The Bill – Sanctions on Issuances of Bearer Bonds
The Bill would end the practice of selling bearer bonds to foreign investors under TEFRA C and TEFRA D. Thus, with respect to issuers of foreign targeted bearer bonds, the Bill would repeal the exception to (i) a denial of interest deduction for interest on bearer bonds and (ii) the 1% excise tax on the principal amount of the bonds.[1] In addition, interest paid on such bonds would no longer qualify for treatment as portfolio interest, thereby subjecting such interest to a 30% withholding tax, and any gain realized by a holder of such bonds would be treated as ordinary income.
This provision would apply to debt obligations issued after the date which is 180 days after the date of enactment of the Bill.
If enacted, the collateral damage from the Bill in the capital markets could be substantial. In the first instance, U.S. issuers would have to revise their existing programs to prohibit bearer debt. More importantly, they would have a harder time raising capital in foreign jurisdictions to the extent investors in those jurisdictions are unwilling to provide the non-U.S. person certification required for registered debt (i.e., IRS Form W-8). Also, U.S. issuers could not raise debt capital from jurisdictions (e.g., Switzerland) where investors are legally barred from certifying as to residency. Finally, foreign issuers would no longer have the protection against the excise tax of TEFRA C or TEFRA D compliance and would instead run whatever risk exists that the U.S. would attempt to impose an excise tax on a purely “foreign-to-foreign” debt offering.
