Exhibit 10.1
TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT
by and between
FORTUNE BRANDS, INC.
and
ACCO WORLD CORPORATION
August 16, 2005
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE I
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
Section 1.01
|
|
General
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
Section
1.02
|
|
Schedules,
etc
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
II
|
|
FILING OF TAX
RETURNS; PAYMENT OF TAXES; REFUNDS
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
Section
2.01
|
|
Preparation of
Tax Returns
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
Section
2.02
|
|
Payment of
Income Taxes
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
Section
2.03
|
|
Tax Refunds and
Carrybacks
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
Section
2.04
|
|
Straddle Period
Taxes
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
Section
2.05
|
|
Tax Audit
Adjustments
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
III
|
|
TAX
INDEMNIFICATION; TAX CONTESTS
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
Section
3.01
|
|
Indemnification
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
Section
3.02
|
|
Distribution
Taxes
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
Section
3.03
|
|
Notice of
Indemnity
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
Section
3.04
|
|
Payments
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
Section
3.05
|
|
Tax
Contests
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
|
OPTIONS;
COMPENSATION PAYMENTS; FOREIGN NET OPERATING LOSSES; SEPARATE TAX
RETURN FOR 2005; INTEREST CHARGE FOR LATE PAYMENTS
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
Section
4.01
|
|
Stock
Options.
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
Section
4.02
|
|
Compensation
Payments
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
Section
4.03
|
|
Foreign Net
Operating Losses
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
Section
4.04
|
|
Separate Tax
Return Liability for 2005
|
|
22
|
|
|
|
Section
4.05
|
|
Change in
Law
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
Section
4.06
|
|
Interest Charge
for Late Payments
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
V
|
|
COOPERATION AND
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
Section
5.01
|
|
Inconsistent
Actions
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
Section
5.02
|
|
Cooperation and
Exchange of Information
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
Section
5.03
|
|
Tax
Records
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
6.01
|
|
Entire
Agreement; Construction
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
6.02
|
|
Effectiveness
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
6.03
|
|
Survival of
Agreements
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
6.04
|
|
Governing
Law
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
6.05
|
|
Notices
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
Section
6.06
|
|
Consent to
Jurisdiction
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
Section
6.07
|
|
Amendments
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
Section
6.08
|
|
Assignment
|
|
28
|
i
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.09
|
|
Captions;
Currency
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
Section
6.10
|
|
Severability
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
Section
6.11
|
|
Parties in
Interest
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
Section
6.12
|
|
Schedules
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
Section
6.13
|
|
Waivers;
Remedies
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
Section
6.14
|
|
Counterparts
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
Section
6.15
|
|
Performance
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
Section
6.16
|
|
Interpretation
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE 3.02(b)
|
|
ACCO TAX
ACT
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE
3.02(c)
|
|
ACCO TAX
REPRESENTATION LETTER
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE
3.02(d)
|
|
FORTUNE TAX
REPRESENTATION LETTER
|
|
|
|
|
SCHEDULE
4.04(b)
|
|
CERTAIN
DIVIDENDS
|
ii
TAX ALLOCATION
AGREEMENT
TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT (this
“ Agreement ”) dated as of August 16, 2005, by
and between FORTUNE BRANDS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“
Fortune ”), and ACCO WORLD CORPORATION, a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fortune (“
ACCO ”).
