"The New U.S. Tax Law"

Guest Experts:

Joseph  J. Czajkowski, Tax Counsel,
Exxon Mobil Corporation, Irving, TX

Willard B. Taylor, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP, New York, NY

Luncheon - Tax Chapter

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Czajkowski_Taylor.pdf

Guest Speaker:

Phil Gramm

Vice Chairman, UBS Investment Bank, New York
Former member of the U.S. Senate

Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

"Private Equity Investment in USA"

Panelist:

Dr. René P. Eichenberger, Managing Partner, Crossbow Ventures Inc, West Palm Beach, FL
Peter Friedli, President, Friedli Corporate Finance, Zurich
Trudi Schifter, General Partner, Iglobe Partners, Zurich

Dr. Björn Johansson, Chairman & CEO, Dr. Björn Johansson Associates Inc., Zurich

Panel Meeting - Doing Business in the USA

11:15 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday

"Innovate America"

Guest Experts:

Peter Quadri, General Manager, IBM (Schweiz), Zurich
Douglas Gregory, Vice President Governmental Programs EMEA, IBM, Brussels
Xavier Comtesse, Director Antenne Genevoise, Avenir Suisse, Geneva

Trend Luncheon

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Guest Speaker:

Patrick Firmenich
Chief Executive Officer, Firmenich, Meyrin-Satigny

CEO Luncheon, 11.45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

"Being Sued in the U.S."

Panelists:

John G. Scriven, General Counsel, ABB, Zurich

Richard N. Chassin, Partner, Becker, Glynn, Melamed & Muffly LLP, New York

Moderator:
Dr. Peter C. Honegger, Niederer Kraft & Frey, Zurich

Chapter Luncheon - Legal Committee

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

"Developing Your Staff - Tips and Insights for Better Performances"

Panelists:

Edward Lonergan, President Europe, Gillette Group International, Geneva

Laura McKeaveney, Vice President HR International, Medtronic Europe, Tolochenaz

Anne Oppenheim, Director Management Organization Development, Philip Morris International, Lausanne

Briefing, 5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

"Special Breakfast - U.S. Presidential Election"

Join us to watch the CNN coverage on big screen TV and to discuss the outcome of the U.S. Presidential Election 2004

Special Breakfast - in cooperation with The American Club of Zürich

6:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

"Personnel Compensation in Switzerland - Outlook for 2005"

Panelists:
Andreas Höfert, Head of Economic Research, UBS, Zurich

Roger Gambart, European Head of Compensation and Benefits, Du Pont de Nemours International SA, Le Grand-Sacconex

Moderator: Kevin R. Cornelius, Partner, Ernst & Young LTD, Zurich

Panel Meeting - Chapter Doing Business in Switzerland
11:45 a.m - 2:00 p.m.

"Personnel Compensation in Switzerland - Outlook 2005"

Panelists:

Dr. Klaus Wellershoff, Chief Economist, UBS, Zurich
Anita Forster, Director of Compensation & Benefits, International, Zimmer GmbH, Winterthur

Moderator: Kevin R. Cornelius, Partner, Ernst & Young, Zurich

Chapter - Doing Business in Switzerland
11.30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Lugano
October 6
Wednesday

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Sergio Magistri

CEO, InVision Technology Inc., Newark, CA

"A Ticinese in America - A High-Tech Success Story"

CEO Luncheon, 12 noon - 2:00 p.m

Geneva
October 4
Monday

"The Swiss Tax System"
An Overview for English Speaking Individuals

Topics:
- Introduction and overview
- Individual income & wealth tgaxes
- Special taxes
- Tax effective compensation
- Corporate and value added taxes

Speakers:
Raymond Bech, Partner Tax & Legal, Ernst & Young, Lausanne

Michael Hildebrandt, Partner Human Capital, Ernst & Young, Lausanne

Henric Immink, Attorney at Law, Python, Schifferli, Peter & Associates, Geneva

Andrio Orler, Attorney at Law, Lenz& Stäehelin Attorneys at Law, Geneva

Briefing - Tax Chapter

4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Andrio Orler

Henric Immink

Michael Hildebrandt

Raymond Bech

Wednesday

"U.S. Business Travel"

Panelists:

Hans Lerch, President & CEO, Kuoni Travel Holding Ltd.
Willy Schnyder, Vice President Marketing & Sales Switzerland, Swiss International Airlines Ltd.
Urs Eberhard, Executive Vice President, Switzerland Tourism

Moderator: Dr. Björn Johansson, Chairman & CEO, Dr. Björn Johansson Associates Inc.

