Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Notes that we are offering. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax consequences. This summary is based upon the Code, U.S. Treasury Department (the “U.S. Treasury”) regulations (including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current administrative interpretations, and official pronouncements of the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not sought, and will not seek any ruling from the IRS regarding any matter discussed herein, and this discussion is not binding on the IRS. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to those discussed below.
This summary is for general information only, and does not purport to discuss all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular holder in light of its investment or tax circumstances (such as the effects of Section 451(b) of the Code) or to holders subject to special tax rules, such as partnerships, subchapter S corporations or other pass-through entities (and holders of interests in such entities), any government (or instrumentality or agency thereof), banks, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and stockholders of such corporations, pension plans, trusts and estates, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities that have elected to use the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, persons holding the Notes as part of an integrated investment, including a “straddle,” “hedge,” “constructive sale,” or “conversion transaction,” persons (other than Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below)) whose functional currency for tax purposes is not the U.S. dollar or who have ceased to be U.S. citizens or to be taxed as residents of the United States, and persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code. This summary does not include any discussion of the tax laws of any state, local, or foreign government that may be applicable to a particular holder nor does it discuss any U.S. federal tax consequences other than U.S. federal income tax consequences (such as U.S. federal estate or gift tax consequences). This discussion does not discuss any aspects of U.S. estate or gift tax or non-U.S., state or local tax laws.
This summary is directed solely to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) that will purchase the Notes offered in this prospectus at their “issue price” (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes is sold for money to investors, other than to bond houses, brokers, or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers), and will hold such Notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means as property held for investment.
You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning, and disposing of the Notes, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.
As used in this prospectus, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note offered in this prospectus that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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an estate, the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or
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a trust if (a) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (b) a valid election is in place under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to treat such trust as a United States person.
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the Notes offered in this prospectus, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the