WHEREAS, Fortune and ACCO have
entered into a distribution agreement (the “ Distribution
Agreement ”), pursuant to which all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of
ACCO (the “ ACCO Common Stock ”) will be
distributed on a pro rata basis to Fortune’s stockholders as
provided in the Distribution Agreement (the “
Distribution ”);
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of
Fortune, ACCO, GENERAL BINDING CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation
(“ GBC ”) and GEMINI ACQUISITION SUB, INC., a
Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of ACCO (“
Acquisition Sub ”) have approved an agreement and plan
of merger (the “ Merger Agreement ”) pursuant to
which Acquisition Sub and GBC will enter into a merger transaction
in order to advance the long-term strategic business interests of
Fortune, ACCO, GBC and Acquisition Sub;
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of
Fortune, ACCO, GBC and Acquisition Sub have determined to
consummate such merger transaction by means of a business
combination transaction in which, immediately following the
Distribution Acquisition Sub will merge with and into GBC (the
“ Merger ”), with GBC being the surviving
corporation;
WHEREAS, the parties to this
Agreement intend that the Distribution qualify under Section 355 of
the Code (as defined herein) as a spin-off, that the Merger qualify
under Section 368 of the Code as a reorganization and that the
Merger Agreement shall constitute a “plan or
reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the
Code; and
WHEREAS, Fortune and ACCO wish to
provide for and agree upon the allocation between the Fortune Tax
Group (as defined herein) and the ACCO Tax Group (as defined
herein) of all responsibilities, liabilities and benefits relating
to or affecting Taxes (as defined herein) paid or payable by either
of them for all taxable periods, whether beginning before, on or
after the Distribution Date (as defined herein).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and of the respective agreements contained in this
Agreement, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01
General . As used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of the terms defined). Any capitalized
term not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meaning
ascribed to it in the Distribution Agreement.
“ Actually Realized
” shall mean, for purposes of determining the timing of any
Taxes (or related Tax cost or benefit) relating to any payment,
transaction, occurrence or event, the time at which the amount of
Taxes (including estimated Taxes) payable by any person is
increased above or reduced below, as the case may be, the amount of
Taxes that such person would be required to pay but for the
payment, transaction, occurrence or event.
“ ACCO ” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.
“ ACCO Foreign NOLs
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.03(a).
“ ACCO Group Employees and
Former Employees ” shall mean individuals (i) who are
employees of any member of the ACCO Tax Group on the date of the
event giving rise to a deduction in respect of any Stock Options
held by such individuals or (ii) who were employees of any member
of the ACCO Tax Group and were not thereafter employees of any
member of the Fortune Tax Group.
“ ACCO Post-Distribution
Tax Act ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.01(a).
“ ACCO Tax Act ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).
“ ACCO Tax Group
” shall mean (i) ACCO and (ii) any corporation or other legal
entity which ACCO directly or indirectly (a) owns immediately after
the Distribution, or (b) owned prior to the Distribution but did
not own at the time of the Distribution, but only if such entity
was disposed of directly or indirectly by ACCO to an entity other
than a member of the Fortune Tax Group.
2
“ ACCO Tax Representation
Letter ” shall mean the letter delivered by ACCO to
Fortune on the Distribution Date, substantially in the form set
forth in Schedule 3.02(c) attached hereto.
“ Code ” shall
mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any
successor legislation.
“ Compensation Payments
” shall mean all compensation payments made by or at the
direction of Fortune to employees of the ACCO Tax Group which are
paid or accrued under the ACCO Senior Management Incentive Plan or
the Day-Timers Special Incentive Plan.
“ Distribution ”
shall mean the distribution of the ACCO Common Stock on a pro rata
basis to holders of Fortune Common Stock on the Distribution Date
pursuant to the Distribution Agreement.
“ Distribution
Agreement ” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
the preamble.
“ Distribution Date
” shall mean the date on which the Distribution occurs (or,
if different, the date on which the Distribution is deemed to occur
for U.S. federal Income Tax purposes). For purposes of this
Agreement, the Distribution shall be deemed effective as of the end
of the day on the Distribution Date.
“ Distribution Taxes
” shall mean any Taxes resulting from (a) the failure of the
Distribution to qualify as a spin-off under Section 355 of the Code
or (b) the failure of the Distribution to qualify as tax-free to
Fortune or any member of the Fortune Tax Group under Section 355(c)
of the Code.
