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Exhibit
10.3
TAX SHARING
AGREEMENT
BY AND
BETWEEN
ALTRIA GROUP,
INC.
AND
PHILIP MORRIS
INTERNATIONAL INC.
DATED AS OF MARCH 28,
2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
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1 |
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| 1.01 |
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General |
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1 |
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ARTICLE II TAX SHARING
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6 |
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| 2.01 |
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General |
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6 |
| 2.02 |
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Payment
of Taxes |
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7 |
| 2.03 |
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Carrybacks from Post-Distribution Period |
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8 |
| 2.04 |
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Preparation of Returns |
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9 |
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| ARTICLE III REFUNDS |
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9 |
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| 3.01 |
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Refunds |
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9 |
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| ARTICLE IV INDEMNIFICATION |
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10 |
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| 4.01 |
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General
Indemnification |
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10 |
| 4.02 |
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Indemnification for Distribution Taxes |
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11 |
| 4.03 |
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Indemnification Payments |
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11 |
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| ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS |
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11 |
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| 5.01 |
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Altria
and PMI Representations |
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11 |
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| ARTICLE VI COVENANTS |
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12 |
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| 6.01 |
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Altria
and PMI Covenants |
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12 |
| 6.02 |
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Specific
PMI Covenants |
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12 |
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| ARTICLE VII TAX CONTESTS |
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13 |
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| 7.01 |
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Representation with Respect to Tax Contests |
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13 |
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| ARTICLE VIII PAYMENTS |
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14 |
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| 8.01 |
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Method of
Payment |
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14 |
| 8.02 |
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Interest |
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14 |
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| 8.03 |
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Characterization of Payments |
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14 |
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ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS
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15 |
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| 9.01 |
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Allocation |
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15 |
| 9.02 |
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Payment
of Reserves |
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15 |
| 9.03 |
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Cooperation and Exchange of Information |
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15 |
| 9.04 |
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Retention
of Records |
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16 |
| 9.05 |
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Dispute
Resolution |
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16 |
| 9.06 |
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Changes
in Law |
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16 |
| 9.07 |
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Confidentiality |
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17 |
| 9.08 |
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Successors |
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17 |
| 9.09 |
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Authorization |
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17 |
| 9.10 |
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Notices |
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17 |
| 9.11 |
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Entire
Agreement |
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18 |
| 9.12 |
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Section
Captions |
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18 |
| 9.13 |
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Governing
Law |
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18 |
| 9.14 |
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Counterparts |
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18 |
| 9.15 |
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Waiver
and Amendments |
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18 |
| 9.16 |
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Effective
Date |
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19 |
| 9.17 |
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Termination |
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19 |
ii
TAX SHARING
AGREEMENT
THIS TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
dated as of March 28, 2008 (the “Agreement”) is between
Altria Group, Inc., a Virginia corporation (“Altria”),
and Philip Morris International Inc., a Virginia corporation
(“PMI”) (sometimes referred to herein individually as
“Party”, or together, as
“Parties”).
W I T N E S S E T
H:
WHEREAS, Altria is the common
parent corporation of an affiliated group of corporations within
the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”);
WHEREAS, PMI is a member of
the affiliated group of corporations with respect to which Altria
is the common parent corporation;
WHEREAS, as set forth in the
Distribution Agreement by and between Altria and PMI, dated as of
January 30, 2008 (the “Distribution Agreement”), and
subject to the terms and conditions thereof, Altria will distribute
on a pro rata basis to the holders of Altria common stock all of
the outstanding shares of PMI common stock then owned by Altria
(the “Distribution”);
WHEREAS, the Distribution is
intended to qualify as a tax-free distribution to Altria and its
shareholders under Section 355 of the Code; and
WHEREAS, in contemplation of
the Distribution, pursuant to which PMI (and its direct and
indirect Subsidiaries) will cease to be a member of the affiliated
group of corporations with respect to which Altria is the common
parent corporation, the Parties hereto have determined to enter
into this Agreement, setting forth their agreement with respect to
certain tax matters;
NOW, THEREFORE in
consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein
contained, the Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.01 General . For the
purposes of this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have
the following meanings.
“ Altria
Consolidated Return Group ” means Altria and any direct
or indirect Subsidiary of Altria that is, from time to time, a
member of the affiliated group of corporations with respect to
which Altria is the common parent corporation. For the avoidance of
doubt, the Altria Consolidated Return Group includes, but is not
limited to, any company that for any period prior to the execution
of this Agreement was a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Altria and
that during such period was eligible to join with Altria, with
respect to Federal Income Taxes, in the filing of a consolidated
United States Federal Income Tax return.
