Abn Amro Group 2009 Tax Ruling

17
CLASSIFICATION SHEET This document relates to the following rcquest: 21 September 2009 References: MLGY 1 AEHN/MASRJAABO/A 1809008M-ECCl BUREAU D' IMPOSITION SOC. 6 ENTRËE ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: 1982 2200 071 RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: not yet attributcd Lux-Irllnvestments No 1 S.A. - Fiscal number: 2005 2221 634 1. Key topks: Restructuring of the ABN Group 2. Name of the advisor: PrîcewaterhouseCoopers 3. na mc, or fund sponsor: ABN Amro Group 4. of the projcct: NIA 5. Amount intended to be invested: NIA 6. Date of rcccipt: 2 1 SEP. 2009

description

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: 1982 2200 071RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: not yet attributcdLux-Irllnvestments No 1 S.A. - Fiscal number: 2005 2221 634. Key topks: Restructuring of the ABN Group2. Name of the advisor: PrîcewaterhouseCoopers3. Corpo ra~'s na mc, or fund sponsor: ABN Amro Group

Transcript of Abn Amro Group 2009 Tax Ruling

Page 1: Abn Amro Group 2009 Tax Ruling

CLASSIFICATION SHEET

This document relates to the following rcquest:

21 September 2009

References: MLGY 1 AEHN/MASRJ AABO/ A 1809008M-ECCl

BUREAU D'IMPOSITION SOC. 6 ENTRËE

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: 1982 2200 071 RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: not yet attributcd Lux-Irllnvestments No 1 S.A. - Fiscal number: 2005 2221 634

1. Key topks: Restructuring of the ABN Group

2. Name of the advisor: PrîcewaterhouseCoopers

3. Corpora~'s na mc, or fund sponsor: ABN Amro Group

4. N~ame of the projcct: NIA

5. Amount intended to be invested: NIA

6. Date of rcccipt:

2 1 SEP. 2009

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For the attention of Mr Marius Kohl

Administration des Contributions Directes Bureau d' imposition Sociétés VI 18, rue du Fort W cde11 L-2982 Luxembourg

21 September 2009

References: MLGY/ AEHN/MASR/ AABO/ A 1809008M-ECCI

PricewaterhouseCoopers Société à responsabilité limitée Réviseur d'entreprises 400, route d'Esclt 13.P. 1443 L-1 014 Luxembourg Telephone +352 494848-1 Facsimilc 1·352 494848-2900 www .pwc.com/lu [email protected]

BUREAU D'IMPOSITION SOC. 6 ENTRÉE

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscaluumbcr: 1982 2200 071 RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. -Fiscal nurnber: not yet available Lux-Irl Investrncnts No 1 S.A.- Fiscal number: 2005 2221 634

Restructuring of the ABN Group

Dear Mr Kohl,

ln our capacity of tax consultant of the above-mentioned client, we discussed in our meeting dated 31 August 2009 the tax treatmcnt applicable to the transactions foreseen by our client This letter aims at confinning the conclusions reached during this meeting and will serve as a basis for the preparation of the tax returns of the Luxembourg companics involved.

A. Factua.l background

l. Further to a common bid made in 2007, a consortium of three banks' acquired the group ABN AMRO. For further details on the acquisition of the group ABN AMRO by the consortium please refer to Appendix 1.

2. Royal Bank of Scotland, Fortis and Banco Santander agreed to take over the different banking activities of the group ABN AMRO. In Luxembourg, the two main activities of ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. (hereafter "ABN Lux" or the "Bank") will be attributed as follows:

• The Private Clients business line ("PC business"), including the participation in the Luxembourg life insurance company ABN AMRO Life S.A., will remain in the hands of ABN Lux;

Roynl Bank of Scot land, Fonis und Banco Santander.

R.C.S. Luxcmbo trg 0 65 477 · TVA Lll17S64447

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• The Corporate Clients business line ("CC business"), including the participation in Lux-Ir! Investments N° 1 S.A. (hereafter "Lux Irl"), will be attributed to a new Luxembourg bank, RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. (hereafter "RBS Lux"), incorporated on 29 July 2009 as an SPY under the name of RBS Newco S.A ..

3. The separation ofboth business !ines of ABN Lux will be realizcd as follows:

Prcliminary stcps

4. On 31 August 2009, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. has conh·ibutcd the shares of ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. to a Dutch company, ABN AMRO Private Clients Holdings B.V. (hereafter "PC Holdings"), in exchange for an issue of shares.

