Notes Offered as Part of a Unit

Notes may be offered alone or as part of a unit. If a note is offered as part of a unit, investors should carefully read the general terms and provisions of our units in “Description of Units” in the accompanying prospectus. The pricing supplement will add specific terms for each issuance of units and may modify or replace any of the information in “Description of Units” in the accompanying prospectus. If a note is offered as part of a unit, investors should also review the information in “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus and in “Description of Notes” in this prospectus supplement.

United States Federal Taxation

The following is a general discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences and certain estate tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of the notes. This discussion applies only to initial investors in the notes who:

Subject to any additional discussion in the applicable pricing supplement or product supplement (the “applicable supplement”), it is expected, and the discussion below assumes, that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the issue price of a note is equal to its stated issue price indicated in the applicable supplement.

This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as:

If an entity that is classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds a note, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner will generally depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partnership holding the notes or a partner in such a partnership, you should consult your tax adviser as to the particular U.S. federal tax consequences of holding and disposing of a note to you.

In addition, we will not attempt to ascertain whether any issuer of any shares to which a note relates (such shares hereafter referred to as “Underlying Shares”) is treated as a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code or as a “United States real property holding corporation” (“USRPHC”) within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code. If any issuer of Underlying Shares were so treated, certain adverse U.S. federal income tax consequences might apply, to a U.S. Holder in the case of a PFIC and to a Non-U.S. Holder (as defined below) in the case of a USRPHC, upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a note. You should refer to information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other governmental authorities by the issuers of the Underlying Shares and consult your tax adviser regarding the possible consequences to you if any issuer of Underlying Shares is or becomes a PFIC or USRPHC.

This summary also does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of any Underlying Shares (whether or not the issuer of the Underlying Shares is treated as a PFIC or USRPHC)

received by a holder upon the maturity (or acceleration), exchange or exercise of a note. You should consult your tax adviser regarding the potential U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership or disposition of any Underlying Shares received upon the maturity (or acceleration), exchange or exercise of a note. In addition, this summary does not address any alternative minimum tax consequences or consequences resulting from the Medicare tax on investment income.

This discussion is based on the Code, administrative pronouncements, judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury regulations, all as of the date hereof, changes to any of which subsequent to the date hereof may affect the tax consequences described herein. Persons considering the purchase of notes should consult their tax advisers with regard to the application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local or non-U.S. taxing jurisdiction.

This discussion is subject to any additional discussion regarding U.S. federal taxation contained in the applicable supplement. Accordingly, you should also consult the applicable supplement for any additional discussion of U.S. federal taxation with respect to the specific notes offered thereunder.

This discussion only addresses notes treated as debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The U.S. federal tax consequences of an investment in notes that are not treated as debt instruments will be set forth in the applicable supplement.

Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

This section applies to you only if you are a Non-U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of a note that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

The term “Non-U.S. Holder” does not include any of the following holders:

Such holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes.

Except as otherwise provided in the applicable supplement, and subject to the discussion above concerning the possible application of Section 897 of the Code and the discussions below concerning Section 871(m) of the Code and FATCA, a Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of amounts paid (including original issue discount, if any) on a note, provided that:

Certification Requirement . The certification requirement referred to in the preceding paragraph will be fulfilled if the beneficial owner of the note (or a financial institution holding the note on behalf of the beneficial owner) furnishes to the applicable withholding agent an applicable U.S. Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form W-8, on which the beneficial owner certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person.

U.S. Federal Estate Tax

Individual Non-U.S. Holders and entities the property of which is potentially includible in such an individual’s gross estate for U.S. federal estate tax purposes (for example, a trust funded by such an individual and with respect to which the individual has retained certain interests or powers), should note that, absent an applicable treaty exemption, a note that is treated as a debt obligation for U.S. federal estate tax purposes will be treated as U.S. situs property subject to U.S. federal estate tax if payments on the note, if received by the decedent at the time of death, would have been subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (even if the IRS Form W-8 certification requirement described above were satisfied and not taking into account an elimination of such U.S. federal withholding tax due to the application of an income tax treaty or withholding under FATCA).

Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal estate tax consequences of an investment in the notes in their particular situations and the availability of benefits provided by an applicable estate tax treaty, if any.

Section 871(m) Withholding Tax on Dividend Equivalents

Section 871(m) of the Code and Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder (“Section 871(m)”) impose a withholding tax of 30% (or lower treaty rate applicable to dividends) on certain “dividend equivalents” paid or deemed paid to Non-U.S. Holders with respect to certain financial instruments linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities. Subject to the discussion below concerning notes issued before January 1, 2019, a note linked to U.S. equities or indices that include U.S. equities (a “U.S. equity linked security”) will generally be subject to the Section 871(m) withholding regime if on the calculation date it (i) has a “delta” of 0.80 or higher with respect to the underlying U.S. equity or (ii) substantially replicates the economic performance of the underlying U.S. equity, as determined by a “substantial equivalence” test that, among other factors, takes into account the initial number of shares of the underlying U.S. equity needed to hedge the transaction fully. The tests described above are set forth in the regulations, and the applicable test will depend on the terms of the relevant U.S. equity linked securities. Under these rules, withholding may apply even where the relevant U.S. equity linked securities do not provide for any payment that is explicitly linked to a dividend. The regulations provide for certain exceptions to the withholding requirements, in particular for instruments linked to certain broad-based indices (a “qualified index”) that meet standards set forth in the regulations, as well as certain securities that track a qualified index.

Under a recent IRS notice, Section 871(m) will not apply to notes issued before January 1, 2019 that do not have a “delta” of one with respect to any U.S. equity. If the terms of a U.S. equity linked security are subject to a "significant modification," the U.S. equity linked security will generally be treated as reissued at the time of the significant modification.

