Exhibit 10.1
FORM OF
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
by and among
IAC/INTERACTIVECORP,
TICKETMASTER,
INTERVAL LEISURE GROUP, INC.,
HSN, INC.
and
TREE.COM, INC.
Dated as of
[ ], 2008
TAX
SHARING AGREEMENT
This
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT (this Agreement), dated as of [ ], 2008, by and
among IAC/InterActiveCorp, a Delaware corporation (Parent),
Ticketmaster, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Ticketmaster
Spinco), Interval Leisure Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (Interval Spinco), HSN, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (HSN Spinco),
and Tree.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Parent (Tree Spinco, together with Ticketmaster Spinco, Interval
Spinco, and HSN Spinco, the Spincos, and each of the Spincos, a Spinco). Each of Parent, Ticketmaster Spinco, Interval
Spinco, HSN Spinco and Tree Spinco is sometimes referred to herein as a Party
and collectively, as the Parties.
W I T N E S S E T H
WHEREAS,
the Parties have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as
of [ ], 2008 (the Separation
Agreement), providing for the restructuring of Parent and its subsidiaries
into the Parent Group, the Ticketmaster Spinco Group, the Interval Spinco
Group, the HSN Spinco Group, and the Tree Spinco Group (each as defined
herein);
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, Parent and its subsidiaries
will consummate a series of internal restructuring steps (the Internal
Restructuring Steps) described in the Transactions Memo;
WHEREAS,
for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Internal Distributions
(as defined herein) shall qualify as tax-free transactions under Sections 355(a) and/or
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, the Parties will effect the
Distributions (as defined herein) and related transactions;
WHEREAS,
for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Distributions shall
qualify as tax-free transactions under Sections 355(a) and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of
the Code;
WHEREAS,
at the close of business on the Distribution Date of a Spinco, the taxable year
of such Spinco shall close for federal income tax purposes; and
WHEREAS,
the Parties wish to provide for the payment of Income Taxes and Other Taxes and
entitlement to Refunds thereof, allocate responsibility and provide for
cooperation in connection with the filing of returns in respect of Income Taxes
and Other Taxes, and provide for certain other matters relating to Income Taxes
and Other Taxes.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations, covenants
and agreements herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Parties agree as follows:
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1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the
Separation Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Actually
Realized or Actually Realizes shall mean, for purposes of
determining the timing of the incurrence of any Spin-Off Tax Liability, Income
Tax Liability or Other Tax Liability or the realization of a Refund (or any
related Tax cost or benefit), whether by receipt or as a credit or other offset
to Taxes payable, by a Person in respect of any payment, transaction,
occurrence or event, the time at which the amount of Income Taxes or Other
Taxes paid (or Refund realized) by such Person is increased above (or reduced
below) the amount of Income Taxes or Other Taxes that such Person would have
been required to pay (or Refund that such Person would have realized) but for
such payment, transaction, occurrence or event.
Aggregate
Spin-Off Tax Liabilities shall mean the sum of the Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities with respect to each Taxing Jurisdiction.
Breaching
Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.
Carryback
shall mean the carryback of a Tax Attribute (including, without limitation, a
net operating loss, a net capital loss or a tax credit) by a member of a Spinco
Group from a Post-Distribution Taxable Period to a Pre-Distribution Taxable
Period during which the member of the Spinco Group was included in a Combined
Return filed for such Pre-Distribution Taxable Period.
Carryback
Spinco shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b) hereof.
Cash
Acquisition Merger shall mean a merger of a newly-formed Subsidiary of a
Spinco with a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership,
general partnership or joint venture (in each case, not previously owned
directly or indirectly by such Spinco) pursuant to which such Spinco acquires
such corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, general
partnership or joint venture solely for cash and no Equity Securities of such
Spinco or any Subsidiary of such Spinco are issued, sold, redeemed or acquired,
directly or indirectly.
Code
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Combined
Return shall mean a consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return or
Other Tax Return that includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members
of the Parent Group together with one or more members of a Spinco Group.
Compensatory
Equity Interests shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
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Distribution
or Distributions shall mean, individually or collectively, the
Ticketmaster Spinco Distribution, the Interval Spinco Distribution, the HSN
Spinco Distribution and the Tree Spinco Distribution.
Distribution
Date shall mean, with respect to a Spinco, the date on which the
Distribution of such Spinco is completed.
Distribution-Related
Proceeding shall mean any Proceeding in which the IRS, another Tax
Authority or any other party asserts a position that could reasonably be
expected to adversely affect the Tax-Free Status of any of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions.
EMA
shall mean the Employee Matters Agreement by and among Parent and the Spincos
dated as of [ ], 2008.
Employing
Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a) hereof.
Equity
Securities shall mean any stock or other securities treated as equity for
federal income tax purposes, options, warrants, rights, convertible debt, or
any other instrument or security that affords any Person the right, whether
conditional or otherwise, to acquire stock or to be paid an amount determined
by reference to the value of stock.
Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term for purposes of Sections 355(d) and
(e) of the Code.
Final
Determination shall mean the final resolution of liability for any Tax,
which resolution may be for a specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable
period, (a) by IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms
thereto), on the date of acceptance by or on behalf of the taxpayer, or by a
comparable form under the laws of any other Taxing Jurisdiction, except that a Form 870
or 870-AD or comparable form shall not constitute a Final Determination to the
extent that it reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of law) the right
of the taxpayer to file a claim for Refund or the right of the Tax Authority to
assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such
taxable period (as the case may be); (b) by a decision, judgment, decree,
or other order by a court of competent jurisdiction, which has become final and
unappealable; (c) by a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise
under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the
laws of any other Taxing Jurisdiction; (d) by any allowance of a Refund or
credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of
all periods during which such Refund may be recovered (including by way of
offset) by the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Tax; or (e) by any other
final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations or by mutual agreement of the parties.
Group
shall mean the Parent Group, the Ticketmaster Spinco Group, the Interval Spinco
Group, the HSN Spinco Group or the Tree Spinco Group, as applicable.
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HSN
Spinco Consolidated Group shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which HSN Spinco
is the common parent, determined immediately after the HSN Spinco Distribution
(and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group other than the
Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco Consolidated Group).
HSN
Spinco Distribution shall mean the distribution by Parent of all the
common stock of HSN Spinco pro rata to
holders of Distributing Common Stock and Distributing Class B Common
Stock.
HSN
Spinco Group shall mean (a) HSN Spinco and each Person that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of HSN Spinco (including any Subsidiary of HSN
Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of
any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the HSN Spinco
Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, (b) any
corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged or liquidated into HSN
Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor or successor to any
Person otherwise described in this definition.
Income
Taxes (a) shall mean (i) any federal, state, local or foreign
taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments that are based upon,
measured by, or calculated with respect to (A) net income or profits
(including, but not limited to, any capital gains, gross receipts, or minimum
tax, and any tax on items of tax preference, but not including sales, use,
value added, real property gains, real or personal property, transfer or
similar taxes), (B) multiple bases (including, but not limited to,
corporate franchise, doing business or occupation taxes), if one or more of the
bases upon which such tax may be based, by which it may be measured, or with
respect to which it may be calculated is described in clause (a)(i)(A) of
this definition, or (C) any net worth, franchise or similar tax, in each
case together with (ii) any interest and any penalties, fines, additions
to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Tax Authority with respect thereto
and (b) shall include any transferee or successor liability in respect of
an amount described in clause (a) of this definition.
Income
Tax Benefit shall mean, with respect to a Party and the members of its
Group, the excess of (a) the hypothetical Income Tax Liability of the
Party and the members of its Group for such taxable period, calculated as if
such Carryback had not been utilized but with all other facts unchanged over (b) the
actual Income Tax Liability of the Party or the members of its Group for such
taxable period, calculated taking into account such Carryback (and treating any
Refund as a negative Income Tax Liability for purposes of such calculation).
Income
Tax Return shall mean any return, report, filing, statement,
questionnaire, declaration or other document required to be filed with a Tax
Authority in respect of Income Taxes.
Indemnified
Party shall mean any Person seeking indemnification pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement.
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Indemnifying
Party shall mean any Party from which any Indemnified Party is seeking
indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
Indemnifying
Spinco shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
Injured
Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.
Internal
Distribution shall mean any of the Internal Restructuring Steps that is
intended to qualify as a as tax-free transaction under Section 355(a) and/or
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code.
Internal
Restructuring Steps shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
Interval
shall mean Interval Acquisition Corp.
Interval
Spinco Consolidated Group shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which Interval
Spinco is the common parent, determined immediately after the Interval Spinco
Distribution (and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group other
than the Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco Consolidated Group).
Interval Spinco Distribution shall
mean the distribution by Parent of all the common stock of Interval Spinco pro rata to holders of Distributing Common Stock and
Distributing Class B Common Stock.
