Exhibit 10.3
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
THIS TAX SHARING
AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) dated as of June 27,
2005 by and among Dean Foods Company, a Delaware corporation
(“Distributing”), TreeHouse Foods, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a subsidiary of Distributing
(“Controlled”), and each Controlled Affiliate (as
defined below), is entered into in connection with the Distribution
(as defined below).
WHEREAS, as of the
date hereof, Distributing and its direct and indirect domestic
subsidiaries are members of an Affiliated Group (as defined below)
of which Distributing is the common parent;
WHEREAS, as set
forth in the Distribution Agreement by and between Distributing and
Controlled, dated as of June 27, 2005 (the “Distribution
Agreement”), and subject to the terms and conditions thereof,
Distributing will transfer and assign, or cause to be transferred
and assigned, to Controlled substantially all the business,
operations, assets and liabilities related to the Transferred
Businesses (as defined below);
WHEREAS, as set
forth in the Distribution Agreement, and subject to the terms and
conditions thereof, Distributing will distribute on a pro rata
basis to the holders of Distributing’s common stock all of
the outstanding shares of Controlled common stock then owned by
Distributing (together with the preferred share purchase rights
associated therewith) (the “Distribution”);
WHEREAS, the
Distribution is intended to qualify as a tax-free distribution to
Distributing and its shareholders under section 355 of the Code (as
defined below); and
WHEREAS, in
contemplation of the Distribution, pursuant to which Controlled
(and its direct and indirect subsidiaries) will cease to be members
of Distributing’s Affiliated Group (as defined below), 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 mutual covenants and agreements contained
herein, the Parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
Section 1.
Definitions.
As
used in this Agreement, capitalized terms shall have the following
meanings (such meanings to be equally applicable to both the
singular and the plural forms of the terms defined):
1.01
“Affiliated Group” means an affiliated group of
corporations within the meaning of section 1504(a)(1) of the Code
that files a Consolidated Return.
1.02
“After-Tax Amount” means any additional amount
necessary to reflect the Income Tax consequences of the receipt or
accrual of any payment required to be made under
this Agreement (including upon
the receipt of payments required to make the payment of an
After-Tax Amount), determined on a hypothetical basis by assuming
that the applicable Party is subject to the highest applicable
statutory corporate Income Tax rate for the relevant jurisdiction
(or, in the case of an item that affects more than one
jurisdiction, the highest applicable statutory corporate Income Tax
rates) for the relevant taxable period (or portion thereof), that
all state and local Income Taxes are deductible for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, and that all Income Taxes in the form of
interest are deductible for income tax purposes.
1.03
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
1.04 “Bay
Valley” means Bay Valley Foods, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company and a Controlled Affiliate.
1.05
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and shall include corresponding provisions of any
subsequently enacted federal Tax law.
1.06
“Combined Return” means any Tax Return, other than with
respect to United States 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 wherein Controlled
or one or more Controlled Affiliates are included in the filing of
such Tax Return for any taxable period or portion thereof with
Distributing or one or more Distributing Affiliates.
1.07
“Consolidated Return” means any Tax Return with respect
to United States federal Income Taxes filed on a consolidated basis
wherein Controlled or one or more Controlled Affiliates are
included in the filing of such Tax Return for any taxable period or
portion thereof with Distributing or one or more Distributing
Affiliates.
1.08
“Controlled” has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
1.09
“Controlled Affiliate” means any corporation or other
entity directly or indirectly “controlled” by
Controlled at the time in question, where “control”
means the ownership of 50 percent or more of the ownership
interests of such corporation or other entity (by vote or value) 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 entity.
1.10
“Controlled Equity Interest” means (a) stock or
any other equity interest in Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate
(including any instrument, obligation or other agreement or
arrangement that is treated as stock or as an equity interest for
federal Income Tax purposes), or (b) any option, warrant or
other right to acquire any stock or other equity interest described
in clause (a).
1.11
“Controlled Group” means the Affiliated Group, or
similar group of entities as defined under corresponding provisions
of the laws of other jurisdictions, of which Controlled will be the
common parent corporation immediately after the Distribution, and
including any corporation or other entity which may become a member
of such group from time to time.
1.12
“Controlled Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set
forth in Section 7.02.