The calculations of “delta” are generally made at the “calculation date,” which is the earlier of (i) the time of pricing of the note, i.e., when all material terms have been agreed on, and (ii) the issuance of the note. However, if the time of pricing is more than 14 calendar days before the issuance of the note, the calculation date is the date of the issuance of the note. In those circumstances, information regarding our final determinations for purposes of Section 871(m) may be available only after the issuance of the note. As a result, a Non-U.S. Holder should acquire such a note only if it is willing to accept the risk that the note is treated as subject to withholding.

The amount of a “dividend equivalent” is equal to, for a “simple” contract, the product of (a) the per-share dividend amount, (b) the number of shares of the underlying U.S. equity referenced in the U.S. equity linked

security and (c) the delta, and, for a “complex” contract, the product of (a) the per-share dividend amount and (b) the initial hedge.

The dividend equivalent amount will be determined on the earlier of (a) the record date of the dividend and (b) the day prior to the ex-dividend date. The dividend equivalent amount will include the amount of any actual or, under certain circumstances, estimated dividend. If a U.S. equity linked security is subject to withholding in respect of dividend equivalents, withholding will, depending on the applicable withholding agent’s circumstances, generally be required either (i) on the underlying dividend payment date or (ii) when cash payments are made on the relevant U.S. equity linked security or upon the date of maturity, lapse or other disposition thereof by the Non-U.S. Holder.

We will determine whether any U.S. equity linked securities are subject to withholding under Section 871(m) by performing the calculations described above. If withholding is required, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to the amounts so withheld.

The regulations provide that Non-U.S. Holders of a potential Section 871(m) transaction are entitled to receive certain information in respect thereof. The applicable pricing supplement will provide further guidance on how Non-U.S. Holders may obtain such information.

Our determination is not binding on the IRS, and the IRS may disagree with this determination. Section 871(m) is complex and its application may depend on the Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances. For example, the application of Section 871(m) may be affected if a Non-U.S. Holder enters into another transaction in connection with the acquisition of a U.S. equity linked security. Accordingly, Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of Section 871(m) to the notes in their particular circumstances.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the notes as well as in connection with the proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition of the notes. A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to backup withholding in respect of amounts paid to the Non-U.S. Holder, unless such Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures to establish that it is not a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes or otherwise establishes an exemption. Compliance with the certification procedures described above under “—Notes—Certification Requirement” will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the Non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

FATCA

Legislation commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on payments to certain non-U.S. entities (including financial intermediaries) with respect to certain financial instruments, unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements have been satisfied. An intergovernmental agreement between the United States and the non-U.S. entity’s jurisdiction may modify these requirements. FATCA generally applies to certain financial instruments that are treated as paying U.S.-source interest or dividends (including dividend equivalents) or other U.S.-source “fixed or determinable annual or periodical” income (“FDAP income”). Withholding (if applicable) applies to any payment of U.S.-source FDAP income and, for dispositions after December 31, 2018, any payment of gross proceeds of the disposition (including upon retirement) of the notes. If withholding applies to the notes, we will not be required to pay any additional amounts with respect to amounts withheld. Both U.S. and Non-U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential application of FATCA to the notes.

Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders

This section applies to you only if you are a U.S. Holder. As used herein, the term “U.S. Holder” means, a beneficial owner of a note that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

Payments of Stated Interest. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable supplement and subject to the discussions below, stated interest paid on a note will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with the holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Special rules governing the treatment of interest paid with respect to discount notes, short-term notes, floating rate notes, foreign currency notes, foreign currency contingent payment notes and contingent payment notes are described under “—Discount Notes,” “—Short-Term Notes,” “—Floating Rate Notes,” “—Foreign Currency Notes,” “—Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes” and “—Contingent Payment Notes” below.

Discount Notes

General . A note (other than a short-term note, a contingent payment note or a foreign currency contingent payment note, all as defined below) that is issued at an issue price less than its “stated redemption price at maturity” will be considered to have been issued with “original issue discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (and will be referred to in this discussion as a “discount note”) unless the note satisfies a de minimis threshold (as defined below). The “stated redemption price at maturity” of a note equals the sum of all payments required under the note other than payments of “qualified stated interest.” “Qualified stated interest” is stated interest unconditionally payable as a series of payments (other than in debt instruments of Morgan Stanley) at least annually during the entire term of the note. For a note that provides for interest only at a fixed rate payable at least annually, qualified stated interest is equal to the outstanding principal balance of the note multiplied by the single fixed rate of interest. Subject to the discussion below under “—Notes Subject to Early Redemption,” if a note provides for more than one fixed rate of stated interest, interest payable at the lowest stated fixed rate generally is qualified stated interest and the excess, if any, is included in the stated redemption price at maturity for purposes of determining whether the note will be issued with original issue discount. See “—Floating Rate Notes” below with regard to qualified stated interest in the case of floating rate notes. The amount of original issue discount is equal to the excess of the stated redemption price at maturity over the issue price.

A note will not be considered to have original issue discount if the difference between the note’s stated redemption price at maturity and its issue price is less than a de minimis amount, defined by applicable Treasury regulations as ¼ of 1 percent of the stated redemption price at maturity multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity or, in the case of an installment obligation (as defined by applicable Treasury regulations), the weighted average maturity. The weighted average maturity is the sum of the following amounts determined for each payment under the note other than a payment of qualified stated interest: (i) the number of complete years from the issue date of the note until the payment is made, multiplied by (ii) a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the payment and the denominator of which is the note’s stated redemption price at maturity.

A U.S. Holder of discount notes will be required to include any qualified stated interest payments in income in accordance with the holder’s method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. U.S. Holders of discount notes will be required to include original issue discount in income for U.S. federal income tax purposes as it accrues, in accordance with a constant yield method based on a compounding of interest, without regard to the timing of the receipt of cash payments attributable to this income. Under this method, U.S. Holders of discount notes generally will be required to include in income increasingly greater amounts of original issue discount in successive accrual periods.

