Exhibit
3.2
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
TREE.COM, INC.
(as of August 20, 2008)
ARTICLE I
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OFFICES
Section 1
.
Registered Office
.
The registered office of Tree.com, Inc. (the Corporation) shall
be located in the City of Dover, State of Delaware, or such other place as the
board of directors (the Board) may from time to time determine.
Section 2
.
Other
Offices
.
The Corporation may have offices at such other places, both within and
without the State of Delaware, as the Board may from time to time determine or
the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
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STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1
.
Annual Meeting
.
(1) An annual meeting of
the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms
expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come
before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time
as the Board shall each year fix.
(2) Nominations of
persons for election to the Board and the proposal of business to be transacted
by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant
to the Corporations proxy materials with respect to such meeting, (b) by
or at the direction of the Board, or (c) by any stockholder of record of
the Corporation (the Record Stockholder) at the time of the giving of the
notice required in the following paragraph, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice
procedures set forth in this section.
For the avoidance of doubt, clause (c) above shall be the exclusive
means for a stockholder to make nominations and propose business (other than
business included in the Corporations proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (such act, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, the Exchange Act)) before an annual
meeting of stockholders.
(3) For nominations or
business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record
Stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of the foregoing paragraph, (A) the
Record Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the
Secretary of the Corporation, (B) any such business must be a proper
matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, and (C) the Record
Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal
or nomination is made, must have acted in accordance with the representations
set forth in the Solicitation Statement required by these By-Laws. To be timely, a Record Stockholders notice
shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than 60 or more than 90 days prior to the first
anniversary (the Anniversary) of the date for the preceding years annual
meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual
meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days
after the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, or if the
Corporation did not hold an annual meeting during the preceding year, notice by
the Record Stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the
close of business on the later of (i) the 90th day prior to such annual
meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such Record Stockholders notice shall set
forth:
(a) if such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to
each person whom the
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Record Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a
director all information relating to such person as would be required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of such nominees as
directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and such persons
written consent to serve as a director if elected;
(b) as to any business that the Record Stockholder proposes to
bring before the meeting, a brief description of such business, the reasons for
conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such
business of such Record Stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made; and
(c) as to the Record Stockholder giving the notice and the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made
(i) the name and address of such Record Stockholder, as they
appear on the Corporations books, and of such beneficial owner,
(ii) (A) the class, series, and number of shares of the
Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such Record Stockholder
and such beneficial owner, (B) any option, warrant, convertible
security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or
conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to
any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in
whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the
Corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to
settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the
Corporation or otherwise (a Derivative Instrument) directly or indirectly
owned beneficially by such stockholder and any other direct or indirect
opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or
decrease in the value of shares of the
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Corporation, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding,
or relationship pursuant o which such stockholder has a right to vote any
shares of any security of the Company, (D) any short interest in any
security of the Company (for purposes of this By-law a person shall be deemed
to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly,
through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise,
has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease
in the value of the subject security), (E) any rights to dividends on the
shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are
separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (F) any
proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments
held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such
stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns
an interest in a general partner and (G) any performance-related fees
(other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on
any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or
Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including
without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholders
immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be
supplemented by such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, not later than
10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of
the record date) and
(iii) a statement whether or not such Record Stockholder or
beneficial owner will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders
of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all
of the shares of capital stock
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of the Corporation required under applicable law to carry the proposal
or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of
voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation
reasonably believed by such Record Stockholder or beneficial holder to be
sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such
Record Stockholder (such statement, a Solicitation Statement).
(4) Notwithstanding
anything in the second sentence of the third paragraph of this Section 1
to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the
Board is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the
nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board made by the
Corporation at least 55 days prior to the Anniversary, a Record Stockholders
notice required by this By-Law shall also be considered timely, but only with
respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall
be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the
day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(5) A person shall not
be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual meeting
unless (i) the person is nominated by a Record Stockholder in accordance
with Section 1(2)(c) or (ii) the person is nominated by or at
the direction of the Board. Only such
business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of stockholders as shall have
been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this section. The chairman of the
meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a nomination or
any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in
accordance with the procedures set forth in these By-Laws and, if any proposed
nomination or business is not in compliance with these
5
By-Laws, to declare that such defectively proposed business or
nomination shall not be presented for stockholder action at the meeting and
shall be disregarded.
(6) For purposes of
these By-Laws, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release
reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable
national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with
the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act.
(7) Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 1, a stockholder shall also comply
with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 1. Nothing in this Section 1 shall be
deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals
in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act.
Section 2
.
Special Meetings
.
(1) Special meetings of
the stockholders, other than those required by statute, may be called at any
time only by or at the direction of the Board or by a person specifically
designated with such authority by the Board.
The Board may postpone or reschedule any previously scheduled special
meeting. Stockholders are not entitled to call special meetings.
(2) Only such business
shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been
brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of
meeting. Nominations of persons for
election to the Board may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which
directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting (a) by
or at the direction of the Board or (b) by any stockholder of record of
the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice
provided for in this paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting
and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 1 of this
Article II.
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Nominations by stockholders of persons for election to the Board may be
made at such a special meeting of stockholders only if the stockholders notice
required by the third paragraph of Section 1 of this Article II shall
be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day
prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the
nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting. A person shall not be eligible for election
or reelection as a director at a special meeting unless the person is nominated
(i) by or at the direction of the Board or (ii) by a Record
Stockholder in accordance with the notice procedures set forth in Section 1
of this Article II.
(3) Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions of this Section 2, a stockholder shall also comply
with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 2. Nothing in this Section 2 shall be
deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals
in the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act.
