TAX SHARING AGREEMENTTax Allocation or Sharing Agreement |
|
|
|
You are currently viewing: This Tax Allocation or Sharing Agreement involves
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS LP | ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION. RealDealDocs™ contains millions of easily searchable legal documents and clauses from top law firms. Search for free - click here. |
|
|
|
Search Tax Allocation or Sharing Agreement by:
Execution Version
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
BY
AND AMONG
ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION
AND
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
May 14, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Definitions
|
1.1
|
Definitions | 1 | ||||
|
|
||||||
| ARTICLE II |
||||||
| Preparation and Filing of Tax
Returns |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
2.1
|
Manner of Filing | 3 | ||||
|
2.2
|
Franchise Tax Taxable Period | 4 | ||||
|
|
||||||
| ARTICLE III |
||||||
| Allocation of Taxes |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
3.1
|
Liability of the Partnership Group for Combined Taxes | 4 | ||||
|
3.2
|
Partnership Group Combined Tax Liability | 4 | ||||
|
3.3
|
Preparation and Delivery of Pro Forma Tax Returns | 5 | ||||
|
3.4
|
Payment of Tax | 5 | ||||
|
3.5
|
Subsequent Changes in Treatment of Tax Items | 5 | ||||
|
|
||||||
| ARTICLE IV |
||||||
| Control of Tax Proceedings;
Cooperation and Exchange of Information |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
4.1
|
Control of Proceedings | 5 | ||||
|
4.2
|
Cooperation and Exchange of Information | 6 | ||||
|
|
||||||
| ARTICLE V |
||||||
| Warranties and Representations;
Payment Obligations |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
5.1
|
Warranties and Representations Relating to Actions of | |||||
|
|
Anadarko and the Partnership | 6 | ||||
|
5.2
|
Calculation of Payment Obligations | 7 | ||||
|
5.3
|
Prompt Performance | 7 | ||||
|
5.4
|
Interest | 7 | ||||
|
5.5
|
Tax Records | 8 | ||||
|
5.6
|
Continuing Covenants | 8 | ||||
|
|
||||||
| ARTICLE VI |
||||||
| Miscellaneous Provisions |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
6.1
|
Notice | 8 | ||||
|
6.2
|
Required Payments | 8 | ||||
|
6.3
|
Injunctions | 9 | ||||
|
6.4
|
Further Assurances | 9 | ||||
|
6.5
|
Parties in Interest | 9 | ||||
|
6.6
|
Setoff | 9 | ||||
|
6.7
|
Change of Law | 9 | ||||
|
6.8
|
Termination and Survival | 9 | ||||
|
6.9
|
Amendments; No Waivers | 9 | ||||
|
6.10
|
Governing Law and Interpretation | 10 | ||||
|
6.11
|
Resolution of Certain Disputes | 10 | ||||
|
6.12
|
Confidentiality | 10 | ||||
|
6.13
|
Costs, Expenses and Attorneys’ Fees | 10 | ||||
|
6.14
|
Counterparts | 11 | ||||
|
6.15
|
Severability | 11 | ||||
|
6.16
|
Entire Agreement. | 11 | ||||
|
6.17
|
Assignment | 11 | ||||
|
6.18
|
Fair Meaning | 12 | ||||
|
6.19
|
Titles and Headings | 12 | ||||
|
6.20
|
Construction | 12 |
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
BY AND AMONG
ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND
WESTERN GAS PARTNERS, LP
Tax Sharing Agreement (the “
Agreement ”), dated this 14 th day of May,
2008, by and among ANADARKO PETROLEUM CORPORATION (“
Anadarko ”), a Delaware corporation, and WESTERN GAS
PARTNERS, LP (the “ Partnership ”), a Delaware
limited partnership.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Anadarko is the common
parent of an affiliated group of corporations within the meaning of
Section 1504(a) of the Code (as defined below), which currently
files a consolidated federal income tax return;
WHEREAS, the Partnership Group (as
defined below) includes various entities that may be required to
join with Anadarko in the filing of a consolidated, combined or
unitary state tax return;
WHEREAS, the Parties (as defined
below) wish to set forth the general principles under which they
will allocate and share various Taxes (as defined below) and
related liabilities;
WHEREAS, Anadarko, on behalf of
itself and its present and future subsidiaries other than the
Partnership Group (“ Anadarko Group ”), and the
Partnership, on behalf of itself and its present and future
subsidiaries (the “ Partnership Group ”), are
entering into this Agreement to provide for the allocation among
the Anadarko Group and the Partnership Group of all
responsibilities, liabilities and benefits relating to any Tax for
which a Combined Return (as defined below) is filed for a taxable
period including or beginning on or after the Effective Date (as
defined below) and to provide for certain other matters;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this
Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties
hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Definitions
Definitions
1.1 Definitions . The
following terms shall have the following meanings (such meanings to
be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of
the terms defined):
“ Accounting Referee
” is defined in Section 6.11 herein.
