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Exhibit 10.1
TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT
dated as of
,
2007 (this “ Agreement ”) among Kraft Foods
Inc., a Virginia corporation (“ Parent ”), Cable
Holdco, Inc., a newly organized Delaware corporation and direct
wholly-owned Subsidiary of KFG (“ Splitco ”) and
Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“
RMT Partner ”, collectively, the “
Companies ”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement
are defined in Article I below or in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
WHEREAS, as of the date of
this Agreement, Parent is the common parent of an Affiliated Group
of corporations, including KFG and Splitco, which has elected to
file consolidated U.S. Federal income Tax Returns;
WHEREAS, the Companies have
entered into the RMT Transaction Agreement, which sets forth the
corporate transactions pursuant to which:
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A. |
at the time of, or prior to, the RMT Debt Incurrence, pursuant
to the Newco Contribution, KFG shall transfer, or cause to be
transferred, the U.S. Acquired Assets (excluding the Modesto
Facility) and cash as set forth in the RMT Transaction Agreement to
Newco in exchange for the assumption by Newco of the U.S. Assumed
Liabilities (other than the RMT Debt) and, pursuant to the Modesto
Purchase, Parent shall cause the Modesto Facility to be transferred
to Newco in exchange for a cash payment and certain other
consideration; |
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B. |
immediately prior to the Splitco Contribution, KFG shall incur
the RMT Debt and receive the RMT Debt Proceeds pursuant to the RMT
Debt Incurrence; |
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C. |
following the RMT Debt Incurrence, pursuant to the Splitco
Contribution, Parent will cause KFG to contribute the limited
liability company interests in Newco to Splitco in exchange for
(i) the issuance by Splitco to KFG of the Splitco Securities,
(ii) the issuance by Splitco to KFG of a certain number of
shares of Splitco Common Stock pursuant to the Splitco Share
Issuance and (iii) the assumption by Splitco of the RMT
Debt; |
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D. |
immediately following the Splitco Contribution, the Splitco
Share Issuance and the issuance of Splitco Securities, and prior to
the Distribution, KFG shall distribute all the issued and
outstanding shares of Splitco Common Stock held by KFG to Parent
pursuant to the Internal Spin; |
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E. |
immediately following the Internal Spin, KFG shall consummate
the Internal Debt Repayment by transferring the RMT Debt Proceeds
to Parent in exchange for the retirement of outstanding
intercompany debt; |
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F. |
immediately following the Internal Debt Repayment, KFG may
consummate the Internal Debt Exchange by transferring the Splitco
Securities to Parent in exchange for the retirement of outstanding
intercompany debt; |
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G. |
following the Internal Spin, the Internal Debt Repayment and
the Internal Debt Exchange, if applicable, and on the Distribution
Date, Parent shall consummate the Distribution of the Splitco
Common Stock to Eligible Parent Stockholders; |
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H. |
immediately following the Distribution, pursuant to the Splitco
Merger, Splitco shall merge with and into Merger Sub, whereby each
issued share of Splitco Common Stock shall be converted into the
right to receive one fully paid and nonassessable share of RMT
Partner Common Stock; |
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I. |
immediately following the Splitco Merger, pursuant to the Short
Form Merger, the Splitco Merger Surviving Company shall merge with
and into RMT Partner; |
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J. |
immediately following the Short Form Merger, pursuant to the
Non-U.S. Transfers, Parent shall cause the Non-U.S. Transferors to
sell and transfer the Non-U.S. Acquired Assets to the Non-U.S.
Transferees, in exchange for the irrevocable assumption by the
Non-U.S. Transferees of the Non-U.S. Assumed Liabilities and
certain other consideration; and |
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K. |
on or following the Distribution Date, Parent may cause the
External Debt Exchange to be effected; |
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WHEREAS, the parties intend
the Proposed Transactions to qualify for the Intended Tax-Free
Treatment;
WHEREAS, as a result of the
Distribution, Splitco and its Subsidiaries will cease to be members
of the Parent Group;
WHEREAS, the Companies desire
to allocate among the Companies the Tax responsibilities,
liabilities and benefits of transactions arising prior to, as a
result of, and subsequent to the Proposed Transactions, and to
provide for and agree upon other matters relating to Taxes;
and
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein, the Companies (each on behalf of itself, each of its
Affiliates, and its future Affiliates) hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
SECTION 1.01 Definition of
Terms . The following terms shall have the following meanings
(such meanings to apply equally to both the singular and the plural
forms of the terms defined). All section and Exhibit references are
to this Agreement unless otherwise stated.