A U.S. Holder may make an election to include in gross income all interest that accrues on any note (including stated interest, original issue discount and de minimis original issue discount, as adjusted by any amortizable bond premium (as defined below)) in accordance with a constant yield method based on the compounding of interest (a “constant yield election”). Such election may be revoked only with the permission of the IRS.

Additional rules applicable to discount notes that are denominated in a specified currency other than the U.S. dollar, or have payments of interest or principal determined by reference to the value of a currency other than the U.S. dollar, are described under “—Foreign Currency Notes” below.

Notes Subject to Early Redemption . A note subject to redemption prior to maturity may be subject to rules that differ from the general rules described above for purposes of determining the yield and maturity of the note (which may affect whether the note is treated as issued with original issue discount and, if so, the timing of accrual of the original issue discount). Under applicable Treasury regulations, we will generally be presumed to exercise an option to redeem a note if the exercise of the option will lower the yield on the note. Conversely, you will generally be presumed to exercise an option to require us to repurchase a note if the exercise of the option will increase the yield on the note. If such an option is not in fact exercised, the note will be treated, solely for purposes of calculating original issue discount, as if it were redeemed and a new note were issued on the presumed exercise date for an amount equal to the note’s “adjusted issue price” on that date. A note’s “adjusted issue price” is defined as the sum of its issue price and the aggregate amount of previously accrued original issue discount, less any prior payments on the note other than payments of qualified stated interest.

Under these rules, if a note provides for a fixed rate of interest that increases over the term of the note, the note’s issue price is not below its stated principal amount and we have an option to redeem the note for an amount equal to the stated principal amount (plus accrued interest, if any) prior to the first date on which an increased rate of interest is in effect, the yield on the note will be lowered if we redeem the note before the initial increase in the interest rate, and therefore our redemption option will be treated as exercised. Since the note will therefore be treated as if it were redeemed and reissued prior to the initial increase in the interest rate, the note will not be treated as issued with original issue discount. If a note is not treated as issued with original issue discount and if, contrary to the presumption in the applicable Treasury regulations, we do not redeem the note before the initial increase in the interest rate, the same analysis will apply to all subsequent increases in the interest rate. This means that the note that is deemed reissued will be treated as redeemed prior to any subsequent increase in the interest rate, and therefore as issued without original issue discount. If such a deemed reissuance occurs when the remaining term of the note is one year or less, it is possible that the note would thereafter be treated as a short-term debt instrument. See “—Short-Term Notes” below.

Floating Rate Notes

General. Floating rate notes are subject to special rules whereby a floating rate note will qualify as a “variable rate debt instrument” if:

each as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations; and

In general, a “qualified floating rate” is any variable rate where variations in the value of such rate can reasonably be expected to measure contemporaneous variations in the cost of newly borrowed funds in the currency in which the floating rate note is denominated. For example, the commercial paper rate, the LIBOR rate and the CMT rate will generally be treated as qualified floating rates. In general, a variable rate is not a “qualified floating rate” if it is subject to (i) a restriction or restrictions on the maximum stated interest rate (a “cap”), (ii) a restriction

or restrictions on the minimum stated interest rate (a “floor”), (iii) a restriction or restrictions on the amount of increase or decrease in the stated interest rate (a “governor”), or (iv) any other restrictions similar to (i), (ii) and (iii). Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the following restrictions will not cause a variable rate to fail to be a “qualified floating rate”:

In general, an “objective rate” is a rate that is not itself a qualified floating rate but that is determined using a single fixed formula that is based on objective financial or economic information. A “qualified inverse floating rate” is any objective rate where such rate is equal to a fixed rate minus a qualified floating rate, as long as variations in the rate can reasonably be expected to inversely reflect contemporaneous variations in the qualified floating rate.

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable supplement, it is expected, and the discussion below assumes, that a floating rate note will qualify as a “variable rate debt instrument.” If a floating rate note with a term of more than one year (after taking into account the last possible day that the note could be outstanding under its terms) does not qualify as a “variable rate debt instrument,” then such a floating rate note will generally be treated as a “contingent payment debt instrument.” For a description of the treatment of “contingent payment debt instruments,” see the discussion under “—Contingent Payment Notes” below.

Floating Rate Notes that Provide for a Single Variable Rate. All stated interest on a floating rate note will constitute qualified stated interest and will be taxable accordingly (as described under “—Discount Notes—General” above) if:

Thus, such a floating rate note will generally not be treated as issued with original issue discount unless the floating rate note is issued at an issue price below its stated principal amount and the difference between the issue price and the stated principal amount is equal to or greater than a specified de minimis amount, as defined above under “—Discount Notes—General.” For this purpose, and for purposes of the discussion below under “—Floating Rate Notes that Provide for Multiple Rates,” if a floating rate note provides for stated interest at a fixed rate for an initial period of one year or less followed by a variable rate and if the variable rate on the floating rate note’s issue date is intended to approximate the fixed rate (which will be presumed to be the case if the value of the variable rate on the issue date does not differ from the value of the fixed rate by more than 0.25%), then the fixed rate and the variable rate together will constitute a single variable rate. In addition, two or more qualified floating rates that can reasonably be expected to have approximately the same values throughout the term of the floating rate note (which will be presumed to be the case for two or more qualified floating rates with values within 0.25% of each other as determined on the issue date) will be treated as a single qualified floating rate.

If a floating rate note that provides for stated interest at a single variable rate is issued with original issue discount, as discussed above, equal to or greater than a specified de minimis amount, the amount of qualified stated interest and the amount of original issue discount that accrues during an accrual period on such a floating rate note are determined under the rules applicable to fixed rate debt instruments, discussed under “—Discount Notes” above, by assuming that the variable rate is a fixed rate equal to:

The qualified stated interest allocable to an accrual period is increased (or decreased) if the interest actually paid during an accrual period exceeds (or is less than) the interest assumed to be paid during the accrual period pursuant to the foregoing rules.