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1.13
“Controlled Representation Letter” means the
representation letter provided by Controlled to
Distributing’s outside tax counsel in connection with the Tax
Opinion substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A.
1.14
“Controlled Representative” means (i) each of Sam
K. Reed, David B. Vermylen, E. Nichol McCully, Thomas E.
O’Neill, Harry J. Walsh and Jo Osborn; (ii) each of the
directors of Controlled other than Gregg Engles; and (iii) any
Person acting with the implicit or explicit permission (within the
meaning of section 1.355-7 of the Treasury Regulations) of any of
the individuals listed or referred to in clause (i) or clause
(ii).
1.15
“Controlled Taxes” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.01.
1.16
“Deciding Firms” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.03.
1.17 “DIPS
LP” means Dips Limited Partner II, a Delaware statutory
trust.
1.18
“Distributing” has the meaning set forth in the
preamble hereto.
1.19
“Distributing Affiliate” means any corporation or other
entity directly or indirectly “controlled” by
Distributing where “control” means the ownership of
50 percent or more of the ownership interests of such
corporation or other entity (by vote or value) 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 entity, but at all times excluding Controlled and any
Controlled Affiliate.
1.20
“Distributing Group” means the Affiliated Group, or
similar group of entities as defined under corresponding provisions
of the laws of other jurisdictions, of which Distributing is the
common parent corporation, and any corporation or other entity
which may be, may have been or may become a member of such group
from time to time, but excluding any member of the Controlled
Group.
1.21
“Distributing Indemnified Parties” has the meaning set
forth in Section 7.01.
1.22
“Distributing Representation Letter” means the
representation letter provided by Distributing to
Distributing’s outside tax counsel in connection with the Tax
Opinion substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B.
1.23
“Distributing Representative” means (i) any
current or former officer or director of Distributing or any
Distributing Affiliate; (ii) any controlling shareholder
(within the meaning of section 1.355-7(h)(3) of the Treasury
Regulations) of Distributing; and (iii) any Person acting with
the implicit or explicit permission (within the meaning of section
1.355-7 of the Treasury Regulations) of any of the foregoing;
provided, that a Distributing Representative shall not include
(a) any Person who is treated as a Controlled Representative
under the definition of Controlled Representative, or (b) with
respect to actions taken on or after June 24, 2005, any Person
who became an employee of Controlled or a Controlled Affiliate
following the Restructuring Transactions that occurred on
June 24, 2005 and who will serve as a director or officer of
Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate following the
Distribution.
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1.24
“Distributing Tax Package” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.05.
1.25
“Distributing Taxes” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.02.
1.26
“Distribution” has the meaning set forth in the
Recitals to this Agreement.
1.27
“Distribution Agreement” has the meaning set forth in
the Recitals to this Agreement.
1.28
“Distribution Date” means the date on which the
Distribution is effected.
1.29
“Distribution Taxes” means any Taxes imposed on, or
increase in Taxes incurred by, Distributing or any Distributing
Affiliate, and any Taxes of a Distributing shareholder that are
required to be paid or reimbursed by Distributing or any
Distributing Affiliate (without regard to whether such Taxes are
offset or reduced by any Tax Asset, Tax Item, or otherwise)
resulting from or arising in connection with (i) the failure
of the Distribution to qualify as a tax-free distribution under
section 355 of the Code or corresponding provisions of the laws of
any other jurisdictions, or (ii) the failure of any
Restructuring Transaction that is intended to qualify as a tax-free
liquidation under section 332 of the Code, a transfer of property
under section 351 of the Code, a reorganization under section
368(a) of the Code and/or a tax-free distribution under section 355
of the Code to so qualify, including in the case of each of clause
(i) and (ii) any Tax resulting from the application of
section 355(d), section 355(e) or section 355(f) of the Code to any
Restructuring Transaction or the Distribution.
1.30
“Expenses” means 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).
1.31 “Filing
Party” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.02.
1.32 “Final
Determination” means the final resolution of liability for
any Tax for any taxable period, by or as a result of the first to
occur of (i) a decision, judgment, decree or other order by
any court of competent jurisdiction that is not subject to further
judicial review (by appeal or otherwise) and has become final;
(ii) a final settlement with the IRS, a closing agreement or
accepted offer in compromise under Code sections 7121 or 7122, or a
comparable agreement under the laws of other jurisdictions, which
resolves the entire Tax liability for any taxable period; or
(iii) any other final disposition, including by reason of the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or any other
event that the Parties agree in writing is a final and irrevocable
determination of the liability at issue.