Section 3
.
Notice of Meetings
.
Notice of the place, if any, date, and time of all meetings of the
stockholders, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which
stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at
such meeting, shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty
(60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided
herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time
to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL), a national
securities exchange, or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation). Meetings may be held
without notice if all stockholders entitled to vote are present (unless any
such
7
stockholders are present for the purpose of objecting to the meeting as
lawfully called or convened), or if notice is waived by those not present. Any previously scheduled meeting of the
stockholders may be postponed, and (unless the Certificate of Incorporation
otherwise provides) any special meeting of the stockholders may be canceled, by
resolution of the Board upon public notice given prior to the time previously
scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not
be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and
the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and
proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned
meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken;
provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than
thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or
if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the place,
if any, date, and time of the adjourned meeting and the means of remote
communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to
be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given in
conformity herewith. At any adjourned
meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
Section 4
.
Quorum
.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the
voting power of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting,
present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes,
unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required
by law. Where a separate vote by a class
or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting power of the shares
of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy
shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on
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that matter.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, (a) the chairman of
the meeting or (b)
the
holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of the stock present
in person or by proxy may
adjourn the meeting to another place, if any,
date, or time.
Section 5
.
Organization
.
Such person as the Board may have designated or, in the absence of such
a person, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, such person as
may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares
entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order
any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting. The Board may adopt by resolution such rules or
regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem
appropriate. Except to the extent
inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board, the
chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to
prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in
the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the
meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board or
prescribed by the chairman, may include, without limitation, the following: (a) the
establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (b) rules and
procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present;
(c) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to
stockholders of record, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such
other persons as the chairman shall permit; (d) restrictions on entry to
the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, and (e) limitations
on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants. In the absence of the Secretary of the
Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman
of the meeting appoints.
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Section 6
.
Conduct of Business
.
The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order
of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the
manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in
order. The chairman shall have the power
to adjourn the meeting to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of the opening and closing
of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the
meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
Section 7
.
Proxies and Voting
.
At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote
may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a
transmission permitted by law filed in accordance with the procedure
established for the meeting. Any copy,
facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or
transmission created pursuant to this paragraph may be substituted or used in
lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which
the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy,
facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete
reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.
The Corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in
advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act
at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more
alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act
at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting may, and to
the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting. Each inspector, before entering
upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully
to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality
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and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballots shall be counted
by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.
All elections shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and
except as otherwise required by law, all other matters shall be determined by a
majority of the votes cast affirmatively or negatively.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock,
any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the
Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in
writing by such stockholders.
Section 8
.
Stock List
.
A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders,
arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address
of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her
name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder for a period of
at least 10 days prior to the meeting in the manner provided by law.
The stock list shall also be open to the examination of any stockholder
during the whole time of the meeting as provided by law. This list shall presumptively determine the
identity of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of
shares held by each of them.
ARTICLE III
-
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 1
.
Number, Election and
Term of Directors
.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock
to elect directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors shall
be fixed from time to time exclusively by the Board pursuant to a resolution
adopted by a majority of the Board.
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Section 2
.
Newly Created
Directorships and Vacancies
.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock
then outstanding, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in
the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board resulting from
death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other
cause shall, unless otherwise required by law or by resolution of the Board, be
filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less
than a quorum (and not by stockholders).
No decrease in the number of authorized directors shall shorten the term
of any incumbent director.
Section 3
.
Regular Meetings
.
Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such place or places, on
such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by
the Board and publicized among all directors.
Section 4
.
Special Meetings
.
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the
Board, the CEO or by a majority of the Board and shall be held at such place,
on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix. Notice of the place, date, and time of each
such special meeting shall be given to each director by whom it is not waived
by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting
or by telephone or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile or electronic
transmission of the same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the
meeting. Unless otherwise indicated in
the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special
meeting. A meeting may be held at any
time without notice if all the directors are present or if those not present
waive notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 2 of Article VII
of these By-Laws.
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Section 5
.
Quorum
.
At any meeting of the Board, a majority of the total number of
directors shall constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting,
a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or
time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 6
.
Participation in Meetings By Conference
Telephone.
Members of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a
meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or other
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in
person at such meeting.
Section 7
.
Conduct of Business
.
At any meeting of the Board, business shall be transacted in such order
and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall
be determined by the vote of a majority of the directors present, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law.
Action may be taken by the Board without a meeting if all members
thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the
writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with
the minutes of proceedings of the Board.
Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in
paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in
electronic form.
Section 8
.
Compensation
of Directors
.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, the
Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if
any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board and may be paid a fixed sum for
attendance at each meeting of the Board or paid a stated salary or paid other
compensation as a director. No such
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payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or standing committees may
be allowed compensation for such service.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES; CONDUCT OF BUSINESS;
CHAIRMAN
Section 1
.
Committees of the Board
.
The Board may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with
such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at
the pleasure of the Board and shall, for those committees and any others
provided for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or
members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who
may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the
committee. In the absence or
disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his
or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and
not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a
quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board to act at the
meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section 2
.
Conduct of Business
.
Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and
conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law.
Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings;
one-third (1/3) of the members, but never less than two members, shall
constitute a quorum, unless the committee shall consist of one (1) member,
in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters
shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without
a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing or by electronic
transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or
transmissions are filed with
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the minutes of the proceedings of such committee. Such filing shall be
in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic
form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
Section 3
.
Chairman of the Board
.