Interval
Spinco Group shall mean (a) Interval Spinco and each Person that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of Interval Spinco (including any Subsidiary of
Interval Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for
purposes of any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the
Interval Spinco Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions, (b) any corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged
or liquidated into Interval Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any
predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in this definition.
IRS
shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
IRS
Ruling shall mean any private letter ruling issued by the IRS in
connection with any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
IRS
Ruling Documents shall mean the request for a private letter ruling
submitted by Parent to the IRS on April 11, 2008, together with the
appendices and exhibits thereto, and any supplemental filings or other
materials subsequently submitted to the IRS in connection with the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
Losses
shall mean any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, obligations,
payments, costs and expenses, matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent,
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accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, known or unknown
(including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of any and all Actions,
threatened Actions, demands, assessments, judgments, settlements and
compromises relating thereto and attorneys fees and any and all expenses
whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any such Actions or threatened Actions).
Option
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the EMA.
Other
Tax Returns shall mean any return, report, filing, statement,
questionnaire, declaration or other document required to be filed with a Tax
Authority in respect of Other Taxes.
Other
Taxes shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges,
fees, imposts, levies or other assessments of any nature whatsoever, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall include superfund,
sales, use, ad valorem, value added, occupancy, transfer, recording,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, occupation, premium or property taxes
(in each case, together with any related interest, penalties and additions to
tax, or additional amounts imposed by any Tax Authority thereon); provided,
however, that Other Taxes shall not include any Income Taxes.
Parent
Consolidated Group shall mean the affiliated group of corporations (within
the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the
exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which Parent is the
common parent (and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group).
Parent
Group shall mean (a) Parent and each Person that is a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of Parent (including any Subsidiary of Parent that is
disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of any state,
local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the Distributions after giving
effect to the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, (b) any corporation (or other
Person) that shall have merged or liquidated into Parent or any such Subsidiary
and (c) any predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in
this definition.
Parent
Separate Return shall mean any Separate Return required to be filed by
Parent or any member of the Parent Group.
Participating
Spinco shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
Party
or Parties shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
Permitted
Transaction shall mean any transaction that satisfies the requirements of
Sections 4(c).
Person
shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
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organization or similar entity or a governmental authority or any
department or agency or other unit thereof.
Post-Distribution
Taxable Period shall mean, with respect to a Spinco and its Subsidiaries,
a taxable period that begins after the Distribution Date of such Spinco.
Pre-Distribution
Taxable Period shall mean, with respect to a Spinco and its Subsidiaries,
a taxable period that ends on or before the Distribution Date of such Spinco.
Proceeding
shall mean any audit or other examination, or judicial or administrative
proceeding relating to liability for, or Refunds or adjustments with respect
to, Taxes.
Refund
shall mean any refund of Taxes, including any reduction in Tax Liabilities by
means of a credit, offset or otherwise.
Relying
Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d) hereof.
Representative
shall mean with respect to a Person, such Persons officers, directors,
employees and other authorized agents.
Representing
Spinco shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
Requesting
Spinco shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(ii) hereof.
Responsible
Spinco shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) hereof.
Restriction
Period shall mean, with respect to a Spinco, the period beginning on the
Distribution Date after the Distribution of such Spinco and ending on the
twenty five (25) month anniversary thereof.
Separate
Return shall mean (a) in the case of any Tax Return required to be
filed by any member of a Spinco Group (including any consolidated, combined or
unitary return), any such Tax Return that does not include any member of the
Parent Group or any member of any other Spinco Group and (b) in the case
of any Tax Return required to be filed by any member of the Parent Group
(including any consolidated, combined or unitary return), any such Tax Return
that does not include any member of a Spinco Group.
Separation
Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this
Agreement.
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Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes shall mean any Income Taxes of Parent or any
entity that is or was a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent prior to the
Distributions resulting from (a) the transfer of any Equity Securities of
Interval to Interval Spinco prior to the Interval Spinco Distribution; (b) any
transfer of assets by FLMG Holdings Corp. to TM Spinco or one of its
Subsidiaries prior to the TM Spinco Distribution; (c) any Internal
Distribution failing to achieve Tax-Free Status, (d) the sum of (i) any
money and (ii) the fair market value of other property, in each case,
transferred by any Spinco or Interval to any shareholder of such Spinco or
Interval in connection with a Distribution exceeding (x) such
shareholders tax basis in its shares of stock of such Spinco or Interval or (y) the
net tax basis of any assets contributed by such shareholder to such Spinco, and
(e) the triggering of any excess loss account as a result of the
Distributions or the Internal Restructuring Steps.
Spinco Adjustment shall mean, with
respect to a Spinco, an adjustment of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction
or credit on a Combined Return that is attributable to members of such Spinco
Group (including, in the case of any state or local consolidated, combined or
unitary income or franchise Taxes, a change in one or more apportionment
factors of members of a Spinco Group) pursuant to a Final Determination for a
Pre-Distribution Taxable Period.
Spinco Business shall mean, with
respect to a Spinco, each trade or business actively conducted (within the
meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code) by such Spinco or any member
of its respective Spinco Group immediately after the Distribution of such
Spinco, as set forth in the IRS Ruling Documents (if applicable) and the Tax
Opinion Documents.
Spinco
Consolidated Group or Spinco Consolidated Groups shall mean,
individually or collectively, the Ticketmaster Spinco Consolidated Group, the
Interval Spinco Consolidated Group, the HSN Spinco Consolidated Group, and the
Tree Spinco Consolidated Group.
Spinco
Group or Spinco Groups shall mean, individually or collectively,
the Ticketmaster Spinco Group, the Interval Spinco Group, the HSN Spinco Group,
and the Tree Spinco Group.
Spinco
Separate Return shall mean any Separate Return required to be filed by a
Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group, including, without
limitation, (a) any consolidated federal Income Tax Returns of the Spinco
Consolidated Group required to be filed with respect to a Post-Distribution
Taxable Period and (b) any consolidated federal Income Tax Returns for any
group of which any member of the Spinco Group was the common parent.
Spin-Off-Related Transactions shall
mean, with respect to a Distribution of a Spinco, any related contribution of
assets to, and assumption of liabilities by, such Spinco, the Distribution of
such Spinco and any Internal Restructuring Steps associated with such
Distribution, in each case, as described in the Transactions Memo.
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Spin-Off
Tax Liabilities shall mean, with respect to any Taxing Jurisdiction, the
sum of (a) any increase in a Tax Liability (or reduction in a Refund) Actually
Realized as a result of any corporate-level gain or income recognized with
respect to the failure of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify
for Tax-Free Status under the Income Tax laws of such Taxing Jurisdiction
pursuant to any settlement, Final Determination, judgment, assessment, proposed
adjustment or otherwise, (b) interest on such amounts calculated pursuant
to such Taxing Jurisdictions laws regarding interest on Tax liabilities at the
highest Underpayment Rate in such Taxing Jurisdiction from the date such
additional gain or income was recognized until full payment with respect
thereto is made pursuant to Section 3 hereof (or in the case of a
reduction in a Refund, the amount of interest that would have been received on
the foregone portion of the Refund but for the failure of any of the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify for Tax-Free Status), and (c) any
penalties actually paid to such Taxing Jurisdiction that would not have been
paid but for the failure of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify
for Tax-Free Status in such Taxing Jurisdiction.
Supplying
Party shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d) hereof.
Tax
Attribute shall mean a consolidated, combined or unitary net operating
loss, net capital loss, unused investment credit, unused foreign tax credit, or
excess charitable contribution (as such terms are used in Treasury Regulations
1.1502-79 and 1.1502-79A or comparable provisions of foreign, state or local
tax law), or a minimum tax credit or general business credit.
Tax
Authority shall mean a governmental authority (foreign or domestic) or any
subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof or any quasi-governmental
or private body having jurisdiction over the assessment, determination,
collection or imposition of any Tax (including, without limitation, the IRS).
Tax
Benefits shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
Tax
Counsel shall mean tax counsel or an accounting firm of recognized
national standing that is acceptable to Parent in its sole discretion.
Taxes
shall mean Income Taxes and Other Taxes.
Tax-Free
Status shall mean, with respect to a Distribution, the qualification of
each of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions (other than the transfer by Parent of
its membership interests in LendingTree, LLC to LendingTree Holdings Corp.) as (a) a
transaction described in Sections 355(a) and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the
Code (or, in the case of the Internal Restructuring Steps associated with a
Distribution, the qualification of such Internal Restructuring Steps as one or
more transactions that are generally tax-free for federal income tax purposes
pursuant to Section 351, Section 355, Section 368(a), Sections
332 and 337, or otherwise), (b) except with respect to the Distribution of
Tree Spinco, as a transaction in which the stock distributed thereby is
qualified property for purposes of Section 361(c) of the Code, and (c) as
a transaction in which the Parties and the members of their respective Groups
recognize no income or
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gain other than intercompany items or excess loss accounts, if any,
taken into account pursuant to the Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to
Section 1502 of the Code.