5. Bcfore the end of October 2009, ABN AMRO Bank N.Y. will transfer the shares of PC Holdings to a Dutch company, Aurora N.V., against a note and a hybrid note. It has to be noted that Aurora N.Y. will receive its banking liccnsc before the acquisition of the shares in PC Holdings.

Step 1: Winding-up of the "Ulster deal"

6. The "Ulster deal" refers to the invcstment made by ABN Lux in the Luxembourg company, Lux-Ir! lnvestments N° 1 S.A., for an amount of GBP I SOm. For furthcr details on this investment and its Luxembourg tax implications, please refer to the Jetters datcd 28 June 2005 (Reference: 5327/CZ/MP) and 4 April 2006 (Reference: 5327/CZ/MP/sa).

7. On 30 October 2009, Cuvia Finance Ltd., an Irish company held by Lux Irl, will reimburse the Joan grantcd by Lux lrl for an amount of GBP 150m. Lux Irl will then immediately reimburse its share premium to ABN Lux tor a corresponding amount of GBP 150m. Finally, ABN Lux will reimburse the GBP 150m Joan grantcd by ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

Step 2: Contribution by ABN Lux of the shares in Lux Irl to RBS Lux

8. Effective 151 November 2009, ABN Lux will contribute the shares in Lux lrl to RBS Lux in exchange for an issue of shares by RBS Lux. At the leve! of ABN Lux, the contribution will be made at book value accounting wise and at book value tax wise. At the level of RBS Lux, the contribution will be made at fair market value for both accounting and tax purposes.

Step 3: Partial dcmcrger of ABN Lux

9. Effective 151 November 2009 - after complction of step 2), ABN Lux will be subject to a partial demerger according to which:

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• The PC business (including the participation in ABN AMRO Life S.A.) will remain in ABN Lux;

• The CC business (including the participation in RBS Lux representing the shares previously held in Lux Ir!) will be contributed to RBS Lux.

1 O. TI1e pru1ial demerger of ABN Lux will be realized at book value for both accounting and tax purposes.

11. As a consequence of the partial demerger, RBS Lux will hold own shares, which will be immediately cancelled against a con·csponding capital reduction (no P/L impact).

Step 4: Transfer of RBS Lux's shares to ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

12. On or about 151 November 2009, PC Holdings will distribute the shares held in RBS Lux to Aurora (via disttibution in kind). Aurora will then transfer the shares in RBS Lux to RBS Bank N.V ( fonnerly ABN AMRO Bank N.V.) against redemption of the note.

Step 5: Repatriation of Lux lrl's retained carnings to RBS Lux

13. ln the beginning of2010, Lux lrl will be put into liquidation. Consequcntly, Lux lrl will pay its retained eamings to RBS Lux via liquidation proceeds (or a11 advance on liquidation proceeds).

14. As a result of the above mentioned restructuling stcps, the PC business will remain at the leve) of ABN Lux, ultimately owned by Aurora N.V. The CC business will be held by RBS Lux, u ltimately owned by the group RBS through the intennediary ofABN AMRO Bank N.V.

15. The current sirnplified organization chart and the structure after completion of steps 2 and 3 are represented in Appendix 2. The final structure will be as follows:

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cc business

1 ABN AMRO Bank NV (Netherlands)

RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A.

(Luxembourg)

1

1=====,.,=6 ======r 1: Lux lrllnvestments 11 l1 N° 1 SA 1:

:~-=-=-=-.J~;;~~!~~==j

AURORAN.V. (Netherlands)

1 PC Holdings (Netherlands)

1 ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) SA

(Luxembourg)

+ ABN AMRO Life SA

(Luxembourg)

PC business

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B. Applicable tax regime

Step 1: Winding-up of the Ulster deal

At the leve/ of Lux frf

16. The rcimburscment of the Joan granted by Lux lrl to Cuvia Ltd. as weil as the rcimburscment of the share premium by Lux lrl to ABN Lux for an amount of GBP 150m wj)] be converted into EUR for tax purposes2 based on the GBP!EUR ex change rate at the date of the reimbursement (i.e. on 30 October 2009).

17. As the Joan is booked in the tax balance shect of Lux lrl at its historical GBP/EUR exchange rate (approximately EUR 220.98m), Lux lrl will rcalize a forex gain or loss on the rcimbursement of the L TDN depending on the GBP/EUR ex change rate at the date of the reimbursement. In this respect, any forcx gain would be tax exempt as this loan is assimilated to a participation for tax purposes3

, while any forex loss would be tax deductible.