“ Expenses ”
shall mean any and all expenses incurred in connection with
investigating, defending or asserting any claim, action, suit or
proceeding incident to any matter indemnified against hereunder
(including court filing fees, court costs, arbitration fees or
costs, witness fees, and reasonable fees and disbursements of legal
counsel, investigators, expert witnesses, consultants, accountants
and other professionals).
“ Foreign Income Tax
” shall mean any Income Tax other than a U.S. federal, state
or local Income Tax.
“ Foreign Income Tax
Returns ” shall mean any Income Tax Return which is not a
U.S. federal, state or local Income Tax Return.
“ Fortune ” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.
3
“ Fortune Board ”
shall mean the Board of Directors of Fortune or a duly authorized
committee thereof.
“ Fortune Common Stock
” shall mean the Common Stock, par value of $3.125 per share,
of Fortune.
“ Fortune Common Stock
Options ” shall mean options to acquire Fortune Common
Stock.
“ Fortune Credited Cash
” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Distribution
Agreement.
“ Fortune Foreign NOLs
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
4.03(b).
“ Fortune Tax Group
” shall mean (i) Fortune, (ii) any corporation or other legal
entity which Fortune directly or indirectly owns on the
Distribution Date at any time after the Distribution, and (iii) any
other corporation or other legal entity which Fortune directly or
indirectly owned at any time prior to the Distribution Date other
than a member of the ACCO Tax Group.
“ Fortune Tax
Representation Letter ” shall mean the letter delivered
by Fortune to ACCO on the Distribution Date, substantially in the
form set forth in Schedule 3.02(d) attached hereto.
“ Fortune/ACCO Tax
Group ” shall mean any corporation or other legal entity
which is a member of the Fortune Tax Group or the ACCO Tax Group
but only with respect to taxable periods (or portions thereof)
ending on or before the Distribution Date.
“ GBC ” shall
have the meaning ascribed thereto in the preamble.
“ Income Tax ”
shall mean (a) any Tax based upon, measured by, or calculated with
respect to (i) net income or profits (including, but not limited
to, any capital gains, minimum Tax and any Tax on items of Tax
preference, but not including sales, use, real or personal
property, gross or net receipts, transfer or similar Taxes) or (ii)
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, measured by, or calculated with
respect to, is described in clause (i) above, or (b) any U.S. state
or local franchise Tax; including in the case of each of (a) and
(b) any related interest and any penalties, additions to such Tax
or additional amounts imposed with respect thereto by any Tax
Authority.
4
“ Income Tax Benefit
” shall mean for any taxable period the excess of (i) the
hypothetical Income Tax liability of the taxpayer for the taxable
period calculated as if the Timing Difference or Reverse Timing
Difference, as the case may be, had not occurred but with all other
facts unchanged, over (ii) the actual Income Tax liability of the
taxpayer for the taxable period, calculated taking into account the
Timing Difference or Reverse Timing Difference, as the case may be
(treating an Income Tax refund or credit as a negative Income Tax
liability for purposes of such calculation).
“ Income Tax Detriment
” shall mean for any taxable period the excess of (i) the
actual Income Tax liability of the taxpayer for the taxable period,
calculated taking into account the Timing Difference or Reverse
Timing Difference, as the case may be, over (ii) the hypothetical
Income Tax liability of the taxpayer for the taxable period,
calculated as if the Timing Difference or Reverse Timing
Difference, as the case may be, had not occurred but with all other
facts unchanged (treating an Income Tax refund or credit as a
negative Income Tax liability for purposes of such
calculation).
“ Income Tax Return
” shall mean any Tax Return that relates to Income
Taxes.
“ Indemnitee ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“ Indemnitor ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.03.
“ Indemnity Issue
” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.03.
“ IRS ” shall
mean the Internal Revenue Service.
“ Losses ” shall
mean any and all losses, costs, obligations, liabilities,
settlement payments, awards, judgments, fines, penalties, damages,
expenses, deficiencies or other charges.
