-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: keymaster@town.hall.org Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFkwCgYEVQgBAQICAgADSwAwSAJBALeWW4xDV4i7+b6+UyPn5RtObb1cJ7VkACDq pKb9/DClgTKIm08lCfoilvi9Wl4SODbR1+1waHhiGmeZO8OdgLUCAwEAAQ== MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, E+fXereAJEE9qSvBzs3WLfDtoKxZPwur9VspkAHp71wRjEWxX7AIWcbOO7blq+Rd 1aTPQ9IwtENXZ9pmrB+SDQ== 0000003146-95-000023.txt : 199507030000003146-95-000023.hdr.sgml : 19950703 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000003146-95-000023 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 424B2 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 FILED AS OF DATE: 19950630 SROS: NONE FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ALABAMA GAS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000003146 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924] IRS NUMBER: 63022000 STATE OF INCORPORATION: AL FISCAL YEAR END: 0930 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 424B2 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 033-70466 FILM NUMBER: 95551377 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2101 SIXTH AVE NORTH CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35203 BUSINESS PHONE: 2053268100 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2101 SIXTH AVE NORTH CITY: BIRMINGHAM STATE: AL ZIP: 35203 424B2 1 Rule 424(b)(2) Registration No. 33-70466 PRICING SUPPLEMENT NO. 21, DATED June 28, 1995 (To Prospectus dated November 8, 1993 and Prospectus Supplement dated November 9, 1993) ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION Medium-Term Notes, Series A CUSIP# 01028QAT5 FIXED RATE NOTE Trade Date: June 28, 1995 Principal Amount: $10,000,000.00 Original Issue Date: 7/3/95 Issue Price: 100% (Par) Commission Rate: 0.625% Net Proceeds: $9,937,500.00 Interest Rate Per Annum: 6.70% Stated Maturity Date: 7/15/05 Interest Payment Dates: May 1 and November 1 Presenting Agent: Salomon Brothers, Inc. , as agent Additional Terms: None. CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS: The attached discussion under the heading "Certain Tax Considerations" supersedes, in all respects, the discussion set forth under the heading "Certain Tax Considerations" on page S-11 of the Prospectus Supplement of Alabama Gas Corporation dated November 9, 1993. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Prospectus Supplement dated November 9, 1993. CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS The following summary of certain United States Federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes is based upon laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject to change (including changes in effective dates) and possible differing interpretations. This discussion deals only with Notes held as capital assets and does not purport to deal with persons in special tax situations such as financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, dealers in securities or currencies, persons holding Notes as a hedge against currency risks or as a position in a "straddle" for tax purposes, or persons whose functional currency is not the United States dollar. This discussion also does not deal with holders other than original purchasers (except where otherwise specifically noted). Persons considering the purchase of the Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the application of United States Federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes arising under the laws of any other taxing jurisdiction. As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Note that is for United States Federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or the entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source or (iv) any other person whose income or gain in respect of a Note is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. As used herein, the term "non-U.S. Holder" means a holder of a Note that is not a U.S. Holder. U. S. Holders Payments of Interest Payments of interest on a Note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting). Original Issue Discount The following summary is a general discussion of the United States Federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Notes issued with original issue discount ("OID"). The following summary is based on the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and on certain final and temporary regulations (the "OID Regulations") issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury (the "Treasury") on January 27, 1994. The OID Regulations generally apply to debt instruments issued on or after April 4, 1994. On December 15, 1994, certain proposed regulations were issued by the Treasury (the "Proposed OID Regulations") that interpret the original issue discount provisions of the Code primarily as they apply to instruments that provide for one or more contingent payments. However, the Proposed OID Regulations will not apply to instruments issued prior to the expiration of the 60-day period immediately following the date on which such Regulations are published in the Federal Register, which publication has not yet occurred. As a result, the effect, if any, of the Proposed OID Regulations on a series of Notes will be discussed in the applicable Pricing Supplement, if such regulations have been finalized by the time such Pricing Supplement is issued. For United States Federal income tax purposes, a Note will have OID to the extent that the Note's stated redemption price at maturity exceeds its issue price, if such excess equals or exceeds a de minimis amount (generally 1/4 of 1% of the Note's stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years from its issue date to maturity). The issue price of each Note in an issuance of Notes is the initial offering price to the public at which a substantial amount of such Notes has been sold (excluding sales to bond houses, brokers, and similar persons and sales to organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement agents, or wholesalers). The "stated redemption price at maturity" of a Note is the sum of all payments due on the Note other than qualified stated interest payments. "Qualified stated interest" is stated interest that is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually at a single fixed rate that appropriately takes into account for the length of the interval