Grant Thornton provides advisory services to help UK retailers establish and expand their presence in China. Their services cover all aspects of entering the Chinese market including market research, business formation, logistics, compliance, tax, HR, and e-commerce support. They have retail teams located throughout China and the UK to provide local expertise and guidance. Their goal is to help UK retailers unlock growth opportunities and successfully operate within China.

1. Advisory services to
retailers in China
Our specialist retail teams located in the UK, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing, together with a group of selected associates, have put together a new
service to help UK retailers unlock their potential for growth and establish a presence in one of the fastest and growing markets in the world. Our
advisory services cover every stage and aspect of your company’s entry and expansion into China.
Operations and markets Property
• Market opportunity assessment • Acquisitions
• Market entry strategy • Store design and fit out
• Advice on distribution and warehousing • Statutory requirements
• Store roll out strategy
• Advice on IT (EPoS and Infrastructure) Partnerships, mergers and acquisitions
• Research and identification of target businesses
Company formation and business risk services • Approaching and negotiating with targets
• Investment categorisation • Developing the offer; including valuations, funding requirements and
• Identification of preferred type of entity drafting of all documentation
• Legal formation • Due diligence
• Location planning
• Recommendations for holding structure HR
• Advice on financing methods including use of intermediary • Personal tax planning
companies • HR policy
• Overview of auditing, company law and tax filing obligations • Disciplinary matters
• Insurance: property, business interruption, directors and officers, • Advice on pensions
marine and internal transit goods, non-claim ability against contract
warranties, PI insurance, cash in transit, product recall and public, Compliance
product and employers liability • Company secretarial compliance
• National and local regulatory compliance
Cross border structuring and tax
• Supply chain: review cross-border flow of goods and services to E-commerce
maximise operating cash flow efficiency and minimising the • Website design
global tax • Mobile apps and services
• Transfer pricing: documentation and defence work • Web hosting
• Financing: debt and equity structures • Photography and video services
• Indirect taxes: managing VAT and customs duty leakage • E and m fulfilment and logistics
Accounting and treasury functions
• Internal audit
• Accounting, reconciliation of sales data and payroll
• Advice on creation of accounts payable and treasury dealing
operations

2. Grant Thornton’s China Retail team
Barry Knight Kevin Chan Nick Farr
Head of Retail (London) Head of Retail (Shanghai) Head of China Britain Services
Grant Thornton UK LLP Grant Thornton China Group (London)
E barry.s.knight@uk.gt.com E kevin.chan@cn.gt.com Grant Thornton UK LLP
T +44 (0)20 7865 2150 T +86 21 2322 0279 E nick.farr@uk.gt.com
T +44 (0)20 7728 2691
Daniel Lin Carol Cheng Ian Hartnell
Head of Retail (Hong Kong) Head of Retail (Beijing) Head of Employee Benefits (London)
Grant Thornton China Grant Thornton China Grant Thornton Employee Benefits
E daniel.lin@cn.gt.com E carol.cheng@cn.gt.com Consultancy LLP
T +852 3987 1300 T +86 10 8566 5365 E ian.hartnell@uk.gt.com
T +44 (0)20 7728 2691
Grant Thornton China, headquartered in Beijing, also has branch offices in Changchun, Chengdu, Dalian, Fuzhou,
Guangzhou, Ha’erbin, Hong Kong SAR, Nanjing, Nanning, Qingdao, Shanghai, Taiyuan, Wuhan, Xi’an and Xiamen.
We have a strong foothold in all major economic centres in mainland China and Hong Kong and are continuing to
build our national presence.
In association with
© 2012 Grant Thornton UK LLP. All rights reserved.
In this document ‘Grant Thornton’ means Grant Thornton UK LLP, Grant Thornton China and/or Grant Thornton Employee Benefits
Consultancy LLP as the context requires. Grant Thornton Employee Benefits Consultancy LLP is owned by Grant Thornton UK LLP
and its members. Grant Thornton UK LLP and Grant Thornton China are member firms within Grant Thornton International Ltd.
(‘Grant Thornton International’). Grant Thornton International and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are
delivered by the member firms independently. This publication has been prepared only as a guide. No responsibility can be accepted
for loss occasioned to any person acting or refraining from acting as a result of any material in this publication.
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