PwC Report - Focus On

2013

• Asia Pacific Tax Notes 2013: Delivering tax strategies in a world of change – focusing on fundamentals

  The lead article in this issue looks at the change in attitudes towards tax planning and OECD's report on addressing base erosion and profit share. Following the lead article is the usual round-up of fiscal policies introduced by the governments in the region. It provides an overview of the key tax developments including budgetary proposals in the region.

• PwC 16th Annual Global CEO Survey: A focus on tax

  Tax has become a key business issue, with 62% of respondents in this year's Global CEO Survey telling us that it’s the biggest risk to their business growth. And in a way we haven't seen before, corporate taxation has become a matter of significant interest to governments, regulators, the media and the general public. In this analysis, we explore tax strategy and its impact on corporate reputation, and the implications for businesses and governments around the world.

• PwC 16th Annual Global CEO Survey - CEO confidence in growth down

  Only 36% of CEOs worldwide are 'very confident' of their company's growth prospects in the next 12 months. That's down from 40% who were 'very confident' of short term growth last year and 48% in 2011, but still above the lows of 31% and 21% in 2010 and 2009.

2012

• Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2013

  The outlook for Tokyo’s real estate industry over the next 12 months is improving, with the recovery marked by the return of foreign investors to the city, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2013, published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PwC.

• Total Tax Contribution 2011

  This survey by PwC Japan Tax looks at the actual amount of taxes and social security contributions borne and collected by large Japanese companies for FY 09/10. It further looks at the results by industry sector and time-series analysis. This report is expected to contribute to the current and future discussions towards the tax reform in Japan.

• Banking Banana Skins 2012

  Every two years, PwC sponsors the Banking Banana Skins survey conducted by the Centre of the Study of Financial Innovation. Each survey identifies potential sources of risks to banks and then ranks them by severity. Also included are industry members' views about the risks they face, the soundness of financial markets, and other pressing issues.

• International Transfer Pricing 2012

  International Transfer Pricing 2012 is an easy-to-use reference guide covering a range of transfer pricing issues in nearly 70 countries worldwide. It explains why it is vital for every company to have a coherent transfer pricing policy which is responsive to the rapidly changing markets in which they operate.

• Clarifying the rules: Sustainable transfer pricing in the financial services sector

  This book provides an outline of the key considerations, observations and challenges arising from the transfer pricing issues pertinent to the financial services industry. Written by our Financial Services Transfer Pricing network experts worldwide, this book serves as a unique and practical reference guide to help you manage your financial services transfer pricing issues.

• PwC 15th Annual Global CEO Survey - CEOs say prospects gloomy for global economy

  Nearly half (48%) of the 1258 CEOs polled worldwide believe the global economy will decline even further in the next 12 months, according to PwC’s 15th Annual Global CEO Survey. Just 15% said the global economy will improve during 2012.

• Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2012

  Commercial real estate investment and development prospects remain questionable for Tokyo in 2012, as economic growth remains relatively slow, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2012, a real estate forecast jointly published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

2011

• Paying Taxes 2012

  Paying Taxes 2012 is a unique study from PwC, the World Bank and IFC, which measures the ease of paying taxes across 183 economies worldwide. It records the taxes and mandatory contributions that a medium-size company must pay in a given year as well as measuring the administrative burden of paying taxes and contributions.

• Asia-Pacific CEOs have strong confidence in growth

  More than half of CEOs in the Asia-Pacific region are ‘very confident’ of increased revenue for their companies over the next three to five years, up slightly from a year ago. More than 40% of CEOs say their single greatest opportunity for growth will stem from the rise in spending power in Asia, particularly in China. These were the key findings from a survey by PwC of more than 320 CEOs across 26 countries, including the 21 APEC economies, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO summit.

• Global Entertainment and Media Outlook: 2011-2015
  Golden age of the digitally empowered consumer
  A new collaborative entertainment and media industry emerges from the global recession

  It's the golden age of the empowered consumer, with the demand for digital experiences increasing and becoming the norm, according to the latest Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2011-2015 from PwC. In many markets the Entertainment and Media industry emerging from the recession has been profoundly changed as the ongoing consumer migration to digital has accelerated due largely to the device revolution.