“ Acquired
Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Active Trade or
Business ” means the active conduct by Splitco of the
businesses conducted by the members of the Splitco Group as of the
Distribution (determined in accordance with Code
Section 355(b)).
“ Affiliate
” of any person means another person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with, such first person.
For purposes of this definition, “ control ”
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract
or otherwise.
“ Affiliated
Group ” means an affiliated group as that term is defined
in Section 1504(a) of the Code.
“ Agreement
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ Business
Employees ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Closing Date
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Code ”
has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Collateral
Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Companies
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ Consolidated or
Combined State Income Tax ” means any State Income Tax
computed on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis.
“ Consolidated or
Combined State Income Tax Return ” means any Tax Return
relating to Consolidated or Combined State Income Tax.
“ Contribution
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
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“ Distribution
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Distribution
Date ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Eligible Parent
Stockholders ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Employee Equity
Grants ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(c)(i).
“ External Debt
Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Federal
Consolidated Return ” means any U.S. Federal Tax Return
for an Affiliated Group.
“ Final
Determination ” means the final resolution of liability
for any Tax for any taxable period by or as a result of (i) a
final and unappealable decision, judgment, decree or other order by
any court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) a final settlement
with the IRS, a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise
under Code Sections 7121 or 7122, or a comparable
arrangement under the laws of another jurisdiction; (iii) any
allowance of a refund in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only
after the expiration of all periods during which such amount may be
recovered by the Taxing Authority imposing the Tax; or
(iv) any other final disposition, including by reason of the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.
“ Group ”
means the Parent Group or the Splitco Group, or both, as the
context requires.
“ Indemnitee
” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.01.
“ Indemnifying
Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.01.
“ Intended Tax-Free
Treatment ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Internal Debt
Exchange ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Internal Debt
Repayment ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Internal Spin
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ IRS ”
means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.
“ IRS Ruling
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ KFG ”
has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Merger Sub
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Mergers
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Modesto
Facility ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Modesto
Purchase ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Newco ”
has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Newco
Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Non-U.S. Acquired
Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
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“ Non-U.S. Assumed
Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Non-U.S.
Transfer ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Non-U.S.
Transferees ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Non-U.S.
Transferors ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Parent ”
has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ Parent Deferred
Stock Awards ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Parent Group
” means the Affiliated Group of which Parent is the common
parent. The Parent Group shall include Splitco and other members of
the Splitco Group only for taxable periods ending on or before the
Distribution Date.
“ Parent Group
Federal Consolidated Return ” means any Federal
Consolidated Return for the Parent Group.
“ Past Practices
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.03(a).
“ Planned
Acquisitions ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.02(c)(ii).
“ Post-Distribution
Period ” means any taxable period (or portion thereof)
beginning after the Distribution Date.
“ Pre-Distribution
Period ” means any taxable period (or portion thereof)
ending on or before the Distribution Date.
“ Prohibited Act
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.02(c).
“ Property Taxes
” means real, personal and intangible property
Taxes.
“ Proposed
Transactions ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Recoverable
Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.03.
“ Related
Persons ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(d)(iii).
“ Responsible
Party ” means, with respect to any Tax Return, the party
having responsibility for preparing and filing such Tax Return
under this Agreement.
“ Restricted
Period ” means the two-year period commencing on the day
following the Distribution Date.
“ RMT Debt
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ RMT Debt
Incurrence ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ RMT Debt
Proceeds ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ RMT Partner
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ RMT Partner
Canada ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ RMT Partner Common
Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
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“ RMT Transaction
Agreement ” means the RMT Transaction Agreement, as
amended from time to time, by and among Parent, Splitco, RMT
Partner and Merger Sub, dated as of November 15,
2007.
