Macquarie Bank Limited - Macquarie Bank Capital Notes 2

This Ruling sets out the way in which the relevant tax provisions apply to specified entities who subscribed for and acquired Macquarie Bank Capital Notes 2 (BCN2) issued by Macquarie Bank Limited (MBL). MBL is a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited (MGL).

The scheme is set out in paragraphs 47 to 76 of this Ruling.

In this Ruling, unless otherwise defined, capitalised terms have the meaning specified in the Terms of the BCN2 (the Terms) which are contained in Appendix A of the BCN2 Prospectus dated 19 May 2020 (the Prospectus).

All legislative references are to provisions of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 unless otherwise indicated.

This Ruling applies to you if you are an investor (also referred to as a Holder) who: • acquired your BCN2 by initial application under the Prospectus • is a resident of Australia (as defined in subsection 6(1) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 (ITAA 1936)) during the period you hold your BCN2 • holds your BCN2 on capital account, that is, your BCN2 were neither held as revenue assets (as defined in section 977-50) nor as trading stock (as defined in subsection 995-1(1)), and • is not subject to the taxation of financial arrangement rules in Division 230 in relation to gains and losses on your BCN2.

This Ruling does not consider: • the tax implications in relation to a non-resident who holds their BCN2 through a permanent establishment (as defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936) in Australia • the tax implications of the Redemption of your BCN2 (other than for the application of sections 26BB, 45A, 45B and 70B of the ITAA 1936), and • how the gross-up and tax offset rules in Division 207 apply to a partnership or trustee investors (other than a partnership or trustee that is a corporate tax entity, or a trustee of a trust that is a complying superannuation entity), or indirect distributions to partners in a partnership or beneficiaries or trustees of a trust.

This Ruling applies from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2029.

You acquired your BCN2 on 2 June 2020 (the Issue Date) under table item 2 of section 109-10.

The first element of the Cost base / reduced cost base of each BCN2 is A$100, being the money you paid to acquire your BCN2 (subsections 110-25(2) and 110-55(2)).

A Distribution on a BCN2 is a non-share dividend under section 974-120 and is included in your assessable income (subparagraph 44(1)(a)(ii) of the ITAA 1936).

In the income year in which the Distribution is made, you also: • include the amount of the franking credit attached to a Distribution in your assessable income (subsection 207-20(1)), and • are entitled to a tax offset equal to the franking credit (subsection 207-20(2)).

To the extent that a Distribution (or a part of it) is either exempt income or non-assessable non-exempt income in your hands (and none of the exceptions in Subdivision 207-E apply), the amount of any franking credit on the Distribution that is exempt income or non-assessable non-exempt income is not included in your assessable income, and you are not entitled to a tax offset under Division 207 (Subdivision 207-D).

The franking credit tax offset that you are entitled to is subject to the refundable tax offset rules in Division 67, provided you are not excluded by the operation of section 67-25. Entities excluded by section 67-25 include corporate tax entities (such as companies, corporate limited partnerships, and public trading trusts), unless they satisfy the requisite conditions in subsections 67-25(1C) or 67-25(1D).

The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 177EA(5)(b) of the ITAA 1936 to deny the whole, or any part, of the imputation benefits you receive in relation to a Distribution.

The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 204-30(3)(c) to deny the whole, or any part, of the imputation benefits you receive in relation to a Distribution.

Paragraph 207-145(1)(a) will not apply to cancel the effect of the gross-up and tax offset for a franked Distribution if you are a qualified person in respect of that Distribution.

You will be a qualified person in relation to a Distribution if, during the primary qualification period, you held your BCN2 for a continuous period of at least 90 days during which you did not have 'materially diminished risks or loss of opportunities for gain' (as defined in former section 160APHM of the ITAA 1936) in respect of your BCN2.

The Resale and Exchange features of BCN2 will not affect your risks of loss or opportunities for gain in respect of your BCN2 as neither the Resale nor the Exchange mechanism constitutes a separate position (former sections 160APHM and 160APHJ of the ITAA 1936).