Floating Rate Notes that Provide for Multiple Rates. In general, a floating rate note that provides for (i) multiple floating rates or (ii) one or more floating rates in addition to a single fixed rate (other than an initial fixed rate of the type described above in “—Floating Rate Notes that Provide for a Single Variable Rate”), will be converted into an “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument for purposes of determining the amount and accrual of original issue discount and qualified stated interest on the floating rate note. A floating rate note must be converted into an “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument by substituting, for any qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate provided for under the terms of the floating rate note, a fixed rate equal to the value of the qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, as the case may be, as of the floating rate note’s issue date. In the case of a floating rate note that 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 fixed rate is initially converted into a qualified floating rate (or a qualified inverse floating rate, if the floating rate note provides for a qualified inverse floating 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 floating rate note’s issue date is approximately the same as the fair market value of an otherwise identical debt instrument that provides for the substitute qualified floating rate or qualified inverse floating rate, as appropriate, rather than the fixed rate. Subsequent to converting the fixed rate into either a qualified floating rate or a qualified inverse floating rate, the floating rate note is then converted into an “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument in the manner described above.

Once the floating rate note is converted into an “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument pursuant to the foregoing rules, the amount of original issue discount and qualified stated interest, if any, are determined for the “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument by applying the general original issue discount rules to the “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument, and a U.S. Holder of the floating rate note will account for such original issue discount and qualified stated interest as if the U.S. Holder held the “equivalent” fixed rate debt instrument, as described under “—Discount Notes” above. In each accrual period, appropriate adjustments will be made to the amount of qualified stated interest (or, in certain circumstances, original issue discount) 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.

Amortizable Bond Premium

If a U.S. Holder purchases a note (other than a contingent payment note or foreign currency contingent payment note, as defined below) for an amount that is greater than the sum of all amounts payable on the note other than qualified stated interest, the holder will be considered to have purchased the note with amortizable bond premium equal to such excess. Special rules may apply in the case of notes that are subject to optional redemption. A U.S. Holder may generally use the amortizable bond premium allocable to an accrual period to offset qualified stated interest required to be included in such holder’s income with respect to the note in that accrual period. A holder who elects to amortize bond premium must reduce its tax basis in the note by the amount of the premium previously amortized. An election to amortize bond premium applies to all taxable debt obligations then owned and thereafter acquired by the holder and may be revoked only with the consent of the IRS.

If a holder makes a constant yield election (as described under “—Discount Notes” above) for a note with amortizable bond premium, such election will result in a deemed election to amortize bond premium for all of the holder’s debt instruments with amortizable bond premium and may be revoked only with the permission of the IRS with respect to debt instruments acquired after revocation.

Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Notes

Upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a note, a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement and the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. For these purposes, the amount realized does not include any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid qualified stated interest. Amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid qualified stated interest are treated as interest as described under “—Payments of Stated Interest” above. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note will equal the cost of the note to the holder, increased by the amounts of any original issue discount previously included in income by the holder with respect to the note, and reduced by any principal payments received by the holder, by the amounts of any bond premium previously amortized by the holder and by the amounts of any other payments received by the holder that do not constitute qualified stated interest.

Except as described below or as otherwise provided in the applicable supplement, gain or loss recognized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a note will generally be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of sale, exchange or retirement the note has been held for more than one year. Exceptions to this general rule apply in the case of a short-term note, to the extent of any accrued discount not previously included in the holder’s taxable income. See “ — Short-Term Notes” below. In addition, other exceptions to this general rule apply in the case of certain foreign currency notes, foreign currency contingent payment notes and contingent payment notes. See the discussions under “—Foreign Currency Notes,” “—Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes” and “—Contingent Payment Notes” below.

Short-Term Notes

A note that matures (after taking into account the last possible date that the note could be outstanding under its terms) one year or less from its issue date will be treated as a “short-term note.” As described below, certain aspects of the tax treatment of short-term notes with certain features are uncertain. Holders of short-term notes should consult their tax advisers as to the U.S. federal tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of such short-term notes.

Tax Treatment Prior to Maturity of the Short-Term Notes. Under the applicable Treasury regulations, a short-term note will be treated as being issued at a discount, the amount of which will be equal to the excess of the sum of all payments on the short-term note (including all stated interest and the supplemental redemption amount, if any) over its issue price. No payments on a short-term note are treated as qualified stated interest.

A U.S. Holder who is a cash-method taxpayer generally will not be required to include the discount in income as it accrues for U.S. federal income tax purposes unless the holder elects to do so. A U.S. Holder who is a cash-method taxpayer and does not make such election should generally include the stated interest payments on the short-term notes, if any, as ordinary income upon receipt. Except in the case of stated interest payments, cash-method holders generally will not be required to recognize income with respect to the short-term notes prior to maturity, other than pursuant to a sale, exchange or redemption, as described below.

A U.S. Holder who is an accrual-method taxpayer will be required to include the discount in income as it accrues on a straight-line basis, unless the holder makes an election to accrue the discount according to a constant yield method based on daily compounding. 

Tax Treatment at Maturity of the Short-Term Notes . Upon retirement of the short-term notes at maturity, any gain recognized will be treated as ordinary income.

Sale, Exchange or Redemption of the Short-Term Notes. Upon a sale, exchange or redemption of a short-term note, a U.S. Holder should recognize gain as ordinary income to the extent of the discount accrued on a straight-line basis (or, if elected, according to a constant yield method based on daily compounding) and not yet included in income. Any gain in excess of this amount will be treated as short-term capital gain. Any loss recognized will be treated as a capital loss.

