MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of shares of our Class 2 common stock issued pursuant to this offering (the “Shares”), the purchase, exercise, disposition and lapse ofpre-funded warrants to purchase shares of our Class 2 common stock issued pursuant to this offering (the“Pre-Funded Warrants”); the purchase, exercise, disposition and lapse of warrants (other than prefunded warrants) to purchase shares of our Class 2 common stock issued pursuant to this offering (the “Warrants”), and the purchase, ownership and disposition of Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants andPre-Funded Warrants (the “Warrant Shares”). The Shares, thePre-Funded Warrants, the Warrants and the Warrant Shares are collectively referred to herein as our “securities.” All prospective holders of our securities should consult their tax advisors with respect to the U.S. federal, state, local andnon-U.S. tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our securities.
This discussion is based on current provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code, existing U.S. Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, published administrative pronouncements and rulings of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement. These authorities are subject to change and to differing interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. Any change or differing interpretation could alter the tax consequences to holders described in this discussion. There can be no assurance that a court or the IRS will not challenge one or more of the tax consequences described herein, and we have not obtained, nor do we intend to obtain, a ruling with respect to the U.S. federal income tax consequences to a holder of the purchase, ownership or disposition of our securities
We assume in this discussion that a holder holds our securities as a “capital asset” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of that holder’s individual circumstances, nor does it address any alternative minimum, Medicare contribution, estate or gift tax consequences, or any aspects of U.S. state, local ornon-U.S. taxes. This discussion also does not address consequences relevant to holders subject to special tax rules, such as holders that own, or are deemed to own, more than 5% of our capital stock (except to the extent specifically set forth below), corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax,tax-exempt organizations, banks, financial institutions, insurance companies, brokers, dealers or traders in securities, commodities or currencies,tax-qualified retirement plans, holders who hold or receive our securities pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, holders holding our securities as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction strategy, conversion transaction or other integrated investment, holders deemed to sell our securities under the constructive sale provisions of the Code, holders subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code, controlled foreign corporations, passive foreign investment companies and certain former U.S. citizens or long-term residents.
In addition, this discussion does not address the tax treatment of partnerships (or entities or arrangements that are treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes) or persons that hold our securities through such partnerships. If a partnership, including any entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds our securities, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Such partners and partnerships should consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of our securities.
Treatment ofPre-Funded Warrants
Although it is not entirely free from doubt, we believe aPre-Funded Warrant should be treated as a Share of Class 2 Common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a holder ofPre-Funded Warrants should generally be taxed in the same manner as a holder of such Shares, as described below. Accordingly, no gain or loss should be recognized upon the exercise of aPre-Funded Warrant and, upon exercise, the holding period of
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