REX: Risk Considerations
Investors should carefully consider the risks of the Knock-in
Reverse Exchangeable Securities and whether the securities are
suited to their particular circumstances before deciding to purchase
them. It is important that prior to investing in any securities
investors read the prospectus related to such securities to understand
the actual terms of and the risks associated with the securities.
In addition, we urge investors to consult with their investment,
legal, accounting, tax and other advisors with respect to any
investment in the securities.
Credit Risk
The securities are issued by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and guaranteed
by ABN AMRO Holding N.V., ABN AMRO’s parent. As a result,
investors assume the credit risk of ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and that
of ABN AMRO Holding N.V. in the event that ABN AMRO defaults
on its obligations under the securities.
Any obligations or securities sold, offered, or recommended
are not deposits on ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and are not endorsed
or guaranteed by any bank or thrift, nor are they insured by
the FDIC or any governmental agency.
Principal Risk
Knock-in Reverse Exchangeable Securities are not ordinary debt
securities: they are not principal protected. In addition, if
the market price of the underlying stock falls to or below the
knock-in level at any time during the term of the securities,
investors in Knock-in Reverse Exchangeable Securities will be
exposed to any decline in the price of the underlying stock
below the closing price of the underlying stock on the date
the securities were priced.
Accordingly, investors may lose some or all of their initial
investment in the securities.
Limited Return
The amount payable under the securities will never exceed the
original principal amount of the securities plus the aggregate
fi xed coupon payment investors earn during the term of the
securities. This means that investors will not benefi t from
any price appreciation in the underlying stock nor will they
receive dividends paid on the underlying stock, if any. Accordingly,
investors will never receive at maturity an amount greater than
a predetermined amount per security, regardless of how much
the price of the underlying stock increases during the term
of the securities or on the determination date. The return of
the securities may be significantly less than the return of
a direct investment in the underlying stock during the term
of the security.
Liquidity Risk
ABN AMRO does not intend to list the securities on any securities
exchange. Accordingly, there may be little or no secondary market
for the securities and information regarding 13 independent
market pricing of the securities may be limited. The value of
the securities in the secondary market, if any, will be subject
to many unpredictable factors, including then prevailing market
conditions.
It is important to note that many factors will contribute to
the secondary market value of the Knock-in Reverse Exchangeable
Securities, and investors may not receive their full principal
back if the securities are sold prior to maturity. Such factors
include, but are not limited to, time to maturity, the price
of the underlying stock, volatility and interest rates.
In addition, the price, if any, at which we or another party
are willing to purchase securities in secondary market transactions
will likely be lower than the issue price, since the issue price
included, and secondary market prices are likely to exclude,
commissions, discounts or markups paid with respect to the securities,
as well as the cost of hedging our obligations under the securities.
Tax Risk
Pursuant to the terms of the Knock-in Reverse Exchangeable
Securities, we and every investor agree to characterize the
securities as consisting of a Put Option and a Depoit of sh
with the issuer. Under this characterization, a portion of the
stated interest payments on each security is treated as interest
on the Deposit, and the remainder is treated as attributable
to a sale by the investor of the Put Option to ABN AMRO (referred
to as Put Premium). Receipt of the Put Premium will not be taxable
upon receipt.
If the Put Option expires unexercised (i.e., a cash payment
of the principal amount of the securities is made to the investor
at maturity), the investor will recognize short-term capital
gain equal to the total Put Premium received. If the Put Option
is exercised (i.e., the fi nal payment on the securities is
paid in underlying shares), the investor will not recognize
any gain or loss in respect of the Put Option, but the investor’s
tax basis in the shares received will be reduced by the Put
Premium received.
Significant aspects of the U.S. federal income tax treatment
of the securities are uncertain, and no assurance can be given
that the Internal Revenue Service will accept, or a court will
uphold, the tax treatment described above.
This summary is limited to the federal tax issues addressed herein.
Additional issues may exist that are not addressed in this summary
and that could affect the federal tax treatment of the transaction.
This tax summary was written in connection with the promotion
or marketing by ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and the placement agent of
the Knock-in Reverse Exchangeable Securities, and it cannot be
used by any investor for the purpose of avoiding penalties that
may be asserted against the investor under the Internal Revenue
Code. Investors should seek their own advice based on their particular
circumstances from an independent tax advisor.
Knock-in Reverse Exchangeable is a Service Mark of ABN AMRO Bank
N.V.
SEC Legend
ABN AMRO has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus)
with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates.
Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration
statement and other documents ABN AMRO has fi led with the SEC
for more complete information about ABN AMRO and the offering
of the securities.
You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the
SEC web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, ABN AMRO, any underwriter
or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send
you the prospectus if you request it by calling toll free (888)
644-2048.
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