1.33
“Form 10” means the Form 10 filed by
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on June 14, 2005.
1.34
“Historic Business” means the Mocha Mix/Second Nature
business.
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1.35 “Income
Tax” means any income, franchise or similar Tax imposed on,
measured by or calculated with respect to net income or net
profits.
1.36 “Income
Tax Return” means a Tax Return relating to or filed in
connection with any Income Tax.
1.37
“Independent Firm” has the meaning set forth in
Section 10.03.
1.38
“Initial Ruling” means the private letter ruling dated
April 29, 2005, issued by the IRS with respect to the
Restructuring Transactions and the Distribution.
1.39
“Initial Ruling Documents” means the request for the
Initial Ruling filed with the IRS on or about February 11,
2005, together with all supplemental filings, additional
information and other materials subsequently submitted in
connection therewith on behalf of Distributing, its subsidiaries
and its shareholders to the IRS, and all appendices and exhibits
thereto. The Initial Ruling Documents shall include the letter
dated June 24, 2005 from Stephen Wegener of Deloitte Tax LLP
to Wayne Murray at the IRS regarding the Initial Ruling.
1.40
“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service
or any successor thereto, including its agents, representatives,
and attorneys.
1.41
“Losses” means any and all losses, costs, obligations,
liabilities, settlement payments, awards, judgments, fines,
penalties, damages, fees, expenses, deficiencies, claims or other
charges, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated
or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown (including,
without limitation, the costs and expenses of any and all Tax
Proceedings, threatened Tax Proceedings, demands, assessments,
judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and
attorneys’ fees and any and all expenses whatsoever
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any such matters).
1.42 “LPS
I” means Dean Specialty Intellectual Property Services, L.P.,
a Delaware limited partnership and a Controlled
Affiliate.
1.43
“Non-Income Tax” means any Tax other than an Income
Tax.
1.44
“Non-Income Tax Return” means any Tax Return other than
an Income Tax Return.
1.45 “Owed
Party” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.04.
1.46 “Owing
Party” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.04.
1.47
“Party” means Distributing, Controlled or a Controlled
Affiliate.
1.48
“Payment Period” has the meaning set forth in
Section 8.04(e).
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1.49
“Person” means any natural person, corporation, general
partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company,
limited liability partnership, proprietorship, trust, association,
union, governmental authority or other entity, enterprise,
authority or organization.
1.50
“Pickle” means Dean Pickle and Specialty Products
Company, a Wisconsin corporation.
1.51
“Post-Distribution Period” means any taxable period (or
the portion of any Straddle Period) beginning after the
Distribution Date.
1.52
“Pre-Distribution Period” means any taxable period (or
the portion of any Straddle Period) ending on or before the
Distribution Date.
1.53
“Qualifying Compensatory Transfers” means issuances of
Controlled stock to Persons in connection with the performance of
services that satisfy the requirements of Safe Harbor VIII set
forth in section 1.355-7(d)(8) of the Treasury Regulations and
grants of stock options and other forms of equity compensation
under Controlled’s 2005 Long-Term Stock Incentive Plan that,
if exercised or vested, respectively, would result in issuances of
Controlled stock that satisfy the requirements of Safe Harbor VIII
set forth in section 1.355-7(d)(8) of the Treasury
Regulations
1.54
“Restricted Actions” has the meaning set forth in
Section 4.05(a).
1.55
“Restructuring Transactions” means the transactions
undertaken prior to and in connection with the Distribution to
transfer the assets and liabilities of the Transferred Businesses
to Controlled and its subsidiaries and to effect the Distribution,
as described more fully in the Initial Ruling and the Initial
Ruling Documents.
1.56
“Retained Assets” shall have the meaning set forth in
the Distribution Agreement.
1.57
“Retained Business” shall have the meaning set forth in
the Distribution Agreement.
1.58 “Ruling
Documents” means the Initial Ruling Documents and any
Supplemental Ruling Documents.
1.59
“Rulings” means the Initial Ruling and any Supplemental
Rulings.