The Board may elect one of its members to be Chairman of the Board and
may fill any vacancy in the position of Chairman of the Board at such time and
in such manner as the Board shall determine.
The Chairman of the Board may but need not be an officer of or employed
by the Corporation. Unless the
resolutions appointing the Chairman of the Board specify that the Chairman of
the Board shall be an officer, the Chairman of the Board shall not be an
officer. The Chairman of the Board, if
such be elected, shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the Board and
exercise and perform such other powers and duties as be from time to time
assigned to him by the Board.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1
.
Generally
.
The Corporation shall have a Chief Executive Officer (the CEO), a
Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may from time to time be
appointed by the Board, all of whom shall perform such duties as from time to
time may be prescribed by the Board. Any
two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person. Officers shall be elected by the Board, which
shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every annual meeting of
stockholders. Each officer shall hold
office until his or her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her
earlier resignation or removal. Any
number of offices may be held by the same person. The salaries of officers elected by the Board
shall be fixed from time to time by the Board or by such officers as
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may be designated by resolution of the Board.
Section 2
.
The Chief Executive Officer
.
Subject to the provisions of these By-laws and to the direction of the
Board, the CEO shall have the responsibility for the general management and
control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all
duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief
executive or which are delegated to him or her by the Board. He or she shall have power to sign all stock
certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are
authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other
officers, employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 3
.
President
.
The Board or the CEO may elect a President of the Corporation to have
such duties and responsibilities as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the CEO or the Board. He or she shall
have general responsibility for the management and control of the operations of
the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are
commonly incident to the office of chief operating officer or which are
delegated to him or her by the Board or the CEO. Subject to the direction of the Board and the
Chairman of the Board, the President shall have power to sign all stock
certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are
authorized, and to all acts which are authorized by the CEO or the Board, and
shall, in general, have such other duties and responsibilities as are assigned
consistent with the authority of President of a corporation.
Section 4
.
Chief Financial Officer
.
The Chief Financial Officer (if any) shall act in an executive
financial capacity. He shall assist the CEO and the President, if any, in the
general supervision of the Corporations financial policies and affairs. Subject to the direction of the Board and the
Chairman of the Board,
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the Chief Financial Officer shall have the power to sign all stock
certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are
authorized and shall, in general, have such other duties and responsibilities
as are assigned consistently with the authority of a Chief Financial Officer of
a corporation.
Section 5
.
Vice Presidents
.
The Board or the CEO may from time to time name one or more Vice
Presidents that may include the designation of Executive Vice Presidents or
Senior Vice Presidents all of whom shall perform such duties as from time to
time may be assigned to him by the CEO or the Board.
Section 6
.
Treasurer
.
The Treasurer shall have the responsibility for maintaining the
financial records of the Corporation. He
or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are
authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such
transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other
duties as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
Section 7
.
Secretary
.
The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices for, and shall keep
minutes of, all meetings of the stockholders and the Board. He or she shall have charge of the corporate
books and shall perform such other duties as the Board may from time to time
prescribe.
Section 8
.
Delegation of Authority
.
The Board may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any
officer to any other officers or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
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Section 9
.
Removal
.
Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board.
ARTICLE VI
-
STOCK
Section 1
.
Certificates of Stock
.
The stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates,
provided that the Board may provide by resolution for any or all of the stock
to be uncertificated shares. Each holder
of stock represented by certificates shall be entitled to a certificate signed
by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman or President, if any (or
any Vice President), and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by
him or her. Any or all of the signatures
on the certificate may be by facsimile.
In case any officer who has signed or whose
facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be
such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the
Corporation with the same effect as if he or she were such officer at the date
of issue.
Section 2
.
Record Date
.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment
of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise
any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the
purpose of any other lawful action, the Board may, except as otherwise required
by law, fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date on
which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted and which record date
shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the
date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the
time for such other action as hereinbefore described; provided, however, that
if no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a
18
meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day
next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is
held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any rights
of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record
date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts a
resolution relating thereto.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to
vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.
Section 3
.
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of
stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the
Board may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and
concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity. When authorizing such issue of new
certificate(s), the Board may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent
to the issuance thereof, require the owner of the lost or destroyed
certificate(s), or such owners legal representative, to advertise the same in
such manner as it shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such
sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
the Corporation with respect to the certificate(s) alleged to have been
lost or destroyed.
Section 4
.
Regulations
.
The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of
stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board may establish.
19
ARTICLE VII
-
NOTICES
Section 1
.
Notices
.
If mailed, notice to stockholders shall be deemed given when deposited
in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholders
address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Without limiting the manner by which notice
otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders
may be given by electronic transmission in the manner provided in Section 232
of the DGCL.
Section 2
.
Waivers
.
A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder or director, or
waiver by electronic transmission by such person, whether given before or after
the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed
equivalent to the notice required to be given to such person. Neither the business nor the purpose of any
meeting need be specified in such a waiver.
Attendance at any meeting shall constitute waiver of notice except
attendance for the sole purpose of objecting to the transaction of business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE VIII
-
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1
.
Facsimile Signatures
.
In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere
specifically authorized in these By-laws, facsimile signatures of any officer
or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the
Board or a committee thereof.
Section 2
.
Corporate Seal
.
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the
Corporation, the year of its organization, and the words Corporate Seal,
Delaware. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.
20
Section 3
.
Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records
.
Each director, each member of any committee designated by the Board,
and each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her
duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account
or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or
employees, or committees of the Board so designated, or by any other person as
to matters which such director or committee member reasonably believes are
within such other persons professional or expert competence and who has been
selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 4
.