Tax Treatment of Short-Term Notes that Provide for a Supplemental Redemption Amount that is Not Fixed as of the Issue Date . Except as specifically stated below, the tax treatment of short-term notes that provide for a supplemental redemption amount or other amount that is not fixed as of the issue date (“contingent short-term notes”) is the same as described above for short-term notes. As described below, certain aspects of the tax treatment

of contingent short-term notes are uncertain. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable supplement, due to the lack of governing authority regarding the proper method of accrual of discount on short-term debt instruments, our counsel is expected to be unable to opine regarding issues identified below as uncertain or unclear. Although accrual-method holders, and cash-method holders that have elected to apply an accrual method of tax accounting to the short-term notes, generally are required to accrue the discount on the short-term notes in income, in the case of contingent short-term notes, because the supplemental redemption amount with respect to the contingent short-term notes is uncertain, it is unclear how such accruals should be determined. Additionally, in the case of contingent short-term notes, it is unclear whether or to what extent gain from a sale, exchange or redemption prior to maturity should be treated as capital gain or ordinary income. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the proper treatment of an investment in contingent short-term notes.

Interest on Indebtedness Incurred to Purchase the Short-Term Notes. A cash-method U.S. Holder who does not elect to apply an accrual method of tax accounting to the short-term notes will be required to defer deductions for certain interest paid on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry the short-term notes until the U.S. Holder includes the discount on the notes in income or disposes of the notes in a taxable transaction. As noted above, however, there is no authority regarding the proper method of accrual of discount on short-term debt instruments such as contingent short-term notes. It is therefore unclear how, if at all, the rules regarding deferral of interest deductions would apply to contingent short-term notes. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding these deferral rules.

Foreign Currency Notes

General. The following discussion describes certain special rules applicable to a U.S. Holder of notes (i) that are denominated in a specified currency other than the U.S. dollar or (ii) the payments of interest and principal on which are payable in (or determined by reference to) a specified currency other than the U.S. dollar, which we refer to as “foreign currency notes.” For a description of the treatment of foreign currency notes that provide for contingent payments or for payments made in or determined by reference to multiple currencies, see the discussion under “—Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes” below.

The rules applicable to notes that are denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar could require gain or loss realized upon the sale, exchange or other disposition (including retirement) of the notes that is attributable to fluctuations in currency exchange rates (“foreign currency gain or loss”) to be recharacterized as ordinary income or loss. The rules applicable to foreign currency notes are complex and their application may depend on the holder’s particular U.S. federal income tax situation. For example, various elections are available under these rules, and whether a holder should make any of these elections may depend on the holder’s particular U.S. federal income tax situation. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the ownership and disposition of foreign currency notes.

Payments of Interest on Foreign Currency Notes. A U.S. Holder who uses the cash method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and who receives a payment of qualified stated interest (or who receives proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition (including retirement) attributable to accrued qualified stated interest) in a foreign currency with respect to a foreign currency note will be required to include in income the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency payment regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to U.S. dollars at that time, and this U.S. dollar value will be the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the foreign currency. A cash-method holder who receives a payment of qualified stated interest in U.S. dollars should include the amount of this payment in income upon receipt. To the extent that a cash-method holder is required to accrue original issue discount on a foreign currency note, rules similar to the rules described in the following paragraph will apply with respect to the original issue discount.

In the case of a U.S. Holder that uses the accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the holder will be required to include in income the U.S. dollar value of the amount of interest income (including original issue discount, but reduced by amortizable bond premium to the extent applicable) that has accrued and is otherwise required to be taken into account with respect to a foreign currency note during an accrual period. The U.S. dollar value of the accrued income will be determined by translating the income at an average rate of exchange for the accrual period or, with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, at the average rate for the partial period within the taxable year. In addition to the interest income accrued as described above, the U.S. Holder will recognize foreign currency gain or loss as ordinary income or loss (which will not be treated as interest income

or expense) with respect to accrued interest income on the date the interest payment or proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition attributable to accrued interest are actually received. The amount of ordinary income or loss recognized will equal the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency payment received (determined based on a spot rate on the date the payment is received) in respect of the accrual period (or, where a holder receives U.S. dollars, the amount of the payment in respect of the accrual period) and the U.S. dollar value of interest income that has accrued during the accrual period (as determined above). A U.S. Holder may elect to translate interest income (including original issue discount) for an interest accrual period into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the last day of the interest accrual period (or, in the case of a partial accrual period, the spot rate on the last day of the taxable year) or, if the date of receipt is within five business days of the last day of the interest accrual period, the spot rate on the date of receipt. A U.S. Holder that makes this election must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot change the election without the consent of the IRS.

Original Issue Discount and Amortizable Bond Premium on Foreign Currency Notes. Original issue discount and amortizable bond premium (each as defined above) on a foreign currency note are to be determined in the relevant foreign currency. If an election to amortize bond premium is made, amortizable bond premium taken into account on a current basis will reduce interest income in units of the relevant foreign currency. Foreign currency gain or loss is realized on amortized bond premium with respect to any period by treating the bond premium amortized in the same period as a return of principal that is treated in the same manner as on the sale, exchange or retirement of the foreign currency note (as discussed below). Any foreign currency gain or loss will be ordinary income or loss as described below.

Tax Basis in Foreign Currency Notes. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in a foreign currency note, and the amount of any subsequent adjustment to the holder’s tax basis, will be the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency amount paid for such foreign currency note, or of the foreign currency amount of the adjustment, determined on the date of the purchase or adjustment. A U.S. Holder who purchases a foreign currency note with previously owned foreign currency will recognize ordinary income or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if any, between such U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the foreign currency and the U.S. dollar fair market value of the foreign currency note on the date of purchase.

