Bain & Company
Bain & Company’s tax strategy statement pursuant to para 16(2) of Schedule 19 of the UK Finance Act 2016. This tax strategy statement applies to Bain & Company Inc. and its group members globally and in the UK for the financial year 2024.
Our tax strategy is guided by two of Bain’s Operating Principles: act with integrity and communicate honestly. We are steadfast in our commitment to comply with all applicable tax laws, treaties and regulations, and ensure we disclose relevant facts and circumstances to the respective tax authorities.
Risk management and governance
Qualified in-house tax and finance professionals are allocated responsibility for procedures and methods to manage and timely comply with different tax obligations. These professionals actively work to identify, evaluate, monitor and manage tax risks in line with our commitment to comply with all relevant tax laws. When there is significant uncertainty or complexity in relation to understanding and assessing local tax laws and regulations, external advice and guidance is sought from reputable tax advisors.
The Board of Directors of Bain & Company, Inc. has ultimate responsibility and approve this strategy. Responsibility for the management and implementation of the strategy has been delegated by the Board to the CFO and the Finance Subcommittee, whose purpose is to provide leverage to the Board on key financial issues, including tax matters. The Head of Tax is responsible for the day-to-day management of tax affairs and reports to the CFO.
Attitude towards tax planning
In structuring and managing our commercial operations, we consider all appropriate tax laws of the countries in which we operate, with a view to ensure compliance, meeting our tax payment obligations in a timely manner, and maximizing value for our owners. All business transactions undertaken will have commercial and economic substance. We seek to apply legally applicable tax incentives, reliefs and exemptions in line with the tax legislation and intentions of government. We may seek external advice in relation to any structuring considered to ensure we remain aligned with our Operating Principles.
Level of acceptable risk
Given the scale of our business operations and the volume of tax obligations, tax risk will inevitably arise from time to time in relation to interpretation of complex tax laws, rulings and/or tax jurisprudence. We apply a conservative and prudent standard of compliance to minimize tax risks.
Relationship with tax authorities
We are eager to develop and maintain a positive and collaborative working relationship with all tax authorities. We believe it is critical to work closely with the tax authorities and to make certain that the tax authorities fully understand our business operations. We are committed to working constructively to quickly resolve any differences or issues with tax authorities. Any inadvertent errors or submissions made to tax authorities are disclosed as soon as practical. Where the tax authority may disagree with a position taken by Bain, we will seek to resolve the issue through open and collaborative dialogue in the first instance, but may choose to further defend our position through alternative avenues.
Dated as of: January 1, 2024