Paragraphs 207-145(1)(b) to (db) will not apply to cancel the effect of the gross-up and tax offset rules in respect of a franked Distribution on your BCN2.

In respect of paragraphs 207-145(1)(b) and (c), refer to paragraphs 14 and 15 of this Ruling.

In respect of paragraph 207-145(1)(d), based on the facts of the scheme, there is no evidence that the Distributions will be made as part of a dividend stripping operation.

In respect of paragraph 207-145(1)(da), this Ruling is made on the basis that the distribution washing provision does not apply (refer to paragraph 76(q) of this Ruling).

In respect of paragraph 207-145(1)(db), this Ruling is made on the basis that BCN2 are equity interests which form part of MBL's Additional Tier 1 Capital (refer to subsection 207-158(2) and paragraph 76(c) of this Ruling).

As your BCN2 is not a 'qualifying security' (as defined in subsection 159GP of the ITAA 1936), Division 16E of Part III of the ITAA 1936 will not apply.

Your BCN2 are not traditional securities as defined in section 26BB of the ITAA 1936.

Section 26BB of the ITAA 1936 will not apply to include any gain on the disposal or Redemption of your BCN2 in your assessable income.

Section 70B of the ITAA 1936 will not apply to allow any loss on the disposal or Redemption of your BCN2 as a deduction to you.

Each BCN2 is a convertible interest.

CGT event C2 happens on Exchange of each of your BCN2 for MGL Ordinary Shares.

A capital gain or capital loss you make from CGT event C2 happening on Exchange will be disregarded (subsection 130-60(3)).

MGL Ordinary Shares you acquired on Exchange will be taken to have been acquired when the Exchange happens on the relevant Exchange Date (subsection 130-60(2)). The first element of the Cost base / reduced cost base of MGL Ordinary Shares you acquired on Exchange will be equal to the Cost base / reduced cost base of your relevant BCN2 at the time of Exchange (table item 2 of subsection 130-60(1)).

As you hold your BCN2 on capital account, no amount will be included in your assessable income on the Exchange of a BCN2 under section 6-5.

In addition, you will not incur a deductible loss under section 8-1 as a consequence of the Exchange of a BCN2.

On the Exchange of a BCN2 for MGL Ordinary Shares you will not be taken to have received a dividend or non-share dividend.

CGT event A1 in section 104-10 happens where the allocation of MGL Ordinary Shares you received on Exchange are disposed of by a Sale Agent and the net proceeds are remitted to you.

CGT event A1 happens when the Sale Agent, on your behalf, enters into the contract for the sale of the MGL Ordinary Shares (paragraph 104-10(3)(a)).

You will make a capital gain if the net proceeds exceed your cost base (subsection 104-10(4)).

You will make a capital loss if the net proceeds are less than your reduced cost base (subsection 104-10(4)).

In calculating the capital gain or capital loss the: • time you are taken to have acquired the MGL Ordinary Shares is worked out according to paragraph 31 of this Ruling, and • first element of your cost base and your reduced cost base is worked out according to paragraph 31 of this Ruling.

CGT event A1 in section 104-10 happens on the Resale of your BCN2. The Resale of your BCN2 to the Nominated Party will be for the Issue Price of the BCN2.

As the capital proceeds you receive will not be more than the cost base of your BCN2, you will not make a capital gain as a result of the Resale.

As you hold your BCN2 on capital account, no amount will be included in your assessable income on the Resale under section 6-5.

In addition, you will not incur a deductible loss under section 8-1 as a consequence of the Resale.

Section 45 of the ITAA 1936 will not apply to treat the value of MGL Ordinary Shares issued to you on Exchange as an unfrankable dividend.

The Commissioner will not make a determination under subsection 45A(2) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45C of the ITAA 1936 applies to treat the whole, or a part, of the capital benefit provided to you on Exchange or Redemption as an unfranked dividend.

The Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(b) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45C of the ITAA 1936 applies to treat the whole, or a part, of the capital benefit provided to you on Exchange or Redemption as an unfranked dividend.