between payments. In addition, under the OID Regulations, if a Note bears interest for one or more accrual periods at a rate below the rate applicable for the remaining term of such Note (e.g., Notes with teaser rates or interest holidays), and if the greater of either the resulting foregone interest on such Note or any "true" discount on such Note (i.e., the excess of the Note's stated principal amount over its issue price) equals or exceeds the specified de minimis amount, then the stated interest on the Note would be treated as OID rather than qualified stated interest. Payments of qualified stated interest on a Note are taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time such payments are accrued or are received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting). A U.S. Holder of a Note issued with OID and a maturity of more than one year must include OID in income as ordinary income over the term of the Note, regardless of such U.S. Holder's regular method of tax accounting. In general, a U.S. Holder must include in gross income the sum of the daily portions of OID that accrue on the Note for each day during the taxable year (or portion of the taxable year) on which such U.S. Holder held the Note. Accordingly, a U.S. Holder of a Note issued with OID must include in income amounts attributable to OID before receiving cash attributable to that income. To determine the "daily portion" of OID on any Note with OID, OID accruing during an accrual period (generally, the period between dates on which interest is paid) is divided by the number of days in the accrual period. An "accrual period" may be of any length and may vary in length over the term of the Note, provided that each accrual period is no longer than one year and each scheduled payment of principal or interest occurs either on the final day of an accrual period or on the first day of an accrual period. The amount of OID accruing during an accrual period is generally determined by using the constant yield to maturity method, and is equal to the excess of (i) the product of the Note's adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period and its yield to maturity (determined on the basis of compounding at the close of each accrual period and appropriately adjusted to take into account the length of the particular accrual period) over (ii) the amount of any qualified stated interest payments allocable to the accrual period. The Note's "adjusted issue price" at the beginning of any accrual period generally equals the sum of (i) the issue price of the Note plus (ii) the aggregate amount of OID includible in the gross income of the holder of the Note in all prior accrual periods, reduced by the amount of any payments on the Note in prior accrual periods other than payments of qualified stated interest. Under these rules, U.S. Holders generally will have to include in income increasingly greater amounts of OID in successive accrual periods. A. U.S. Holder of a Note with OID that purchases the Note for an amount that is greater than the Note's revised issue price as of the purchase date but less than the stated redemption price at maturity, will be considered to have purchased the Note at an "acquisition premium." The "revised issue price" of a Note is the sum of (i) the issue price of Note, and (ii) the aggregate amount of OID previously includible in the gross income of all holders of the Note (without regard to the reduction of such OID by any acquisition premium). Under the acquisition premium rules, the amount of OID which such U.S. Holder must include in its gross income with respect to such Note for any taxable year (or portion thereof in which the U.S. Holder holds the Note) will be reduced (but not below zero) by the portion of the acquisition premium properly allocable to the period. Under the OID Regulations, Floating Rate Notes are either treated as variable rate debt instruments or contingent payment debt obligations and are subject to special rules. A Note is a "variable rate debt instrument" if (a) its issue price does not exceed the total noncontingent principal payments due under the Note by more than a specified de minimis amount and (b) it provides for stated interest, paid or compounded at least annually, at current values of (i) one or more qualified floating rates, (ii) a single fixed rate and one or more qualified floating rates, (iii) a single objective rate, or (iv) a single fixed rate and a single objective rate that is a qualified inverse floating rate. A "qualified floating rate" is any floating rate that can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the Note is denominated (for example, LIBOR). Although a multiple of a qualified floating rate will generally not constitute a qualified floating rate, a variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than zero but not more than 1.35 will constitute a qualified floating rate. A variable rate equal to the product of a qualified floating rate and a fixed multiple that is greater than zero but not more than 1.35, increased or decreased by a fixed rate, will also constitute a qualified floating rate. In addition, under the OID Regulations, two or more qualified floating rates that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the note together will constitute a single qualified floating rate. Two or more qualified floating rates will be conclusively presumed to meet the requirements of the preceding sentence if the value of all rates on the issue date are within 25 basis points of each other. The OID Regulations provide that an otherwise qualified floating rate that has restrictions will not be a qualified floating rate unless the restrictions fall into one of the following categories: (a) a cap, a floor or a periodic adjustment restriction (a "governor") that is fixed throughout the term of the note, (b) a cap or similar restriction that is not reasonably expected as of the issue date significantly to decrease the expected yield on the note determined without the cap, (c) a floor or similar restriction that is not reasonably expected as of the issue date to significantly increase the expected yield on the note determined without the floor, or (d) a governor or similar restriction that is not reasonably expected as of the issue date significantly to increase or decrease the expected yield on the note without the governor. Floating