18. As the sharc premium is booked in the tax balance shect of Lux Irl at its historical GBP/EUR exchange rate (approximately EUR 220.98m), the rcimbursement of the share premium will have the following impacts depending on the GBP!EUR cxchangc rate at the date of the reimbursement:

• Either the EUR share premiurn will not be rcduccd to zero, but would rernain positive (even if the GBP share premium will be full y reimbursed accounting wise);

• Or the EUR share premium will becomc negative.

19. Duc to its retained ea~.·nings accumulated over the last ycars, Lux Irl should not be considcrcd as having legitimate economie reasons to rctum its share premium in accordancc with art 97(3)b LITL. Therefore, the allocations in consideration of the share premium reimbursement will be assimilated to incarne from securities4 in principlc subjcct to withholding tax. Howevcr, as the conditions of the withholding tax exemption laid dawn in article 147 LITL arc met, the sharc prcmium reimburscment will not be subject to any withholding tax.

At the leve/ of ABN Lux

20. The reimbursement of the share premium by Lux lrl to ABN Lux as well as the rcimbursement of the Joan granted by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. to ABN Lux for an amount of GBP 150m will be converted into EUR for accounting and tax purposes5

based on the GBP/EUR exchange rate at the date of the reimbursement (i.e. on 30 Octobcr 2009).

' TI1c annual nccounts of Lux Ir! are cxpressed in GBP. Therefore, a tax balance shcct in EUR i~ cstablished lor tax purposcs. l~or fu11hcr details, plc.:asc rcfcr LO the !cuers dated 28 June 2005 (Reference: 5327/CZJMP) and 4 April 2006 (Rclèrcncé: 5327/CVMP/sa).

~ Within the m~'llntng of m11clc 97 LITL (i.e. revenus de capituux mobiliers). ' ·n1c annual nccounts of ABN LU!l arc cxprcss~-d in EUR.

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21. As both the shares in Lux Irl and the loan granted by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. are booked in both accounting and tax balance sheets of ABN Lux at the closing GBP/EUR exchange rate (approximately EUR 170m as at 31 December 2008), ABN Lux will rcalize dcpending on the GBP/EUR exchange rate as at 30 October 2009:

• Either a forex gain on the reimburscment of the share premium fTom Lux lrl and a corresponding forex loss on the loan reimbursement to ABN AMRO Bank N.V.;

• Or a forex Joss on the reimbursement of the share premium from Lux Irl and a corresponding forex gain on the Joan reimbursement to ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

22. The reimbursement of the share premium by Lux Irl and the repayment of the loan grantcd by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. will therefore be ncutral at the leve! of ABN Lux, as any foreign exchange result will be fully compensated accow1ting and tax WiSe.

23. Except the above-mentioned foreign ex change implications, the reimbursement of the sharc premium will not trigger any impact from a Luxembourg tax perspective. This transaction will indeed result in a decrease of the acquisition costs of its shareholding in Lux Irl and a corresponding increase of assets (cash). In other words, it will have no P/L impact.

Step 2: Contribution by ABN Lux of the sharcs in Lux lrl to RBS Lux

At the leve! ofABN Lux

24. The conttibution of the shares in Lux Irl to RBS Lux will entai) an exchange of shares at the level of ABN Lux. The Bank will opt for the tax neutra! exchange of shares as the conditions laid down in article 22bis of the Luxembourg ln come Tax Law ("LITL") are met. For further details on these conditions, please rcfer to Appcndix 3.

25. ln this respect, unrealized capital gain on the shares in Lux Irl will not be disclosed upon the contribution as the acquisition priee of the shares received in exchange (i.e. sharcs in RBS Lux) will correspond tax wise to the acquisition priee of the shares given in exchange (i .e. shares in Lux Irlt Similarly, the acquisition date of the shares in RBS Lux will also correspond to the acquisition date of the shares previously held in Lux lrl

7.

26. ln addition, the expenses to be recaptmed at the level of ABN Lux8 with respect to the shares in Lux Irl will be transferred on the RBS Lux shares.

Article 21bis (4) UTL Article 22bLr ( 4) UTL

' ln accordancc with article 1 (2) of the Grand-ducal Dœrcc datcd 21 Dœernbcr 200 1.

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At the leve/ of RBS Lux

27. As the contribution of the shares in Lux lrl will be done at fair market value at the levet of RBS Lux for both accounting and tax purposes, the acquisition priee of those shares will correspond to their fair market value at the time of the con tri but ion.