1.60 “Sole
Responsibility Item” means any Tax Item for which the
non-Filing Party has the entire economic liability under this
Agreement.
1.61
“Specialty Foods Holding” means Specialty Foods Holding
Corp., a Delaware corporation and a Controlled
Affiliate.
1.62
“Straddle Period” means any taxable period that begins
before and ends after the Distribution Date.
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1.63
“Supplemental Ruling” means (1) any ruling issued
or to be issued by the IRS that relates to the Distribution other
than the Initial Ruling, and (2) any similar ruling issued by
any other Taxing Authority addressing the application of a
provision of the Tax laws of another jurisdiction to the
Distribution.
1.64
“Supplemental Ruling Documents” means (i) any
request for a Supplemental Ruling and any materials, appendices,
exhibits or additional information submitted or filed in connection
therewith, and (2) any similar filings submitted to any other
Taxing Authority in connection with the Distribution.
1.65
“Taxes” means all federal, state, local or foreign
taxes, charges, fees, duties, levies, imposts or other assessments,
including, but not limited to, income, gross receipts, excise,
property, sales, use, license, capital stock, transfer, franchise,
payroll, withholding, social security, value added or other taxes,
including any interest, penalties or additions to tax attributable
thereto, and a “Tax” shall mean any one of such
Taxes.
1.66 “Tax
Asset” means any Tax Item that has accrued for Tax purposes,
but has not been used during the taxable period in which it has
accrued, and that could reduce a Tax in another taxable period,
including a net operating loss, net capital loss, investment tax
credit, foreign tax credit, charitable deduction or credit related
to alternative minimum tax or any other Tax credit.
1.67 “Tax
Benefit” means a reduction in the Tax liability (or increase
in refund or credit) realized or received by a taxpayer (or of the
Affiliated Group of which it is a member) for any taxable period.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a Tax Benefit shall
be deemed to have been realized or received from a Tax Item in a
taxable period only if and to the extent that the Tax liability of
the taxpayer (or of the Affiliated Group of which it is a member)
for such period, after taking into account the effect of the Tax
Item on the Tax liability of such taxpayer in the current period
and all prior periods, is less than it would have been had such Tax
liability been determined without regard to such Tax
Item.
1.68 “Tax
Detriment” means an increase in the Tax liability (or
reduction in refund or credit) realized or received by a taxpayer
(or of the Affiliated Group of which it is a member) for any
taxable period. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, a
Tax Detriment shall be deemed to have been realized or received
from a Tax Item in a taxable period only if and to the extent that
the Tax liability of the taxpayer (or of the Affiliated Group of
which it is a member) for such period, after taking into account
the effect of the Tax Item on the Tax liability of such taxpayer in
the current period and all prior periods, is more than it would
have been had such Tax liability been determined without regard to
such Tax Item.
1.69 “Tax
Item” means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction,
expense or credit, or any other attribute or amount that may have
the effect of increasing or decreasing any Tax.
1.70 “Tax
Opinion” means the opinion rendered to Distributing and
Controlled by Distributing’s outside tax counsel with respect
to the federal income tax consequences of the
Distribution.
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1.71 “Tax
Proceeding” means any audit, examination, investigation,
action, suit, claim, assessment or other administrative or judicial
proceeding relating to Taxes.
1.72 “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 Taxing
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.
1.73 “Taxing
Authority” means any governmental authority 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
(including the IRS).
1.74
“Transferred Assets” has the meaning assigned to such
term in the Distribution Agreement.
1.75
“Transferred Businesses” has the meaning assigned to
such term in the Distribution Agreement.
1.76
“Transferred Business Records” has the meaning set
forth in Section 10.02(b).
1.77
“Unqualified Opinion” means an unqualified opinion
(except for reliance on reasonable assumptions and representations)
of a law firm.
Section 2. Preparation
and Filing of Tax Returns.
2.01
Distributing’s Responsibility . Distributing shall
have sole and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and
filing of:
(a) all
Consolidated Returns and Combined Returns;
(b) all
Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to Distributing
and/or any Distributing Affiliate for any period;
(c) all
Income Tax Returns of LPS I for any taxable period ending on or
before the Distribution Date (whether due on, before, or after the
Distribution Date); and
(d) all
Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to Controlled
and/or any Controlled Affiliate that are due (taking into account
any valid extensions of the due date) on or before the Distribution
Date.