Rate Notes subject to caps, floors, or governors that do not meet the above requirements could be treated as debt instruments providing for contingent payments. An "objective rate" is a rate other than a qualified floating rate, that is determined by a single fixed formula and is based on (i) one or more qualified floating rates, (ii) one or more rates each of which would be a qualified floating rate for a debt instrument denominated in a currency other than the currency in which the Note is denominated, (iii) the yield or the changes in the price of one or more items of actively traded personal property (other than stock or debt of the issuer or a related party), (iv) a combination of these objective rates, or (v) other rates designated from time to time by the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS"). Despite the foregoing, a variable rate of interest on a Floating Rate Note will not constitute an objective rate if it is reasonably expected that the average value of the rate during the first half of the Floating Rate Note's term will be either significantly less than or significantly greater than the average value of the rate during the final half of the Note's term. A "qualified inverse floating rate" is any objective rate that is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, and that reasonably can be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds disregarding permissible restrictions discussed above in the definition of a qualified floating rate. The OID Regulations also provide that if a variable rate debt instrument provides for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial period of less than one year followed by a variable rate that is either a qualified floating rate or an objective rate and if the variable rate on such instrument's issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate, then the fixed rate and the variable rate together will constitute either a single qualified floating rate or an objective rate, as the case may be. A fixed rate and a variable rate will be conclusively presumed to meet the requirements of the preceding sentence if the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate by more than 25 basis points. If a Floating Rate Note that provides for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term thereof qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations, then any stated interest on the Floating Rate Note which is unconditionally payable in cash or property (other than debt instruments of the issuer) at least annually will constitute qualified stated interest and will be taxed accordingly. Thus, a Floating Rate Note that provides for stated interest at either a single qualified floating rate or a single objective rate throughout the term of the Floating Rate Note and that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations will generally not be treated as having been issued with OID unless the Floating Rate Note is issued at a "true" discount (i.e., at a price below the Floating Rate Note's stated principal amount) in excess of the specified de minimis amount. OID on such a Floating Rate Note arising from "true" discount is allocated to an accrual period using the constant yield method described above by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to (i) in the case of a qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, the value as of the issue date, of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, or (ii) in the case of any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate), a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Floating Rate Note. To determine the amount and accrual of OID and qualified stated interest on any Floating Rate Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" other than those described above, the OID Regulations provide that the Floating Rate Note is to be hypothetically converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument that has terms identical to the Floating Rate Note, except that the equivalent Floating Rate Note has a fixed rate substituted for the qualified floating rate or objective rate provided under the Floating Rate Note. Any objective rate (other than a qualified inverse floating rate) provided for under the terms of the Floating Rate Note is converted into a fixed rate that reflects the yield that is reasonably expected for the Floating Rate Note. In the case of a Floating Rate Note that qualifies as a "variable rate debt instrument" and provides for stated interest at a fixed rate in addition to either one or more qualified floating rates or a qualified inverse floating rate, the Floating Rate Note is treated as if it provided for a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the Floating Rate Note provides for a qualified inverse floating rate) rather than the fixed rate. Under such circumstances, the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate that replaces the fixed rate must be such that the fair market value of the Floating Rate Note as of the issue date is approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for either the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to replacing the fixed rate with either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse floating rate, the Floating Rate Note is then hypothetically converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument in the manner described above. Once the Floating Rate Note is hypothetically converted into an "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument pursuant to the foregoing rules, the amount of OID and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument by applying the general OID rules to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument. A U.S. Holder of the Floating Rate Note will account for such OID and qualified stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument. Appropriate adjustments will be made in each accrual period in the amount of qualified stated interest or OID assumed to have been accrued or paid with respect to the "equivalent" fixed rate debt instrument in the event that such amounts differ from the actual amount of interest accrued or paid on the Floating Rate Note during the accrual period. If a Floating Rate Note does not qualify as a "variable rate debt instrument" under the OID Regulations, then the Floating Rate Note would be