Sale, Exchange or Retirement of Foreign Currency Notes. Foreign currency gain or loss recognized upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency note will be ordinary income or loss that will not be treated as interest income or expense. The amount of foreign currency gain or loss generally will equal the difference between (i) the U.S. dollar value of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price (excluding any amortizable bond premium previously accrued) in the foreign currency of the note, determined on the date the payment is received in exchange for the note or the note is disposed of, and (ii) the U.S. dollar value of the U.S. Holder’s purchase price (excluding any amortizable bond premium previously accrued) in the foreign currency of the note, determined on the date the U.S. Holder acquired the note. Payments received attributable to accrued interest will be treated in accordance with the rules applicable to payments of interest on foreign currency notes described above. Foreign currency gain or loss realized upon the sale, exchange or retirement of any foreign currency note will be recognized only to the extent of the total gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or retirement of the foreign currency note. Any gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder in excess of the foreign currency gain or loss will be capital gain or loss (except in the case of a short-term note, to the extent of any discount not previously included in the holder’s income). If a U.S. Holder recognizes an ordinary loss upon a sale or other disposition of a foreign currency note and such loss is above certain thresholds, the holder may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. See “—Disclosure Requirements” below.

A U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in any foreign currency received on the sale, exchange or retirement of a foreign currency note equal to the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency, determined at the time of such sale, exchange or retirement. A cash-method taxpayer who buys or sells a foreign currency note that is traded on an established market is required to translate units of foreign currency paid or received into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the settlement date of the purchase or sale. Accordingly, no exchange gain or loss will result with respect to such foreign currency from currency fluctuations between the trade date and the settlement of the purchase or sale. An accrual-method taxpayer may elect the same treatment for all purchases and sales of foreign currency obligations if such obligations are traded on an established securities market. This election cannot be changed without the consent

of the IRS. Any gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other disposition of foreign currency (including its exchange for U.S. dollars or its use to purchase foreign currency notes) will be ordinary income or loss.

Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes

General . The following discussion describes certain special rules applicable to a U.S. Holder of notes that (i) are denominated in a specified currency other than the U.S. dollar or the payments of interest and principal on which are payable in (or determined by reference to) a specified currency other than the U.S. dollar and (ii) provide for contingent payments ( such notes hereinafter referred to as “foreign currency contingent payment notes”). These notes will be subject to special rules that govern the tax treatment of foreign currency contingent payment notes under applicable Treasury regulations (the “foreign currency contingent debt regulations”).

Pursuant to the foreign currency contingent debt regulations, a U.S. Holder of a note will be required to accrue interest income on the note on a constant yield basis, based on a comparable yield, as described below, regardless of whether such holder uses the cash or accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. All determinations and computations required under the foreign currency contingent debt regulations (including our determination of the “comparable yield” and “projected payment schedule” for the note) will be made in the denomination currency of the note. The foreign currency contingent payment debt regulations provide that the denomination currency of notes that have principal or interest payments denominated in, or determined by reference to, more than one currency is the currency with the greatest value determined by comparing the value of the noncontingent and projected payments denominated in, or determined by reference to, each currency on the issue date, discounted to present value and, if necessary, translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the issue date.

The foreign currency contingent debt regulations provide that a U.S. Holder must accrue into income original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes for each accrual period prior to and including the maturity date of the note. The amount of original issue discount that a U.S. Holder must accrue for each accrual period is determined in the denomination currency by applying the “noncontingent bond method” to the note in the denomination currency and equals the product of:

The “adjusted issue price” of a note is its issue price, increased by any interest income previously accrued (determined without regard to any net positive or net negative adjustments as described below), and decreased by the amount of any projected payments that previously have been scheduled to be made in respect of the note, each determined in the denomination currency.

The term “comparable yield” as used in the foreign currency contingent debt regulations is determined in the denomination currency and is equal to the greater of (i) the annual yield we would pay, as of the issue date, on a fixed rate debt instrument in the denomination currency with no contingent payments, but with terms and conditions otherwise comparable to those of the note, and (ii) a rate of interest that is analogous to the applicable federal rate that would be used if the U.S. dollar were the denomination currency.

The foreign currency contingent debt regulations require that we provide to U.S. Holders, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a schedule of the projected amounts of payments in the denomination currency (the ‘‘projected payment schedule’’) on a note. This schedule must produce a yield to maturity that equals the comparable yield.

The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule will not be provided for any purpose other than to determine a U.S. Holder’s interest accruals and adjustments thereto in respect of the note for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule will not constitute a projection or representation by us regarding the actual amounts that will be paid on the note.

Translation of Amounts Determined Under Noncontingent Bond Method. The accruals of interest computed with respect to a note in the denomination currency (adjusted by certain net positive or negative adjustments as described below) must be translated into U.S. dollars. The U.S. dollar value of the accrued income will be determined by translating the income at an average rate of exchange for the accrual period or, with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, at an average rate for the partial period within the taxable year. A U.S. Holder may elect to translate interest income for an interest accrual period into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the last day of the interest accrual period (or, in the case of a partial accrual period, the spot rate on the last day of the taxable year). A U.S. Holder that makes this election must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot change the election without the consent of the IRS.

Adjustments to Interest Accruals on the Notes . If, during any taxable year, a U.S. Holder of a note receives actual payments with respect to such note that, in the aggregate, exceed the total amount of projected payments for that taxable year, as determined in the denomination currency, the U.S. Holder will incur a ‘‘net positive adjustment’’ under the foreign currency contingent debt regulations equal to the amount of such excess. The U.S. Holder will treat a net positive adjustment as additional interest income in that taxable year, translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the last day of the taxable year in which the adjustment is taken into account or, if earlier, the date of a sale, exchange or retirement of the note.

If a U.S. Holder receives in a taxable year actual payments with respect to a note that, in the aggregate, are less than the amount of projected payments for that taxable year, as determined in the denomination currency, the U.S. Holder will incur a ‘‘net negative adjustment’’ under the foreign currency contingent debt regulations equal to the amount of such deficit. This net negative adjustment:

With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, a net negative adjustment is not subject to the two percent floor limitation on miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Sale, Exchange or Retirement of Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes. Generally, the sale, exchange or retirement of a note will result in taxable gain or loss to a U.S. Holder. The amount of gain or loss on a sale, exchange or retirement of a note will be equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. As discussed above, to the extent a U.S. Holder has any net negative adjustment carryforward, the U.S. Holder may use such net negative adjustment from a previous year to reduce the amount realized in the denomination currency on the sale, exchange or retirement of the note.