2.02
Controlled’s Responsibility . Controlled shall have
sole and exclusive responsibility for the preparation and filing
of:
(a) except
as provided in Section 2.01(c), all Tax Returns due (taking
into account any valid extensions of the due date) after the
Distribution Date which are required to be
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filed by or with respect to, and
which relate exclusively to Controlled, Specialty Foods Holding
and/or LPS I for any taxable period beginning before the
Distribution Date; and
(b) all
Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to Controlled
and/or any Controlled Affiliate for any taxable period beginning
after the Distribution Date.
2.03 Agent
. Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement,
Controlled hereby irrevocably designates, and agrees to cause each
Controlled Affiliate to so designate, Distributing as its sole and
exclusive agent and attorney-in-fact to take such actions
(including execution of documents) as Distributing, in its sole
discretion, may deem appropriate in any and all matters (including
Tax Proceedings) relating to any Consolidated Return or Combined
Return. Without limiting the foregoing, Distributing, Controlled,
the members of the Distributing Group and the members of the
Controlled Group shall file any and all consents, elections or
other documents and take any other actions necessary or appropriate
to file any Consolidated Return or Combined Return.
2.04 Manner of
Tax Return Preparation .
(a) All
Tax Returns shall be filed on a timely basis (taking into account
applicable extensions) by the Party responsible for filing such
returns under this Agreement.
(b) Tax
Returns prepared by Distributing under Section 2.01 that
relate to Taxes for which Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate is
liable under Section 3 shall be prepared in a manner
consistent with past practice, unless otherwise required by
applicable law. Subject to the requirements of the immediately
preceding sentence and Section 4.02(c), Distributing shall
have the exclusive right with respect to any Tax Return for which
it has filing responsibility under Section 2.01 to determine the
manner in which such Tax Return shall be prepared and filed,
including the elections, method of accounting, positions,
conventions and principles of taxation to be used and the manner in
which any Tax Item shall be reported. Distributing shall also have
the exclusive right with respect to any Tax Return for which it has
filing responsibility under Section 2.01 to determine
(1) whether to retain outside firms to prepare or review such
Tax Returns, (2) whether any extensions shall be requested,
(3) whether any amended Tax Returns shall be filed,
(4) whether any claims for refund shall be made, and
(5) whether any refunds shall be paid by way of refund or
credited against any liability for Tax; provided, that upon the
request of Controlled, Distributing will use reasonable efforts to
file for and obtain any material Tax refund to which Controlled is
entitled pursuant to this Agreement if (x) Distributing
concludes, in its discretion, that filing for such Tax refund will
not adversely affect Distributing or any Distributing Affiliate,
(y) the refund claim relates solely to Taxes for which
Controlled is responsible under this Agreement, and
(z) Controlled agrees to and does reimburse Distributing for
all expenses incurred in connection with the filing and prosecution
of such Tax refund claim.
(c) Distributing
shall determine, in a manner consistent with past practice, whether
to file any Tax Return for any taxable period beginning before the
Distribution Date on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis if
the filing of a consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return for
such period is elective under applicable law. If there is no
applicable past practice, Distributing shall determine in its
discretion whether to file such Tax Return on a consolidated,
combined, or unitary basis; provided, that Distributing shall not
file such a Tax Return on a
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consolidated, combined or unitary
basis if the Tax Return relates exclusively to Controlled and/or a
Controlled Affiliate and the election to file on a consolidated,
combined or unitary basis would be binding on Controlled and/or a
Controlled Affiliate or otherwise could adversely affect Controlled
or a Controlled Affiliate for taxable periods beginning after the
Distribution Date without the prior written consent of Controlled,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed.
(d) Tax
Returns prepared by Controlled under Section 2.02 that relate
to Taxes for which Distributing is liable under Section 3
shall be prepared in a manner consistent with past practice and the
reporting of Tax Items on Consolidated Returns or Combined Returns
filed by Distributing, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
Neither Controlled nor any Controlled Affiliate shall take any
position on any Tax Return filed after the Distribution Date or in
any Tax Proceeding (i) that is inconsistent with a position taken
on a Tax Return filed by Distributing or a Distributing Affiliate
with respect to any taxable period beginning before the
Distribution Date, or (ii) that could reasonably be expected
to adversely affect Distributing or any Distributing Affiliate
other than a position that is consistent with a position taken on a
Tax Return filed by Distributing or a Distributing Affiliate with
respect to a taxable period beginning before the Distribution Date
or a position that is required by applicable law.