treated as a contingent payment debt obligation. As mentioned in the introductory paragraph, it is not entirely clear under current law how a Floating Rate Note would be taxed if such Note were treated as a contingent payment debt obligation. The proper United States Federal income tax treatment of Floating Rate Notes that are treated as contingent payment debt obligations will be more fully described in the applicable Pricing Supplement. Certain of the Notes (i) may be redeemable at the option of the Company prior to their stated maturity (a "call option") and/or (ii) may be repayable at the option of the holder prior to their stated maturity (a "put option"). Notes containing such features may be subject to rules that differ from the general rules discussed above. Investors intending to purchase Notes with such features should consult their own tax advisors, since the OID consequences will depend, in part, on the particular terms and features of the purchased Notes. Under the OID Regulations, the IRS can apply or depart from the OID Regulations as necessary or appropriate to achieve a reasonable result where a principal purpose in structuring a Note or applying the regulations described above is to achieve a result that is unreasonable in light of the purpose of the applicable statutes (which generally are intended to achieve the clear reflection of income for both borrowers and lenders). U.S. Holders may generally, upon election, include in income all interest (including stated interest, acquisition discount, OID, de minimis OID, market discount, de minimis market discount, and unstated interest, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium or acquisition premium) that accrues on a debt instrument by using the constant yield method applicable to OID, subject to certain limitations and exceptions. Short-Term Notes Notes that have a fixed maturity of one year or less ("Short-Term Notes") will be treated as having been issued with OID. U.S. Holders that do not use the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes generally will not be required to recognize OID on Short-Term Notes until they receive payment on such Notes. U.S. Holders on the accrual method, regulated investment companies, common trust funds, and certain others, however, must accrue OID on Short-Term Notes on a straight-line basis unless they elect to accrue the OID on a constant yield basis with daily compounding. For this purpose, OID on a Short- Term Note is the amount by which the total principal and interest payments on such Note exceed its issue price. U.S. Holders may elect to include OID on Short-Term Notes in income based on acquisition discount rather than OID. Acquisition discount is the excess of a Short-Term Note's stated redemption price at maturity over the U.S. Holder's basis in the Note. Gain recognized on the sale or exchange of a Short-Term Note by a U.S. Holder that has not accrued OID or acquisition discount on the Short-Term Note to the extent attributable to accrued interest and OID (or acquisition discount), is treated as ordinary income. Such a U.S. Holder also must defer deductions for net interest expense on any borrowing attributable to the Short-Term Note to the extent that the expense does not exceed accrued but unrecognized interest and OID (or acquisition discount) on the Note. Market Discount If a U.S. Holder purchases a Note, other than a Note issued with OID, for an amount that is less than its issue price (or, in the case of a subsequent purchase, its stated redemption price at maturity) or purchases a Note issued with OID for an amount that is less than the Note's revised issue price as of the purchase date, the amount of the difference will be treated as "market discount." A Note is not treated as purchased at a market discount, however, if the market discount is less than 1/4 of 1 percent of the Note's stated redemption price at maturity (or the revised issue price in the case of a Note issued with OID) multiplied by the number of complete years remaining to maturity ("de minimis market discount"). The revised issue price of a Note issued with OID is the Note's initial issue price increased by the amount of OID includible in the gross income of previous holders. A U.S. Holder of a Note purchased at a market discount (other than a de minimis market discount) will be required to treat any partial principal payment (or, in the case of a Note issued OID, any payment that does not constitute qualified stated interest) on, or any gain realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a Note as ordinary income to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of such payment or realized gain or (ii) the market discount which has not previously been included in income and is treated as having accrued on such Note at the time of such payment or disposition. Market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the Note, unless the U.S. Holder elects to accrue market discount on the basis of semiannual compounding. A U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction of all or a portion of the interest paid or accrued on any indebtedness incurred or maintained to purchase or carry a Note with market discount until the maturity of the Note or its earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, because a current deduction is only allowed to the extent the interest expense exceeds an allocable portion of market discount. A U.S. Holder may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues (on either a ratable or semiannual compounding basis), in which case the rules described above regarding the treatment as ordinary income of gain upon the disposition of the Note and upon the receipt of certain cash payments and regarding the deferral of interest deductions will not apply. Generally, such currently included market discount is treated as ordinary income and as interest for United States Federal income tax purposes. This election to include market discount in income currently, once made, applies to all market discount obligations acquired in or after the first taxable year to which the election applies, and may not be revoked without the consent of the IRS. Amortizable Bond Premium If a U.S. Holder purchases a Note for an amount that is greater than its stated redemption price at maturity, such U.S. Holder will be considered to have purchased the Note