The following description of the scheme is based on information provided by the applicant. If the scheme is not carried out as described, this Ruling cannot be relied upon.

MGL is the non-operating holding company of the MGL Group and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

As the parent company of MBL, MGL is subject to regulatory compliance requirements by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). MBL is an authorised deposit-taking institution for the purposes of the Banking Act 1959.

For Australian tax purposes, MGL is the head company of the MGL income tax consolidated group. MBL is a subsidiary member of that tax consolidated group.

MBL carries on business in Australia and outside Australia through foreign branches.

Under the Prospectus, MBL offered to undertake a capital raising by the issue of BCN2 for an issue price of A$100 each to raise A$500 million (subject to market conditions and capital needs at the time of issue) (the Offer).

The BCN2 were issued on 2 June 2020.

The BCN2 are issued by MBL in Australia. The BCN2 are not issued at or through an offshore permanent establishment or subsidiary of MBL.

The Offer has been made as part of MGL's ongoing capital management strategy within the regulatory capital requirements prescribed by APRA. The issue of BCN2 is a new capital raising and the proceeds from the issue will be used for general corporate funding and capital management purposes.

BCN2 are Australian Dollar (A$)-denominated, fully-paid, unsecured, subordinated, non-cumulative, mandatorily convertible notes issued by MBL.

BCN2 are listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and trade under the code MBLPC.

The Issue Price of each BCN2 was A$100. BCN2 were fully paid on the Issue Date, being 2 June 2020.

MBL will pay in-arrears quarterly cash floating-rate Distributions in respect of each BCN2 on a Distribution Payment Date (each a Distribution Payment Date) in accordance with the Terms.

The Distribution payable is calculated on the Issue Price of each BCN2 using a Distribution Rate, which is equal to the Bank Bill Rate plus a Margin adjusted by the corporate tax rate and based on the number of days held. The Margin was determined under the Bookbuild.

Distributions are expected to be partly franked, at the same rate as the dividends on MGL's ordinary shares. The franking percentage of the Distributions may vary over time in line with the franking percentage that applies to MGL Ordinary Shares.

The payment of a Distribution is subject to the absolute discretion of MBL and can also only be paid if certain Payment Conditions are met, including that payment will not breach certain APRA conditions or make MBL insolvent.

Distributions are non-cumulative. To the extent that all or part of a Distribution is not paid on a scheduled Distribution Payment Date, BCN2 Holders will have no claim or entitlement in respect of the non-payment of the Distribution. A Distribution that is not paid on a Distribution Payment Date for any reason does not accrue interest for the period during which it remains unpaid.

Subject to certain exceptions, if any Distribution is not paid in full on the relevant Distribution Payment Date or within 10 Business Days, this will restrict MBL from determining, declaring or paying any MBL Ordinary Share dividend, or undertaking any Buy-Backs or Capital Reductions in relation to any MBL Ordinary Shares.

BCN2 will be Exchanged for MGL Ordinary Shares on the date that is the earlier of (each a Mandatory Exchange Date): • 21 December 2028 (Scheduled Mandatory Exchange Date) subject to the satisfaction of the relevant Exchange Conditions, or • the first Distribution Payment Date after the Scheduled Mandatory Exchange Date on which the relevant Exchange Conditions are satisfied, unless the BCN2 have been or will be Redeemed or Exchanged before that date.

In certain circumstances, some or all of the BCN2 must be Exchanged for MGL Ordinary Shares before a Mandatory Exchange Date if a Common Equity Tier 1 Trigger Event or Non-Viability Event occurs.

Some or all of the BCN2 may be Exchanged for MGL Ordinary Shares before a Mandatory Exchange Date if MBL elects to do so on any Scheduled Optional Exchange Date or following the occurrence of a Tax Event or a Regulatory Event.

All of the BCN2 must be Exchanged for MGL Ordinary Shares before a Mandatory Exchange Date if an Acquisition Event occurs, unless the Directors make certain determinations.

