On 27th Jan. 2012, the Financial Supervisory Commission approved the acquisition of Korean Exchange Bank by Hana Financial Group. One year later, on 28th Jan. 2013, both parties executed the agreement for comprehensive share exchange.
Subsequent to...
On 27th Jan. 2012, the Financial Supervisory Commission approved the acquisition of Korean Exchange Bank by Hana Financial Group. One year later, on 28th Jan. 2013, both parties executed the agreement for comprehensive share exchange.
Subsequent to the acquisition, a synergy effect between the two financial institutions had been expected; yet the 2012 business results were below the expectation. In response, Hana Financial Group looked for breakthroughs and found a solution in the comprehensive share exchange between Hana and KEX.
There was another option available to Hana: the triangular merger among Hana Financial Group, Hana Bank and KEB. This merger was considered not satisfying the requirement of continuous possession of equity-holdings; hence it would be classified as inappropriate merger under the tax regime. In such a case, Hana Bank, the surviving entity, would be taxed for the gains from the merger, whereas KEB, the target, would suffer a huge transfer marginal loss, which will translate into increase in non-deductible deficits-i.e. loss in taxation. Another point of consideration was the labor union: Hana Financial Group had signed an agreement with the KEB labor union, which specifically prescribed that both parties will continue their business independently from the other for 5 years; any discussion for the merger will be postponed for 5 years. Hence, undertaking a concrete action for the merger might be accepted as an attempt to breach the agreement.
The original option, comprehensive share exchange, was also considered not satisfying the requirement of continuous possession of equity-holdings; hence this option too would be classified as inappropriate merger under the tax regime. From the position of Hana Financial Group, however, there would be no changes in its position in taxation. On the contrary, it will be benefited from a reduction of taxes to be paid on the consolidation basis. From the position of the shareholders of KEB, the story is different: they would enjoy the benefits of referral or exemption of the transfer income tax (corporate tax) and the securities transaction tax.
Scholes et al.(2008) stated that an effective tax planning requires (1) to consider all contracting parties from the contractual perspective, (2) to comprise all taxes including implicit taxes, and (3) to comprise all costs including nontax costs.
This thesis reviews the comprehensive share exchange to confirm whether it is an efficient management strategy in perspective of effective tax planning. For this objective, this thesis analyzes how and to what extent the comprehensive share exchange affects the taxation and expenses, and incur non-tax effect & expenses.
It was found that Hana Financial Group enjoyed some benefits deriving from the reduction in corporate tax on the consolidation basis, non-tax effects including the synergy effect and decreased capital cost through the upgraded credit rating. Meanwhile, it suffered some non-tax expenses such as the aggravated relation with the labor union, litigation brought by small shareholders, etc. As for the non-tax expenses, the disputed amount in the litigation is not large and the relationship with the labor union is likely to improve over time by the management efforts.
The KEB shareholders have suffered tax expenses such as the transfer income tax and securities transaction tax. As for the combined effects comprising dividends gains and stock price margin, the outcome was net non-tax benefits, since the aggregate non-tax benefits exceeded the amount of tax expenses.
In conclusion, the comprehensive share exchange between Hana Financial Group and KEB was an efficient tax planning. However, there are some losers as well. Bank of Korea, one of KEB's shareholders, and the KEB employment stock ownership suffered losses in terms of the combined effect of the tax expenses and non-tax benefits. Bank of Korea is the public institute subsidized by the Government (hence by the tax) and the employment stock ownership is an entity created under the special policy concerns (e.g. employees' participation in management). Therefore, it is regrettable that these entities representing the public interests have suffered from the transaction.