Taxing
Jurisdiction shall mean the United States and every other government or
governmental unit having jurisdiction to tax one or more of the Parties or any
of their respective Affiliates.
Tax
Liabilities shall mean any liabilities for Taxes.
Tax
Opinions shall mean the tax opinions issued by Tax Counsel in connection
with the Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
Tax
Opinion Documents shall mean the Tax Opinions and the information and
representations provided by, or on behalf of, the Parties to Tax Counsel in
connection therewith.
Tax-Related Losses shall mean:
(a) the Aggregate Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities,
(b) all accounting, legal and other
professional fees, and court costs incurred in connection with any settlement,
Final Determination, judgment or other determination with respect to such
Aggregate Spin-Off Tax Liabilities, and
(c) all costs, expenses and damages
associated with stockholder litigation or controversies and any amount paid by
a Party in respect of the liability of shareholders, whether paid to shareholders
or to the IRS or any other Tax Authority payable by a Party or its respective
Affiliates, in each case, resulting from the failure of any of the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify for Tax-Free Status.
Ticketmaster
Spinco Consolidated Group shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which
Ticketmaster Spinco is the common parent, determined immediately after the
Ticketmaster Spinco Distribution (and any predecessor or successor to such
affiliated group other than the Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco
Consolidated Group).
Ticketmaster
Spinco Distribution shall mean the distribution by Parent of all the common
stock of Ticketmaster Spinco pro rata to
holders of Distributing Common Stock and Distributing Class B Common
Stock.
Ticketmaster
Spinco Group shall mean (a) Ticketmaster Spinco and each Person that
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Ticketmaster Spinco (including any
Subsidiary of Ticketmaster Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax
purposes (or for purposes of any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately
after the Ticketmaster Spinco Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions, (b) any corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged
or liquidated
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into Ticketmaster Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any
predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in this definition.
Tree
Spinco Consolidated Group shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which Tree Spinco
is the common parent, determined immediately after the Tree Spinco Distribution
(and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group other than the
Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco Consolidated Group).
Tree
Spinco Distribution shall mean the distribution by Parent of all the
common stock of Tree Spinco pro rata to
holders of Distributing Common Stock and Distributing Class B Common
Stock.
Tree
Spinco Group shall mean (a) Tree Spinco and each Person that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of Tree Spinco (including any Subsidiary of Tree
Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of
any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the Tree Spinco
Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, (b) any
corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged or liquidated into Tree
Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor or successor to any
Person otherwise described in this definition.
Underpayment
Rate shall mean the annual rate of interest described in Section 6621(c) of
the Code for large corporate underpayments of Income Tax (or similar provision
of state, local, or foreign Income Tax law, as applicable), as determined from
time to time.
Unqualified
Tax Opinion shall mean an unqualified opinion of Tax Counsel on which
Parent may rely to the effect that a transaction (a) will not disqualify
any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions from having Tax-Free Status, assuming
that the Spin-Off-Related Transactions would have qualified for Tax-Free Status
if such transaction did not occur, and (b) will not adversely affect any
of the conclusions set forth in the IRS Ruling (if applicable) or the Tax
Opinions; provided, that any tax opinion obtained in connection with a
proposed acquisition of Equity Securities of a Spinco (or any entity treated as
a successor to such Spinco), other than Tree Spinco, entered into during the
Restriction Period shall not qualify as an Unqualified Opinion unless such tax
opinion concludes that such proposed acquisition will not be treated as part
of a plan (or series of related transactions), within the meaning of Section 355(e) of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, that includes the
Distribution of such Spinco.
2. Filing of
Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes.
(a) Filing of Tax Returns; Payment of
Income Taxes and Other Taxes.
(i) Parent Consolidated Returns;
Other Combined Returns. Parent shall
prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed (A) all consolidated
federal Income
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Tax Returns of the Parent Consolidated Group and (B) all other
Combined Returns for all taxable periods that end, with respect to a Spinco, on
or before or include the Distribution Date of such Spinco. Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, any
and all Taxes due or required to be paid with respect to or required to be
reported on any such Tax Return (in each case, including any increase in such
Tax Liabilities attributable to a Final Determination with respect to a
Pre-Distribution Taxable Period (including a Spinco Adjustment); provided that
Parent shall not be responsible for any Spinco Adjustment if the Spinco Group
to which such Spinco Adjustment relates fails to promptly provide such
cooperation as is requested by Parent in connection with Parents conduct of
the Proceeding to which such Final Determination relates).
(ii) Parent Separate Returns.
Parent shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed all
Parent Separate Returns for all taxable periods. Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, any
and all Taxes due or required to be paid with respect to or required to be
reported on any Parent Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax
Liabilities attributable to a Final Determination).
(iii) Spinco Adjustments. If a Spinco
fails to promptly provide such cooperation as is requested by Parent in
connection with Parents conduct of a Proceeding relating to a Spinco
Adjustment with respect to such Spinco, such Spinco shall be responsible for
any Tax Liabilities attributable to such Spinco Adjustment.
(iv) Spinco Separate Returns.
Each Spinco shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed its
respective Spinco Separate Returns for all taxable years. Each Spinco shall pay, or cause to be paid,
and shall be responsible for, any and all Taxes due or required to be paid with
respect to or required to be reported on its Spinco Separate Returns (including
any increase in such Tax Liabilities attributable to a Final Determination).
(b) Preparation of Tax Returns.
(i) Parent (or its designee) shall determine
the entities to be included in any Combined Return and make or revoke any Tax
elections, adopt or change any Tax accounting methods, and determine any other
position taken on or in respect of any Tax Return required to be prepared and
filed by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) or (ii). Any Tax Return filed
by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) with respect to any
Pre-Distribution Taxable Period shall, to the extent relating to one or more of
the Spincos or their respective Spinco Groups, be prepared in good faith. For the
avoidance of doubt, with respect to the consolidated federal income tax
return of Parent and its subsidiaries for any taxable year that includes one or
more Distributions, Parent shall determine in its sole discretion whether to
elect ratable allocation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-76. Each Spinco shall, and shall cause each
member of its respective Spinco Group to, take all actions necessary to give
effect to such election. Each Spinco
shall, and shall cause each member of its respective Spinco Group to, prepare
and submit at Parents request (but in no event later than 90 days after such
request), at its own expense, all information that Parent shall reasonably
request, in such form as Parent shall reasonably request, including any such
information requested to enable Parent to prepare any Tax Return required to be filed by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a)(i).
13
(ii) Except as otherwise required by
applicable law or as a result of a Final Determination, (A) no Party
shall, or permit or cause any member of its respective Group to, take any
position that is either inconsistent with the treatment of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions as having Tax-Free Status (or analogous status under state, local
or foreign law) and, (B) no Spinco shall, or permit or cause any member of
its respective Spinco Group to, take any position with respect to an item of
income, deduction, gain, loss, or credit on a Tax Return, or otherwise treat
such item in a manner which is inconsistent with the manner such item is
reported on a Tax Return required to be prepared or filed by Parent pursuant to
Section 2(a) hereof (including, without limitation, the claiming of a
deduction previously claimed on any such Tax Return).
3. Indemnification for Income
Taxes and Other Taxes.
(a) Indemnification by Parent.
From and after the Distribution of a Spinco, except as otherwise
provided in Sections 3(b) and 3(c), Parent and each member of the Parent
Group shall be responsible for and shall jointly and severally indemnify,
defend and hold harmless such Spinco and each member of its Spinco Group and
each of its Representatives and Affiliates (and the heirs, executors,
successors and assigns of any of them) from and against (i) all Spin-Off
Tax Liabilities incurred by any member of the Parent Group, (ii) without
duplication, all Tax Liabilities that any member of the Parent Group is
required to pay pursuant to Section 2, (iii) all Taxes, Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities and Tax-Related Losses incurred by any member of any Group by
reason of the breach by Parent or a member of the Parent Group of any of its
representations or covenants hereunder or made in connection with the IRS
Ruling (if applicable) and/or the Tax Opinions and, in each case, any related
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees
and expenses), and (iv) all Specified Restructuring Income Taxes; provided,
however, that neither Parent nor any member of the Parent Group shall
have any obligation to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Person pursuant
to this Section 3(a) to the extent that such indemnification
obligation is otherwise attributable to a breach by a Spinco (or a member of
its Group) of any of its representations or covenants hereunder or made in
connection with the IRS Ruling (if applicable) and/or the Tax Opinions; provided,
that (x) in the event that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with
respect to the Distribution of a Spinco, neither Parent nor such Spinco shall
be deemed to make any representations regarding such Distribution in the IRS
Ruling Documents, and (y) no Spinco makes any representations regarding
any facts that, if untrue, would result in Specified Restructuring Income Taxes
(other than representations regarding (1) whether such Spinco is engaged
in the active conduct of a trade or business within the meaning of Section 355(b) of
the Code, (2) such Spincos conduct after the Distribution, and (3) the
matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof). If the indemnification obligation of Parent
or any member of the Parent Group under this Section 3(a) (or any
adjustment for which Parent is responsible pursuant to this Section 3(a),
including any adjustment with respect to a Tax Return for which Parent is
responsible pursuant to Section 2(a)(i)) results in (i) increased
deductions, losses, or credits, or (ii) decreases in income, gains or
recapture of Tax credits (Tax Benefits) to a Spinco or any member of
such Spincos Group, which would not, but for the indemnification obligation
(or the adjustment giving rise to such indemnification obligation), be
allowable, then each Spinco receiving such Tax Benefit shall pay Parent the
amount by which such Tax Benefit actually reduces, in cash, the amount of Tax
that such Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group would have been required to
pay and bear (or increases, in cash, the amount of a Refund to
14
which such Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group would have been
entitled) but for such indemnification obligation (or adjustment giving rise to
such indemnification obligation). Each
Spinco receiving the Tax Benefit shall pay Parent for such Tax Benefit no later
than five days after such Tax Benefit is Actually Realized.