28. Furtbermore, the acqmsttlon date of those shares will be the date of their contribution to RBS Lux.

Step 3: Partial demergcr of ABN Lux

29. The pat1ial demerger will be realized tax free m the hands of ABN Lux rn accordance wËth article 170(3) LITL.

30. ln this respect, the assets and liabilities transferred to RBS Lux further to U1e partial demerger (including the shares in RBS Lux) will be booked at the values previously booked in the hands of ABN Lux. Further to the partial demerger, the value of the participation in RBS Lux for commercial pm·poses and its "tax value" will not be different due to the tax neutral contribution of shares (step 2) and the different contribution values booked respectively by ABN Lux and RBS Lux. In this respect, the "tax value" of the participation in RBS Lux in the bands of ABN Lux will continue to be booked by RBS Lux in its tax balance sheet further to the partial demerger. The continuity of the book values required by ru1icle 170 LITL will therefore be fulfilled.

31 . Purthennore, the CC business (including the participation in RBS Lux reprcsenting the shares previously held in Lux Irl) constitutes an independent part of enterprise within the meaning of article 170(3) LITL, as it consists among others in structured financing deals, bank accom1ts, custodian services for SICARs and SIF's. Thcsc services are booked in the same Business Unit from an analytic accounting perspective at the levet of the BanJc

32. In addition, the PC business (including the participation in ABN AMRO Life S.A.) constitutes an independent part of enterprise within the meaning of article 170(3) LITL, as it consists in a private banking activity and ABN AMRO Li fe S.A. is the !ife insurance company offering tailor made insurance solutions to High Net Worth individuals, being therefore part of the private banking activity of the Bank.

33. Moreover, the shareholder of the Bank (i.e. PC Holdings) will receive shares in the beneficiary company (i.e. RBS Lux) as remuneration of the contribution of the CC business.

34. For further details on these conditions, please refer to Appendix 3.

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35. In this respect, unrealized capital gains on the assets and liabilities transferred to RBS Lux (including the shares in RBS Lux) will not be disclosed upon the demerger. The expenses to be recaptured will not be transferred to the beneficiary company (i.e. RBS Lux). Similarly, expcnses deducted by ABN AMRO in relation to the RBS shares will not be recaptured later on in the hand of ABN AMRO as this latter will no longer hold the participation in RBS Lux.

36. RBS Lux will have to cancel its own shares received further to the partial demerger. The cancellation of its own shares will not be a taxable event. The RBS Lux's share capital will indeed be reduced correspondingly to the cancellation of the own shares (no P/L impact).

37. Furthermore, the share capital reduction of RBS Lux will not be subject to withholding tax, as it is considered as having Jegitimate economie reasons to return its share capital due to the absence of retained earnings (article 97(3)b LITL).

Step 4: Transfer of RBS Lux's shares to RBS Bank N.V. (formcrly ABN AMRO Bank N.V.)

38. The transfer of the shares in RBS Lux to Aurora (via a distribution in kind of PC Holdings) and then from Aurora N.V. to RBS Bank N.Y. (formerly ABN AMRO Bank N. V.) will not trigger any tax implications in Luxembourg.

Step 5: Repatriation of Lux Irl's retained earnings to RBS Lux

39. Repatriation would be operated either as liquidation proceeds distribution or advance on liquidation proceeds.

40. Liquidation proceeds (or advance on liquidation proceeds) distributed by Lux lrl to RBS Lux will not be subject to withholding tax based on atiiclcs 97(3)d, 101 and 146 LITL.

41 . Liquidation proceeds received by RBS Lux in ex cess of the acquisition cost will be fully subject to taxation, as the 12 month holding period requirement mentioned in article 166 LITL will not be fulfilled.

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We remain at your disposai should you need any further information and would like to thank you tor the attention that you will give to our request.

Y ours siijcerely,

1\Ji Michel Gui!lu1 Partner

Appendix 1: Appendix 2: Appendix 3:

Worldwide restructuring of the ABN AMRO Group Simplified organization charts of the restructuring Article 22bis LITL Article 170 LITL

This Jax agreement is based on the facts as presented to PricewaterhouseCoopers Sàrl as at the date Jhe advice was given. The agreement 1s dependent on specifie facts and circumstances and may not be approprlale lo another party them the one for which 11 was prepared. 711/S fax agreemenJ11·as prepared wilh on/y the inlerests uf ABN Amro Bank (Luxembourg) SA. ln minci, tmd was not planned or carried 0111 in comemplation of any use by any other party. PricewaterhouseCoopers Sàrl. ils parmers, employees and or agents. nciJher owe nor accepl any dury of core or any responsibility 10 any other party. whether in con tract or in tor/ (including withow limitation. negligence or breac:h of statu/ory duty) however arising, and sha/1 not be /labie in respecJ of any loss, damage or expense of whCitever nature which is caused to any other party.

