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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