Fiscal Year
.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board.
Section 5
.
Time Periods
.
In applying any provision of these By-laws which requires that an act
be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an
act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event,
calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded,
and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE IX
-
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS
Section 1
.
Indemnification
.
(A) Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be
made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a
proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or a person of whom he is the
legal representative is or was, at any time during which this By-Law is in
effect (whether or not such person continues to serve in such capacity at the
time any indemnification or payment of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at
the time any proceeding relating thereto exists or is
21
brought), a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was at any
such time serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer or
trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans
maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (each such person, an indemnitee),
whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity
as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while serving as a
director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL as the same exists or
may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the
extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader
indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior
to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts
paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such
indemnitee in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer or trustee and shall inure
to the benefit of his heirs, executors and administrators; provided,
however, that except as provided in paragraph (C) of this By-Law,
the Corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee seeking indemnification in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee
only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board. The
right to indemnification conferred in this By-Law shall include the right to be
paid by the Corporation the expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such
advances to be paid by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after the
receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant
requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, the
payment of such expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his capacity as a director
or officer (and not in any other
22
capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee while a
director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee
benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an
undertaking (hereinafter, the undertaking) by or on behalf of such
indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of
appeal (a final disposition) that such indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified for such expenses under this By-Law or otherwise. The rights
conferred upon indemnitees in this By-Law shall be contract rights that vest at
the time of such persons service to or at the request of the Corporation and
such rights shall continue as to an indemnitee who has ceased to be a director,
officer or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the indemnitees heirs,
executors and administrators.
(B) To obtain indemnification under this By-Law, a claimant
shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or
therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the
claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent
the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant
for indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph (B), a
determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimants
entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (i) by the Board by a
majority vote of the Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), even
though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of Disinterested
Directors designated by majority vote of the Disinterested Directors, even
though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no Disinterested
Directors or the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Counsel in a
written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant,
or (iv) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by the
stockholders of the Corporation. If it is so determined that the claimant is
entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within 10
days after such
23
determination.
(C) If a claim under paragraph (A) of this
By-Law is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a
written claim pursuant to paragraph (B) of this By-Law has been received
by the Corporation (except in the case of a claim for advancement of expenses,
for which the applicable period is twenty (20) days), the claimant may at any
time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount
of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be
entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action
(other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required
undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the
claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under
the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed,
but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the
failure of the Corporation (including the Disinterested Directors, Independent
Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement
of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth
in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including the
Disinterested Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant
has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action
or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard
of conduct.
(D) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to
paragraph (B) of this By-Law that the claimant is entitled to
indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any
judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph (C) of this By-Law.
(E) The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in
any judicial proceeding
24
commenced pursuant to paragraph (C) of this By-Law that the
procedures and presumptions of this By-Law are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is
bound by all the provisions of this By-Law.
(F) The right to indemnification and the payment of
expenses incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition
conferred in this By-Law (i) shall not be exclusive of any other right
which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation, By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or
Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (ii) cannot be terminated by the
Corporation, the Board or the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to a
persons service prior to the date of such termination. Any amendment,
modification, alteration or repeal of this By-Law that in any way diminishes,
limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right of an indemnitee
or his successors to indemnification, advancement of expenses or otherwise
shall be prospective only and shall not in any way diminish, limit, restrict,
adversely affect or eliminate any such right with respect to any actual or
alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission then or previously
existing, or any action, suit or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or
threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of
facts, occurrence, action or omission.
(G) The Corporation may grant rights to indemnification,
and rights to be paid by the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any
proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any current or former
employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of
this By-Law with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of
current or former directors and officers of the Corporation.
(H) If any provision or provisions of this By-Law shall be
held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (1) the
validity, legality and enforceability of the
25
remaining provisions of this By-Law (including, without limitation,
each portion of any paragraph of this By-Law containing any such provision held
to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby;
and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this By-Law
(including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of this
By-Law containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or
unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested
by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
(I) For purposes of this By-Law:
(i)
Disinterested Director means a director of the Corporation who is not and was
not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the
claimant.
(ii)
Independent Counsel means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an
independent practitioner, selected by the Disinterested Directors (if such
Disinterested Directors so exist), that is experienced in matters of
corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards
of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest
in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to
determine the claimants rights under this By-Law.
(J) Any notice, request or other communication required or
permitted to be given to the Corporation under this By-Law shall be in writing
and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight
mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be
effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.
Section 2
.
Insurance
.
The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any
26
current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation and any current or former director, officer, trustee, employee or
agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including any person who serves or served in any such capacity with
respect to any employee benefit plan maintained or sponsored by the
Corporation, against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the
Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense,
liability or loss under the DGCL.
ARTICLE X
-
AMENDMENTS
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by law,
the Board is expressly authorized to adopt, amend and repeal these By-Laws
subject to the power of the holders of capital stock of the Corporation to
adopt, amend or repeal the By-Laws.
27
Exhibit 10.1
SEPARATION AND
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
by and among
IAC/INTERACTIVECORP,
HSN, INC.,
INTERVAL LEISURE
GROUP, INC.,
TICKETMASTER
and
TREE.COM, INC.
