United Kingdom Withholding Tax
If a UK Guarantor makes any payments in respect of interest, premium or discount on the Notes, such payments may be subject to United Kingdom withholding tax at 20 per cent, subject to the availability of any domestic law exemption or any relief under the provisions of any applicable double taxation treaty.
The references to “interest” above are to “interest” as understood for the purposes of UK tax law. They do not take into account any different definition of “interest” or “principal” that may prevail under any other tax law or that may apply under the terms and conditions of the Notes or any related document.
United Kingdom Tax Payers
Corporate noteholders within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax (and not subject to any special tax regime, for example life insurance businesses) will normally recognize any profits, gains or losses on the Notes (including on redemption) for United Kingdom corporation tax purposes under the “loan relationship” rules in Part 5 of the UK’s Corporation Tax Act 2009. Generally speaking, under these rules, interest, profits, gains and losses (broadly, measured and recognized in accordance with generally accepted accounting practice) are taxed or relieved as income.
Foreign exchange gains and losses on the Notes in respect of corporate noteholders will, generally, fall within the “loan relationship” rules. Accordingly, corporate noteholders within the charge to United Kingdom corporation tax will, generally, be taxed on, or obtain relief for, foreign exchange gains and losses as described above.
Noteholders who are not subject to United Kingdom corporation tax but who are resident for tax purposes in the United Kingdom or who carry on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a branch or agency to which the Notes are attributable will, generally, be subject to income tax on interest arising in respect of the Notes on a receipts basis.
A transfer of Notes by a non-corporate Noteholder resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes, or who carries on a trade, profession or vocation in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment to which the Notes are attributable, may give rise to a charge to United Kingdom income tax on an amount representing the interest on the transferred Notes that has accrued since the preceding interest payment date.
United Kingdom Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
What follows is drafted on the basis, as is expected to be the case, that the Notes are “exempt loan capital” (that is, that section 79(4) of the UK’s Finance Act 1986 applies to the Notes).
No UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax should be payable on the issue, transfer or redemption of the Notes.
THE IRISH, UNITED KINGDOM AND UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATION ONLY AND IS NOT TAX ADVICE. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN, AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN THE IRISH, UNITED KINGDOM, UNITED STATES FEDERAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
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