“ Non-Income Tax
” shall mean any Tax other than an Income Tax.
“ Person ” shall
mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
limited liability entity, trust, unincorporated organization or
other entity (including a governmental entity).
“ Post-Distribution Taxable
Period ” shall mean a taxable period beginning after the
Distribution Date.
5
“ Post-Tax Indemnification
Period ” shall mean any Post-Distribution Taxable Period
and that portion of any Straddle Period that begins on the day
after the Distribution Date.
“ Pre-Distribution Taxable
Period ” shall mean a taxable period ending on or before
the Distribution Date.
“ Representative
” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any of such
Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants,
advisors, accountants, attorneys and representatives.
“ Reverse Timing
Difference ” shall mean an increase in income, gain or
recapture, or a decrease in deduction, loss or credit, as
calculated for Income Tax purposes, of the taxpayer for any taxable
period coupled with an increase in deduction, loss or credit, or a
decrease in income, gain or recapture, of the taxpayer or a related
taxpayer for the same or a subsequent taxable period.
“ Stock Options ”
shall mean ACCO Common Stock Options or Fortune Common Stock
Options.
“ Straddle Period
” shall mean a taxable period that includes but does not end
on the Distribution Date.
“ Tax ” and
“ Taxes ” shall mean all forms of taxation,
whenever created or imposed, and whether of the United States or
elsewhere, and whether imposed by a federal, state, municipal,
governmental, territorial, local, foreign or other body, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall include net
income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value added, ad
valorem, transfer, recording, franchise, profits, license, lease,
service, service use, payroll, wage, withholding, employment,
unemployment insurance, workers compensation, social security,
excise, severance, stamp, business license, business organization,
occupation, premium, property, environmental, windfall profits,
customs, duties, alternative minimum, estimated or other taxes,
fees, premiums, assessments or charges of any kind whatever imposed
or collected by any governmental entity or political subdivision
thereof, together with any related interest and any penalties,
additions to such tax or additional amounts imposed with respect
thereto by any Tax Authority.
“ Tax Authority ”
shall mean, with respect to any Tax, any governmental entity,
quasi-governmental body or political subdivision thereof that
imposes such Tax and the agency (if any) charged with the
determination or collection of such Tax for such entity, body or
subdivision.
6
“ Tax Group ”
shall mean the Fortune Tax Group or the ACCO Tax Group, as the case
may be.
“ Tax Indemnification
Period ” shall mean any Pre-Distribution Taxable Period
and that portion of any Straddle Period that ends on the
Distribution Date.
“ Tax Return ”
shall mean any return, filing, questionnaire, information return,
election or other document required or permitted to be filed,
including requests for extensions of time, filings made with
respect to estimated tax payments, claims for refund and amended
returns that may be filed, for any period with any Tax Authority
(whether domestic or foreign) in connection with any Tax (whether
or not a payment is required to be made with respect to such
filing).
“ Timing Difference
” shall mean a decrease in income, gain or recapture, or an
increase in deduction, loss or credit, as calculated for Income Tax
purposes, of the taxpayer for any taxable period coupled with a
decrease in deduction, loss or credit, or an increase in income,
gain or recapture, of the taxpayer or a related taxpayer for the
same or a subsequent taxable period.
“ Transaction
Agreements ” shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in
the Distribution Agreement.
“ Transfer Taxes”
shall mean any sales Taxes, use Taxes, real property transfer or
gains Taxes, asset transfer documentary stamp Taxes or similar
Taxes. For the avoidance of doubt, Transfer Taxes shall not include
any Income Taxes.
Section 1.02 Schedules,
etc . References to a
“ Schedule ” are, unless otherwise specified, to
a Schedule attached to this Agreement; references to “
Section ” or “ Article ” are,
unless otherwise specified, to one of the Sections or Articles of
this Agreement; references to “ sub-section ”
are, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the
section in which the reference appears; and references to this
Agreement include the Schedules.