(b) Indemnification by Spincos.
From and after the Distribution Date of a Spinco, such Spinco (an Indemnifying
Spinco) and each member of its Spinco Group shall be responsible for and
shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless each other
Party and the members of each other Partys respective Group and their
respective Representatives and Affiliates (and the heirs, executors, successors
and assigns of any of them) from and against (i) all Tax Liabilities
(including Specified Restructuring Taxes), Spin-Off Tax Liabilities and
Tax-Related Losses that the Indemnifying Spinco or any member of its Spinco
Group is required to pay under Section 2 or is responsible for under Section 4
(including, without limitation, any Tax Liabilities or Spin-Off Tax Liabilities
or Tax-Related Losses arising with respect to a Permitted Transaction for which
the Indemnifying Spinco is liable pursuant to Section 4(e)(i)); (ii) all Taxes (including Specified Restructuring
Income Taxes), Spin-Off Tax Liabilities and other Tax-Related Losses incurred
by any member of any Group by reason of the breach by the Indemnifying Spinco
or any member of its Spinco Group of any of its representations or covenants
hereunder or made in connection with the IRS Ruling (if applicable) and/or the
Tax Opinions) and, in each case, any related costs and expenses (including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses); provided, that
(x) in the event that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the
Distribution of a Spinco, such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any
representations regarding such Distribution in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no
Spinco makes any representations regarding any facts that, if untrue, would
result in Specified Restructuring Income Taxes (other than representations
regarding (1) whether such Spinco is engaged in the active conduct of a
trade or business within the meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, (2) such
Spincos conduct after the Distribution, and (3) the matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof). If the indemnification obligation of a Spinco
or any member of its Spinco Group under this Section 3(b) (or any
adjustment for which such Spinco is responsible pursuant to this Section 3(b))
results in a Tax Benefit to another Party or any member of such other Partys
Group, which would not, but for the Tax which is the subject of the
indemnification obligation (or the adjustment giving rise to such
indemnification obligation), be allowable, then each Party receiving such Tax
Benefit shall pay the Indemnifying Spinco the amount by which such Tax Benefit
actually reduces, in cash, the amount of Tax that the Party or any member of
its Group would have been required to pay and bear (or increases, in cash, the
amount of a Refund to which the Party or any member of its Group would have
been entitled) but for such indemnification (or adjustment giving rise to such
indemnification obligation). Each Party
receiving such Tax Benefit shall pay the Indemnifying Spinco for such Tax
Benefit no later than five days after such Tax Benefit is Actually Realized.
(c) Spinco Group Indemnification Failure.
In the event that (i) pursuant to a Final Determination, any member
of a Spinco Group is liable for, or otherwise required to make a payment in
respect of, Spin-Off Tax Liabilities for which such Spinco Group is not
responsible pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) full indemnification
cannot be obtained from the Spinco Group responsible for such Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, Parent and each member of the Parent
Group shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless the
Spinco referred to in clause (i) and each member of its Spinco Group and
each
15
of its respective Representatives and Affiliates (and the heirs,
executors, successors and assigns of any of them) from and against the portion
of such liability for which full indemnification cannot be obtained from the
Spinco Group referred to in clause (ii).
Upon any payment by Parent or any member of the Parent Group in
accordance with the preceding sentence, Parent or such member of the Parent
Group shall be subrogated to any and all rights (including rights to payment
and causes of action, under this Agreement or otherwise) of each member of the
Spinco Group described in clause (i) in connection with the Final Determination
at issue.
(d) Timing of Indemnification Payments.
Any payment and indemnification made pursuant to this Section 3
shall be made by the Indemnifying Party promptly, but, in any event, no later
than:
(i) in the case of an indemnification
obligation with respect to any Tax Liabilities or Spin-Off Tax Liabilities, the
later of (A) five Business Days after the Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party and (B) five Business Days prior to the date the
Indemnified Party is required to make a payment of taxes, interest, or
penalties to the applicable Tax Authority (including a payment with respect to
an assessment of a tax deficiency by any Taxing Jurisdiction or a payment made
in settlement of an asserted tax deficiency) or realizes a reduced Refund; and
(ii) in the case of any payment or
indemnification of any Losses not otherwise described in clause (i) of
this Section 3(d) (including, but not limited to, any Losses
described in clause (b) or (c) of the definition of Tax-Related
Losses, attorneys fees and expenses and other indemnifiable Losses), the later
of (A) five Business Days after the Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party and (B) five Business Days prior to the date the
Indemnified Party makes a payment thereof.
4. Spin-Off Related Matters.
(a) Representations.
(i) IRS Ruling Documents and Tax Opinion
Documents. Each Spinco (a Representing Spinco)
hereby represents and warrants that (A) such Representing Spinco has
examined the IRS Ruling Documents and the Tax Opinion Documents (including,
without limitation, the representations to the extent that they relate to the
plans, proposals, intentions, and policies of the Representing Spinco or any
member of its Spinco Group, or the Spinco Business of such Spinco Group), and (B) to
the extent in reference to such Representing Spinco, any member of its Spinco
Group, or the Spinco Business of such Spinco Group, the facts presented and the
representations made therein are true, correct and complete; provided, that
(x) in the event that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the
Distribution of a Spinco, such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any
representations regarding such Distribution in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no
Spinco makes any representations regarding any facts that, if untrue, would
result in Specified Restructuring Income Taxes (other than representations
regarding (1) whether such Spinco is engaged in the active conduct of a
trade or business within the meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, (2) such
Spincos conduct after the Distribution, and (3) the matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof).
16
(ii) Tax-Free Status.
Each Representing Spinco hereby represents and warrants that it has no
plan or intention of taking any action, or failing to take any action or knows
of any circumstance, that could reasonably be expected to cause any
representation or factual statement made in this Agreement, the Separation
Agreement, the IRS Ruling Documents, the Tax Opinion Documents or any of the
Ancillary Agreements to be untrue; provided, that, in the event
that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the Distribution of a
Spinco, such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any representations regarding
the IRS Ruling Documents.
(iii) Plan or Series of Related Transactions.
Each Representing Spinco hereby represents and warrants that, during the
two-year period ending on the Distribution Date of such Spinco, there was no agreement,
understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations or discussions (as such
terms are defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(h)) by any one or
more officers or directors of any member of such Spinco Group or by any other
person or persons with the implicit or explicit permission of one or more of
such officers or directors regarding an acquisition of all or a significant
portion of the Equity Securities of such Spinco (or any predecessor); provided
that no representation is made by any Spinco regarding any agreement,
understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations or discussions (as such
terms are defined in Treasury Regulation 1.355-7(h)) by any one or more
officers or directors of Parent.
(b) Covenants.
(i) Actions Consistent with Representations
and Covenants. No Spinco (or any member of its respective
Spinco Group) shall take any action, or fail to take any action or permit any
member of its respective Group, to fail to take any action, where such action
or failure to act would be inconsistent with or cause to be untrue any material
information, covenant or representation made in connection with the IRS Ruling
(if applicable), the Tax Opinions, the Separation Agreement or this Agreement.
(ii) Preservation of Tax-Free Status; Spinco
Business. From and after its respective Distribution,
no Spinco shall (A) take any action or permit any member of its respective
Spinco Group to take any action, and each Spinco shall not fail to take any
action or permit any member of its respective Spinco Group to fail to take any
action, in each case, unless such action or failure to act could not reasonably
be expected to cause any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions to fail to have
Tax-Free Status or could not require any of the Parties to reflect a liability
or reserve for Income Taxes with respect to any of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions in its financial statements, and (B) until the first day after
the Restriction Period, engage in any transaction that could reasonably be
expected to result in it or any member of its respective Spinco Group ceasing
to be a company engaged in its respective Spinco Business.