Upon Exchange: • each BCN2 will be automatically transferred to MGL or, only with APRA's written approval obtained prior to the Exchange Date, to another subsidiary of MGL which is a holding company of MBL (an Approved Nominee), and • MGL will allot and issue the Exchange Number of MGL Ordinary Shares to the Holders for each BCN2 held by the Holder.

In certain circumstances, including by the request of a Holder, the MGL Ordinary Shares may be issued to a Sale Agent instead of the Holder. The Sale Agent will, subject to the Terms, arrange for the sale of those shares and pay the relevant Holder a cash amount equal to the net proceeds of the sale.

MBL may elect to Redeem all or some of the BCN2: • on a Scheduled Optional Exchange Date, or • following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Regulatory Event.

Each BCN2 will be Redeemed by payment of the Issue Price to the relevant Holder (Redemption Price). Distributions for the period since the last Distribution Payment Date to (but excluding) the Redemption Date will be paid subject to the conditions for payment of a Distribution being met.

MBL may elect that all or some of the Holder's holding of the BCN2 will be transferred to one or more Nominated Parties (Resale).

The Nominated Party or Nominated Parties will be one or more third parties selected by MBL and cannot be MBL itself or a Related Entity.

Under a Resale, each Holder on the Resale Date is taken to irrevocably offer to sell the BCN2 that are subject to the Resale Notice to the Nominated Party on the Resale Date for a purchase price equal to the Issue Price of that BCN2. Each BCN2 which is to be Resold will be transferred to the Nominated Party free from any encumbrance.

This Ruling is made on the basis that: (a) During the term of the scheme, MGL and MBL are residents of Australia under the income tax laws of Australia and of no other jurisdiction. (b) The BCN2 are equity interests in MBL under Division 974 and are non-share equity interests as defined in subsection 995-1(1). (c) The BCN2 form part of MBL's Additional Tier 1 Capital for the purposes of the prudential standards determined by APRA and in force under section 11AF of the Banking Act 1959. (d) The Distributions are frankable distributions under section 202-40. (e) MGL expects to frank each Distribution in accordance with the franking policy that applies to ordinary shares in MGL (as such time as Distributions are made), and in a manner that satisfies the benchmark rule in Division 203 for the franking period in which a Distribution is made. The policy of MGL in relation to the franking of dividends on the ordinary shares of MGL is not expected to change as a result of the issuance of the BCN2. (f) MGL will not differentially frank Distributions to different Holders according to their tax status or on any other basis. (g) Immediately before payment of a Distribution on the BCN2, MBL will have available frankable profits (worked out under section 215-20) at least equal to the Distribution. (h) Distributions on the BCN2 will not be sourced directly or indirectly from MBL's non-share capital account or share capital account. (i) Distributions on the BCN2 will not be debited to any extent against MBL's non-share capital account or share capital account. (j) The share capital account of MBL will not become tainted (within the meaning of Division 197) by the issue of the BCN2 or the issue of MGL Ordinary Shares on Exchange of the BCN2. (k) On Exchange or Redemption, MBL will debit the Issue Price of the BCN2 to its non-share capital account (within the meaning of section 164-10). (l) Any MGL Ordinary Shares issued on Exchange will be equity interests in MGL as defined in Subdivision 974-C. (m) The accounts of the MGL group will be prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting standards. (n) You (or an associate) will not make, be under an obligation to make, or be likely to make, a 'related payment' (as defined under former section 160APHN of the ITAA 1936) in relation to a Distribution. (o) You will hold your BCN2 for a continuous period of at least 90 days (excluding the day of acquisition and disposal (if relevant)) during the 'primary qualification period' (as defined in former section 160APHD of the ITAA 1936) in relation to a Distribution. (p) You will not take any 'positions' as defined in former section 160APHJ of the ITAA 1936) at any time in relation to their BCN2 apart from holding their BCN2. (q) You (or your connected entities) will not engage in distribution washing (as outlined in section 207-157) in relation to a Distribution (unless entitled to the exception under subsection 207-157(4)). (r) MGL is a connected entity of MBL as defined in subsection 995-1(1). (s) All unrelated parties to the transaction are dealing with each other on arm's length terms and fair value consideration was provided by Holders to acquire BCN2.

