Exhibit 8.8
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PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
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1 Embankment Place |
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London WC2N 6RH |
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Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7583 5000 |
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Facsimile: +44 (0) 20 7822 4652 |
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pwc.com/uk |
The Managing and Supervisory
Board of Directors of James Hardie Industries SE
Atrium, 8th floor
Strawinskylaan 3077
1077 ZX Amsterdam, The Netherlands
13 April
2010
Re: James Hardie Industries SE
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special UK tax adviser to James Hardie Industries SE, a European Company
(Societas Europaea (SE)) registered in The Netherlands (the Company), in connection with
the registration of 102,000,000 ordinary shares, par value 0.59 per share (the
Securities), of James Hardie Industries SE (the Issuer) as a result of the
transfer of the corporate domicile of the Company from the Netherlands to Ireland to become an
Irish SE company. At your request, we are rendering our opinion set forth below concerning
material UK tax consequences of Stage 2 of the Proposal (as defined in the Registration Statement,
described below). All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Registration Statement.
In the above capacity, we have reviewed (i) the registration statement on Form F-4 relating to the Securities
filed by the Company on 13 April 2010 with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Registration Statement), and
(ii) such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate in order to enable us to
render the opinion below.
For purposes of our opinion, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the
conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed,
photostatic or electronic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.
We have assumed that such documents, certificates, and records are duly authorized, valid, and
enforceable. Where documents have been provided to us in draft form, we have assumed that the
final executed versions of such documents will not differ materially from such drafts.
In rendering our opinion, we have relied upon statements and representations made by the
Company and have assumed that such statements and representations are true without regard to any
qualifications as to knowledge and belief. We have further assumed that (i) Stage 2 of the
Proposal will be consummated in accordance with the description in the Registration Statement and
none of the material terms or conditions contained therein have been or will be waived or modified
in any respect, (ii) such other documents, certificates and records and statements as to factual
matters contained in the Registration Statement are true, correct and complete and will continue to
be true, correct and complete through the date that implementation for Stage 2 of the Proposal is
completed, and (iii) the Registration Statement accurately describes
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England with
registered number OC303525. The registered office of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is 1 Embankment
Place, London WC2N 6RH. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial
Services Authority for designated investment business.
the business operations and
the anticipated future operations of the Company. Our opinion is conditional upon, among other
things, the initial and continuing accuracy and completeness of the facts, information, covenants,
representations and warranties provided or made by the Company.
Our opinion is based on UK tax legislation, relevant UK case law and other UK Revenue
guidance, and income tax treaties to which the UK is a party, and such other authorities as we have
considered relevant, all as in effect and available on the date of the Registration Statement and
all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect.
A change in any of the authorities upon which our advice is based could affect our conclusions
herein. There can be no assurance, moreover, that our opinion will be accepted by the UK tax
authorities or, if challenged, by a court.
Based solely upon and subject to the foregoing, the discussion in Section 8.5.1. of the F-4
entitled JHI SE Taxation, constitutes our opinion with respect to the tax matters discussed
therein.
Except as set out above, we express no opinions or views regarding the UK tax consequences of
the Proposal or any other transaction related to the Proposal.
This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we are not under any obligation to
supplement or revise our opinion to reflect any legal developments or factual matters arising
subsequent to the date hereof or the impact of any information, document, certificate, record,
statement, representation, covenant, or assumption relied upon herein that hereafter becomes
incorrect or untrue. In addition, any changes to either the Registration Statement or the other
documents referred to above could affect our conclusions herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Securities and Exchange Commission as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the
caption Legal Matters in such Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby
admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Yours faithfully,
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
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