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Appendix 1

Worldwide restructuring of the ABN AMRO Group

1. On 17 October 2007, ABN AMRO Holding N.V. was acquired through RFS Holdings B.V. (hereafter "RFS Holdings") by a consortium of banks consisting of Royal Bank of Scotland, Fortis and ilanco Santander. ABN AMRO Holding N.V. was delistcd on 25 April 2008 from the Euronext Amsterdam and the NYSE and a squeeze-out procedure to buy minority shareholders' interest was completcd on 22 Septernber 2008, after which RFS Holdings becamc the sole shareholder in ABN AMRO llolding N.V.

2. On 3 October 2008, the State of Nethcrlands acquired ali Fortis' businesses in the Netherlands, including the Fortis share in RFS Holdings hcld by Fortis Bank Ncthcrland (Holding) N.V. On 24 Dccernber 2008, the Dutch State purchascd from Fortis Bank Netherland (Holding) N.V. its investment in RFS lloldings to becomc a direct shareholder in RFS Holdings. The interest acquired by the Dutch State will be spun off by way of a legal split into a newly establishcd Dutch company, Aurora N.V.

3. The consortium agreed to take over various business activities of the group ABN AMRO ali over the world. In Luxembourg, at the lcvcl of ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A.9

, it has been decidcd to separatc its cw-rcnt business aetivities as follows:

• The Private Clients business line, including the participation in the Luxembourg life insurance company ABN AMRO Life S.A., will remain in the hands of ABN Lux, ultimately owned by Aurora N.V.

• The Corporate Clients business line, including the participation in Lux-Ir! lnvcstments N°l S.A., will be attributed to RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. incorporatcd on 29 July 2009, ultimatcly owned by the RBS group throught the intermediary of ABN AMRO Bank N.V.

9 Ultimatcly owncll by RFS llolllings N. V. throu~h the mtcnnelliary of ABN AMRO llolding N. V and ABN AMRO Oank N V

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Appendix 2

Simplified organization ch arts of the restructuring

A Simplified organization chart before restructuring

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. (Netherlands)

_l ABN AMRO Bank

PC busines (Luxembourg) SA

(Luxembourg)

s s CC busines

1 1 1

Lux lrl lnvestments ABN AMRO Life SA no. 1 SA (Luxembourg)

(Luxembourg)

B Simplified organization chart after step 2

IF:RO Bank N.V. Aurora N.V. therlands) (Netherlands)

PC Holdings (Netherlands)

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) SA

(Luxembourg)

1

RBS Global Banking ABNAMRO (Luxembourg) S.A. Life SA

(Luxembourg) (Luxembourg)

Lux lrllnvestments No.1 SA

(Luxembourg)

CC business PC business

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C Simplified organization chart after step 3

cc business

ABN AMRO Bank N.V. Il (Netherlands)

RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A.

(Luxembourg)

Lux lrl lnvestments No.1 SA

(Luxembourg)

D Final simplified organization chart

cc business

ABN AMRO Bank NV (Netherlands)

RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A.

(Luxembourg)

Aurora N.V. (Netherlands)

1 PC Holdings. (Netherlands)

_l

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) SA

(Luxembourg)

1 ABNAMRO

Life SA (Luxembourg)

AURORAN.V. (Netherlands)

1 PC H . ., (Netherlands)

1

ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) SA

(Luxembourg)

1

ABN AMRO Life SA (Luxembourg)

PC business

PC business

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Appendix 3

A Article 22bis LITL

Step 2: contribution of the shares in Lux Irl to RBS Lux

At the leve! of ABN Lux, the contribution of the shares in Lux Ir! to RBS Lux will be tax neutra! as the conditions of article 22bis(2)3 LITL will be fulfilled, i.e.:

• RBS Lux and Lux Irl are EU companies falling in the scope of article 3 of the amended Council Directive 90/434/CEE dated 23 Julyl990, as they are Luxembourg full y taxable joint-stock companies. This condition will be met;

• The shares in Lux Jrl acquired by RBS Lux will confer the majority of the voting rights in Lux Irl. This condition will be met;

• The transfer of the shares is remunerated by shares representative of the share capital in RBS Lux at the leve! of ABN Lux. However, in addition to securities, a cash payment not exceeding 10% of the nominal value or, if no nominal value exists, the accounting equivalent of the shares issued can be provided. This condition will be met.