(iii) Sales, Issuances and Redemptions of Equity Securities. Until the first day after the
Restriction Period applicable to a Spinco, such Spinco shall not and shall not
agree to (and shall cause the members of its respective Spinco Group not to and
not to agree to) sell or otherwise issue to any Person, or redeem or otherwise
acquire from any Person, any Equity Securities of such Spinco or any member of
its Spinco Group; provided, however,
17
that (A) the adoption of a shareholder rights plan shall not
constitute a sale or issuance of Equity Securities, (B) a Spinco may issue
Equity Securities to the extent the issuance satisfies Safe Harbor VIII
(relating to acquisitions in connection with a persons performance of
services) or Safe Harbor IX (relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of
an employer) of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d), and (C) members
of a Spinco Group (other than a Spinco) may issue or sell Equity Securities to
other members of the same Spinco Group, and may redeem or purchase Equity
Securities from other members of the same Spinco Group, in each case, to the
extent not inconsistent with the Tax-Free Status of the Spin-Off Related
Transactions. Anything in this Section 4(b)(iii) to
the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no limitation on the ability of
Tree Spinco to issue Equity Securities of Tree Spinco (or any member of its
Group to issue Equity Securities of such member) to any Person, or to redeem or
otherwise acquire from any Person, any Equity Securities of Tree Spinco or any
member of its Group; provided that any redemption or acquisition of
Equity Securities of Tree Spinco by Tree Spinco or any member of its Spinco
Group prior to (or pursuant to an agreement or arrangement negotiated, in whole
or in part, prior to) the first anniversary of the Distribution Date of Tree
Spinco shall be permitted only if such transaction satisfies the requirements
of Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue Procedure 96-30.
(iv) Tender Offers; Other Business Combination
Transactions. Until
the first day after the Restriction Period applicable to a Spinco, such Spinco
shall (and shall cause the members of its Spinco Group) not to (A) solicit
any Person to make a tender offer for, or otherwise acquire or sell, Equity
Securities of such Spinco, (B) participate in or support any unsolicited
tender offer for, or other acquisition or disposition of, Equity Securities of
such Spinco, or (C) approve or otherwise permit any transaction described
in clauses (A) or (B). In addition,
no Spinco (nor any members of its respective Spinco Group) shall at any time,
whether before or subsequent to the expiration of the Restriction Period
applicable to such Spinco, engage in any action described in clauses (A), (B) or
(C) of the preceding sentence pursuant to an agreement or arrangement
negotiated (in whole or in part) prior to the first anniversary of the
Distribution of such Spinco, even if at the time of the Distribution or
thereafter such action is subject to one or more conditions. Anything in this Section 4(b)(iv) to
the contrary notwithstanding, unless (x) such action is taken prior to the
first anniversary of the Distribution Date of Tree Spinco (or pursuant to an
agreement or arrangement negotiated, in whole or in part, prior to the first
anniversary of the Distribution Date of Tree Spinco) and (y) relates to a subsequent
sale or exchange (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-2(d)(2)(iii) (taking
into account clause (E) thereof) of Tree Spinco stock, the limitations
described in this Section 4(b)(iv) shall not apply to Tree Spinco (or
any member of its Spinco Group).
(v) Dispositions of Assets. Until the first day after the
Restriction Period, no Spinco (nor any member of its respective Spinco Group)
shall sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of or agree to sell, transfer or
otherwise dispose (including in any transaction treated for federal income tax
purposes as a sale, transfer or disposition) of assets (including, any shares
of capital stock of a Subsidiary) that, in the aggregate, constitute more than
30% of the gross assets of such Spinco or more than 30% of the
consolidated gross assets of such Spinco Group.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) sales, transfers, or
dispositions of assets in the ordinary course of business, (B) any cash
paid to acquire assets from an unrelated Person in an arms-length transaction,
or (C) any assets transferred to a Person that
18
is disregarded as an entity separate from the transferor for federal
income tax purposes or (D) any mandatory or optional repayment (or
pre-payment) of any indebtedness of such Spinco (or any member of its Spinco
Group). The percentages of gross assets
or consolidated gross assets of such Spinco or its respective Spinco Group, as
the case may be, sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of, shall be based on
the fair market value of the gross assets of such Spinco and the members of its
respective Spinco Group as of the Distribution Date of such Spinco. For purposes of this Section 4(b)(v), a
merger of a Spinco or one of its Subsidiaries with and into any Person shall
constitute a disposition of all of the assets of such Spinco or such
Subsidiary.
(vi) Liquidations, Mergers, Reorganizations. Until the first day after the
Restriction Period, no Spinco (nor any of its Subsidiaries) shall, or shall
agree to, voluntarily dissolve or liquidate (including by converting
into an entity that is treated as a disregarded entity or
partnership for federal income tax purposes) or engage in any transaction
involving a merger (except for a Cash Acquisition Merger), consolidation or
other reorganization; provided, that, mergers of direct or
indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of a Spinco solely with and into such Spinco
or with other direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such Spinco, and
liquidations of such Spincos wholly-owned subsidiaries are not subject to this
Section 4(b)(vi) to the extent not inconsistent with the Tax-Free
Status of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
(c) Permitted Transactions.
(i) Anything in Sections 4(b)(iii) and
4(b)(iv) to the contrary notwithstanding, a Spinco (or any member of its
Group) shall not be prohibited from entering into or consummating a transaction
otherwise prohibited solely by Section 4(b)(iii) or 4(b)(iv), if such
transaction, together with any other transaction or transactions previously
permitted pursuant to this Section 4(c)(i), would not result in one or
more Persons acquiring, directly or
indirectly, Equity Securities representing a 10% or greater interest, by vote
or value, in such Spinco (or any successor thereto) pursuant to one or more
transactions that have not been approved by Parent pursuant to Section 4(c)(ii). In the event the transaction at issue is a
redemption or purchase of Equity Securities of a Spinco by such Spinco or a
member of its Spinco Group prior to (or pursuant to an agreement or arrangement
negotiated, in whole or in part, prior to) the first anniversary of the
Distribution Date of such Spinco, such transaction shall be permitted only if
it also satisfies the requirements of Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue
Procedure 96-30.
(ii) Notwithstanding the restrictions
otherwise imposed by Sections 4(b)(iii) through 4(b)(vi), during the
Restriction Period, a Spinco (the Requesting Spinco) may (i) issue,
sell, redeem or otherwise acquire (or cause a member of its respective Spinco
Group to issue, sell, redeem or otherwise acquire) its own Equity Securities or
Equity Securities of any member of its respective Spinco Group in a transaction
that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(iii) (determined
after giving effect to Section 4(c)(i)), (ii) approve, participate
in, support or otherwise permit a proposed business combination or transaction
that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(iv) (determined
after giving effect to Section 4(c)(i)), (iii) sell or otherwise
dispose of its assets or the assets of any member of its respective Spinco
Group in a transaction that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(v),
or (iv) merge itself or any member of its respective Spinco Group with
another
19
entity without
regard to which party is the surviving entity in a transaction that would
otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(vi), if and only
if such transaction would not violate Section 4(b)(i) or Section 4(b)(ii) and
prior to entering into any agreement contemplating a transaction described in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 4(c)(ii), and
prior to consummating any such transaction: (X) the Requesting Spinco
obtains Parents written consent (which may be withheld in Parents sole
discretion), (Y) the Requesting Spinco provides Parent with an Unqualified
Tax Opinion (or, subject to Section 4(d)(iii), a private letter ruling),
in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent in its sole and
absolute discretion exercised in good faith (and in determining whether an opinion
or ruling is satisfactory, Parent may consider, among other factors, the
appropriateness of any underlying assumptions and managements representations
if used as a basis for the opinion or supplemental ruling), or (Z) the
Requesting Spinco shall request that Parent obtain a private letter ruling (or,
if applicable, a supplemental private letter ruling) in accordance with Section 4(d)(ii) of
this Agreement to the effect that such transaction will not affect the Tax-Free
Status of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions and Parent shall have
received such private letter ruling, in form and substance satisfactory to
Parent in its sole and absolute discretion, exercised in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect
to any action or transaction involving an acquisition of the Requesting Spincos
stock entered into at least 18 months after the Distribution Date of the
Requesting Spinco, the Requesting Spinco shall be permitted to consummate such
transaction if it delivers an unconditional officers certificate establishing
facts evidencing that such acquisition satisfies the requirements of Safe
Harbor III in Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d), and Parent, after
due diligence, is satisfied with the accuracy of such certification.
(d) Private Letter Rulings and Restrictions
on the Spincos.
