CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS FOR U.S. PERSONS
The following is a general discussion of the principal U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common shares that are generally applicable to a U.S. Holder (as defined below), as defined below, with respect to shares that a U.S. Holder acquires pursuant to this offering. This summary assumes that the shares are held as capital assets (generally, property held for investment), within the meaning of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, in the hands of a U.S. Holder at all relevant times. This discussion is based on the Code, final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations thereunder, or the Treasury Regulations, pertinent judicial decisions, interpretive rulings of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service, or the IRS, and such other authorities as we have considered relevant. Future legislative, judicial, or administrative modifications, revocations, or interpretations, which may or may not be retroactive, may result in U.S. federal income tax consequences significantly different from those discussed herein. This discussion is not binding on the IRS. No ruling has been or will be sought or obtained from the IRS with respect to any of the U.S. federal tax consequences discussed herein. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any of the conclusions described herein or that a U.S. court will not sustain such a challenge.
This discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders subject to special rules, including U.S. Holders that (i) are banks, financial institutions, or insurance companies, (ii) are regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts, (iii) are brokers, dealers, or traders in securities or currencies, (iv) are tax-exempt organizations, (v) are governments or agencies or instrumentalities thereof, (vi) are U.S. expatriates, (vii) elect to mark their securities to market, (viii) hold the shares as part of hedges, straddles, constructive sales, conversion transactions, or other integrated investments, (ix) acquire the shares as compensation for services or through the exercise or cancellation of employee stock options or warrants, (x) have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, or (xi) own or have owned directly, indirectly, or constructively, shares of the Company representing 10% or more of the voting power or value of the Company,.
In addition, this discussion does not address tax considerations relevant to U.S. Holders under any non-U.S., state or local tax laws, the Medicare tax on net investment income, U.S. federal estate, gift tax, or other non-income tax, or the alternative minimum tax. Each U.S. Holder is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and non-U.S. income and other tax considerations of an investment in the shares.
As used herein, “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of common shares that is (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation (or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust that (a) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and for which one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person.
If a pass-through entity, including a partnership or other entity taxable as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holds common shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an owner or partner generally will depend on the status of such owner or partner and on the activities of the pass-through entity. A U.S. person that is an owner or partner of a pass-through entity holding the shares is urged to consult its own tax advisor.
Distributions on the Shares
Subject to the PFIC (as defined below) rules discussed below, the gross amount of any distribution paid by the Company will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax as foreign source dividend income to the extent paid out of the Company’s current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Such amount will be includable in gross income by a U.S. Holder as ordinary income on the date that such U.S. Holder actually or constructively receives the distribution in accordance with such holder’s regular
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