DATED AS OF AUGUST
20, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
|
INTERPRETATION
|
2
|
1.01.
|
Definitions
|
2
|
1.02.
|
Schedules
|
19
|
1.03.
|
Effective Time; Suspension
|
20
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
|
THE SEPARATION
|
20
|
2.01.
|
Separation
|
20
|
2.02.
|
Implementation
|
21
|
2.03.
|
Transfer of Spun Assets;
Assumption of Spun Liabilities
|
21
|
2.04.
|
TM Assets
|
21
|
2.05.
|
Interval Assets
|
22
|
2.06.
|
HSN Assets
|
23
|
2.07.
|
Tree Assets
|
24
|
2.08.
|
Deferred Spun Assets
|
25
|
2.09.
|
Excluded Assets
|
25
|
2.10.
|
Liabilities
|
25
|
2.11.
|
Third Party Consents and
Government Approvals
|
27
|
2.12.
|
Preservation of Agreements
|
27
|
2.13.
|
Ancillary Agreements
|
27
|
2.14.
|
Resignations
|
28
|
2.15.
|
Cooperation
|
28
|
2.16.
|
Intercompany Accounts Among
Groups
|
28
|
2.17.
|
Disclaimer of Representations
and Warranties
|
28
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III
|
DEFERRED SEPARATION TRANSACTIONS
|
29
|
3.01.
|
Deferred Transfer Assets
|
29
|
3.02.
|
Unreleased Liabilities
|
30
|
3.03.
|
No Additional Consideration
|
30
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV
|
COVENANTS
|
31
|
4.01.
|
General Covenants
|
31
|
4.02.
|
Covenants of the Spincos
|
31
|
4.03.
|
Spinco Common Stock Escrow
Accounts
|
32
|
4.04.
|
Cash Balance True-Ups
|
33
|
4.05.
|
Non-Solicitation
|
35
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V
|
THE DISTRIBUTION
|
35
|
5.01.
|
Conditions to the
Distribution
|
35
|
5.02.
|
Distribution of Spinco Common
Stock
|
36
|
5.03.
|
Fractional Shares
|
37
|
5.04.
|
Actions in Connection with
the Distributions
|
37
|
5.05
|
Treatment of Integrated
Warrant
|
38
|
i
ARTICLE VI
|
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION
|
39
|
6.01.
|
Release of Pre-Distribution
Claims
|
39
|
6.02.
|
Indemnification by Spincos
|
43
|
6.03.
|
Indemnification by IAC
|
43
|
6.04.
|
Procedures for
Indemnification of Third Party Claims
|
44
|
6.05.
|
Procedures for
Indemnification of Direct Claims
|
46
|
6.06.
|
Adjustments to Liabilities
|
46
|
6.07.
|
Payments
|
47
|
6.08.
|
Contribution
|
47
|
6.09.
|
Remedies Cumulative
|
47
|
6.10.
|
Survival of Indemnities
|
47
|
6.11.
|
Shared Liabilities
|
47
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII
|
INSURANCE
|
48
|
7.01.
|
Insurance Matters
|
48
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
|
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY
|
49
|
8.01.
|
Agreement for Exchange of
Information; Archives
|
49
|
8.02.
|
Ownership of Information
|
50
|
8.03.
|
Compensation for Providing
Information
|
51
|
8.04.
|
Record Retention
|
51
|
8.05.
|
Other Agreements Providing
for Exchange of Information
|
51
|
8.06.
|
Production of Witnesses;
Records; Cooperation
|
51
|
8.07.
|
Confidentiality
|
52
|
8.08.
|
Protective Arrangements
|
53
|
8.09.
|
Disclosure of Third Party
Information
|
53
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IX
|
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
|
54
|
9.01.
|
Interpretation; Agreement to
Resolve Disputes
|
54
|
9.02.
|
Dispute Resolution; Mediation
|
54
|
9.03.
|
Arbitration
|
55
|
9.04.
|
Costs
|
56
|
9.05.
|
Continuity of Service and
Performance
|
56
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE X
|
FURTHER ASSURANCES
|
56
|
10.01
|
Further Assurances
|
56
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE XI
|
CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS
|
57
|
11.01.
|
Auditors and Audits; Annual
and Quarterly Financial Statements and Accounting
|
57
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE XII
|
SOLE DISCRETION OF IAC; TERMINATION
|
59
|
12.01.
|
Sole Discretion of IAC
|
59
|
12.02.
|
Termination
|
59
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE XIII
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
60
|
13.01.
|
Limitation of Liability
|
60
|
ii
13.02.
|
Counterparts
|
60
|
13.03.
|
Entire Agreement
|
60
|
13.04.
|
Construction
|
60
|
13.05.
|
Signatures
|
61
|
13.06.
|
Assignability
|
61
|
13.07.
|
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
61
|
13.08.
|
Payment Terms
|
62
|
13.09.
|
Governing Law
|
62
|
13.10.
|
Notices
|
62
|
13.11.
|
Severability
|
63
|
13.12.
|
Publicity
|
63
|
13.13.
|
Survival of Covenants
|
64
|
13.14.
|
Waivers of Default; Conflicts
|
64
|
13.15.
|
Amendments
|
64
|
iii
SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
This SEPARATION AND DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT,
dated as of AUGUST 20, 2008, is entered into by and among IAC/InterActiveCorp,
a Delaware corporation (
IAC
), HSN, Inc., a Delaware corporation
and wholly owned subsidiary of IAC (
HSN Spinco
), Interval Leisure
Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of IAC (
Interval
Spinco
), Ticketmaster, a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary
of IAC (
TM Spinco
), and Tree.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation
and wholly owned subsidiary of IAC (
Tree Spinco
; together with TM
Spinco, Interval Spinco and HSN Spinco, the
Spincos
; the Spincos and
IAC, collectively, the
Separate-cos
or
Parties
).