(i) Private Letter Ruling at Parents Request.
Parent shall have the right to obtain a private letter ruling (or, if
applicable, a supplemental private letter ruling) in its sole discretion. If Parent determines to obtain a private
letter ruling, each Spinco shall (and shall cause each member of its respective
Spinco Group to) cooperate with Parent and take any and all actions reasonably
requested by Parent in connection with obtaining the private letter ruling
(including, without limitation, by making any representation or covenant or
providing any materials or information requested by any Tax Authority; provided that
none of the Spincos shall be required to make (or cause any member of their
respective Spinco Groups to make) any representation or covenant that is
inconsistent with historical facts or as to future matters or events over which
it has no control).
(ii) Private Letter Rulings at Spincos
Request. Parent agrees that at the reasonable request
of a Requesting Spinco pursuant to Section 4(c), Parent shall (and shall
cause each member of the Parent Group to) cooperate with the Requesting Spinco
and use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain, as expeditiously as reasonably
practicable, a private letter ruling (or supplemental private letter ruling)
from the IRS for the purpose of confirming compliance on the part of the
Requesting Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group with its
obligations under Section 4(b) of this Agreement. Further, in no event shall Parent be required
to file any request for a private letter ruling under this Section 4(d)(ii) unless
the Requesting Spinco represents that (A) it has reviewed the request for
the private letter ruling and any materials, appendices and exhibits submitted
or filed therewith, and (B) all information and representations, if any,
relating to any member of the Requesting Spincos Spinco Group
20
contained in the IRS Ruling Documents (if applicable) or Tax Opinion
Documents are true, correct and complete in all material respects. The Requesting Spinco shall reimburse Parent
for all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Parent Group in obtaining
a private letter ruling requested by the Requesting Spinco within 10 Business
Days after receiving an invoice from Parent therefor. Each Spinco hereby agrees that Parent shall
have sole and exclusive control over the process of obtaining a private letter
ruling, and that only Parent shall have the right to apply for a private letter
ruling relating to any of the Spin-Off Related Transactions. In connection with obtaining a private letter
ruling pursuant to this Section 4(d)(ii), (A) Parent shall, to the
extent practicable, consult with the Requesting Spinco reasonably in advance of
taking any material action in connection therewith; (B) Parent shall (1) reasonably
in advance of the submission of any documents to the IRS provide the Requesting
Spinco with a draft copy thereof, (2) reasonably consider the Requesting
Spincos comments on such documents, and (3) provide the Requesting Spinco
with copies of all documents submitted to or received from the Tax Authority in
connection with such ruling request; and (C) Parent shall provide the
Requesting Spinco with notice reasonably in advance of, and the Requesting
Spinco shall have the right to attend and participate in, any formally
scheduled meetings with any Tax Authority (subject to the approval of the Tax
Authority) that relate to such supplemental private letter ruling.
(iii) Prohibition on the Spincos.
Each Spinco hereby agrees that, except to the extent permitted by Section 4(d)(ii) or
as otherwise consented to by Parent in writing, neither it nor any member of
its respective Spinco Group shall seek any guidance from the IRS or any other
Tax Authority (whether written, verbal or otherwise) concerning any of the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions (or the impact of any transaction on any of the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions).
(e) Liability of each Spinco for Undertaking
Certain Actions. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, each Spinco (a Responsible Spinco) and the members of
its respective Spinco Group shall be responsible for any and all Tax-Related
Losses that are attributable to, or result from:
(i) any act or failure to act by the
Responsible Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group, which action
or failure to act is inconsistent with any of the covenants set forth in
Sections 4(b)(i) through 4(b)(vi) of this Agreement, in each case,
determined without regard to any of the exceptions or provisos contained in
such provisions or in Section 4(c)), expressly including, for this
purpose, any Permitted Transaction and any act or failure to act that is
inconsistent with Section 4(b)(i) or 4(b)(ii), regardless of whether
such act or failure to act is permitted by Sections 4(b)(iii) through
4(b)(vi);
(ii) any acquisition or disposition of Equity
Securities of the Responsible Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group
by any Person or Persons (including, without limitation, as a result of an
issuance of the Responsible Spincos Equity Securities or a merger of another
entity with and into the Responsible Spinco or any member of its respective
Spinco Group) or any acquisition of assets of the Responsible Spinco or any
member of its respective Spinco Group (including, without limitation, as a
result of a merger) by any Person or Persons; and
21
(iii) any breach by the Responsible Spinco or any member of
its Spinco Group of a representation or covenant made in this Agreement, the
Separation Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, or any documents relating to the
IRS Ruling or the Tax Opinions; provided, that (x) in the
event that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the Distribution of a
Spinco, such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any representations regarding
such Distribution in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no Spinco makes any
representations regarding any facts that, if untrue, would result in Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes (other than representations regarding (1) whether
such Spinco is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within the
meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, (2) such Spincos conduct
after the Distribution, and (3) the matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii)
hereof).
(f) Cooperation.
(i) Without limiting the prohibition set
forth in Section 4(d)(iii), until the first day after the Restriction
Period, each Spinco shall furnish Parent with a copy of any ruling request that
any member of its respective Spinco Group may file with the IRS or any other
Tax Authority and any opinion received that in any respect relates to, or
otherwise reasonably could be expected to have any effect on, the Tax-Free
Status of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions with respect to such Spinco.
(ii) Each Party shall reasonably cooperate
with the Requesting Spinco in connection with any request by the Requesting
Spinco for an Unqualified Tax Opinion pursuant to Section 4(c)(ii).
(iii) Until the first day after the Restriction Period, each
Spinco shall provide adequate advance notice to Parent in accordance with the
terms of Section 4(f)(iv) of any action described in Sections 4(b)(i) through
4(b)(vi) within a period of time sufficient to enable Parent to seek
injunctive relief pursuant to Section 4(g) in a court of competent
jurisdiction; provided that Tree Spinco shall not be required to provide
advance notice with respect to any action described in Sections 4(b)(iii) through
4(b)(vi) with respect to which Tree Spinco is not subject to restrictions.
(iv) Each notice required by Section 4(f)(iii) shall
set forth the terms and conditions of any such proposed transaction, including,
without limitation, (A) the nature of any related action proposed to be
taken by the board of directors of such Spinco, (B) the approximate number
of Equity Securities (and their voting and economic rights) of such Spinco or
any member of its respective Spinco Group (if any) proposed to be sold (or
otherwise issued) or acquired, (C) the approximate value of such Spincos
assets (or assets of any member of its respective Spinco Group) proposed to be
transferred, and (D) the proposed timetable for such transaction, all with
sufficient particularity to enable Parent to seek such injunctive relief. Promptly, but in any event within 30 days,
after Parent receives such written notice from such Spinco, Parent shall notify
such Spinco in writing of Parents decision to seek injunctive relief pursuant
to Section 4(g).
(v) Until the first day
after the Restriction Period, no Spinco nor any member of its respective Spinco
Group shall take (or refrain from taking) any action to the extent that such
action or inaction would have caused a representation made with respect to
22
such Spinco in connection with the IRS Ruling (but
only if such IRS Ruling was received) and/or the Tax Opinions to have been
untrue as of the relevant representation date, had such Spinco or any member of
its respective Spinco Group intended to take (or refrain from taking) such
action on the relevant representation date.
(g) Enforcement. The Parties acknowledge that
irreparable harm would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Section 4
were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise
breached. The Parties agree that, in
order to preserve the Tax-Free Status of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions,
injunctive relief is appropriate to prevent any violation of the foregoing
covenants; provided, however, that injunctive relief shall not be
the exclusive legal or equitable remedy for any such violation.
5. Refunds.
Parent shall be entitled to all Refunds (and any interest thereon
received from the applicable Tax Authority) in respect of Taxes paid with
respect to any Tax Return for which Parent or any member of the Parent Group is
responsible pursuant to Section 2.
Each Spinco shall be entitled to all Refunds (and any interest thereon
received from the applicable Tax Authority) in respect of Taxes paid with
respect to any Tax Return for which it or members of its respective Spinco
Group are responsible pursuant to Section 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a
Party obtains a Refund of Taxes for which it was indemnified by another Party
(other than Taxes for which a Spinco is responsible pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii)),
the indemnifying Party shall be entitled to such Refund. A Party receiving a Refund to which another
Party is entitled pursuant to this Section 5 shall pay the amount to which
such other Party is entitled within fifteen Business Days after such Refund is
Actually Realized. The Parties shall
cooperate with each other in connection with any claim for a Refund in respect
of a Tax for which any member of their respective Groups is responsible
pursuant to Section 2.
6. Tax Contests.
(a) Notification.
