Message-ID: <3343499.1075842093863.JavaMail.evans@thyme> Date: Wed, 24 May 2000 09:01:00 -0700 (PDT) From: carol.clair@enron.com To: steven.kessler@db.com Subject: Re: ISDA Tax Issue Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-From: Carol St Clair X-To: steven.kessler@db.com X-cc: X-bcc: X-Folder: \Carol_StClair_Dec2000_1\Notes Folders\All documents X-Origin: STCLAIR-C X-FileName: cstclai.nsf Steve: Here is the response from my tax person Carol St. Clair EB 3892 713-853-3989 (Phone) 713-646-3393 (Fax) ----- Forwarded by Carol St Clair/HOU/ECT on 05/24/2000 04:01 PM ----- Rhett Jackson 05/23/2000 06:58 PM To: Carol St Clair/HOU/ECT@ECT cc: Subject: Re: ISDA Tax Issue Carol: I'd rather not change our standard agreement. Specifically, the current definition of "Indemnifiable Tax" covers both present and future tax (as evidenced in the definition "Tax") and thus, necessarily, should protect the counterparty in the case of a "Change in Tax Law." Moreover, Deutsche Bank's amendment to "Indemnifiable Tax" potentially subjects us to risk that I don't feel is in our best interest to assume because we don't have any control over the counterparty's activities. Bottom line - I would reject the amendment. Please let me know if you would like me to speak to their tax counsel. Rhett Jackson EB 4680 713/853-4718 Carol St Clair 05/23/2000 10:17 AM To: Rhett Jackson/HOU/ECT@ECT cc: Subject: ISDA Tax Issue Rhett: You may recall a few weeks ago I asked you about some language that one of our counterparties wanted as an amendment to the term "Indemnifiable Tax". Another counterparty, Deutsche Bank, has requested the following which I think is very similar to what we were looking at before: Notwithstanding the foregoing, "IndemnifiableTax" also means any Tax imposed by reasons of a Change in Tax Law by a government or taxing authority of a Relevant Jurisdiction of the payer, unless the payee is incorporated, organized, managed and controlled or considered to have its seat in such jurisdiction, or is acting for purposes of this Agreement through a branch or office located in such jurisdiction. In the ISDA Users' guide, they explain that the effect of this language is to eliminate the payee's risk of bearing new taxes imposed by the payer's jurisdiction even if the payee's activities in such jurisdiction is the basis for such taxes. (except if the circumstances in the definition occur). It thus results in the payer having to gross up for such taxes. Do you think that we can or should accept this? Carol St. Clair EB 3892 713-853-3989 (Phone) 713-646-3393 (Fax)