(e) Subject
to the requirements of Section 2.04(d) and
Section 4.02(b), Controlled shall have the exclusive right
with respect to any Tax Return for which it has filing
responsibility under Section 2.02 to determine the manner in
which such Tax Return shall be prepared and filed, including the
elections, method of accounting, positions, conventions and
principles of taxation to be used and the manner in which any Tax
Item shall be reported. Controlled shall also have the exclusive
right with respect to any Tax Return for which it has filing
responsibility under Section 2.02 to determine (1) whether to
retain outside firms to prepare or review such Tax Returns, (2)
whether any extensions shall be requested, (3) whether any
amended Tax Returns shall be filed, (4) whether any claims for
refund shall be made, and (5) whether any refunds shall be
paid by way of refund or credited against any liability for Tax;
provided, that upon the request of Distributing, Controlled will
use reasonable efforts to file for and obtain any material Tax
refund to which Distributing is entitled pursuant to this Agreement
if (x) Controlled concludes, in its discretion, that filing
for such Tax refund will not adversely affect Controlled or any
Controlled Affiliate, (y) the refund claim relates solely to
Taxes for which Distributing is responsible under this Agreement,
and (z) Distributing agrees to and does reimburse Controlled
for all expenses incurred in connection with the filing and
prosecution of such Tax refund claim.
2.05 Preparation of Tax
Package and Other Information.
(a) Controlled
shall provide to Distributing in a format determined by
Distributing and consistent with existing practices of
Distributing’s Affiliated Group all information requested by
Distributing to prepare the Tax Returns required to be prepared by
Distributing pursuant to Section 2.01 (the “Distributing Tax
Package”). The Distributing Tax Package with respect to any
taxable year shall be provided by Controlled to Distributing on a
basis consistent with current practices of Distributing’s
Affiliated Group no later than ninety (90) days following the
end of such taxable year. Controlled shall also timely provide to
Distributing information required by Distributing to determine
estimated Tax payments, current federal
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taxable income, current and
deferred tax liabilities, tax reserve items, and any other
information reasonably requested by Distributing in a form
reasonably requested by Distributing.
(b) Distributing
shall timely provide to Controlled all information reasonably
requested by Controlled to prepare Tax Returns required to be
prepared by Controlled pursuant to Section 2.02 or to comply
with the requirements of Section 6.01 in a form reasonably
requested by Controlled.
Section 3. Liability for
Taxes.
3.01
Controlled’s Liability for Taxes . Controlled and each
Controlled Affiliate shall be jointly and severally liable for the
following Taxes:
(a) all
Non-Income Taxes of Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate, or that
relate or are attributable to the Transferred Businesses or the
Transferred Assets, for any period; and
(b) all
Income Taxes of Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate, or that
relate or are attributable to the Transferred Businesses or the
Transferred Assets, for any Post-Distribution Period.
3.02
Distributing’s Liability for Taxes . Except with
respect to Taxes for which Controlled and/or the Controlled
Affiliates are liable pursuant to Section 3.01,
Section 3.05, Section 4 or otherwise under this
Agreement, Distributing shall be liable for the following
Taxes:
(a) all
Income Taxes reported or required to be reported on the
Consolidated Returns and Combined Returns;
(b) all
Income Taxes not described in Section 3.02(a) of Controlled or
any Controlled Affiliate, or that relate or are attributable to the
Transferred Businesses or the Transferred Assets, for any
Pre-Distribution Period;
(c) all
Income Taxes not described in Section 3.02(a) of Distributing
or any Distributing Affiliate, or that relate or are attributable
to the Retained Business or the Retained Assets, for any
Post-Distribution Period; and
(d) all
Non-Income Taxes of Distributing or any Distributing Affiliate that
relate or are attributable to the Retained Business or the Retained
Assets for any period.
3.03 Tax
Refunds .