“ Ruling ”
means all private letter rulings (including the IRS Ruling) granted
by the IRS relating to the Proposed Transactions (whether granted
prior to, on or after the date hereof), requests for such rulings,
including all supplemental ruling requests and information
submissions, and any exhibit to any of the foregoing.
“ Short Form
Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Spin-off
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Splitco
” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ Splitco Capital
Stock ” means (i) all classes of stock of Splitco,
Merger Sub or RMT Partner, as the case may be,
including common stock and all other instruments treated as
equity in Splitco, Merger Sub or RMT Partner, as the case may be,
for U.S. Federal income tax purposes and (ii) all options,
warrants and other rights to acquire such stock. If Splitco, Merger
Sub or RMT Partner merges into another entity or consolidates with
another entity to form a new entity, Splitco Capital Stock shall
refer to the capital stock of such new entity.
“ Splitco
Carryback ” means any net operating loss, net capital
loss, excess Tax credit or other similar Tax item of any member of
the Splitco Group that may or must be carried from one taxable
period to a prior taxable period under applicable tax
law.
“ Splitco Common
Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Splitco
Contribution ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Splitco Group
” means Splitco and each entity that is a Subsidiary of
Splitco on the Distribution Date.
“ Splitco Merger
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ Splitco Merger
Surviving Company ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Splitco
Securities ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Splitco Share
Issuance ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Split-off
” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ State Income
Tax ” means any Tax imposed by any state of the United
States or by any political subdivision of any such state which is
imposed on or measured by net income, including state and local
franchise or similar Taxes measured by net income.
“ Straddle
Period ” means any taxable period that begins on or
before and ends after the Distribution Date.
“ Subsidiary
” of any person means, at any date, any corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other entity of which the applicable
person owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the
outstanding voting securities or equity interests.
“ Supplemental
Ruling ” means a Ruling to the effect that a Prohibited
Act would not adversely affect any of the conclusions with respect
to the Intended Tax-Free Treatment set forth in the original
Ruling.
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“ Supplemental Tax
Opinion ” means a tax opinion to the effect that a
Prohibited Act would not adversely affect any of the conclusions
with respect to the Intended Tax-Free Treatment set forth in any
Ruling or any other Tax Opinion (including any other Supplemental
Tax Opinion or Supplemental Ruling).
“ TAA Dispute
” means any dispute arising in connection with this
Agreement.
“ Tax
Representations ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Taxes ”
means any tax, wherever created or imposed, and whether of the
United States or elsewhere, and whether imposed by a Taxing
Authority or by contract, and, without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, shall include income, gross receipts, property,
sales, use, license, excise, franchise, employment, payroll,
unemployment insurance, social security, stamp, environmental,
value added, alternative or added minimum, ad valorem, trade,
recording, withholding, occupation or transfer tax, custom or duty
or other like governmental assessment or charge of any kind
whatsoever, together with any related interest, penalties and
additions imposed by any Taxing Authority or by
contract.
“ Tax Advisor
” means a U.S. tax counsel of recognized national standing
reasonably acceptable to both parties.
“ Tax Benefit
” means any item of loss, deduction, credit, refund or any
other Tax Item that decreases Taxes paid or payable. Tax Benefits
are to be determined using the assumption that each party pays
Federal, state, local and foreign Tax at the highest applicable
marginal corporate Tax rate and can fully utilize any available Tax
Benefits.
“ Tax Contest
” means an audit, review, examination or any other
administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or effect of
determining or redetermining Taxes.
“ Tax Detriment
” means any item of income, gain, recapture of credit or any
other Tax Item that increases Taxes paid or payable.
“ Tax Item
” means, with respect to any income Tax, any item of income,
gain, loss, deduction and credit.
“ Tax Loss
” means the increase in Tax paid or payable to the relevant
Taxing Authority (or, without duplication, the reduction in any Tax
Benefit) attributable to a Tax Detriment.
“ Tax Opinion
” means the opinions of Tax Advisors relating to the Proposed
Transactions, including those issued at the time of the
Distribution.
