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 By some calculations, Lee's 45-year-old son Jay Y. Lee, the group's
presumed heir apparent, and his two sisters could be on the hook for
about $6 billion in tax under South Korea's top level inheritance
tax rate of 50 percent.
To put that in perspective, the United States expects to collect
just $16 billion this year in estate and gift taxes - a levy that
has long been a political bone of contention and which many rich
Americans go to great lengths to minimize.
However, attempts by the Lee family to ease its tax burden could
weaken its control over an empire it now runs through a complex
structure of interlocking ownership - and risk stirring up public
condemnation.
The elder Lee's assets, held mostly in shares of Samsung Electronics
<005930.KS>, the world's dominant smartphone maker, and Samsung Life
Insurance <032830.KS>, have a market value of around 13 trillion won
($12.7 billion). Depending on how the inheritance levy is applied,
tax on those holdings could top 6 trillion won at current levels.
Because the shares are crucial to maintaining management control of
the group's various affiliates, analysts say the family would aim to
retain them even at great expense.
"The typical strategy is to adjust the amount of assets before
death, take advantage of deductibles that are legally permitted or
gift assets to push down the inheritance tax bill in advance. But at
6 trillion won, deductibles don't have much meaning," said Ku Sang-su,
a certified public accountant at law firm Jipyong. "Once Chairman
Lee passes, there aren't many options to reduce the inheritance
tax."
The elder Lee, 72, was hospitalized last month following a heart
attack. While his condition is said to be improving gradually, it is
not clear whether he will be able to play as big a role in the
conglomerate as he did in the past.
A Samsung Group spokeswoman declined to comment on succession
planning.
The bill could be more than triple the 1.7 trillion won that South
Korea collected in inheritance taxes in 2012. A National Tax Service
official said the authority does no advance monitoring of
potentially large payments.
RESTRUCTURING
The sprawling Samsung conglomerate, whose 2012 revenues accounted
for more than a quarter of South Korea's nominal gross domestic
product, appears to be accelerating a restructuring in anticipation
of an eventual succession.
Samsung Everland Inc, a key holding company within the group, this
week announced plans for an IPO, following a similar announcement
last month by the group's IT solutions affiliate Samsung SDS. Both
deals could help the Lee heirs raise cash to tighten their grip on
group companies, and help pay the looming inheritance tax bill.
Both Hong Kong and Singapore, with sizeable billionaire populations,
have done away with estate taxes in the last decade, although Japan,
like South Korea, imposes an estate tax of up to 50 percent. In the
United States, the top federal estate tax rate is 40 percent.
In South Korea, the tax has long been a headache for the seriously
wealthy, such as the heads of the conglomerates known as chaebol
that dominate the economy. Hyundai Motor Group and Doosan Group may
also face costly successions.
Michael Shikuma, a Tokyo-based international tax and estate planner
at U.S. law firm Morrison & Foerster, said there tends to be less
use of estate planning in Asia. "In Japan, historically, tax
planning has not really been considered something that's a patriotic
thing to do," he said.
UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
The Lees have long prepared for succession in anticipation of the
eventual transfer of control to the younger generation.
However, a series of maneuvers that was widely criticized by civic
groups and politicians means the group would be less likely to
attempt any tax measures that might stir a public outcry, some
analysts and tax experts said.
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The elder Lee's three children acquired big stakes in Samsung
Everland and Samsung SDS at prices far below market value during the
1990s in deals that were detailed during 2008-09 trials at which Lee
Kun-hee was charged with breach of trust and tax evasion. He was
found guilty of breach of trust regarding Samsung SDS, and tax
evasion, and given a suspended 3-year jail sentence, but later
received a presidential pardon.
The younger Lees' shares in Everland and SDS will likely be worth
billions of dollars after the companies go public.
Lee Kun-hee's daughters, Boo-jin and Seo-hyun, both in their early
40s, are expected eventually to control the group's hotels and
fashion businesses, respectively.
"Any tricks to try to skimp on the inheritance tax in the current
public climate will lead to a huge backlash," said Chung Sun-sup,
chief executive of research firm Chaebul.com. "The information is
public and there is a consensus on how much the family should pay.
If they try to pay 20-30 percent instead of half, would the public
accept that?"
VICTIMS OF SUCCESS
Despite past measures to shift assets to the younger generation, the
huge increase in market value of the elder Lee's holdings makes it
virtually impossible for his heirs to do much to lessen the tax bill
in advance.
But there are steps they can take to manage the payment.
The listings of Samsung Everland and SDS will provide them with
resources to raise cash, either by selling shares or borrowing
against them. They could also use shares they inherit from their
father as collateral to meet their obligations.
Increasing dividends from affiliates and seeking a multi-year
payment plan may also help reduce the pain, analysts say.
The family could also create charities and transfer portions of the
elder Lee's stakes to reduce the tax bill. However, rules limit how
much of a company can be given to charities, and tax experts said it
was unlikely the younger Lees would try to control the group's
various arms through a chain of foundations.
"I don't think the Korean people will accept the scenario in which
the decision-making process for a publicly traded company is decided
by a group of foundations controlled by the Lee family," said a tax
expert at a major local accounting firm, who declined to be
identified due to the sensitivity of the issue.
Tax experts said they expect the family to use a combination of
methods to meet their tax burden in a way that the public perceives
as legitimate.
"Without inheriting Chairman Lee Kun-hee's shares, the Lees will not
be able to retain both ownership and control two generations from
now," brokerage E*Trade Korea said in a report. "The problem is
taxes."
(Additional reporting by Sohee Kim and Kahyun Yang; Editing by Tony
Munroe and Ian Geoghegan)
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