Chapter Doing Business in USA
11.30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Presentation:

Urs Eberhard

"USA Droit Fiscal - Séminaire d'introduction"

Thèmes:

Système fiscal des Etat-Unis, Imposition des personnes physiques, Affaires sur le marché américain - Principes fiscaux, Imposition de filiales américaines à l'étranger, La convention de double imposition CH-US, Impôts sur les successions et les donations, "Qualified intermediaries"

Présentateurs:
Michel Barbey, Avocat, Etude Borel & Barbey, Genève
Yvon de Coulon, Partner, Deloitte, Genève
Philip Marcovici, Avocat, Baker & McKenzie, Zurich
Prof. Xavier Oberson, Avocat, Etude Oberson, Genève
Andrio Orler, Avocat, Etude Lenz & Staehelin, Genève
Jesse Stephan, Manager US Tax, Deloitte, Genève
David Wigersma, Manager, Deloitte, Genève

Modération: Andrio Orler, Avocat,
Etude Lenz & Staehelin, Genève

Séminaire - Chapters Doing Business in the USA & Tax

8.30h - 17.00h

Presentations:
Xavier  Oberson

Presentation

Andrio Orler

"FAS 109 / IAS 12 - Accounting for Income Taxes - Executive Level"

A program designed for senior tax and finance executives to review accounting standards relative to taxes, issues that impact a company's effective tax rate, and the introduction of IFRS.

Speakers:
Gion Clopath, Attorney at Law, Geneva
C.J. Getz, Partner, Deloitte, Geneva
Raymund Gerardu, Vice President Group Taxation, Adecco Management & Consulting, Glattbrugg

Seminar - Tax Chapter
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Presentations:

Overview of FAS

Overview of FS Financial Audit Items Affecting ETR

Tax Risk Mgmt.

Zurich
September 15

Wednesday

"Managing Risk - Strategic Insights from a Global CEO Survey"

Guest Expert:
Joel A. Kurtzman, Partner & Senior Advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers, New York

Trend Luncheon
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Tuesday

Guest Speaker:

Jens Alder
CEO, Swisscom AG, Bern

"Privatization, Regulation and the Future of Telecommunications"

CEO Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday

"Amts- und Rechtshilfe an die USA
Wie weit gehen wir?"

Referenten:
Urs Wenzel, Attorney at Law, UBS AG, Zürich
Dave Zollinger, Bezirksanwalt, Bezirksanwaltschaft IV für den Kanton Zürich, Zürich
Dr. Urs Zulauf, Vizedirektor Rechtsdienst, Eidgenössische Bankenkommission, Bern

Moderator: Dr. Peter C. Honegger, Attorney at Law, Niederer Kraft & Frey, Zürich

Panel Meeting - Legal Committee

11.30 - 14.00 Uhr

"Asset Allocation: Has it Become Easier?"

Panelists:

Dr. Thomas Lips, CIO, AIG Private Bank Ltd., Zurich
Alois Bischofberger, Chief Economist,
Credit Suisse Corporate & Retail Banking, Zurich
Alfred Strebel, Business Director, Fidelity Investments International, Zurich

Moderator: Christian Speiser, Zurich

Panel Meeting - Financial Services Chapter
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

"USA Steuerrecht - Einführungsseminar"

Inhalt:

US-Steuersystem, Besteuerung natürlicher Personen, Geschäftstätigkeit im USA-Markt-Steuergrundlagen, Unternehmensbesteuerung, Doppelbesteuerungsabkommen Schweiz-USA, US-Besteuerung amerikanischer Tochtergesellschaften im Ausland