Section 177EA of the ITAA 1936 is a general anti-avoidance provision that applies where one of the purposes (other than an incidental purpose) of a particular scheme is to enable a taxpayer to obtain an imputation benefit.

The conditions in paragraphs 177EA(3)(a) to (d) of the ITAA 1936 will be satisfied, therefore the relevant circumstances of the scheme must be considered to establish whether any person who entered into or carried out the scheme, or any part of the scheme, did so for a more than an incidental purpose of enabling a Holder to obtain an imputation benefit (paragraph 177EA(3)(e) of the ITAA 1936).

The Commissioner considers that the relevant circumstances of the scheme do not, on balance, lead to a conclusion that the purpose of enabling Holders to obtain imputation benefits is more than incidental to MBL's primary purpose of raising additional Tier 1 capital for general corporate funding and capital management purposes.

Subsection 204-30(1) empowers the Commissioner to make a determination under paragraph 204-30(3)(c) if an entity streams distributions in a certain way.

Based on the scheme, there is no evidence of streaming. Distributions will be received by all Holders by reason of their proportionate holding of BCN2 and not by reference to their tax profiles or individual tax positions. There is nothing in the Terms that allows MBL to treat Holders differently in respect of their entitlement to a franked Distribution.

If you are not a qualified person in relation to a Distribution, you: • do not include the franking credit attached to the dividend in your assessable income (paragraph 207-145(1)(e)), and • are not entitled to a tax offset equal to the amount of the franking credit attached to the dividend (paragraph 207-145(1)(f)).

As this Ruling is made on the basis that you have not made a related payment in respect of a Distribution, the relevant qualification period is the 'primary qualification period' (as defined in former section 160APHD of the ITAA 1936). The primary qualification period begins on the day after you acquire your BCN2 and ends on the 90th day after the day BCN2 becomes ex-distribution.

You need to have held your BCN2 'at risk' for a continuous period of 90 days (excluding the days of acquisition and disposal, if relevant) during the primary qualification period. Any days you had materially diminished risks of loss or opportunities for gain in respect of your holding are also excluded (former subsection 160APHO(3) of the ITAA 1936).

Under former subsection 160APHM(2) of the ITAA 1936, you are taken to have materially diminished the risks of loss and opportunities for gain on a particular day with respect to your BCN2 if your net position on that day does not retain 30% or more of the risks and opportunities associated with holding BCN2.

Embedded options such as the Resale and Exchange mechanisms do not represent separate positions in relation to BCN2 (see also Taxation Determination TD 2007/29 Income tax: holding period rule: is an embedded share option a position in relation to the share if it is exercisable by or against a party other than the issuer of the share?). Under the Resale mechanism, you will only be taken to have made an offer to sell BCN2 if MBL issues a Resale Notice. As MBL is the only party entitled to make an election to exercise the Resale option, it is not a separate position that you have taken in relation to your BCN2. Similarly, under the Exchange mechanism you do not have the right to elect Exchange of your BCN2.

Therefore, the Resale and Exchange mechanisms will not, of themselves, affect your risks of loss or opportunities for gain in respect of your BCN2.

However, if you do enter into any risk management strategies in respect of your BCN2 that have the effect of reducing your risks of loss and opportunities for gain below 30% (for example, by the use of limited recourse loans, options or other derivatives), then you will not be considered a qualified person in respect of a Distribution.

On Exchange, each BCN2 will be transferred from a Holder to MGL (or an Approved Nominee) and MGL will allocate and issue MGL Ordinary Shares as consideration for the transfer.

The allocation and issue of MGL Ordinary Shares to a Holder is not a Distribution made on the BCN2. Therefore, the MGL Ordinary Shares will not be a dividend as defined in subsection 6(1) of the ITAA 1936 or a non-share dividend as defined in subsection 974-120.