with "amortizable bond premium" equal in amount to such excess. A U.S. Holder may elect to amortize such premium using a constant yield method over the remaining term of the Note and may reduce interest on the Note otherwise required to be included in income during any taxable year by the amortizable premium allocable to the taxable year. However, if the Note may be optionally redeemed after the U. S. Holder acquires it at a price in excess of its stated redemption price at maturity, special rules would apply which could result in a deferral of the amortization of some bond premium until later in the term of the Note. Amortized bond premium will reduce the U. S. Holder's basis in the Note. An election to amortize bond premium will apply to certain other debt instruments that the U. S. Holder acquired at a premium, and the election may have different tax consequences depending on when the debt instruments were issued or acquired. Disposition of a Note Except as discussed above and except to the extent that gain or loss is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest or accrued market discount, upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Note, a U. S. Holder generally will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of the Note and such U. S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Note. A U. S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a Note generally will equal such U. S. Holder's initial investment in the Note increased by any OID included in income (and accrued market discount or acquisition discount, if any, if the U.S. Holder has included such market discount or acquisition discount in income) and decreased by the amount of any payments previously received, other than qualified stated interest payments, and by any amortized bond premium with respect to such Note. Except to the extent of any accrued market discount which has not been included as income, such gain or loss generally will be long-term if the Note were held for more than one year. Non-U.S. Holders A non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income tax on payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest (including OID, if any) on a Note, unless such non-U. S. Holder directly or indirectly owns at least 10% of the voting power in the Company's stock, or is a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company or a bank receiving interest described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, if the non-U.S. Holder certifies, on IRS Form W-8 or other substantially similar form, that the Holder is not a U. S. person. To qualify for the exemption from taxation, the last United States payor in the chain of payment prior to payment to a non-U.S. Holder (the "Withholding Agent") must have received in the year in which a payment of interest or principal occurs, or in either of the two preceding calendar years, a statement that (i) is signed by the beneficial owner of the Note under penalties of perjury, (ii) certifies that such owner is not a U.S. Holder and (iii) provides the name and address of the beneficial owner. The statement may be made on an Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") Form W-8 or a substantially similar form, and the beneficial owner must inform the Withholding Agent of any change in the information on the statement within 30 days of such change. If a Note is held through a securities clearing organization or certain other financial institutions, the organization or institution may provide a signed statement to the Withholding Agent. However, in such case, the signed statement must be accompanied by a copy of the IRS Form W-8 or the substitute form provided by the beneficial owner to the organization or institution. The Treasury Department is considering implementation of further certification requirements aimed at determining whether the issuer of a debt obligation is related to holders thereof. Generally, a non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United States Federal income taxes on any amount which constitutes capital gain upon retirement or disposition of a Note, provided the gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States by the non-U.S. Holder. Additionally, a non-U.S. Holder who is a non-resident alien individual who is present in the U. S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year when the sale or exchange occurs may be subject to federal income taxation on the gain realized on the disposition if certain other conditions are met. In that case, the capital gain is generally subject to a 30% tax. Certain other exceptions may be applicable, and a non-U.S. Holder should consult its tax advisor in this regard. A Note held by an individual who is not a citizen or resident of the United States (as defined for United States federal estate tax purposes) will not be subject to United States federal estate tax as a result of such individual's death, if at the time of death the individual did not directly or indirectly own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of the Company's stock, unless such individual held such Note in connection with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Backup Withholding In general, if a non-corporate holder of a note fails to furnish a correct identification number or certification of foreign or other exempt status, fails to report dividend and interest income in full, or fails to certify that such holder has provided a correct taxpayer identification number and is not subject to backup withholding, 31% federal backup withholding tax may be withheld on amounts of interest payable to the holder. An individual's taxpayer identification number is his or her social security number. In addition, upon the sale of a Note to (or through) a broker, the broker must withhold 31% of the entire purchase price, unless either (i) the broker determines that the seller is a corporation or other exempt holder, or (ii) the seller provides, in the required manner, certain identifying information. Such a sale must also be reported by the broker to the IRS, unless the broker determines that the seller is an exempt holder. The Backup withholding tax is not an additional tax and may be credited against a holder's regular federal income tax liability or refunded by the IRS where applicable. -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----