Referenten / Workshopleiter:
Hans F. Flick, Partner in Charge, KPMG, Detroit MI
Jacqueline Hess, Director, International Tax Services,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Zürich
Dr. Markus F. Huber, Partner, International Tax Services
Ernst & Young, Zürich
Dr. Barbara Kessler, Head of Group Tax,
Novartis International SA, Basel
Peter Reinarz, Attorney at Law & Certified Tax Accountant,
Bär & Karrer, Zürich
Alfred Storck, Group Senior Officer Corporate Finance & Taxes,
ABB Ltd., Zürich
Tony Widler, Partner, Legal & Tax Services, Deloitte, Zürich

Leitung: Dr. Peter R. Altenburger, Attorney at Law,
Altenburger & Partners, Küsnacht

Seminar - Chapters Doing Business in the USA & Tax

8.45 - 16.45 Uhr

Lugano
July 8
Thursday

Guest Speaker:

Jonathan Steinberg

Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Modern European History, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

"Why Ticino says No to Europe - An American Historian's Reflections"

Round-Table Luncheon
12:00 noon

"Aging Population - Impact on the Economy"

Panelists:
Lukas Weber, Head Life Insurance Zurich Switzerland, Zurich Financial Services Group, Zurich
Prof. Dr. Thomas Eberle, University St. Gallen,
Prof. Dr. Raphael H. Levey, Chairman,
Global Medical Forum Foundation, Zurich

Trend Luncheon
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Speech of  Lukas Weber
(pdf)

"The Challenge of Globalization: The Swiss Way"

Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker:
Jean-Daniel Gerber, State Secretary of Economic Affairs

Annual General Meeting
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday

"Phase 2 of the Bilateral Agreements - How Will It Make Life Easier?"

Guest Expert:
Nora Rabinovoci, Head of Work Division, Geneva Foreigners Registry Office, Geneva

Briefing, 4:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Monday

"USA-Markt - Aufbau & Entwicklung - Fallbeispiele & Lehren"

Referenten:
Dr. Franziska Tschudi, CEO, Wicor Holding AG, Rapperswil
Domenic Steiner, VR Präsident, Thermoplan AG, Weggis
Calvin Grieder, CEO, Bühler AG, Uzwil

Leitung:
Martin Naville, Direktor, The Boston Consulting Group, Zurich

Panel Meeting - Chapter Doing Business in the USA

11.15 - 14.00 Uhr

Wednesday

Guest Speaker:
Chuck Prince

CEO, Citigroup, New York

"Global Banking - How to Grow in a Volatile Market"

Cocktail Briefing, 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Monday

"The Swiss Tax System:
An Overview for English Speaking Individuals"

Panelists:
Dr. Reto Böhi, Attorney at Law, Naegeli & Streichenberg, Zurich
Ingo Heymanns, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young, Zurich
David Ryser, Attorney at Law, Tax Partners AG, Zurich
Martin Zogg, Senior Manager, Ernst & Young, Zurich

In conjunction with the British-Swiss Chamber of Commerce

Briefing - Chapter Doing Business in Switzerland

4:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Referent:
Dr. Jürg B. Altorfer,
Dr.oec.publ., Chef Hauptabteilung Einschätzungsdienste II, Kantonales Steueramt Zürich

Tax Chapter Luncheon
11.30 - 14.00 Uhr

Thursday

Workshop Leader:
Ulrich Egger, President, Egger, Philips & Partner AG, Zurich

Workshop
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday

"FAS 109 / IAS 12 - Accounting for Income Taxes - Seminar"

A program designed for senior tax and finance executives to review accounting standards relative to taxes, issues that impact a company's effective tax rate, and the introduction of IFRS.