Each Party shall notify the other Parties in writing of any
communication with respect to any pending or threatened Proceeding in
connection with a Tax Liability (or any issue related thereto) of any Party or
member of its Group, for which another Party or member of its Group, may be
responsible pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) Business Days of
receipt; provided, however, that in the case of any
Distribution-Related Proceeding (no matter which Party is responsible), such
notice shall be provided no later than ten (10) Business Days after such
Party first receives written notice from the IRS or other Tax Authority of such
Distribution-Related Proceeding. The
notifying Party shall include with such notification a true, correct and
complete copy of any written communication, and an accurate and complete
written summary of any oral communication, received by such notifying Party or
member of its Group. The failure of one
Party to notify the other Parties of such communication in accordance with the
immediately preceding sentence shall not relieve such other Party of any
liability or obligation that it may have under this Agreement, except to the
extent that the failure timely to forward such notification actually prejudices
the ability of such other Party to contest such Income Tax Liability or Other
Tax Liability or increases the amount of such Income Tax Liability or Other Tax
Liability.
23
(b) Representation
with Respect to Tax Disputes. Parent
(or such member of the Parent Group as Parent shall designate) shall have the
sole right to administer and control and to employ counsel of its choice at its
expense in any Proceeding (including any Distribution-Related Proceeding)
relating to (i) any consolidated federal Income Tax Returns of the Parent
Consolidated Group, (ii) any other Combined Returns and (iii) any
Parent Separate Returns. Each Spinco (or
such member of its respective Spinco Group as such Spinco shall designate)
shall have the sole right to administer and control and to employ counsel of
its choice at its expense in any Proceeding (excluding any Distribution-Related
Proceeding) relating to its respective Spinco Consolidated Return or Spinco
Separate Return.
(c) Power
of Attorney. Each Spinco (and
members of its respective Group) shall execute and deliver to Parent (or such
member of the Parent Group as Parent shall designate) any power of attorney or
other document requested by Parent (or such designee) in connection with any
Proceeding described in the first sentence of Section 6(b).
(d) Distribution-Related Proceedings.
(i) In
the event of any Distribution-Related Proceeding as a result of which a Spinco
could reasonably be expected to become liable for any Tax or Tax-Related Losses
(each, a Participating Spinco) and which Parent has the right to
administer and control pursuant to Section 6(b) above, (A) Parent shall consult with each
Participating Spinco reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in
connection with such Proceeding, (B) Parent shall offer each Participating
Spinco a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written
materials prepared or furnished in connection with such Proceeding, (C) Parent
shall defend such Proceeding diligently and in good faith as if it were the
only party in interest in connection with such Proceeding, and (D) Parent
shall provide each Participating Spinco copies of any written materials
relating to such Proceeding received from the relevant Tax Authority. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding
sentence to the contrary, the final determination of the positions taken,
including with respect to settlement or other disposition, in any
Distribution-Related Proceeding shall be made in the sole discretion of Parent
and shall be final and not subject to the dispute resolution provisions of Article 9
of the Separation Agreement.
(ii) In
the event of any Distribution-Related Proceeding with respect to any Spinco Separate Return, (A) such Spinco shall consult with Parent
reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in connection with such
Proceeding, (B) such Spinco shall consult with Parent and offer Parent a
reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials
prepared or furnished in connection with such Proceeding, (C) such Spinco
shall defend such Proceeding diligently and in good faith as if it were the
only party in interest in connection with such Proceeding, (D) Parent
shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and receive copies of any
written materials relating to such Proceeding received from the relevant Tax
Authority, and (E) such Spinco shall not settle, compromise or abandon any
such Proceeding without obtaining the prior written consent of Parent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
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7. Apportionment of Tax Attributes; Carrybacks.
(a) Apportionment of Tax Attributes.
(i) If
the Parent Consolidated Group has a Tax Attribute, the portion, if any, of such
Tax Attribute apportioned to any Spinco or the members of its respective Spinco
Consolidated Group and treated as a carryover to the first Post-Distribution
Taxable Period of such Spinco (or such member) shall be determined by Parent in
accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-21, 1.1502-21T, 1.1502-22,
1.1502-79 and, if applicable, 1.1502-79A.
(ii) No
Tax Attribute with respect to consolidated federal Income Tax of the Parent
Consolidated Group, other than those described in Section 7(a)(i), and no
Tax Attribute with respect to consolidated, combined or unitary state, local,
or foreign Income Tax, in each case, arising in respect of a Combined Return
shall be apportioned to any Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco
Group, except as Parent (or such member of the Parent Group as Parent shall
designate) determines is otherwise required under applicable law.
(iii) Parent
(or its designee) shall determine the portion, if any, of any Tax Attribute
which must (absent a Final Determination to the contrary) be apportioned to a
Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group in accordance with this Section 7(a) and
applicable law, and the amount of tax basis and earnings and profits to be
apportioned to such Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group in
accordance with applicable law, and shall provide written notice of the
calculation thereof to such Spinco as soon as reasonably practicable after the
information necessary to make such calculation becomes available to Parent.
(iv) The
written notice delivered by Parent pursuant to Section 7(a)(iii) shall
be binding on each Spinco Group and shall not be subject to dispute resolution.
Except as otherwise required by a change in applicable law or pursuant to a
Final Determination, no Spinco shall take any position (whether on a Tax Return
or otherwise) that is inconsistent with the information contained in such
written notice.
(b) Carrybacks. Except to the extent otherwise consented to
by Parent or prohibited by applicable law, each Spinco shall elect to
relinquish, waive or otherwise forgo all Carrybacks. In the event that a Spinco (the Carryback
Spinco), or the appropriate member of its respective Spinco Group, is
prohibited by applicable law to relinquish, waive or otherwise forgo a
Carryback (or Parent consents to a Carryback), (i) each Party shall
cooperate with the Carryback Spinco, at the Carryback Spincos expense, in
seeking from the appropriate Tax Authority such Refund as reasonably would
result from such Carryback, and (ii) the Carryback Spinco shall be
entitled to any Income Tax Benefit Actually Realized by a member of another
Group (including any interest thereon received from such Tax Authority), to the
extent that such Refund is directly attributable to such Carryback, within 15
Business Days after such Refund is Actually Realized; provided, however,
that the Carryback Spinco shall indemnify and hold the members of the other
Partys Group harmless from and against any and all collateral tax consequences
resulting from or caused by any such Carryback, including (but not limited to)
the loss or postponement of any benefit from the use of tax attributes
generated by a member of the other Partys Group or an Affiliate thereof if (x) such
tax attributes expire unutilized, but would
25
have been utilized but for such Carryback, or (y) the use of such
tax attributes is postponed to a later taxable period than the taxable period
in which such tax attributes would have been utilized but for such
Carryback. If there is a Final
Determination that results in any change to or adjustment of an Income Tax
Benefit Actually Realized by a member of the other Partys Group that is directly
attributable to a Carryback, then the other Party (or its designee) shall make
a payment to the Carryback Spinco, or the Carryback Spinco shall make a payment
to the other Party (or its designee), as may be necessary to adjust the
payments between the Carryback Spinco and the other Party (or its designee) to
reflect the payments that would have been made under this Section 7(b) had
the adjusted amount of such Income Tax Benefit been taken into account in
computing the payments due under this Section 7(b).
8. Cooperation and Exchange of Information.
(a) Cooperation
and Exchange of Information. Each
Party, on behalf of itself and the members of its Group, agrees to provide each
other Party (or its designee) with such cooperation or information as such other
Party (or its designee) reasonably shall request in connection with the
determination of any payment or any calculations described in this Agreement,
the preparation or filing of any Tax Return or claim for Refund, or the conduct
of any Proceeding. Such cooperation and
information shall include, without limitation, upon reasonable notice (i) promptly
forwarding copies of appropriate notices and forms or other communications
(including, without limitation, information document requests, revenue agents
reports and similar reports, notices of proposed adjustments and notices of
deficiency) received from or sent to any Tax Authority or any other
administrative, judicial or governmental authority, (ii) providing copies
of all relevant Tax Returns, together with accompanying schedules and related
workpapers, documents relating to rulings or other determinations by any Tax
Authority, and such other records concerning the ownership and tax basis of
property, or other relevant information, (iii) the provision of such
additional information and explanations of documents and information provided
under this Agreement (including statements, certificates, forms, returns and
schedules delivered by either party) as shall be reasonably requested by any of
the other Parties (or their designee), (iv) the execution of any document
that may be necessary or reasonably helpful in connection with the filing of a
Tax Return, a claim for a Refund, or in connection with any Proceeding,
including such waivers, consents or powers of attorney as may be necessary for
the other Party to exercise its rights under this Agreement, and (v) the
use of the Partys reasonable efforts to obtain any documentation from a
governmental authority or a third party that may be necessary or reasonably helpful
in connection with any of the foregoing.