• FSTP Perspectives, a publication for financial services industry tax and transfer pricing professionals

  This edition focuses, in part, on regulatory developments that have taken place since those financial market disruptions and evaluates how these regulatory proposals may impact market participants on a go-forward basis.

• Cities of Opportunity - Balanced Cities Perform Best in 2011 Study of Finance Capitals
  Toronto, San Francisco, Stockholm and Sydney join New York in top five; Traditional powerhouses London, Paris and Tokyo drop on list

  The fourth edition of Cities of Opportunity shows that in a more virtual and mobile world, well rounded cities with balanced economies and strong quality of life offer an attractive alternative: resilience during downturns and allure for skilled people who will build the future.

• Future of world trade: Top 25 sea and air freight routes in 2030

  By 2030 there’ll be a real change in the trade landscape with the emerging economies dominating the main sea and air freight trade routes. The shift in power poses real challenges for existing companies operating in this sector. They’ll have issues around relocating assets and staff to address these new routes. 73% of transport & logistics CEOs surveyed by PwC are already changing their strategies to capture the growth opportunities in the emerging markets.

• The World in 2050: The Accelerating Shift of Global Economic Power: Challenges and Opportunities

  PwC produced a report setting out projections for potential growth in GDP in 17 leading economies over the period to 2050. Our key conclusion is that the global financial crisis has further accelerated the shift in global economic power to the emerging economies.

• PwC releases the 14th Annual Global CEO Survey results at the World Economic Forum in Davos

  Two years removed from the depths of recession, CEOs' confidence in future growth has returned to nearly pre-crisis levels, according to PwC's 14th Annual Global CEO Survey.

2010

• Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2011 - Tokyo Receives Mixed Ratings for Real Estate Investment and Development Next Year

  Tokyo has fair prospects for real estate investment and development opportunities in 2011, according to Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2011, a real estate forecast jointly published by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

• Total Tax Contribution 2009

  PwC Japan Tax (Zeirishi-Hojin PricewaterhouseCoopers) published the Total Tax Contribution Japan survey 2009 at the Tax Symposium held on December 1. The survey was commissioned by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which made the results publicly available in June this year. The Total Tax Contribution Japan survey 2009 is the analysis of the survey results by PwC Japan Tax.

• Paying Taxes 2011 - The global picture

  Paying Taxes, a unique study from PwC, the World Bank and IFC, measures the ease of paying taxes across 183 economies worldwide covering both the cost of taxes and the administrative burden of tax compliance.

• PwC 13th Annual Global CEO Survey
  CEOs' confidence rebounds in recession's wake, quick recovery in emerging economies; developed nations cautious

  With their worst fears of prolonged recession behind them, CEOs' confidence for future growth has bounced back from the gloomy prospects of a year ago, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers 13th Annual Global CEO Survey.

2009

• Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2010 - In the recession’s aftermath, Asia Pacific real estate markets are flashing positive signals

  Tokyo is among the top ten real estate markets for investment in 2010, according to the Emerging Trends in Real Estate® Asia Pacific 2010 report, released by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC).

• Emerging market city economies set to rise rapidly in global GDP rankings

  Emerging market city economies are projected to rise significantly up the global GDP rankings between 2008 and 2025 according to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP research. The figures provide an insight into how the global economic landscape looks set to change and which cities may provide the most compelling draw for capital and labour in the future.

• The Day After Tomorrow

  While the unprecedented crisis of late 2008 revealed clear flaws in the banking system, the asset management sector was shown to be considerably more robust. Assets under management did shrink, of course, and individual cases of malpractice arose, but the reputation of many firms did not suffer unduly. Nevertheless, the consequences of the crisis on the sector are likely to be felt at a profound level and for a long time. Changes in regulations, investor preferences and within the industry itself will provide a range of opportunities and threats that no asset management firm can afford to ignore.