2 Consequent! y, the acquisition priee/date of acquisition of the shares issued by RBS Lux will correspond to the acquisition priee/date of the sharcs given in exchange (i.e. shares in Lux lrl) at the leve! of ABN Lux. Hence, unrealized capital gain on the shares in Lux Irl will not be disclosed upon the contribution and the recapture on the Lux Irl' s shares will be transferred to the shares received in exchange (i.e. shares in RBS Lux).

B Article 170 LITL

Step 3: partial demerger of ABN Lux

3 The partial demerger of ABN Lux will be realized tax frce as the conditions of Article 170(3) LlTL are met, i.e.:

• The companies taking part in the transaction (i.e. ABN Lux and RBS Lux) must be Luxembourg fully taxable joint-stock cornpanies. ln the present case, this condition will be met;

• The shareholder of the demerged company has to receive sharcs representative of the sharc capital of the beneüciary company in consideration for the contribution. In this respect, PC Holdings will receive l 00% of the shares in RBS ( except the minjmum share capital directly held by RBS Bank N.V. (formerly ABN AMRO Bank N.V.)). This condition will be met;

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• The assets and liabilities transferred have to encompass at !east one enterprise or one independent part of enter-prise. The samc applics for the asscts and liabilities kept by the demcrgcr company. This condition will be met, as RBS Lux will receive the CC business10 and ABN Lux will kcep the PC business (including the participation held in ABN AMRO Life .1\.);

• The unrealised capital gain linked to the indepcndent part of enterprise contributed to RBS Lux has to remain subject to taxation in Luxembourg latter on. In this respect, the contribution will be rcalised at book value, meaning that the assets and liabilities contributed would be booked at the leve) of RBS Lux for the values they bad at the levet of the Bank just bcfore the contribution.

Further to the partial demerger, the value of the participation in RBS Lux for commercial purposes and its "tax value" will be different due to the tax neutra! contribution of shares (step 2) and the different contribution values booked respectively by ABN Lux and RBS Lux. ln this respect, the "tax value'' of the participation in RBS Lux in the hands of ABN Lux will continue to be booked by RBS Lux in its tax balance sheet further to the partial demcrger. The continuity of the book values required by a1ticlc 170 LlTL will thercfore be fulfilled .

Consequently, unrealized capital gain on the assets and liabilities transferred will not be disclosed upon the pwtial demerger. lmmediately after the partial demcrger, RBS Lux will have to cancel its own shares. This transaction will not be a taxable event in Lux.embourg, as it will have no P/L impact (i.e. cancellation of the own shares against capital reduction).

10 lncludmg the partictpauon in RBS Lux (rcprcscntmg the sharcs previously held in l.ux lrl). lmmediatcly aller the panial demcrgcr, the own shares held by RBS Lux will be cancelled.

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LE GOUVERNEMENT DU GRAND- DUCHÉ DE LUXE MBOURG Administration des contributions directes

Bureau d'imposition

Sociétés 6

For the attention of Michel Guilluy PricewaterhouseCoopers 400, route d'Esch B.P. 1443 L - 1014 Luxembourg

Companies involved: ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: 1982 2200 071

RBS Global Banking (Luxembourg) S.A. - Fiscal number: not yet attributed

Lux-lrllnvestments No 1 S.A. - Fiscal number: 2005 2221 634

21 September 2009

Dear Sir,

Further ta your letter dated 21 September 2009 with references MLGY/AEHN/MASRIAABO/ A1809008M-ECCI relating ta the legal partial demerger of ABN AMRO Bank (Luxembourg) S.A., 1 find the contents of said letter to be in compliance with current tax legislation and administrative practice.

lt is understood thal my above confirmation m.ay only be used within the framework of the transactions contemplated by the abovementioned letter and thal the principles described in your letter shall not apply ipso facto ta other situations.

18, rue du Fort Wedell

Luxembourg

Tél.: (352) 40.80Q-3118

Fax: (352) 40.800-3100

Le préposé l bureau

d'impositionfoociétés 6

Mariu,s Kohl

Adresse postale

L-2982 Luxembourg

Site Internet

www.impotsdlrects.public.lu