“ Anadarko Group ”
is defined in the Recitals to this Agreement.
“ Code ” means the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
thereto, as in effect for the taxable period in question.
-1-
“ Combined Group ”
means a group of corporations or other entities that files a
Combined Return.
“ Combined Return
” means any Tax Return (other than a Tax Return for U.S.
federal income taxes) filed on a consolidated, combined (including
nexus combination, worldwide combination, domestic combination,
line of business combination or any other form of combination) or
unitary basis that includes activities of any member of the
Anadarko Group and any member of the Partnership Group.
“ Effective Date ”
means 7:00 a.m., Central time, on May 14, 2008.
“ Final Determination
” means the final resolution of any Tax (or other matter) for
a taxable period, including related interest or penalties, that,
under applicable law, is not subject to further appeal, review or
modification through proceedings or otherwise, including
(i) by the expiration of a statute of limitations or a period
for the filing of claims for refunds, amending Tax Returns,
appealing from adverse determinations or recovering any refund
(including by offset), (ii) by a decision, judgment, decree or
other order by a court of competent jurisdiction, which has become
final and unappealable, (iii) by a closing agreement, an
accepted offer in compromise or a comparable agreement under laws
of the particular Tax Authority, (iv) by execution of a form
under the laws of a Tax Authority that is comparable to an Internal
Revenue Service Form 870 or 870-AD (excluding, however, with
respect to a particular Tax Item for a particular taxable period
any such form that reserves (whether by its terms or by operation
of law) the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for refund and/or
the right of the Tax Authority to assert a further deficiency with
respect to such Tax Item for such period) or (v) by any
allowance of a refund or credit, but only after the expiration of
all periods during which such refund may be adjusted.
“ Notice ” is
defined in Section 6.1 herein.
“ Partnership Group
” is defined in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Partnership Group Combined
Tax Liability ” means, with respect to any Tax, the
Partnership Group’s liability for such Tax owed with respect
to a Combined Return for a taxable period, as determined under
Section 3.2 of this Agreement.
“ Partnership Group
Deposit ” is defined in Section 3.4 herein.
“ Partnership Group
Members ” means those entities included in the
Partnership Group.
“ Partnership Group Pro
Forma Combined Return ” means a pro forma Combined Return
or other schedule prepared pursuant to Section 3.2 of this
Agreement.
“ Party ” means
each of Anadarko and the Partnership, and solely for purposes of
this definition, “Anadarko” includes the Anadarko Group
and the “Partnership” includes the Partnership Group.
Each of Anadarko and the Partnership shall cause the Anadarko Group
and the Partnership Group, respectively, to comply with this
Agreement.
-2-
“ Tax Attribute ”
means a Tax Item of a member of the Partnership Group reflected on
a Combined Return that is comparable to one or more of the
following attributes with respect to a U.S. federal income tax
consolidated tax return: a net operating loss, a net capital loss,
an unused investment credit, an unused foreign tax credit, an
excess charitable contribution, a U.S. federal minimum tax credit
or a U.S. federal general business credit (but not tax basis or
earnings and profits).
“ Tax Authority ”
means a domestic governmental authority (other than the United
States) or any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof
or any quasi-governmental or private body having jurisdiction over
the assessment, determination, collection or imposition of any Tax
(excluding the U.S. Internal Revenue Service).
“ Tax Controversy
” means any audit, examination, dispute, suit, action,
litigation or other judicial or administrative proceeding initiated
by Anadarko or the Partnership or any Tax Authority.
“ Tax Item ” means
any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit, or other item
reflected on a Tax Return or any Tax Attribute.
“ Tax Return ”
means any return, report, certificate, form or similar statement or
document (including any related or supporting information or
schedule attached thereto and any information return, amended Tax
Return, claim for refund or declaration of estimated tax) required
to be supplied to, or filed with, a Tax Authority in connection
with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the
administration of any laws, regulations or administrative
requirements relating to any Tax.
“ Taxes ” means
all forms of taxation, whenever created or imposed, and whether
imposed by a domestic, local, municipal, governmental, state,
federation or other body, but excluding taxes imposed by the United
States, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall
include net income, alternative or add-on minimum, gross income,
sales, use, ad valorem, gross receipts, value added, franchise,
profits, license, transfer, recording, withholding, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium,
property, windfall profit, custom duty or other tax, governmental
fee or like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together
with any related interest, penalties or other additions to tax, or
additional amounts imposed by any such Tax Authority.
