deemed to control or hold), either alone or together with one or more associated or connected persons, directly or indirectly (including through the holding of the ADSs), an interest of 10% or more in the issued share capital (or in any class thereof), voting power, rights to profits or capital of the Company, and is not otherwise connected with the Company.
This summary further assumes that a holder of ADSs will be treated as the beneficial owner of the underlying ordinary shares for UK direct tax purposes.
POTENTIAL INVESTORS IN THE ADSs SHOULD SATISFY THEMSELVES PRIOR TO INVESTING AS TO THE OVERALL TAX CONSEQUENCES, INCLUDING, SPECIFICALLY, THE CONSEQUENCES UNDER UK TAX LAW AND HMRC PRACTICE OF THE ACQUISITION, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSAL OF THE ADSs (OR UNDERLYING ORDINARY SHARES), IN THEIR OWN PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES BY CONSULTING THEIR OWN TAX ADVISERS.
Taxation of dividends
Withholding Tax
Dividend payments in respect of the ordinary shares represented by the ADSs may be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of UK tax.
Income Tax
Dividends received by individual UK Holders will be subject to UK income tax on the amount of the dividend paid.
The first £2,000 of dividend income received by an individual UK Holder in a tax year will be subject to a nil rate of tax regardless of the amount of the individual’s other taxable income.
Dividend income in excess of the £2,000 to which the nil rate of tax applies will be taxed at the rate of 8.75% to the extent that the dividend, when treated as the top slice of the relevant UK Holder’s income, does not exceed the basic rate income tax limit, at the rate of 33.75% to the extent that the dividend, when treated as the top slice of the relevant UK Holder’s income, exceeds the basic rate income tax limit but does not exceed the higher rate income tax limit, and at the rate of 39.35% to the extent that the dividend, when treated as the top slice of the relevant UK Holder’s income, exceeds the higher rate income tax limit.
An individual holder of ADSs who is not a UK Holder will not be chargeable to UK income tax on dividends paid by the Company, unless such holder carries on (whether solely or in partnership) a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency in the United Kingdom to which the ADSs (or underlying ordinary shares) are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, be chargeable to UK income tax on dividends received from the Company.
Corporation Tax
A UK Holder within the charge to UK corporation tax may be entitled to exemption from UK corporation tax in respect of dividend payments. If the conditions for the exemption are not satisfied, or such UK Holder elects for an otherwise exempt dividend to be taxable, UK corporation tax will be chargeable on the gross amount of any dividends (at the current rate of 19%). If potential investors are in any doubt as to their position, they should consult their own professional advisers.
A corporate holder of ADSs that is not a UK Holder will not be subject to UK corporation tax on dividends received from the Company, unless it carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the ADSs (or underlying ordinary shares) are attributable. In these circumstances, such holder may, depending on its individual circumstances and if the exemption from UK corporation tax discussed above does not apply, be chargeable to UK corporation tax on dividends received from the Company.
Taxation of disposals
UK Holders
A disposal or deemed disposal of ADSs by an individual UK Holder may, depending on his or her individual circumstances, give rise to a chargeable gain or to an allowable loss for the purpose of UK capital gains tax. The principal factors that will determine the capital gains tax position on a disposal of ADSs are the extent to which