“ Altria U.S.
Group ” means Altria and any direct or indirect
Subsidiary of Altria that is not also a member of the PMI Group or
otherwise a direct or indirect Subsidiary of PMI and that would be
eligible, from time to time, to join with Altria, with respect to
Federal Income Taxes, in the filing of a consolidated United States
Federal Income Tax return and/or, with respect to Combined State
Taxes, in the filing of a consolidated, combined or unitary income
or franchise tax return. For the avoidance of doubt, the Altria
U.S. Group includes, but is not limited to, any company that for
any period prior to the execution of this Agreement was a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of Altria and that during such period was
eligible to join with Altria, with respect to Federal Income Taxes,
in the filing of a consolidated United States Federal Income Tax
return and, with respect to Combined State Taxes, in the filing of
a consolidated, combined or unitary income or franchise tax return,
but only if and to the extent that such company was not a member of
the PMI Group during such period.
“ Altria U.S. Group
Tax ” means with respect to any taxable period (or
portion thereof) (i) the Federal Income Tax liability of the
Altria Consolidated Return Group less the PMI Federal Income Tax
Liability; (ii) the Altria Combined State Tax liability less
the PMI Combined State Tax Liability; (iii) any other Tax
imposed on any member of the Altria U.S. Group or, with respect to
any taxable year, any other Tax imposed on any direct or indirect
Subsidiary of Altria (excluding, however, the PMI Group and any
direct or indirect Subsidiary of PMI) that is not a member of the
Altria U.S. Group; and (iv) liability of any member of the
Altria U.S. Group for the payment of any amounts of the type
described in (i), (ii) or (iii) as a result of any
express or implied obligation to indemnify any other
person.
“ Combined State
Tax ” means, with respect to each state or local taxing
jurisdiction, any income or franchise tax payable to such state or
local taxing jurisdiction in which a member of the PMI Group files
tax returns with a member of the Altria U.S. Group on a
consolidated, combined or unitary basis for purposes of such income
or franchise tax.
“ Distribution
Date ” shall mean the date on which the Distribution
becomes effective.
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“ Distribution
Taxes ” shall mean any Taxes imposed on, increase in
Taxes incurred by, or reduction of a Tax Asset of Altria, and any
Taxes of an Altria shareholder that are paid or reimbursed by
Altria, together with any fines or penalties, pursuant to a Final
Determination resulting from, or arising in connection with, the
failure of the Distribution to qualify as a tax-free transaction
under Section 355 of the Code (including, without limitation,
any Tax resulting from the application of Section 355(d) or
Section 355(e) to the Distribution) or corresponding
provisions of the laws of any other jurisdictions. Any Tax referred
to in the immediately preceding sentence shall be determined using
the highest applicable statutory corporate income tax rate for the
relevant taxable period (or portion thereof).
“ Effective
Realization ” (and the correlative term
“Effectively Realized”) means, with respect to a tax
saving or tax benefit, including from the use of any Tax Asset, the
earliest to occur of (i) the receipt by Altria or PMI (or any
other member of Altria U.S. Group or PMI Group) of cash from a
Taxing Authority reflecting such tax saving or tax benefit, or
(ii) the application of such tax saving or tax benefit to
reduce any payments, including estimated tax payments, with respect
to (A) the tax liability on a return of any of such entities
or of any consolidated group of which any of such entities is a
member, or (B) any other outstanding tax liability of any of
such entities or of any such consolidated group, provided that any
reference in this definition to tax shall include, without
limitation, a reference to a recovery of statutory
interest.
“ Federal Income
Tax ” means any Tax imposed under Subtitle A of the Code
and any related interest and any penalties, additions to such Tax,
or additional amounts imposed with respect thereto.
“ Final
Determination ” shall mean (i) with respect to
Federal Income Taxes, a “determination” as defined in
Section 1313(a) of the Code or execution of an Internal
Revenue Service Form 870-AD and, with respect to taxes other than
Federal Income Taxes, any decision, judgment, decree or other order
by a court of competent jurisdiction that, under applicable law, is
not subject to further appeal, review or modification through
proceedings or otherwise; (ii) a closing agreement or accepted
offer in compromise under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a
comparable agreement under the laws of a State, local, or foreign
taxing jurisdiction; (iii) the payment of tax by any member of
the Altria Consolidated Return Group with respect to any item
disallowed or adjusted by a Taxing Authority, provided that Altria
determines that no action should be taken to recoup such payment;
or (iv) any other final disposition, by mutual agreement of
the Parties or by reason of the expiration of a statute of
limitations or period for the filing of claims for refunds, amended
returns, or appeals from adverse determinations.