7
ARTICLE II
FILING OF TAX RETURNS; PAYMENT OF
TAXES; REFUNDS
Section 2.01 Preparation of
Tax Returns .
(a) Fortune shall prepare and file
or cause to be prepared and filed all Tax Returns (including
amendments thereto) which are required to be filed in respect of
(A) a member of the ACCO Tax Group for any Pre-Distribution Taxable
Period or Straddle Period in which such ACCO Tax Group member is
required to file a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return
with a member of the Fortune Tax Group or (B) a member of the
Fortune Tax Group for any taxable period.
(b) ACCO shall prepare and file or
cause to be prepared and filed all Tax Returns (including
amendments thereto) which are required to be filed in respect of
(A) a member of the ACCO Tax Group for any Pre-Distribution Taxable
Period or Straddle Period in which such ACCO Tax Group member is
not required to file a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return
with a member of the Fortune Tax Group and (B) a member of the ACCO
Tax Group for Post-Distribution Taxable Periods.
(c) Unless Fortune and ACCO
otherwise agree in writing, all Tax Returns (including amendments
thereto) described in this Section 2.01 filed after the date of
this Agreement for Pre-Distribution Taxable Periods or Straddle
Periods, in the absence of a controlling change in law or
circumstances, shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the
elections, accounting methods, conventions and principles of
taxation used for the most recent taxable periods for which Tax
Returns involving similar matters have been filed.
(d) The Fortune Tax Group and the
ACCO Tax Group will be included in the consolidated federal Income
Tax Returns of the Fortune Tax Group for the calendar year 2004 and
the portion of the calendar year 2005 ending on the Distribution
Date. If the Distribution occurs, ACCO shall provide complete
packages of information and such other information as Fortune may
reasonably request, to enable Fortune to include the ACCO Tax Group
in such consolidated federal Income Tax Returns (to the extent
information was not previously provided to Fortune). Such
information packages shall be prepared in accordance with
instructions and procedures furnished by Fortune. In the case of
the 2004 consolidated federal Income Tax Return, such information
package was furnished by Fortune on or about May 1, 2005 and the
responses to such information package shall be delivered to Fortune
not later than August 1, 2005 (unless otherwise agreed by the
parties hereto). In the case
8
of the 2005 consolidated federal Income Tax
Return, such information package shall be furnished by Fortune not
later than one month after the Distribution Date (unless otherwise
agreed by the parties hereto) and the responses to such information
package shall be delivered to Fortune not later than three months
after receipt of such information package (unless otherwise agreed
by the parties hereto). Promptly after completion thereof, Fortune
shall furnish to ACCO a copy of the pro forma separate federal
Income Tax Returns of the ACCO Tax Group, or similar data, used in
the preparation and filing of the consolidated federal Income Tax
Returns of the Fortune Tax Group for the 2004 and 2005 tax periods,
as the case may be. In the case of the 2004 and 2005 combined
Illinois and Kentucky Income Tax Returns, ACCO shall provide pro
forma separate Illinois and Kentucky Income Tax Returns of the ACCO
Tax Group to Fortune on the same dates as it provides responses to
the corresponding federal Income Tax Return information
packages.
(e) At least twenty (20) days prior
to the due date (or filing date in the case of an amended Tax
Return) for filing any Tax Return which Fortune is responsible for
filing under Section 2.01(a) and, upon the request of Fortune, at
least twenty (20) days prior to the due date (or filing date in the
case of any amended Tax Return) for filing any Tax Return for which
ACCO is responsible for filing under Section 2.01(a), the party
responsible under this Section 2.01 for preparation of a particular
Tax Return for Pre-Distribution Taxable Periods or Straddle Periods
shall make available a draft of such Tax Return (or relevant
portions thereof) for review and comment by such non-responsible
party. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, all decisions
relating to the preparation of Tax Returns shall be made in the
sole discretion of the party responsible under this Agreement for
such preparation.