“ Tax Return
” or “ Return ” means any return, filing,
report, questionnaire, information statement, claim for refund, or
other document required or permitted to be filed, including any
amendments that may be filed, for any taxable period with any
Taxing Authority.
“ Taxing
Authority ” means any governmental authority imposing
Taxes.
“ Transaction
Taxes ” means all (i) Taxes of any member of the
Parent Group or the Splitco Group resulting from, or arising in
connection with, the failure of the Proposed Transactions to have
the Intended Tax-Free Treatment, (ii) Taxes of the type
described in clause (i) of any third party for which any
member of the Parent Group or the Splitco Group is or becomes
liable, and (iii) reasonable out of pocket legal, accounting
and other advisory and court fees in connection with liability for
Taxes described in clauses (i) or (ii). For the avoidance
of doubt, “Transaction Taxes” does not include Transfer
Taxes.
“ Transfer Tax
Return ” means any Tax Return for Transfer
Taxes.
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“ Transfer Taxes
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
“ U.S. Acquired
Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
“ U.S. Assumed
Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in the RMT
Transaction Agreement.
“ Worksheet
” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.01(c)(i).
ARTICLE II
Payment of
Taxes
SECTION 2.01
Pre-Distribution/Post-Distribution Taxes . (a) Except
as provided in Sections 2.01(f), 2.02 and 2.03, Parent shall
indemnify and hold harmless RMT Partner, Splitco and each member of
the Splitco Group from and against (i) all Taxes of the Parent
Group (including, for all Pre-Distribution Periods, each member of
the Splitco Group and the portion of any Taxes for a Straddle
Period that are allocated to the Pre-Distribution Period pursuant
to Section 2.01(c) below) and (ii) all Taxes of any
affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group of which
Splitco or any member of Splitco Group was a member before the
Distribution Date, including pursuant to Treas. Reg. 1.1502-6
or analogous or similar state, local or foreign law or
regulation.
(b) Except as provided in
Sections 2.01(a), 2.01(e), 2.02 and 2.03, RMT Partner and
Splitco shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent and each member of
the Parent Group from and against (i) all Taxes of the Splitco
Group for any Post-Distribution Period (including the portion of
any Taxes for a Straddle Period that are allocated to the
Post-Distribution Period pursuant to Section 2.01(c) below)
and (ii) any Tax Losses that result from the failure by RMT
Partner, Splitco or any member of the Splitco Group to use a
consistent position as provided in Section 3.03 (without
regard to whether Parent’s written consent was obtained). For
the avoidance of doubt, RMT Partner and Splitco shall have no
obligation to indemnify and hold harmless Parent or any member of
the Parent Group pursuant to this Section 2.01(b) with respect
to any Taxes arising from any action by RMT Partner or Splitco
expressly required by the RMT Transaction Agreement.
(c) In the case of any
Straddle Period (i) Property Taxes and related exemptions,
allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annualized basis
shall be apportioned between the Pre-Distribution Period and the
Post-Distribution Period on a daily pro-rata basis and
(ii) all other Taxes and related items shall be apportioned
between the Pre-Distribution Period and the Post-Distribution
Period on a closing of the books basis as of the close of business
on the Distribution Date.
(d) The amount or economic
benefit of any Tax Benefit of any member of the Splitco Group
(i) arising in any Pre-Distribution Period shall be for the
account of the Parent Group, (ii) arising in any
Post-Distribution Period shall be for the account of the Splitco
Group and (iii) arising in any Straddle Period shall be
apportioned between the Pre-Distribution Period and the
Post-Distribution Period pursuant to the principles set forth in
Section 2.01(c) above. For the avoidance of doubt, the amount
or economic benefit of any deductions with respect to the exercise
of Parent stock options or other stock awards held by the Business
Employees as of the Distribution Date shall be treated as arising
in the Pre-Distribution Period, regardless of the date on which
such stock options or other awards are exercised, and such
treatment shall not result in a Tax indemnification obligation of
RMT Partner or Splitco. Any wage or payroll withholding Taxes
attributable to the exercise or vesting of Parent’s stock
options or other stock awards shall be the sole responsibility of
Parent.
