C » Topics » Each prospective investor should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

This excerpt taken from the C DEF 14A filed Jun 18, 2009.

Each prospective investor should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, and foreign income and other tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

If a partnership (or other entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is the beneficial owner of our common stock, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that hold our common stock, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the Reverse Stock Split.

U.S. Holders

The Reverse Stock Split should be treated as a recapitalization for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Therefore, except as described below with respect to cash in lieu of fractional shares, no gain or loss will be recognized upon the Reverse Stock Split. Accordingly, the aggregate tax basis in the common stock received pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split should equal the aggregate tax basis in the common stock surrendered (excluding the portion of the tax basis that is allocable to any fractional share), and the holding period for the common stock received should include the holding period for the common stock surrendered.

A U.S. holder who receives cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split should recognize capital gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the amount of cash received and the U.S. holder’s tax basis in the shares of our common stock surrendered that is allocated to such fractional share of our common stock. Such capital gain or loss should be long term capital gain or loss if the U.S. holder’s holding period for our common stock surrendered exceeded one year at the Effective Time. The deductibility of net capital losses by individuals and corporations is subject to limitations.

U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. Information returns generally will be required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service ( IRS) with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split in the case of certain U.S. holders. In addition, U.S. holders may be subject to a backup withholding tax (at the current applicable rate of 28%) on the payment of such cash if they do not provide their taxpayer identification numbers in the manner required or otherwise fail to comply with applicable backup withholding tax rules. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or allowed as a credit against the U.S. holder’s federal income tax liability, if any, provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

Non-U.S. Holders

The discussion in this section is addressed to “non-U.S. holders.” A non-U.S. holder is a beneficial owner of our common stock who is a foreign corporation or a non-resident alien individual.

Generally, non-U.S. holders will not recognize any gain or loss upon the Reverse Stock Split. In particular, gain or loss will not be recognized with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional share provided that (a) such gain or loss is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States (or, if certain income tax treaties apply, is not attributable to a non-U.S. holder’s permanent establishment in the United States), (b) with respect to non-U.S. holders who are individuals, such non-U.S. holders are present in the United States for less than 183 days in the taxable year of the Reverse Stock Split and other conditions are met, and (c) such non-U.S. holders comply with certain certification requirements.

U.S. Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax. In general, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to payment of cash in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock to a non-U.S. holder pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split if the non-U.S. holder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is a non-U.S. holder and the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge to the contrary. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or allowed

 

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as a credit against the non-U.S. holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In certain circumstances the amount of cash paid to a non-U.S. holder in lieu of a fractional share of our common stock, the name and address of the beneficial owner and the amount, if any, of tax withheld may be reported to the IRS.

No Appraisal Rights

Under Delaware law and our restated certificate of incorporation, holders of our common stock will not be entitled to dissenter’s rights or appraisal rights with respect to the Reverse Stock Split.

Required Vote and Recommendation

Under Delaware law and our restated certificate of incorporation, the affirmative written consent of holders of a majority of the shares of common stock outstanding as of the Record Date is required to approve the Reverse Stock Split. In connection with the Exchange Offers, the holders of Public Preferred Depositary Shares and Trust Preferred Securities participating in the Exchange Offers will have granted their Proxy Instructions with respect to the Reverse Stock Split in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Letter of Transmittal and following the Record Date, the shares of common stock issued in respect of such Public Preferred Depositary Shares and Trust Preferred Securities will be subject to an irrevocable proxy granted by the Voting Trustee in favor of the Reverse Stock Split.

 

The board unanimously recommends approval of the Reverse Stock Split.

 

 

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