It is expressly the intention of the Parties to take all actions that
shall be necessary to establish Parent as the sole agent for Tax purposes of
each member of the Spinco Groups with respect to all Combined Returns. Upon reasonable notice, each Party shall make
its, or shall cause the members of its respective Group, as applicable, to make
their, employees and facilities available on a mutually convenient basis to provide
explanation of any documents or information provided hereunder. Any information obtained under this Section 8
shall be kept confidential, except as otherwise reasonably may be necessary in
connection with the filing of Tax Returns or claims for Refund or in conducting
any Proceeding.
(b) Retention
of Records. The Parties each agree to retain all Tax Returns, related
schedules and workpapers, and all material records and other documents as
26
required under Section 6001 of the Code and the regulations
promulgated thereunder (and any similar provision of state, local, or foreign
law) existing on the date hereof or created in respect of (i) any taxable
period that ends on or before or includes the Distribution Date or (ii) any
taxable period that may be subject to a claim hereunder until the later of (A) the
expiration of the statute of limitations (including extensions) for the taxable
periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate and (B) the
Final Determination of any payments that may be required in respect of such
taxable periods under this Agreement.
From and after the end of the period described in the preceding sentence
of this Section 8(b), if a Party or a member of its respective Group
wishes to dispose of any such records and documents, then such Party shall
provide written notice thereof to the other Parties and shall provide the other
Parties the opportunity to take possession of any such records and documents
within 90 days after such notice is delivered; provided, however,
that if no other Party, within such 90-day period, confirms its intention to
take possession of such records and documents, then the Party wishing to
destroy or otherwise dispose of such records and documents may do so.
(c) Remedies. Each of the Parties hereby acknowledges and
agrees that (i) the failure of any member of its respective Group to
comply with the provisions of this Section 8 may result in substantial
harm to the other Parties, including the inability to determine or
appropriately substantiate a Tax Liability (or a position in respect thereof)
for which a Party (or a member of its respective Group) would be responsible
under this Agreement or appropriately defend against an adjustment thereto by a
Tax Authority, (ii) the remedies available to one Party (the Injured
Party) for the breach by a member of another Party (the Breaching
Party) of its obligations under this Section 8 shall include (without
limitation) the indemnification by the Breaching Party of the Injured Party for
any Tax Liabilities incurred or any tax benefit lost or postponed by reason of
such breach and the forfeiture by the Breaching Party of any related rights to
indemnification by the Injured Party.
(d) Reliance. If any member of a Group supplies (Supplying
Party) information to a member of another Group (Relying Party)
in connection with a Tax Liability and an officer of a member of the Relying
Party signs a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in
reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then upon the written request
of the member of the Relying Party identifying the information being so relied
upon, the chief financial officer of Supplying Party (or his or her designee)
shall certify in writing that to his knowledge (based upon consultation with
appropriate employees) the information so supplied is accurate and
complete. Each Party agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each member of the other Groups and its directors, officers
and employees from and against any fine, penalty, or other cost or expense of
any kind attributable to a member of its respective Group having supplied,
pursuant to this Section 8, a member of another Group with inaccurate or
incomplete information in connection with a Tax Liability.
9. Resolution of Disputes.
The
provisions of Article 9 of the Separation Agreement (Dispute Resolution)
shall apply to any dispute arising in connection with this Agreement; provided,
however, that in the case of disputes arising under this
Agreement, the relevant Parties shall jointly select the arbitrator, who
shall be an attorney or accountant who is generally recognized in the tax
community as a qualified and competent tax practitioner with experience in the
tax area involved in the issue or issues to be resolved.
27
10. Payments.
(a) Method
of Payment. All payments required by
this Agreement shall be made by (i) wire transfer to the appropriate bank
account as may from time to time be designated by the Parties for such purpose;
provided that, on the date of such wire transfer, notice of the
transfer is given to the recipient thereof in accordance with Section 11,
or (ii) any other method agreed to by the Parties. All payments due under this Agreement shall
be deemed to be paid when available funds are actually received by the payee.
(b) Interest. Any payment required by this Agreement that
is not made on or before the date required hereunder shall bear interest, from
and after such date through the date of payment, at the Underpayment Rate.
(c) Characterization
of Payments. For all Income Tax
purposes, the Parties agree to treat, and to cause their respective Affiliates
to treat, (i) any payment required by this Agreement or by the Separation
Agreement, by (A) Parent to any of the Spincos as a contribution by Parent
to the appropriate Spinco occurring immediately prior to the Distribution of
such Spinco, (B) a Spinco to Parent as a distribution by such Spinco
occurring immediately prior to the Distribution of such Spinco, and (C) a
Spinco to another Spinco as a distribution by the first Spinco to Parent
occurring immediately before the Distribution of the first Spinco followed by a
contribution by Parent to the recipient Spinco occurring immediately before the
Distribution of the second Spinco; and (ii) any payment of interest or
non-federal Income Taxes by or to a Tax Authority, as taxable or deductible, as
the case may be, to the Party entitled under this Agreement to retain such
payment or required under this Agreement to make such payment, in either case,
except as otherwise mandated by applicable law or a Final Determination; provided
that in the event it is determined (A) pursuant to applicable law
that it is more likely than not, or (B) pursuant to a Final Determination,
that any such treatment is not permissible (or that an Indemnified Party
nevertheless suffers a Tax detriment as a result of such payment), the payment
in question shall be adjusted to place the Indemnified Party in the same
after-tax position it would have enjoyed absent such applicable law or Final
Determination.
11. Compensatory Equity
Interests.
(a) Allocation
of Deductions. To the extent
permitted by applicable law, Income Tax deductions arising by reason of
exercises of Options to acquire Parent or Spinco stock, vesting of restricted
Parent stock or Spinco stock, or settlement of restricted stock units, in each
case, following the Distributions, with respect to Parent stock or Spinco stock
(such Options, restricted stock and restricted stock units, collectively, Compensatory
Equity Interests) held by any Person shall be claimed (i) in the case
of an active employee, solely by the Party that employs such Person at the time
of exercise, vesting, or settlement, as applicable, and (ii) in the case of
a former employee, solely by the Party that last employed such Person (the
Party described in clause (i) or (ii), the Employing Party).
(b) Withholding
and Reporting. The Employing Party
(or any of its Affiliates) that is entitled to claim the Tax deductions
described in 11(a) with respect to Compensatory Equity Interests held by a
current or former employee shall be responsible for all applicable Taxes
(including, but not limited to, withholding and excise taxes) and shall
satisfy, or
28
shall
cause to be satisfied, all applicable Tax reporting obligations with respect to
such Compensatory Equity Interests; provided, that in the event
Compensatory Equity Interests are settled by the issuing corporation on a net
basis that takes into account withholding or other Taxes for which the holder
of the Compensatory Equity Interest is responsible, the issuing corporation
shall promptly remit to the Employing Party an amount of cash equal to the fair
market value of the shares withheld by the issuing corporation in respect of
such withholding or other Taxes.
12. Notices. Notices, requests, permissions, waivers, and
other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given upon (a) a transmitters confirmation of a receipt of a
facsimile transmission (but only if followed by confirmed delivery of a
standard overnight courier the following Business Day or if delivered by hand
the following Business Day), or (b) confirmed delivery of a standard
overnight courier or delivered by hand, to the parties at the following
addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
If to Parent, to:
IAC/InterActiveCorp
555 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier: (212) 632-9642
with a copy to:
Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51 West 52nd Street
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Pamela S. Seymon, Esq.
Telecopier: (212) 403-2000
If to TM Spinco:
Ticketmaster
8800 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, California 90069
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier:
(310) -
with a copy to:
[ ]
29
If to Interval Spinco:
Interval Leisure Group, Inc.
6262 Sunset Drive
Miami, Florida 33143
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier:
(305) -
with a copy to:
[ ]
If to HSN Spinco:
1 HSN Drive
St. Petersburg, Florida 33729
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier:
(727) -
with a copy to:
[ ]
If to Tree Spinco:
11115 Rushmore Drive
Charlotte, North Carolina 28277
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier:
(704) -
with a copy to:
[ ]
Such
names and addresses may be changed by notice given in accordance with this Section 12.
13. Designation of Affiliate. Each of the Parties
may assign any of its rights or obligations
under this Agreement to any member of its respective Group as it shall
designate; provided, however, that no such assignment shall
relieve the Party making the assignment of any obligation hereunder, including
any obligation to make a payment hereunder to another Party, to the extent such
designee fails to make such payment.
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14. Miscellaneous. Except to the extent
otherwise provided in this Agreement, this Agreement shall be subject to the
provisions of Article 13 (Miscellaneous) of the Separation Agreement to
the extent set forth therein.
31
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the Parties has caused this Agreement to be executed
on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and
year first written above.
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IAC/INTERACTIVECORP
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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TICKETMASTER
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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INTERVAL LEISURE GROUP,
INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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HSN, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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TREE.COM, INC.
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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