Section 2.02 Payment of Income
Taxes .
Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement:
(a) Fortune shall pay or cause to be
paid, on a timely basis, all Income Taxes shown as due on Income
Tax Returns for (A) any member of the ACCO Tax Group for any
Pre-Distribution Taxable Period or Straddle Period in which such
ACCO Tax Group member is required to file a consolidated, combined
or unitary Income Tax Return with a member of the Fortune Tax Group
and (B) any member of the Fortune Tax Group for any taxable period;
provided , however , that ACCO, on behalf of the ACCO
Tax Group, hereby assumes and agrees to pay directly to or at the
direction of Fortune, at times consistent with past practice, the
portion of such Income Taxes shown as due on such Income Tax
Returns for any 2005 Pre-Distribution Taxable Period or Straddle
Period which relates to a member of the ACCO Tax Group or its
business, assets or activities determined in accordance with
Section 2.04. After the date of this Agreement, Fortune will
provide a written
9
notice to ACCO of the ACCO Tax Group’s
unpaid share of any consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax
liability for 2005 after taking into account all estimated Income
Tax payments received by Fortune from ACCO. Such written notice
shall include such computations and descriptions as may be
necessary to identify and support the basis for the determination
of the amount requested in the notice. ACCO shall pay any such
amount to Fortune within ten days of ACCO’s receipt of such
written notice; provided however, that ACCO shall have the right to
dispute the amount and/or method of determining the amount
requested in the notice, and, to the extent of the amount disputed,
ACCO shall pay any disputed amount (as it may be revised pursuant
to the resolution of any dispute) to Fortune within the later of
(i) ten days of ACCO’s receipt of such written notice and
(ii) ten days of ACCO’s receipt of such written notice as
revised pursuant to the resolution of any dispute.
(b) ACCO shall pay or cause to be
paid, on a timely basis, all U.S. state and local and all foreign
Income Taxes shown as due on Income Tax Returns for (A) any member
of the ACCO Tax Group for any Pre-Distribution Taxable Period or
Straddle Period in which such ACCO Tax Group member is not required
to file a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return with a
member of the Fortune Tax Group and (B) any member of the ACCO Tax
Group for any Post-Distribution Taxable Period.
(c) Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, all Transfer Taxes incurred in
connection with the Distribution and/or the Merger shall be paid by
the ACCO Tax Group.
(d) Prior to the determination under
the Distribution Agreement of the Fortune Credited Cash, a payment
has been made by ACCO to Fortune (by means of an adjustment to
intercompany accounts) in respect of U.S. federal, state and local
consolidated, combined and unitary Income Taxes due on or about
March 15, 2005 from ACCO to Fortune in respect of the 2004 tax year
and for the period through March 15, 2005 in respect of the 2005
tax year based on a good faith estimate by Fortune and ACCO of such
Taxes. It is intended that the Fortune Credited Cash shall reflect
a reduction for such amount of U.S. federal, state and local
consolidated, combined and unitary Income Taxes so paid.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, or any other
Transaction Agreement, in the event that the computation of Fortune
Credited Cash does not reflect a reduction for such payment,
Fortune (and not ACCO) shall be liable for such amount of Income
Taxes.
Section 2.03 Tax Refunds and
Carrybacks .