“ PMI Combined State
Tax Liability ” shall mean, with respect to any taxable
period (or portion thereof) in the Pre-Distribution Period, an
amount of Combined State Taxes, including any interest, penalties
and other additions to such taxes for such taxable year except to
the extent attributable to Altria’s negligence, determined by
taking
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the total separately computed state
income or franchise tax liabilities of the PMI Group over the total
separately computed state income or franchise tax liabilities of
the Altria Consolidated Return Group multiplied by the combined
state income or franchise tax liability of the Altria Consolidated
Return Group.
“ PMI Current
Federal Income Tax Provision ” shall mean, with respect
to any financial statement year (or portion thereof) in the
Pre-Distribution Period, the sum of the PMI Group’s current
federal income tax provision determined in accordance with U.S.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”)
recorded on the PMI Group’s books and records and reported in
the PMI Group’s published financial statements.
“ PMI Federal Income
Tax Liability ” shall mean, with respect to any taxable
period (or portion thereof) in the Pre-Distribution Period, the sum
of the PMI Group’s Federal Income Tax liability and other
additions to such Taxes except to the extent attributable to
Altria’s negligence (as determined under the applicable
principles of agency law rather than Section 6662 of the Code)
for such taxable period (or portion thereof), computed as if the
PMI Group were not and never were part of the Altria Consolidated
Return Group, but rather were a separate affiliated group of
corporations filing a consolidated United States Federal Income Tax
return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code (provided,
however, that transactions with members of the Altria U.S. Group or
between members of the PMI Group shall be reflected according to
the provisions of the consolidated return regulations promulgated
under the Code governing intercompany transactions). Such
computation shall be made: (A) without regard to the income,
deductions (including net operating loss and capital loss
deductions) and credits in any year of any member of the Altria
Consolidated Return Group that is not a member of the PMI Group,
(B) by taking account of any Tax Asset of the PMI Group in
accordance with Section 2.02(e) hereof, (C) with regard
to net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards and carrybacks
and minimum tax credits from earlier years of the PMI Group,
(D) as though the highest rate of tax specified in
Section 11(b) of the Code were the only rate set forth in that
subsection, and (E) reflecting the positions, elections and
accounting methods and periods used with respect to the PMI Group
in preparing the Altria consolidated Federal Income Tax
return.
“ PMI Group
” shall mean PMI and any direct or indirect Subsidiary of PMI
that would be eligible, from time to time, to join with PMI, with
respect to Federal Income Taxes, in the filing of a consolidated
United States Federal Income Tax return and, with respect to
Combined State Taxes, in the filing of a consolidated, combined or
unitary income or franchise tax return if PMI were not a member of
the Altria Consolidated Return Group. For the avoidance of doubt,
the PMI Group includes, but is not limited to, any company that for
any period prior to the execution of this Agreement was a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of PMI and that during such period would have
been eligible to join with PMI, with respect to Federal Income
Taxes, in the filing of a consolidated United States Federal Income
Tax return and, with respect to Combined
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State Taxes, in the filing of a
consolidated, combined or unitary income or franchise tax return if
PMI were not a member of the Altria Consolidated Return Group, but
only if and to the extent that such company was not a member of the
Altria U.S. Group during such period.
“ PMI Group Tax
” means (i) PMI Federal Income Tax Liability;
(ii) PMI Combined State Tax Liability; (iii) any other
Tax imposed on any member of the PMI Group or, with respect to any
taxable year, any other Tax imposed on any direct or indirect
Subsidiary of PMI that is not a member of the PMI Group; and
(iv) liability of any member of the PMI Group for the payment
of any amounts of the type described in (i), (ii) or
(iii) as a result of any express or implied obligation to
indemnify any other person.
“ PMI Pro Forma
Combined State Return ” means, for each state in which a
combined state income tax return may be filed, either a formal
combined state income tax return, or, in the alternative, a
schedule on which the PMI Combined State Tax Liability is
reflected.
“ PMI Pro Forma
Federal Return ” means either a formal Form 1120, or, in
the alternative, a schedule on which the PMI Federal Income Tax
Liability is reflected.
“ Post-Distribution
Period ” means any taxable period (or portion thereof)
beginning after the close of business on the Distribution
Date.