RECITALS
:
WHEREAS, IAC, acting through its direct and
indirect Subsidiaries, currently conducts a number of businesses, including (i) the
Ticketing Business (as defined herein), (ii) the Vacations Business (as
defined herein), (iii) the Retailing Business (as defined herein), (iv) the
Lending and Real Estate Business (as defined herein) (together with the
Ticketing Business, the Vacations Business and the Retailing Business, the
Spun
Businesses
) and (v) the Remaining Business (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of IAC (the
IAC
Board
) has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best
interests of IAC and its stockholders to separate IAC into five publicly-traded
companies (the
Separation
): (i) TM Spinco, which following the
Separation will own and conduct, directly or indirectly, the Ticketing
Business, (ii) Interval Spinco, which following the Separation will own
and conduct, directly or indirectly, the Vacations Business, (iii) HSN
Spinco, which following the Separation will own and conduct, directly or
indirectly, the Retailing Business, (iv) Tree Spinco, which following the
Separation will own and conduct, directly or indirectly, the Lending and Real
Estate Business, and (v) IAC, which following the Separation will own and
conduct, directly or indirectly, the Remaining Business;
WHEREAS, following the merger on August 8,
2008 of a wholly owned subsidiary of IAC with and into IAC, the outstanding
shares of capital stock of IAC consist solely of common stock, par value $0.001
per share, of IAC (
IAC Common Stock
) and Class B common stock,
par value $0.001 per share, of IAC (
IAC Class B Common Stock
);
WHEREAS, in order to effect the Separation,
the IAC Board has determined that it is appropriate, desirable and in the best
interests of IAC and its stockholders: (i) for IAC and its Subsidiaries to
enter into a series of transactions as set forth in the Transactions Memorandum
dated of even date herewith (the
Transactions Memo
) as a result of
which one or more members of each Group (as defined herein) will, collectively,
own all of such Groups Corresponding Assets (as defined herein) and assume (or
retain) all of such Groups Corresponding Liabilities (as defined herein); and,
thereafter (ii) for IAC to distribute to the holders of IAC Common Stock
and the holders of IAC Class B Common Stock (in each case without
consideration being paid by such stockholders), on a pro rata basis, all of the
issued and
1
outstanding
shares of Spinco Common Stock (as defined herein) of each Spinco;
WHEREAS, each of the Separate-cos has
determined that it is necessary and desirable, on or prior to the Effective
Time (as defined herein), to allocate and transfer to the applicable Group
those Assets, and to allocate and assign to the applicable Group responsibility
for those Liabilities, in respect of the activities of the Corresponding
Businesses (as defined herein) of such Group;
WHEREAS, it is the intention of the Parties
that each of the Distributions (as defined herein) qualify as a transaction
that is generally tax free for United States federal income tax purposes under
Sections 355 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the
Code
);
WHEREAS, in connection with the
Distributions, each of HSN Spinco and/or its Subsidiaries, Interval Spinco
and/or its Subsidiaries and TM Spinco and/or its Subsidiaries will, subject to
the terms and provisions of this Agreement, enter into separate credit
facilities and/or issue new debt securities, all or a portion of the cash
proceeds of borrowings under which shall be distributed to IAC;
WHEREAS, (a) IAC has entered into an
agreement with certain holders of its 7% Senior Notes due 2013 (the
IAC
Notes
) providing for, among other things, (i) IAC to exchange (the
Exchange
)
new 9.5% Senior Notes due 2016 of Interval Acquisition Corp. (as defined
herein) that it will receive from Interval Acquisition Corp. as set forth in
the Transactions Memorandum (the
Interval Senior Notes
) and (ii) the
simultaneous closing of the Exchange and the cash tender offer being made by
IAC for any and all of the outstanding IAC Notes (the
IAC Notes Tender
Offer
) and (b) it is intended that the issuance of the Interval
Senior Notes to IAC and the Exchange, together with the IAC Notes Tender Offer,
are in connection with the Interval Distribution and are intended to give rise
to a succession event (with Interval as the sole successor to IAC) for credit
derivatives purposes; and
WHEREAS, the Parties wish to set forth in this
Agreement the terms on which, and the conditions subject to which, they intend
to implement the measures described above.
NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual
agreements, covenants and other provisions set forth in this Agreement, the
Parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
INTERPRETATION
1.01.
Definitions
. The capitalized words and expressions and
variations thereof used in this Agreement or in its schedules, unless a clearly
inconsistent meaning is required under the context, shall have the meanings set
forth below:
2008 Internal Control Audit and Management Assessments
has the
meaning set forth in Section 11.01(b).
AAA
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.03.
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Accounts Receivable
means in respect of any Person, (a) all
trade accounts and notes receivable and other rights to payment from customers
and all security for such accounts or rights to payment, including all trade
accounts receivable representing amounts receivable in respect of goods shipped
or products sold or otherwise disposed of or services rendered to customers, (b) all
other accounts and notes receivable and all security for such accounts or
notes, and (c) any claim, remedy or other right relating to any of the foregoing.
Action
means any demand, action, suit, countersuit,
arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by any Person or any
Governmental Authority or before any Governmental Authority or any arbitration
or mediation tribunal.
Affiliate
of any Person means any other Person that, directly
or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with such
first Person as of the date on which or at any time during the period for when
such determination is being made. For
purposes of this definition,
Control
means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and
policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or
other interests, by contract or otherwise, and the terms
Controlling
and
Controlled
have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
Agent
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(b).
Agreement
means this Separation and Distribution Agreement,
including all of the Schedules hereto.
Ancillary Agreements
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.13.