Any term used but not capitalized
herein that is defined in the Code or in the Treasury Regulations
thereunder shall, to the extent required by the context of the
provision at issue, have the meaning assigned to it in the Code or
such regulation.
ARTICLE II
Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns
Preparation and Filing of Tax Returns
2.1 Manner of Filing
.
(a) For
periods that include the Effective Date and periods after the
Effective Date, Anadarko shall have the sole and exclusive
responsibility for the preparation and filing of, and shall prepare
and file, all Combined Returns or cause to be prepared and filed
all Combined
-3-
Returns.
Anadarko shall be authorized to take any and all action necessary
or incidental to the preparation and filing of a Combined Return,
including, without limitation, (i) making elections and
adopting accounting methods, (ii) filing all extensions of
time, including extensions of time for payment of tax,
(iii) filing claims for refund or credit or (iv) giving
waivers or bonds.
(b) For
periods that include the Effective Date and periods after the
Effective Date, the Partnership Group shall have the sole and
exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing of, and
shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed, all Tax
Returns of the Partnership Group Members that are not Combined
Returns.
(c) Anadarko
shall have sole discretion to include, or cause to be included, in
a Combined Return for any Tax any member of the Partnership Group
for which inclusion in such Combined Return is elective; provided,
however, that the Partnership Group Combined Tax Liability for any
period shall not exceed the aggregate of (x) each such
elective Partnership Group Member’s liability for such Tax
for such period, computed as if such Partnership Group Member were
not included in such Combined Return and (y) the Partnership
Group Combined Tax Liability calculated for the Partnership Group
Members for which inclusion is not elective. Anadarko shall provide
pro forma Tax Returns pursuant to Section 3.5 of this
Agreement to support the calculation of the amount of any decrease
in the Partnership Group Combined Tax Liability pursuant to this
Section 2.1(c).
2.2 Franchise Tax Taxable
Period . References to “taxable period” for any
franchise or other doing business Tax shall mean the taxable period
during which the income, operations, assets or capital comprising
the base of such Tax is measured, regardless of whether the right
to do business for another taxable period is obtained by the
payment of such franchise Tax.
ARTICLE III
Allocation of Taxes
Allocation of Taxes
3.1 Liability of the
Partnership Group for Combined Taxes . For each Tax for
each taxable period that includes or begins on or after the
Effective Date and for which a Combined Return is filed, the
Partnership Group Members included in such Combined Return shall be
liable to Anadarko for an amount equal to the Partnership Group
Combined Tax Liability in respect of such Tax.
3.2 Partnership Group Combined
Tax Liability . With respect to each Tax for each taxable
period that includes or begins on or after the Effective Date and
for which a member of the Partnership Group is included in a
Combined Return, the Partnership Group Combined Tax Liability for
such Tax for such taxable period shall be the Tax for such taxable
period as determined on a Partnership Group Pro Forma Combined
Return prepared:
(a) by
including only the Tax Items of the members of the Partnership
Group that are included in the Combined Return and computing the
liability of the Partnership Group Members for such Tax as if such
Partnership Group Members were included in a separate consolidated
or unitary group;
(b) except
as provided in Section 3.2(e) hereof, using all elections,
accounting methods and conventions used on the Combined Return for
such period;
-4-
(c) applying
the Tax rate in effect for the Combined Return of the Combined
Group for such taxable period;
(d) assuming
that the Partnership Group elects not to carry back any net
operating losses and
(e) assuming
that the Partnership Group’s utilization of any Tax Attribute
carryforward or carryback is limited to the Tax Attributes of the
Partnership Group that would be available if the Partnership Group
Combined Tax Liability for each taxable period ending after
January 1, 2008 were determined in accordance with this
Section 3.2.
3.3 Preparation and Delivery
of Pro Forma Tax Returns . Not later than 90 days
following the date on which a Combined Return is filed with the
appropriate Tax Authority, Anadarko shall prepare and deliver to
the Partnership the related Partnership Group Pro Forma Combined
Return calculating the Partnership Group Combined Tax Liability
attributable to the period covered by such filed Combined
Return.
3.4 Payment of Tax .
Anadarko shall timely pay (or shall cause to be timely paid) any
Tax reflected on a Combined Return and hold the Partnership
harmless for all liability for such Tax. In the event Anadarko is
required to make an estimated payment or deposit of any Tax of any
Combined Group which includes any member of the Partnership Group,
Anadarko shall calculate the portion, if any, of such estimated
payment or deposit attributable to the Partnership Group using a
methodology similar to that described in Section 3.2 (the
“ Partnership Group Deposit ”) and shall present
such calculation to the Partnership. Within 5 days thereafter,
the Partne






