarifnummern
identifiziert. Diese gelten einheitlich innerhalb der EU und deren
assoziierter Staaten. Die Webseite www.zolltarifnummern.de
informiert über Zolltarifnummern für eine Vielzahl von Produkten.
Ist die Zolltarifnummer bekannt, kann auf der Webseite des britischen Zollamtes (www.uktradeinfo.com) recherchiert werden, in
welchem Umfang und durch welche Importeure verschiedene
Produkte nach Großbritannien eingeführt werden.
Europäische Wirtschaftszahlen werden von Eurostat
(http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu) verglichen und in verschiedene
Sprachen übersetzt. Auch das Deutsche Statistische Bundesamt
(www.destatis.de) sowie die Statistische Datenbank der
Europäischen Zentralbank (www.ecb.int) stellen jeweils einen
Atlas der Außenhandelsstatistik zur Verfügung.
Werden Daten von Endverbrauchern benötigt, lohnt sich ein
Blick in die Auswertung der letzten britischen Volkszählung
aus dem Jahre 2001. Wie in Deutschland wird die nächste
Volkszählung 2011 stattfinden, erste Daten hierzu werden
dann 2012 veröffentlicht.
Natürlich stellen auch viele Fachverbände und private
Organisationen statistische Daten online zur Verfügung. In jedem
Falle sollte jedoch das gesammelte Material verglichen und auf
seine Zuverlässigkeit überprüft werden. Denn zuverlässiges
Datenmaterial trägt entscheidend zu einem erfolgreichen
Markteintritt bei.
Sven Riemann, Marketing Manager, German-British Chamber of
Industry and Commerce
15