Accordingly, the MGL Ordinary Shares received on Exchange will not be included in a Holder's assessable income under paragraph 44(1)(a) of the ITAA 1936.

Section 45 of the ITAA 1936 applies where a company streams the provision of shares and the payment of minimally franked dividends to its shareholders in such a way that: • the shares are received by some shareholders but not all shareholders, and • some or all of the shareholders who do not receive the shares receive or will receive minimally franked dividends.

MGL expects to pay partly franked dividends to all its shareholders and partly franked distributions to all holders of non-equity interests consistently. Further, MGL has a history of partly franking its frankable distributions at a rate above 10%, which is also not expected to change.

The Terms do not provide for the issue of shares to all or some Holders in satisfaction of their Distribution entitlement. The issue of MGL Ordinary Shares on Exchange merely reflects a change in the type of equity interests held by Holders.

Based on the information provided and having regard to the circumstances of the scheme, section 45 of the ITAA 1936 will not apply to treat the issue of MGL Ordinary Shares on Exchange as an unfrankable dividend in the hands of Holders.

Section 45A of the ITAA 1936 applies where a company streams capital benefits and the payment of dividends to shareholders who would derive a greater benefit from receiving the capital benefits (the advantaged shareholders), and it is reasonable to assume that other shareholders (the disadvantaged shareholders) have received, or will receive, dividends.

Both the issue of MGL Ordinary Shares on Exchange and the Redemption of BCN2 will constitute the provision of a capital benefit to Holders (paragraph 45A(3)(a) of the ITAA 1936 for an Exchange, and paragraph 45A(3)(b) of the ITAA 1936 as affected by subsection 45A(3A) of the ITAA 1936 for a Redemption).

However, the issue of MGL Ordinary Shares on Exchange and the Redemption of BCN2 will not constitute the streaming of capital benefits because under an Exchange or Redemption, MBL will not selectively direct the flow of capital benefits to Holders who could most benefit from capital. Accordingly, as this requirement does not apply to the Exchange or Redemption of BCN2, the Commissioner will not make a determination to treat the whole, or a part, of the capital benefit received by Holders as an unfranked dividend.

Section 45B of the ITAA 1936 applies where certain capital benefits are provided to shareholders in substitution for dividends. Where the conditions are met, the Commissioner may make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(b) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45C of the ITAA 1936 applies to the whole, or a part, of the capital benefit such that it will be treated as an unfranked dividend.

The issue of MGL Ordinary Shares to Holders on Exchange and the Redemption of BCN2 (a Redemption being a non-share capital return) will each constitute a scheme under which Holders are provided with a capital benefit by MGL or MBL (paragraphs 45B(5)(a), 45B(5)(b) and subsection 45B(7) of the ITAA 1936). As a result, paragraph 45B(2)(a) of the ITAA 1936 will be satisfied.

At least some Holders will obtain a tax benefit as defined in subsection 45B(9) of the ITAA 1936 as a result of an Exchange or Redemption. As a result, paragraph 45B(2)(b) of the ITAA 1936 will be satisfied.

Therefore, whether section 45B of the ITAA 1936 will apply to an Exchange or Redemption turns on whether paragraph 45B(2)(c) of the ITAA 1936 will be satisfied. This involves considering the relevant circumstances, including but not limited to those listed in subsection 45B(8) of the ITAA 1936, of the Exchange and Redemption schemes to establish whether one of the persons who will enter into or carry out the schemes will do so for a more than incidental purpose of enabling a relevant taxpayer (the Holder) to obtain a tax benefit.

Having regard to the relevant circumstances, it could not be concluded that the Exchange or Redemption of BCN2 will be entered into for a more than incidental purpose of enabling Holders to obtain a tax benefit. Accordingly, paragraph 45B(2)(c) of the ITAA 1936 would not be satisfied and the Commissioner will not make a determination under paragraph 45B(3)(b) of the ITAA 1936 that section 45C of the ITAA 1936 applies to the whole, or a part, of the capital benefit provided to Holders on Exchange or Redemption.