Applicable Law
means any applicable law, statute, rule or
regulation of any Governmental Authority or any outstanding order, judgment,
injunction, ruling or decree by any Governmental Authority.
Appurtenances
means, in respect of any Land, all privileges,
rights, easements, servitudes, hereditaments and appurtenances and similar
interests belonging to or for the benefit of such Land, including all easements
and servitudes appurtenant to and for the benefit of any Land (a
Dominant
Parcel
) for, and as the primary means of, access between, the Dominant
Parcel and a public way, or for any other use upon which lawful use of the
Dominant Parcel for the purposes for which it is presently being used is
dependent, and all rights existing in and to any streets, alleys, passages and
other rights-of-way included therein or adjacent thereto.
Asset-Related Claims
means, in respect of any Asset, all
claims of the owner against Third Parties relating to such Asset, whether
choate or inchoate, known or unknown, absolute or contingent, disclosed or
non-disclosed.
Assets
means assets, properties and
rights (including goodwill), wherever located (including in the possession of
owners or Third Parties or elsewhere), whether real, personal or mixed,
tangible or intangible, movable or immovable, in each case whether or not
recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and
records or financial statements of a Person, including the following:
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(a)
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Real Property;
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(b)
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Tangible Personal Property;
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(c)
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Inventories;
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(d)
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Accounts Receivable;
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(e)
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Contractual Assets;
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(f)
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Governmental Authorizations;
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(g)
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Business Records;
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(h)
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Intangible Property Rights;
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(i)
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Insurance Benefits;
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(j)
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Asset-Related Claims; and
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(k)
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Deposit Rights.
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Authorized Auditor
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(c)(i).
Authorizing Spinco
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(c)(i).
Business Concern
means any corporation, company, limited
liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated
association or any other form of association.
Business Day
means any day excluding (a) Saturday, Sunday
and any other day which, in New York City is a legal holiday or (b) a day
on which banks are authorized by Applicable Law to close in New York City.
Business Records
means, in respect of any Person, all data and
Records relating to such Person, including client and customer lists and
Records, referral sources, research and development reports and Records, cost
information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, customer and
vendor data, production reports and Records, service and warranty Records,
equipment logs, operating guides and manuals, financial and accounting Records,
personnel Records (subject to Applicable Law), creative materials, advertising
materials, promotional materials, studies, reports, correspondence and other
similar documents and records.
Claim Notice
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b).
Claimant Party
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Code
has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
Confidential Information
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.07(a).
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Consent
means any approval, consent, ratification, waiver or
other authorization.
Contract
means any contract, agreement, lease, purchase and/or
commitment, license, consensual obligation, promise or undertaking (whether
written or oral and whether express or implied) that is legally binding on any
Person or any part of its property under Applicable Law, including all claims
or rights against any Person, choses in action and similar rights, whether
accrued or contingent with respect to any such contract, agreement, lease,
purchase and/or commitment, license, consensual obligation, promise or
undertaking, but excluding this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement save as otherwise
expressly provided in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement.
Contractual Asset
means, in respect of any Person, any
Contract of, or relating to, such Person, any outstanding offer or solicitation
made by, or to, such Person to enter into any Contract, and any promise or
undertaking made by any other Person to such Person, whether or not legally
binding.
Corresponding Annual Report
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(d).
Corresponding Assets
(a) with respect to HSN Spinco, any
HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means the HSN Assets, (b) with respect to
Interval Spinco, any Interval Entity or the Interval Group, means the Interval
Assets, (c) with respect to TM Spinco, any TM Entity or the TM Group,
means the TM Assets, (d) with respect to Tree Spinco, any Tree Entity or
the Tree Group, means the Tree Assets and (e) with respect to IAC or the
IAC Group, means the Retained Assets.
Corresponding Business
(a) with
respect to HSN Spinco, any HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means the Retailing
Business, (b) with respect to Interval Spinco, any Interval Entity or the
Interval Group, means the Vacations Business, (c) with respect to TM
Spinco, any TM Entity or the TM Group, means the Ticketing Business, (d) with
respect to Tree Spinco, any Tree Entity or the Tree Group, means the Lending
and Real Estate Business and (e) with respect to IAC or the IAC Group,
means the Remaining Business.
Corresponding Distribution Ratio
(i) with respect to HSN
Spinco, means the HSN Distribution Ratio, (ii) with respect to Interval
Spinco, means the Interval Distribution Ratio, (iii) with respect to TM
Spinco, means the TM Distribution Ratio and (iv) with respect to Tree
Spinco, means the Tree Distribution Ratio.
Corresponding Escrow Shares
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03.
Corresponding Group
(a) with respect to the Retailing
Business, HSN Spinco or any HSN Entity, means the HSN Group, (b) with
respect to the Vacations Business, Interval Spinco or any Interval Entity,
means the Interval Group, (c) with respect to the Ticketing Business, TM
Spinco or any TM Entity, means the TM Group, (d) with respect to the
Lending and Real Estate Business, Tree Spinco or any Tree Entity, means the
Tree Group and (e) with respect to the Remaining Business, IAC or any
Remaining IAC Entity, means the IAC Group.
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Corresponding Group Balance Sheet
(a) with respect to the
Retailing Business, HSN Spinco, any HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means the HSN
Group Balance Sheet, (b) with respect to the Vacations Business, Interval
Spinco, any Interval Entity or the Interval Group, means the Interval Group
Balance Sheet, (c) with respect to the Ticketing Business, TM Spinco, any
TM Entity or the TM Group, the TM Group Balance Sheet, and (d) with
respect to the Lending and Real Estate Business, Tree Spinco, any Tree Entity
or the Tree Group, means the Tree Group Balance Sheet.