(e) Other Income Taxes
. For the avoidance of doubt, any Tax Item resulting from Splitco
ceasing to be a member of the Parent Group (including any Tax Items
required to be taken into account by the Parent Group under Treas.
Reg. §§ 1.1502-13 and 1.1502-19) shall be
treated as arising in the Pre-Distribution Period.
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(f) Except as provided in
Sections 2.01(e) (Other Income Taxes), 2.02 (Transaction Taxes) and
2.03 (Transfer Taxes), which Taxes, for the avoidance of doubt, are
provided for exclusively in such sections, RMT Partner and Splitco
shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent and each member of the
Parent Group from and against Taxes of Parent or any member of the
Parent Group imposed as a result of actions taken by, or at the
direction of, RMT Partner or the Splitco Group on the Distribution
Date but following the Distribution, other than actions by RMT
Partner and Splitco expressly required by the RMT Transaction
Agreement.
SECTION 2.02 Transaction
Taxes . (a) Parent shall indemnify and hold harmless RMT
Partner, Splitco and each member of the Splitco Group from and
against any Transaction Taxes other than those described in
Section 2.02(b). For the avoidance of doubt, Parent shall
indemnify and hold harmless RMT Partner, Splitco and each member of
the Splitco Group from and against any Transaction Taxes
attributable to the distribution by Parent of Splitco Common Stock
to holders of Parent Deferred Stock Awards.
(b) RMT Partner and Splitco
shall indemnify and hold harmless Parent and each member of the
Parent Group from and against any Transaction Taxes that are
attributable to:
(i) other than Transaction
Taxes attributable to actions by RMT Partner and Splitco expressly
required by the RMT Transaction Agreement:
(A) any inaccurate
representation made in Sections 4.01(b), 4.01(c) or
4.01(d);
(B) any inaccurate statement
of fact or inaccurate Tax Representation (or omission to state a
material fact, the omission of which causes the facts stated or Tax
Representations made not to be complete and accurate in all
material respects) made by RMT Partner in a letter or certificate
that forms the basis for any Tax Opinion or Ruling;
(C) any action or failure to
take action by RMT Partner, the Splitco Group (taken at the
direction of RMT Partner) or any of their Affiliates, after the
date of the RMT Transaction Agreement until the Distribution Date,
that violates the covenants made by RMT Partner or Splitco set
forth in this Agreement; or
(D) any other action or
failure to take action (including Prohibited Acts) by RMT Partner,
the Splitco Group or any of their Affiliates after the Distribution
Date that violates the covenants made by RMT Partner or Splitco set
forth in this Agreement.
(ii) the failure of the
Mergers to qualify for the Intended Tax-Free Treatment, except
where such failure is a result of a breach of a Tax Representation
or covenant by Parent; provided , however, (A) RMT
Partner and Splitco shall have no liability under this
Section 2.02(b)(ii) with respect to or as a result of any
deemed sale of Splitco Common Stock attributable to such stock
being treated for Federal income tax purposes as not having been
distributed to the stockholders of Parent or any resulting failure
by Parent to distribute an amount of Splitco Common Stock
constituting “control” of Splitco within the meaning of
Section 368(c) of the Code, and (B) RMT Partner and
Splitco shall have no liability under this Section 2.02(b)(ii)
with respect to the failure of the Splitco Merger to qualify for
the Intended Tax-Free Treatment if Splitco is the surviving entity
in the Splitco Merger.
For the avoidance of doubt,
Parent’s right to be indemnified and held harmless under this
Section 2.02(b) shall be determined without regard to whether
a written waiver from Parent, a Supplemental Ruling or a
Supplemental Opinion was obtained under Sections 4.02(d) or
4.02(f).
(c) The party responsible for
any Transaction Taxes under Sections 2.02(a) or 2.02(b), as the
case may be, shall be entitled to the economic benefit of any Tax
Benefits of such Transaction Taxes.
SECTION 2.03 Transfer
Taxes . RMT Partner and Splitco shall be liable and shall
indemnify Parent and each member of the Parent Group for any
value-added, sales or other Taxes incurred in connection with the
Non-U.S. Transfers or the Proposed Transactions (including
transactions undertaken before the Contribution for
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the purpose
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