Back to top

TAX SHARING AGREEMENT

Tax Allocation or Sharing Agreement

TAX SHARING AGREEMENT You are currently viewing:
This Tax Allocation or Sharing Agreement involves

ALTRIA GROUP, INC | Philip Morris International Inc | Philip Morris International Management SA

. RealDealDocs™ contains millions of easily searchable legal documents and clauses from top law firms. Search for free - click here.
Title: TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Virginia     Date: 3/28/2008
Industry: TOBACO     Law Firm: Sutherland Asbill     Sector: NONCYC

Search Tax Allocation or Sharing Agreement by:

Document Title:

Entire Document: (optional)

50 of the Top 250 law firms use our Products every day

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

 

         Page

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

   1
1.01   General    1

ARTICLE II TAX SHARING

   6
2.01   General    6
2.02   Payment of Taxes    7
2.03   Carrybacks from Post-Distribution Period    8
2.04   Preparation of Returns    9
ARTICLE III REFUNDS    9
3.01   Refunds    9
ARTICLE IV INDEMNIFICATION    10
4.01   General Indemnification    10
4.02   Indemnification for Distribution Taxes    11
4.03   Indemnification Payments    11
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS    11
5.01   Altria and PMI Representations    11
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS    12
6.01   Altria and PMI Covenants    12
6.02   Specific PMI Covenants    12
ARTICLE VII TAX CONTESTS    13
7.01   Representation with Respect to Tax Contests    13
ARTICLE VIII PAYMENTS    14
8.01   Method of Payment    14
8.02   Interest    14

 

i

 


8.03    Characterization of Payments    14

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

   15
9.01    Allocation    15
9.02    Payment of Reserves    15
9.03    Cooperation and Exchange of Information    15
9.04    Retention of Records    16
9.05    Dispute Resolution    16
9.06    Changes in Law    16
9.07    Confidentiality    17
9.08    Successors    17
9.09    Authorization    17
9.10    Notices    17
9.11    Entire Agreement    18
9.12    Section Captions    18
9.13    Governing Law    18
9.14    Counterparts    18
9.15    Waiver and Amendments    18
9.16    Effective Date    19
9.17    Termination    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.

 

2

 


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

 

3

 


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

 

4

 


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.

 

5

 


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.

 

6

 


2.02 Payment of Taxes .

(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) Prepa


This is only a partial view of this document. We have millions of legal documents and clauses drafted by top law firms. learn more search for free browse for free learn more