Information session in Paris on 21 January 2010:

There Are Only 49 Days Before the Effectiveness of New Tax Withholding Requirements Affecting French Securities

LOI no 2009-1674 du 30 décembre 2009 de finances rectificative pour 2009 has been published in the JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE. Key provisions on withholding commence March 1, 2010. The law requires 50% withholding for payments to non-cooperative jurisdictions for new debt instruments created on and after March 1, 2010. Attend an information session in Paris on Thursday, January 21st. The session is intended for issuers, dealers and legal advisors working active in the French capital markets. It will focus on key strategic and structural alternatives available for new issuances of debt (one other session will be devoted to commercial paper rolls occurring in March). For all questions, please contact Céline Bardot at Acupay in London at +44 207 382 0340 or CBardot@Acupay.com . More information and the full press release can be found at the following links: Press Release (English) or Press Release (French).