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Swiss Drugs Firm Seeks To Exploit European Tax Competition

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

18 April 2005

The decision by a major Swiss generic drugs maker to relocate from the Austrian capital, Vienna to either Munich in Germany or Basle in Switzerland has thrown the spotlight back onto the hotly debated topic of corporate tax competition in Europe.

According to a report in the Financial Times, Sandoz, the generics subsidiary of Switzerland's Novartis is considering relocating the firm for tax purposes following Novartis's recent takeover of German company Hexel.

The FT reported that Sandoz chief executive, Andreas Rummelt, had asked governments in all three countries what they could offer the firm in terms of tax benefits.

According to Mr Rummelt, Vienna remains an attractive location for the firm's headquarters due to its relatively light company tax regime and proximity to manufacturing facilities. However, he went on to state that Basle offered advantages in terms of research & development, whilst the Hexel takeover has also brought Munich into the frame.

The issue is thought likely to fan the flames of debate within the EU over corporate tax levels, with some states, most notably Germany and France, calling for a minimum level of taxation to prevent corporate tax 'dumping.'

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