• The future of banking: Point of View

  This paper looks at the future of the banking industry, the challenges the industry faces and the actions needed to address these in the short, medium and long term. We present a series of perspectives on the immediate ways banks can begin to build a sustainable and profitable future, concentrating on four distinct areas that will determine the shape of the new banks:

  Strategy;
  Business model;
  Capital, risk and governance; and
  People and rewards.

• Asia Pacific Tax Notes - Redefining success: managing tax through turbulent times

  This issue begins with our lead article on managing tax controversies in turbulent times. With the global economic meltdown, tax authorities around the world are doing their best to protect their tax revenues and are becoming more vigilant in cracking down on abusive tax practices. There are also increasing calls by the international tax community for greater transparency and more international cooperation to curb harmful tax practices. All of these have made managing the potential exposure to tax controversies more pertinent than ever. The article looks at some of the recent developments in this area and discusses how multinational corporations could respond to meet these challenges.

• Asia Pacific Private Equity Tax

  We released the first issue of Asia Pacific Private Equity Tax, which is designed as an annual review of taxation issues affecting private equity firms and their investors in the Asia Pacific region.
  A broad range of specialist authors have provided insights into some of the many tax issues and opportunities that private equity firms and their investors will consider over the coming year; as well as an update on key tax developments for the industry in the region.

2008

• Paying Taxes 2009 - The global picture

  The third edition of Paying taxes, a joint publication from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank, has been released. The study seeks to compare the ease of paying taxes in 181 economies around the world. Along with the ranking data, some of the key findings from this year's report are related to key reforms, corporate income taxes, employment taxes, consumption taxes and underlying data.

• Transfer pricing perspectives: The emerging perfect storm of transfer pricing audits and disputes

  This publication focuses on several important global dispute resolution topics, including:

  • recent developments involving the taxation of PEs;
  • recommended improvements to APAs and Mutual Agreement Procedures (MAPs) around the world; and
  • best practices in the global dispute resolution arena.

  This new era of global tax audits and disputes raises numerous challenges for companies and their advisors—are you prepared for the storm?

• Paying Taxes 2008 - The global picture

  The second edition of Paying taxes, a joint publication from PricewaterhouseCoopers and the World Bank looks at the relative ease of paying taxes in 178 countries worldwide.
  The report offers a unique opportunity to look at and compare tax regimes and can help governments and industry to ensure that fiscal systems are not only effective tools for tax collection but are also efficient for business.

• Emerging Trend in Real Estate 2008 (US)

  More than 600 of the nation’s leading real estate experts expects the sizzling commercial real estate market in the U.S. to slow in 2008, with a healthy correction that will likely bypass long-term investors but penalize late-to-the-game speculators and overleveraged buyers, according to the 29^th report. Real estate investors and developers believe uncertainty will characterize 2008. They expect capitalization rates to rise and risk to be repriced.
  Respondents believe the correction in the commercial market will not be as severe as in the residential real estate market. Commercial real estate supply and demand is relatively strong, development is in check and the fundamentals are still healthy.
  The reports covers real estate capital flow, markets to watch, property types in perspective, emerging trends in Canada.

2007

• Emerging Trend in Real Estate Asia Pacific 2008 （Second edition）

  The report is the second edition for Asia Pacific region and reflects interviews with and surveys of more than 190 real estate professionals. The report provides an outlook on Asia Pacific real estate investment and development trends, real estate finance and capital markets, property sectors, and metropolitan areas and other real estate issues pertinent to the countries in Asia. Tokyo ranks as the third most promising Asia Pacific city in terms of real estate investment prospects. Only Shanghai, in first place, and Singapore, in the second rated higher. In addition to its high investment rating, Tokyo also received a high rating for development prospects and the city was cited as offering the second lowest (or safest) rating in terms of overall risk. Tokyo is a market that is starting to draw more institutional money, in addition to the opportunistic funds that have been invested over the past five years.