“ Pre-Distribution
Period ” means any taxable period (or portion thereof)
ending on or before the close of business on the Distribution
Date.
“ Ruling and Tax
Opinion Documents ” means (i) the private letter
ruling received from the Internal Revenue Service regarding certain
tax consequences of the Distribution, (ii) the request for
private letter ruling submitted to the Internal Revenue Service in
connection with the Distribution (including all supplemental
submissions) and (iii) the tax opinion related to the
Distribution delivered by Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
(“Tax Advisor”), including all exhibits to each, which
contain, inter alia, information and representations provided by
Altria and PMI in connection with the Distribution.
“ Subsidiary
” means any corporation or other legal entity (or any
successor thereto) directly or indirectly “controlled”,
where “control” means the ownership of 50% or more of
the ownership interests (by vote or value) of such corporation or
other legal entity (or any successor thereto) or the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the
direction of the management or policies of such corporation or
other legal entity.
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“ Tax ” or
“ Taxes ” shall mean all national, federal,
state (including, but not limited to the Ohio Commercial Activities
tax or the Texas Margin tax), county, local, foreign or other
taxes, levies, or imposts, including any net income, alternative or
add-on minimum tax, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, license,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, capital
stock, occupation, property, real property gains, social security
or disability, environmental or windfall profit tax, premium,
custom duty or other tax, governmental fee, or other like
assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any
interest, penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by
any Taxing Authority responsible for the imposition of any such tax
(United States or non-United States).
“ Tax Asset
” means any federal or state net operating loss, net capital
loss, general business credit, foreign tax credit, charitable
deduction, or any other loss, credit, deduction, or tax attribute
which could reduce any Tax (including, without limitation,
deductions, credits, alternative minimum net operating loss
carryforwards related to alternative minimum taxes or additions to
the basis of property).
“ Taxing
Authority ” means any governmental authority (whether
United States or non-United States, and including, without
limitation, any state, municipality, political subdivision or
governmental agency) responsible for the imposition of any
Tax.
“ Tax Contest
” means any audit, review, examination, assessment, notice of
deficiency or any other administrative or judicial proceeding with
the purpose or effect of redetermining any Taxes (including any
administrative or judicial review of any claim for
refund).
“ Tax-Free
Status ” means qualification of the Distribution as
tax-free under Section 355 of the Code.
ARTICLE II
TAX SHARING
2.01 General . For
each taxable year of the Altria Consolidated Return Group for which
a United States consolidated Federal Income Tax return is filed
that includes any Pre-Distribution Period of the PMI Group, PMI
shall pay to Altria an amount equal to the sum of the PMI Federal
Income Tax Liability for such taxable year as shown on a PMI Pro
Forma Federal Return. For each taxable year of the Altria
Consolidated Return Group for which a Combined State Tax return is
filed that includes any Pre-Distribution Period of the PMI Group,
PMI shall pay to Altria an amount equal to the PMI Combined State
Tax Liability for such taxable year as shown on a PMI Pro Forma
Combined State Return.
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2.02 Payment of Taxes
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(a) Estimated Payments
. Not later than thirty days after the Distribution Date, PMI shall
identify on its books the PMI Current Federal Income Tax Provision
for that portion of the current quarter that ends on the
Distribution Date, determined in accordance with United States
GAAP, and shall transfer such amount to Altria within thirty days
after the Distribution Date.
(b) Preparation and
Delivery of Estimated Pro Formas . On a date that is at least
thirty days prior to the due date for the Altria Consolidated
Return Group’s consolidated Federal Income Tax return for a
taxable year to which Section 2.01 of this Agreement applies,
PMI shall deliver to Altria a PMI Pro Forma Federal Return
reflecting the PMI Federal Income Tax Liability on an estimated
basis. On a date that is at least ten days prior to the due date
for each Combined State Tax return for a taxable year to which
Section 2.01 of this Agreement applies, PMI shall deliver to
Altria a PMI Pro Forma Combined State Return (together with the PMI
Pro Forma Federal Return, the “PMI Pro Forma Returns”)
reflecting the relevant PMI Combined State Tax Liability on an
estimated basis. PMI’s preparation and delivery of the PMI
Pro Forma Federal Return shall include related schedules and
returns, including, but not limited to, preparation of Form 1118 or
in the alternative, a schedule reflecting what is on Form 1118, for
purposes of computing any separate foreign tax credit limitation
under Section 904(d) of the Code.
(c) Prep
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