A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note will equal the U.S. dollar cost as of the day the U.S. Holder purchased the note, increased by the U.S. dollar value of the holder’s total interest accruals with respect to the note (determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals as described above), translated as described above, and decreased by the amount of any projected payments that previously have been scheduled to be made in respect of the note (translated into U.S. dollars).

The amount realized on the sale, exchange or unscheduled retirement of a note is generally equal to the U.S. dollar value of cash and the fair market value of any other property received by the U.S. Holder, reduced by the

amount of any net negative adjustment carryforward (translated into U.S. dollars). Any gain, other than foreign currency gain (as discussed below), will be treated as interest income. Any loss, other than foreign currency loss (as discussed below), will be treated as an ordinary loss to the extent of the excess of the holder’s total interest accruals over the total net negative adjustments previously taken into account as ordinary losses in respect of the note, and as a capital loss thereafter. If a U.S. Holder recognizes an ordinary loss upon a sale, exchange or retirement of a note and such loss is above certain thresholds, the holder may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. See “—Disclosure Requirements” below.

For purposes of determining the amount realized at maturity of a note, the U.S. Holder will be deemed to receive the projected amount of any contingent payment due on that date, reduced by the amount of any net negative adjustment carryforward. The projected amount is translated into U.S. dollars by translating the portion attributable to principal into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the issue date and translating the portion attributable to accrued interest into U.S. dollars at the rates at which such amounts of interest were translated when accrued. To the extent that the actual amount a U.S. Holder receives at the maturity of a note is greater or less than the projected amount, a U.S. Holder will incur a net positive adjustment or a net negative adjustment, which will be treated as described above under “—Adjustments to Interest Accruals on the Notes.” To the extent that there is any net negative adjustment carryforward as described above under “—Adjustments to Interest Accruals on the Notes,” it will reduce the amount realized on the note (translated into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the issue date of the note).

Foreign Currency Gain or Loss on Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes . A U.S. Holder may recognize foreign currency gain or loss with respect to a note when the U.S. Holder receives payments on the note. The amount of foreign currency gain or loss attributable to payments of interest previously accrued on the note is determined by translating the amount of interest received into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the date of receipt and subtracting from such amount the amount determined by translating the interest received into U.S. dollars at the rate at which such interest was accrued as described above. The amount of foreign currency gain or loss attributable to payments of principal is determined by translating the amount of principal received into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the date of receipt and subtracting from such amount the amount determined by translating the principal received into U.S. dollars at the spot rate on the date the note was issued or, if later, acquired. For purposes of determining the amount of foreign currency gain or loss, the amount received (i) shall first be attributed to any net positive adjustment on the note that has not previously been taken into account and (ii) then to accrued but unpaid interest remaining after reduction by any net negative adjustment and (iii) any remaining amount shall be attributed to the principal.

Upon a sale, exchange or unscheduled retirement of a note, a U.S. Holder would also recognize foreign currency gain or loss. Payments received upon such a sale, exchange or unscheduled retirement of a note shall first be applied against the principal of the note and then against accrued but unpaid interest (and treated, in each case, as described in the preceding paragraph).

The total amount of foreign currency gain or loss on a note is equal to the sum of the foreign currency gains or losses on principal and interest, calculated as described above. Any such foreign currency gain or loss will be treated as ordinary income or loss. Prospective purchasers should consult their tax advisers regarding these rules. If a U.S. Holder recognizes an ordinary loss upon a sale or other disposition of a foreign currency contingent payment note and such loss is above certain thresholds, the holder may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. See “—Disclosure Requirements” below.

Special rules will apply if one or more contingent payments on a note become fixed. If one or more contingent payments on a note (determined in the denomination currency) become fixed more than six months prior to the date each such payment is due, a U.S. Holder will be required to make a positive or negative adjustment, as appropriate, equal to the difference between the present value of the amounts that are fixed and the present value of the projected amounts of the contingent payments as provided in the projected payment schedule (determined in the denomination currency), using the comparable yield as the discount rate in each case. If all remaining scheduled contingent payments on a note become fixed substantially contemporaneously, a U.S. Holder will be required to make adjustments to account for the difference between the amounts treated as fixed and the projected payments in a reasonable manner over the remaining term of the note. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a payment (including an amount payable at maturity) will be treated as fixed if (and when) all remaining contingencies with respect to it are remote or incidental within the meaning of the applicable Treasury regulations. A U.S. Holder's tax

basis in the note and the character of any gain or loss on the sale of the note will also be affected. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the application of these special rules.

Contingent Payment Notes

General. Unless otherwise noted in the applicable supplement, a note that has principal or interest determined by reference to commodities, securities or indices, other than a short-term note (see the discussion under “—Short-Term Notes” above), or a Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Note (see the discussion under “—Foreign Currency Contingent Payment Notes” above), will generally be treated as a “contingent payment debt instrument” for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will be hereinafter referred to as “contingent payment notes.” As a result, the contingent payment notes will be subject to special rules that govern the tax treatment of debt obligations that are treated under applicable Treasury regulations (the “contingent debt regulations”) as providing for contingent payments.

Pursuant to the contingent debt regulations, a U.S. Holder of a contingent payment note will be required to accrue interest income on the contingent payment note on a constant yield basis, based on a comparable yield, as described below, regardless of whether such holder uses the cash or accrual method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes. As a result, a U.S. Holder may be required to include interest in income each year in excess of any stated interest payments actually received in that year.

The contingent debt regulations provide that a U.S. Holder must accrue an amount of ordinary interest income, as original issue discount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, for each accrual period prior to and including the maturity date of the contingent payment note that equals the product of:

The “adjusted issue price” of a contingent payment note is its issue price, increased by any interest income previously accrued, determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals described below, and decreased by the projected amount of any payments (in accordance with the projected payment schedule described below) previously made with respect to the contingent payment note.