(a) Controlled
and the Controlled Affiliates shall be entitled to all refunds of
Taxes for which they are responsible under
Section 3.01.
(b) Distributing
and the Distributing Affiliates shall be entitled to all refunds of
Taxes for which Distributing is responsible under
Section 3.02.
3.04
[Intentionally Omitted.]
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3.05
Transaction Taxes. Controlled and each Controlled Affiliate
shall be jointly and severally liable for, and shall indemnify and
hold harmless Distributing and each Distributing Affiliate from and
against, any Taxes incurred as a result of (a) the
distribution by DIPS LP as part of the Restructuring Transactions
of a 99.9 percent limited partnership interest in LPS I to
Pickle, (b) the distribution by DIPS LP as part of the
Restructuring Transactions of a 0.1 percent general partner
interest in LPS I to Pickle and (c) the taking into account of
“intercompany items” resulting from the transactions
described in clauses (a) and (b) pursuant to
Section 1.1502-13 of the Treasury Regulations because of and
in connection with the Distribution; provided, that
Controlled’s liability under this Section 3.05 shall be
limited to $20,000,000.
3.06 Payment of
Tax Liability . If one Party is liable or responsible for Taxes
under this Agreement with respect to Tax Returns which another
Party is responsible for preparing and filing, or with respect to
Taxes that are paid by another Party, then the liable or
responsible Party shall pay the Taxes or reimburse the other Party
for such Taxes pursuant to Section 8 of this
Agreement.
3.07
Carrybacks. If a Tax Return of Controlled, a Controlled
Affiliate or the Controlled Group with respect to a taxable period
beginning after the Distribution Date reflects a Tax Asset, such
Tax Asset may not be carried back to a Consolidated Return,
Combined Return or any other Income Tax Return of Distributing or
any Distributing Affiliate.
3.08 Allocation
of Tax Items .
(a) All
determinations (whether for purposes of preparing Tax Returns or
for purposes of determining a Party’s responsibility for
Taxes under this Agreement) regarding the allocation of Tax Items
to Pre-Distribution Periods and Post-Distribution Periods
(including allocations between the portion of a Straddle Period
that is a Pre-Distribution Period and the portion of a Straddle
Period that is a Post-Distribution Period) shall be made pursuant
to the principles of section 1.1502-76(b) of the Treasury
Regulations or of a corresponding provision under the laws of other
jurisdictions; provided, that no election shall be made under
section 1.1502-76(b)(2)(ii) of the Treasury Regulations (relating
to ratable allocations of a year’s items). Any such
allocation of Income Tax Items shall initially be made by
Distributing. To the extent that Controlled disagrees with such
determination, the dispute shall be resolved pursuant to the
provisions of Section 10.03.
(b) For
purposes of determining the Parties’ respective
responsibilities for Non-Income Taxes under this Agreement, the
determination of whether and to what extent Non-Income Taxes relate
or are attributable to the Transferred Assets or the Transferred
Businesses, or to the Retained Assets or the Retained Business,
shall initially be made by the Party preparing the relevant
Non-Income Tax Return. If the other Party disagrees with such
determination, the disagreement shall be resolved pursuant to the
provisions of Section 10.03.
(c) The
allocation of earnings and profits between Distributing and
Controlled shall be determined pursuant to section 312(h) of the
Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder. Such determination
shall be initially made by Distributing on or before
October 15, 2006, and timely provided to Controlled (with any
necessary supporting material). To the extent Controlled disagrees
with such determination, the dispute shall be resolved pursuant to
the
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provisions of Section 10.03.
Other Tax attributes shall be allocated between Distributing and
Controlled in the manner provided by law.
(d) Neither
Controlled nor any Controlled Affiliate shall take any action on
the Distribution Date (or, if earlier, after receiving Transferred
Assets) other than in the ordinary course of business, except for
actions undertaken in connection with the Restructuring
Transactions and the Distribution that are described in the Initial
Ruling, the Initial Ruling Documents, the Distribution Agreement
and/or the Form 10.
Section 4. Distribution
Taxes.
4.01
Representations.
