Although multilateral netting can help reduce the need for subsidiaries to make multiple payment transfers and offsetting foreign exchange transactions, the execution of an effective netting process can be complicated and time consuming. This was one of the conclusions from a recent meeting of The NeuGroup’s Global Cash and Banking Group.
And what can make netting a smooth process? Automation, for one. ERP and third-party software solutions can bring much needed automation to the intercompany netting process. Members discussed various systems used to help collect and consolidate global exposures. Still, despite the advancements in technology, many continue to track and consolidate information using excel spreadsheets.
An in-house bank (IHB) can also help, but don’t get caught up in a regulatory quagmire. Unfortunately, regulatory risks remain for IHBs. And although IHB structures have long been considered a solution in consolidating intercompany flows and bringing efficiencies to the settlement of these balances, Dodd-Frank has the potential to disrupt this structure based on the user exemptions and trade reporting requirements.
Transfer pricing scrutiny pricing is another area for focus. Corporates have for years used transfer pricing tax strategies as a way to price services across a family of entities. As multinational corporations evolve into global enterprises, compliance with the differing requirements of multiple overlapping tax jurisdictions has become a complicated and expensive task, with the IRS taking particular notice of the growing volume of activity in this area. Add to this new international cooperation among tax authorities. Treasury’s responsibility is many times one of tactical processing with the creation of necessary intercompany invoices and the appropriate flow of funds that sometimes need to follow very specific routes based on guidance from the tax department. This sometimes adds complexity to the ability to net positions within the intercompany netting program, but is worth it in the long run.
The management of an intercompany netting process is sometimes seen as a time consuming process, but is necessary to comply with specific tax mandates.