Speakers:
Gion Clopath, Attorney at Law, Geneva
C.J. Getz, Partner, Deloitte, Geneva

Seminar - Tax Chapter
8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Tuesday

"Selecting the Right Person for the Right Job - Tips and Insights"

Panelists:
Ed Lonergan, President, Gillette Group International Sàrl, Geneva
Laura McKeaveney, Vice President HR, Medtronic Europe SA, Tolochenaz
Carolyn Lutz, Managing Partner, Korfmann Burnett Lutz AG, Geneva

Briefing, 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Friday

"Geldwäschereibekämpfung - neue Entwicklungen"

Referentin:

Dina Balleyguier, Rechtsanwältin,
Leiterin Kontrollstelle für die Bekämpfung der Geldwäscherei, Eidg. Finanzverwaltung, Bern

Luncheon - Legal Committee
11.30 - 14.00 Uhr

Wednesday

"U.S. Visa & Travel Issues - Changes that Affect Your Business, Your Employees"

Guest Speakers:

Mary Bazylak, Deputy Immigration Attache,
U.S. Consulate General, Frankfurt
Lili Ming, Consul General and Counsellor,
U.S. Embassy, Berne
Lorna Reid, Consular Assistant, Visa Section,
U.S. Embassy, Berne

Moderator:

Dr. René Bösch, Attorney at Law, Homburger, Zürich

Briefing - Chapter Doing Business in USA
16.30 - 18.00 Uhr

Tuesday

Internationales Steuerrecht der Schweiz

Referent:

Prof. Robert Waldburger,
Prof. Dr. iur., Vizedirektor, Eidg. Steuerverwaltung und Chef der Abteilung für internationales Steuerrecht und Doppelbesteuerungssachen, Eidgenössische Steuerverwaltung, Bern

Tax Chapter Luncheon
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Friday

Guest Speaker:

Kurt Stirnemann

President & CEO, Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen

"Adding Quality to People's Lives:

What an Industrial Company Contributes"

CEO Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Geneva
May 7

Monday

Louis C. Camilleri

Chairman and CEO, Altria Group Inc, New York, NY

CEO Luncheon, 11.45 a.m. - 2.00 p.m.

Monday

"Canton de Vaud: Statuts spéciaux de sociétés et revenues US-CH des personnes physicques"

Experts invités:

Philippe Maillard, Chef de l'Administration cantonale vaudoise des impôts, Lausanne

Pierre Dériaz, Directeur-adjoint, Administration cantonale vaudoise des impôts, Lausanne

Modération:

Prof. Yves Noël, Avocat, Etudes Noël-Urech, Lausanne

Tax Chapter Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday

"Business Judgment Rule"

Guest Speaker:

Dr. Richard Gassmann, Partner & Attorney at Law,
Baker & McKenzie, Zurich

Luncheon - Legal Committee

11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Presentation
(PDF)

Thursday

Guest Speaker:

Markus Akermann
CEO, Holcim Ltd., Zurich

"Building a Global Presence in a Local Business"

CEO Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Monday

"Managing Human Capital"

Panelists:
Thomas Hammer, Group Head of Human Resources, UBS, Zurich
Hans Savonije, CEO, Beverage Partners Worldwide, Urdorf
Gary Steel, Group Executive Committee, Head HR, ABB Ltd, Zurich

Moderator: Hans C. Steckling, HCS-Consulting, Zurich

Panel Meeting - Chapter Doing Business in Switzerland

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Thursday

"USA Haftpflichtfragen - die Praxis"

Referenten:
Christian Stambach, Head Group Risk Mgmt & Chief Legal Counsel,
Centerpulse Ltd., Zurich
Axel Schmidt, Chief Underwriter & Member of the Board of Directors, Zurich Financial Services, Zurich
Dr. Daniel A. Wuersch, Partner, Wuersch & Gering LLP, Zurich

Moderator: Dr. René Bösch, Attorney at Law, HOMBURGER, Zurich

Panel Meeting - Chapter Doing Business in the USA

March 22
Monday

USA Wirtschaftsrecht - Einführungsseminar

Inhalt:

Rechtssystem, Vertragsrecht, Ausservertragliche Haftung, Gesellschaftsrecht, Prozessrecht, Wichtige Vertragsverhältnisse, Arbeitsrecht, Wettbewerbsrecht, Kartellrecht.