The term ‘‘comparable yield’’ as used in the contingent debt regulations means the greater of (i) the annual yield we would pay, as of the issue date, on a fixed-rate, nonconvertible debt instrument with no contingent payments, but with terms and conditions otherwise comparable to those of the contingent payment notes, and (ii) the applicable federal rate.

The contingent debt regulations require that we provide to U.S. Holders, solely for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a schedule of the projected amounts of payments (the ‘‘projected payment schedule’’) on the contingent payment notes. This schedule must produce a yield to maturity that equals the comparable yield.

The comparable yield and the projected payment schedule will not be provided for any purpose other than to determine a U.S. Holder’s interest accruals and adjustments thereto in respect of the contingent payment notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes. They will not constitute a projection or representation by us regarding the actual amounts that will be paid on the contingent payment notes.

Adjustments to Interest Accruals on the Notes . If, during any taxable year, a U.S. Holder of a contingent payment note receives actual payments with respect to such contingent payment note that, in the aggregate, exceed the total amount of projected payments for that taxable year, the U.S. Holder will incur a ‘‘net positive adjustment’’

under the contingent debt regulations equal to the amount of such excess. The U.S. Holder will treat a net positive adjustment as additional interest income in that taxable year.

If a U.S. Holder receives in a taxable year actual payments with respect to the contingent payment note that, in the aggregate, are less than the amount of projected payments for that taxable year, the U.S. Holder will incur a ‘‘net negative adjustment’’ under the contingent debt regulations equal to the amount of such deficit. This net negative adjustment:

With respect to non-corporate U.S. Holders, a net negative adjustment is not subject to the two percent floor limitation on miscellaneous itemized deductions.

Generally, the sale, exchange or retirement of a contingent payment note will result in taxable gain or loss to a U.S. Holder. The amount of gain or loss on a sale, exchange or retirement of a contingent payment note will be equal to the difference between (a) the amount of cash plus the fair market value of any other property received by the U.S. Holder, including the fair market value of any common stock received (the “amount realized”), from the sale, exchange or retirement of the contingent payment note and (b) the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the contingent payment note. As discussed above, to the extent that a U.S. Holder has any net negative adjustment carryforward, the U.S. Holder may use such net negative adjustment from a previous year to reduce the amount realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of the contingent payment note.

For purposes of determining the amount realized on the scheduled retirement of a contingent payment note, a U.S. Holder will be treated as receiving the projected amount of any contingent payment due at maturity. As previously discussed, to the extent that actual payments with respect to the contingent payment notes during the year of the scheduled retirement are greater or less than the projected payments for such year, a U.S. Holder will incur a net positive or negative adjustment, resulting in additional ordinary income or loss, as the case may be.

A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a contingent payment note generally will be equal to the U.S. Holder’s original purchase price for the contingent payment note, increased by any interest income previously accrued by the U.S. Holder (determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals described above) and decreased by the amount of any projected payments that previously have been scheduled to be made in respect of the contingent payment note (without regard to the actual amount paid).

Gain recognized by a U.S. Holder upon a sale, exchange or retirement of a contingent payment note generally will be treated as ordinary interest income. Any loss will be ordinary loss to the extent of the excess of previous interest inclusions over the total net negative adjustments previously taken into account as ordinary losses in respect of the contingent payment note, and thereafter capital loss (which will be long-term capital loss if the contingent payment note has been held for more than one year). The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations. If a U.S. Holder recognizes a loss upon a sale or other disposition of a contingent payment note and such loss is above certain thresholds, the holder may be required to file a disclosure statement with the IRS. See “—Disclosure Requirements” below.

Special rules will apply if one or more contingent payments on a contingent payment note become fixed. If one or more contingent payments on a contingent payment note become fixed more than six months prior to the date each such payment is due, a U.S. Holder will be required to make a positive or negative adjustment, as appropriate, equal to the difference between the present value of the amounts that are fixed and the present value of the projected

amounts of the contingent payments as provided in the projected payment schedule, using the comparable yield as the discount rate in each case. If all remaining scheduled contingent payments on a contingent payment note become fixed substantially contemporaneously, a U.S. Holder will be required to make adjustments to account for the difference between the amounts treated as fixed and the projected payments in a reasonable manner over the remaining term of the contingent payment note. For purposes of the preceding sentence, a payment (including an amount payable at maturity) will be treated as fixed if (and when) all remaining contingencies with respect to it are remote or incidental within the meaning of the applicable Treasury regulations. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the contingent payment note and the character of any gain or loss on the sale of the contingent payment note will also be affected. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning the application of these special rules.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

Backup withholding may apply in respect of payments on the notes and the payment of proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes, unless a U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption or a correct taxpayer identification number and otherwise complies with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. The amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional tax and may be refunded or credited against the U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS. In addition, information returns may be filed with the IRS in connection with payments on the notes and the payment of proceeds from a sale or other disposition of the notes, unless the U.S. Holder provides proof of an applicable exemption from the information reporting rules.

Disclosure Requirements

Applicable Treasury regulations require taxpayers that participate in certain “reportable transactions” to disclose their participation to the IRS by attaching Form 8886 to their tax returns and to retain a copy of all documents and records related to the transaction. In addition, organizers and sellers of such transactions are required to maintain records, including lists identifying investors in the transaction, and must furnish those records to the IRS upon demand. A transaction may be a “reportable transaction” based on any of several criteria. Whether an investment in a note constitutes a “reportable transaction” for any holder depends on the holder’s particular circumstances. Holders should consult their tax advisers concerning any possible disclosure obligation that they may have with respect to their investment in the notes and should be aware that we (or other participants in the transaction) may determine that the disclosure or investor list maintenance requirement applies to the transaction and comply accordingly with these requirements.