(a) Retention and Payment of
Tax Refunds . Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, Fortune shall be entitled to retain, and to
10
receive within ten days after Actually Realized
by the ACCO Tax Group, the portion of all refunds or credits of
Taxes for which the Fortune Tax Group is liable pursuant to Section
2.02 or Section 3.01(a), and ACCO shall be entitled to retain, and
to receive within ten days after Actually Realized by the Fortune
Tax Group, the portion of all refunds or credits of Taxes for which
the ACCO Tax Group is liable pursuant to Section 2.02 or Section
3.01(b). For the avoidance of doubt, the Fortune Tax Group (and not
the ACCO Tax Group) shall be deemed the party liable for (and
therefore entitled to the refund or credit of) all Income Taxes
paid by the ACCO Tax Group on or before March 15, 2005.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and subject to Sections 3.04 and
4.03, the ACCO Tax Group shall be entitled to retain, and to
receive within ten days after Actually Realized by the Fortune Tax
Group, the portion of all refunds or credits of Taxes attributable
to ACCO Foreign NOLs (as defined in Section 4.03(a)). The amount of
any refund or credit of Taxes to which Fortune or ACCO is entitled
to retain or receive pursuant to the foregoing sentence shall be
reduced to take account of any Taxes incurred by the ACCO Tax
Group, in the case of a refund or credit to which Fortune is
entitled, or the Fortune Tax Group, in the case of a refund or
credit to which ACCO is entitled, upon the receipt of such refund
or credit.
(b) Carrybacks .
Unless the parties otherwise agree in writing, ACCO shall elect and
shall cause each member of the ACCO Tax Group to elect, where
permitted by law, to carry forward any net operating loss, net
capital loss, charitable contribution or other item arising after
the Distribution Date that could, in the absence of such election,
be carried back to a Pre-Distribution Taxable Period. Except as
otherwise provided in this Agreement, notwithstanding the
provisions of Section 2.03(a), (i) any refund or credit of Taxes
resulting from the carryback of any item of loss, deduction or
credit attributable to the ACCO Tax Group arising in a Post-Tax
Indemnification Period to a Tax Indemnification Period shall be for
the account and benefit of the ACCO Tax Group, and (ii) any refund
or credit of Taxes resulting from the carryback of any item of
loss, deduction or credit attributable to the Fortune Tax Group
arising in a Post-Tax Indemnification Period to a Tax
Indemnification Period shall be for the account and benefit of the
Fortune Tax Group.
(c) Refund Claims .
Fortune shall be permitted to file at Fortune’s sole expense,
and ACCO shall reasonably cooperate with Fortune in connection
with, any claims for refund of Taxes to which Fortune is entitled
pursuant to this Section 2.03 or any other provision of this
Agreement. Fortune shall reimburse ACCO for any reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any member of the ACCO
Tax Group in connection with such cooperation. ACCO shall be
permitted to file at ACCO’s sole expense, and Fortune shall
reasonably cooperate with ACCO in connection with, any claims for
refunds of Taxes to which ACCO is entitled pursuant to this Section
2.03 or any other provision of this Agreement.
11
ACCO shall reimburse Fortune for any reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by any member of the
Fortune Tax Group in connection with such cooperation.
Section 2.04 Straddle Period
Taxes . It is
anticipated that, in the case of any member of the ACCO Tax Group
which files a consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return
with a member of the Fortune Tax Group during all or a portion of
2005, (i) the relevant taxable year of such ACCO Tax Group member
beginning on January 1, 2005 will end on the Distribution Date, and
items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit with respect to
such short taxable year shall be included in the Fortune Tax Group
consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return for 2005 and
(ii) items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit with respect
to the short taxable year of such ACCO Tax Group member beginning
on the day after the Distribution Date will not be included in any
Fortune Tax Group Income Tax Return. Accordingly, it is not
anticipated that any Straddle Period will exist with respect to a
consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return. If a Straddle
Period exists and all or a portion of such Straddle Period is
included in a consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return
of the Fortune Tax Group, the Taxes of any member of the ACCO Tax
Group or its business, assets or activities for that portion of any
Straddle Period ending on the Distribution Date shall be computed
on a “closing-of-the-books” basis as if such taxable
period ended as of the close of business on the Distribution Date,
and the Taxes of any member of the ACCO Tax Group or its business,
assets or activities for that portion of any Straddle Period
beginning after the Distribution Date shall be computed on a
“closing-of-the-books” basis as if such taxable period
began on