(a) Except
for matters described on Schedule 4.01, Controlled represents
that none of Controlled, the Controlled Affiliates, or the
Controlled Representatives has entered into or is aware of any
agreement, understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations or
discussions within two years before the Distribution Date with
respect to (i) any issuance, redemption, or acquisition of
stock of Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate, other than as
described in the Initial Ruling, issuances of Controlled stock,
stock options and restricted stock units to New Management and
Gregg Engles described in the Form 10, and Qualifying
Compensatory Transfers; (ii) any merger or consolidation of
Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate with any Person other than
as described in the Initial Ruling; (iii) any acquisition by
Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate of any Person or of all or
substantially all of the assets of any Person following the
Distribution (other than Bay Valley’s acquisition of assets
from Controlled following the Distribution); (iv) the
acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets of Controlled
or any Controlled Affiliate or any of the Transferred Businesses by
any Person (other than the acquisition of the Transferred
Businesses by Controlled and the Controlled Affiliates as part of
the Restructuring Transactions and Bay Valley’s acquisition
of assets from Controlled following the Distribution); or
(v) any other transaction or event that could, alone or in
combination with other transactions or events that any of
Controlled, the Controlled Affiliates or the Controlled
Representatives has entered into any agreement, understanding,
negotiations or discussions with respect to (or of which any of
them is aware), cause section 355(e) of the Code to apply to the
Distribution. Controlled represents that Bay Valley is and will
remain wholly-owned by Controlled and disregarded as an entity
separate from Controlled for federal tax purposes.
(b) Except
for matters described on Schedule 4.01, Distributing
represents that none of Distributing, the Distributing Affiliates
or the Distributing Representatives has entered into or is aware of
any agreement, understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations
or discussions within two years before the Distribution Date with
respect to (i) the issuance, redemption, or acquisition of
stock of Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate, other than as
described in the Initial Ruling, issuances of Controlled stock,
stock options and restricted stock units to New Management and
Gregg Engles described in the Form 10, and Qualifying
Compensatory Transfers; (ii) any merger of Controlled or any
Controlled Affiliate with any Person other than as described in the
Initial Ruling; (iii) the acquisition by Controlled or any
Controlled Affiliate of any Person or of all or substantially all
of the assets of any Person following the Distribution (other than
Bay Valley’s acquisition of assets from Controlled
13
following the Distribution);
(iv) the acquisition of all or substantially all of the assets
of Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate or any of the Transferred
Businesses by any Person (other than the acquisition of the
Transferred Businesses by Controlled and the Controlled Affiliates
as part of the Restructuring Transactions and Bay Valley’s
acquisition of assets from Controlled following the Distribution);
or (v) any other transaction or event involving the stock or
assets of Controlled that could, alone or in combination with other
transactions and events that Distributing, any Distributing
Affiliate or any Distributing Representative has entered into any
agreement, understanding, arrangement, negotiations or discussions
with respect to (or of which any of them is aware), cause section
355(e) of the Code to apply to the Distribution.
(c) Distributing
represents that none of Distributing, the Distributing Affiliates
or the Distributing Representatives has entered into an agreement,
understanding, or arrangement with any Person pursuant to
substantial negotiations or discussions described in item 1 on
Schedule 4.01 which will obligate Controlled, any Controlled
Affiliate, or any Controlled shareholder to (i) issue, redeem, or
dispose of stock of Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate
following the Distribution; (ii) merge Controlled or any
Controlled Affiliate with any other Person following the
Distribution; (iii) acquire another Person or all or
substantially all of the assets of any other Person following the
Distribution (other than Bay Valley’s acquisition of assets
from Controlled following the Distribution); or (iv) sell or
otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of
Controlled or any Controlled Affiliate or any of the Transferred
Businesses following the Distribution (other than transfers of
assets from Controlled to Bay Valley following the
Distribution).
4.02 Actions
Inconsistent with Rulings or Tax Opinion .
(a) Controlled
represents that none of Controlled, the Controlled Affiliates or
the Controlled Representatives has taken any action that is
inconsistent with the Initial Ruling, or any information, covenant
or representation contained in the Initial Ruling Documents.
Distributing represents that none of Distributing, the Distributing
Affiliates or the Distributing Representatives has taken any action
that is inconsistent with the Initial Ruling, or any information,
covenant or representation contained in the Initial Ruling
Documents.
(b) Unless
otherwise required by a Final Determination, Controlled agrees that
it will not take or