Referenten / Workshopleiter:

Dr. Bernhard F. Meyer-Hauser, Rechtsanwalt,

MME Meyer Müller Eckert Partner, Zürich

Hans F. Kaeser, Partner, Schiff Hardin & Waite, New York

Dr. René Bösch, Rechtsanwalt, HOMBURGER, Zürich

Dr. Daniel A. Wuersch, Partner, Wuersch Gering LLP, New York
Daniel A. Menet, Associate, McDermott, Will Emery, New York

Leitung: Martin Frey, Fürsprecher, Baker McKenzie, Zürich

Seminar - Chapters Doing Business in the USA & Legal

Power Point
Präsentationen

B.Meyer-Hauser
H. Kaeser
R. Bösch
D. Wuersch
M. Frey

Zurich
March 15

Monday

Guest Speaker:

Hartmut Reuter
CEO, Rieter Holding Ltd., Winterthur

"Coping with New Challenges:
An Industrial Company's Path to Globalization"

CEO Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Lugano
March 9

Tuesday

Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker:

The Honorable Pamela Pitzer Willeford,

U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland, Berne

"An Outlook on US-Swiss Relations"

Annual Dinner - 7:15 p.m.

Geneva
March 9

Tuesday

Guest Speaker:

Jean-Pierre Roth

Chairman of the Governing Board, Swiss National Bank

"Monetary Policy and the Challenges of a Global Economy"

Chamber Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

"Practical Experience with the QI Audits"

Guest Experts:

Elizabeth M. Fasciana, Esq. Tax Director, Citigroup Private Bank, New York

Charles Hermann, Partner, Financial Services Tax Group,
KPMG Fides, Zurich

Tax Chapter Luncheon
11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday

"Practical Experience with the QI Audits"

Guest Experts:

Elizabeth M. Fasciana, Esq. Tax Director, Citigroup Private Bank, New York

Charles Hermann, Partner, Financial Services Tax Group, KPMG Fides, Zurich

Tax Chapter Luncheon

11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Geneva
March 3

Wednesday

Guest Speaker:

Rick Wagoner

Chairman & CEO, General Motors Corporation

"Balancing for Success in Today's Globalizing Economy"

CEO Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday

"Finanzspritzen aus USA:
Private Placements als Alternative zum Bondmarkt"

Referenten:

Fritz Hirsbrunner, Chief Financial Officer, Galencia Gruppe, Bern

Rudolf Huber, Chief Financial Officer, Geberit International, Jona

Werner Kummer, Chief Executive Officer, Forbo Holding, Eglisau

Martin Menzi, Partner, Swiss Capital Group, Zürich

Panel Meeting - Chapter Doing Business in USA

Thursday

M&A Wave in Financial Industry to Engulf Switzerland: Winners and Losers

Guest Speaker:

Ray Soudah

Founder & Chairman, MilleniumAssociates AG, Zug

Chamber Luncheon

Tuesday

Lex Americana
Fundamentalisches amerikanisches Recht: Die Jury als Pfeiler der Demokratie

Gastreferent:
Prof. Dr. Peter Nobel
Rechtsanwalt, Nobel & Hug Attorneys at Law, Zurich
Luncheon - Legal Committee

Wednesday

Building a Performance Driven Culture: One Global Company's Approach

Guest Speaker:

Cheri Alexander
Vice President Personnel, General Motors Europe AG, Zurich

Chapter Doing Business in Switzerland Luncheon

Monday

Guest Speaker:

Rolf Dörig
CEO, Swiss Life Insurance and Pension Co., Zurich

"Life Insurance - Usually a Boring Business"

CEO Luncheon

Wednesday

Guest Speaker:

Ray Soudah

Founder & Chairman, MilleniumAssociates AG, Zug

"M&A Wave in Financial Industry to Engulf Switzerland - Winners & Losers"

Chamber Luncheon