Corresponding Liabilities
(a) with respect to HSN Spinco,
any HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means the HSN Liabilities, (b) with
respect to Interval Spinco, any Interval Entity or the Interval Group, means
the Interval Liabilities, (c) with respect to TM Spinco, any TM Entity or
the TM Group, means the TM Liabilities, (d) with respect to Tree Spinco,
any Tree Entity or the Tree Group, means the Tree Liabilities and (e) with
respect to IAC or the IAC Group, means the Retained Liabilities.
Corresponding Opening Balance Sheet
(a) with respect to
the Retailing Business, HSN Spinco, any HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means the
HSN Opening Balance Sheet, (b) with respect to the Vacations Business,
Interval Spinco, any Interval Entity or the Interval Group, means the Interval
Opening Balance Sheet, (c) with respect to the Ticketing Business, TM
Spinco, any TM Entity or the TM Group, means the TM Opening Balance Sheet and (d) with
respect to the Lending and Real Estate Business, Tree Spinco, any Tree Entity
or the Tree Group, means the Tree Opening Balance Sheet.
Corresponding Other Separate-cos Indemnified Parties
has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.02.
Corresponding Separate-co
(a) with respect to the
Retailing Business, any HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means HSN Spinco, (b) with
respect to the Vacations Business, any Interval Entity or the Interval Group,
means Interval Spinco, (c) with respect to the Ticketing Business, any TM
Entity or the TM Group, means TM Spinco, (d) with respect to the Lending
and Real Estate Business, any Tree Entity or the Tree Group, means Tree Spinco
and (e) with respect to the Remaining Business, any Remaining IAC Entity
or the IAC Group, means IAC.
Corresponding Spinco
(a) with respect to the Retailing
Business, any HSN Entity or the HSN Group, means HSN Spinco, (b) with
respect to the Vacations Business, any Interval Entity or the Interval Group,
means Interval Spinco, (c) with respect to the Ticketing Business, any TM
Entity or the TM Group, means TM Spinco and (d) with respect to the
Lending and Real Estate Business, any Tree Entity or the Tree Group, means Tree
Spinco.
Deferred Beneficiary
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).
Deferred Corresponding Asset
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
Deferred Excluded Asset
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
Deferred Spun Asset
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
Deferred Transactions
has the meaning set forth in Section 10.01(a)(ii).
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Deferred Transfer Asset
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
Deposit Rights
means rights relating to deposits and prepaid
expenses, claims for refunds and rights of set-off in respect thereof.
DGCL
means the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
Disclosing Party
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.08.
Dispute
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Dispute Notice
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Dispute Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Distribution Date
means the HSN Distribution Date, the
Interval Distribution Date, the TM Distribution Date or the Tree Distribution
Date, as applicable.
Distribution Record Date
means the HSN Distribution Record
Date, the Interval Distribution Record Date, the TM Distribution Record Date or
the Tree Distribution Record Date, as applicable
Distributions
means the HSN Distribution, the Interval
Distribution, the TM Distribution and the Tree Distribution, and each of them a
Distribution
.
Effective Time
means (a) 9:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the earliest to occur of one or more of the HSN Distribution Date, the
Interval Distribution Date, the TM Distribution Date and the Tree Distribution
Date if IAC determines to effect the applicable Distribution(s) prior to
the opening of trading on NASDAQ or (b) otherwise, 4.01 p.m., New
York City time, on such earliest date to occur.
EHS Liabilities
means any Liability arising from or under any
Environmental Law or Occupational Health and Safety Law.
Employee Matters Agreement
means the Employee Matters
Agreement among the Parties to be dated as of even date herewith.
Encumbrance
means, with respect to any asset, mortgages,
liens, hypothecations, pledges, charges, security interests or encumbrances of
any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise
perfected under Applicable Law.
Environmental Law
means any Applicable Law from any
Governmental Authority (a) relating to the protection of the environment
(including air, water, soil and natural resources) or (b) the use,
storage, handling, release or disposal of Hazardous Substances.
Escrow Agent
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03(a).
Escrow Agreement
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.03(a).
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Exchange Act
means the United States Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended.
Excluded Assets
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.09(a).
GAAP
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(d).
Governmental Authority
means any court, arbitration panel,
governmental or regulatory authority, agency, stock exchange, commission or
body.
Governmental Authorization
means any Consent, license,
certificate, franchise, registration or permit issued, granted, given or
otherwise made available by, or under the authority of, any Governmental
Authority or pursuant to any Applicable Law.
Ground Lease
means any long-term lease (including any
emphyteotic lease) of Land in which most of the rights and benefits comprising
ownership of the Land and the Improvements thereon or to be constructed
thereon, if any, and the Appurtenances thereto for the benefit thereof, are
transferred to the tenant for the term thereof.
Ground Lease Property
means, in respect of any Person, any
Land, Improvement or Appurtenance of such Person that is subject to a Ground
Lease.
Group
means the IAC Group, the HSN Group, the Interval Group,
the TM Group or the Tree Group, as the context requires.
Guaranteed Entities
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(c).
Guaranteed Group
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(c).
Guaranteed Spinco
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(c).
Guaranteeing Group
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(c).
Guaranteeing Separate-co
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.02(c).
Hazardous Substance
means any substance to the extent
presently listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic or
radioactive under any applicable Environmental Law, including petroleum and any
derivative or by-products thereof.
HSN Assets
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06.
HSN Claims
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).
HSN Common Stock
means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of HSN Spinco.
HSN Distribution
means the distribution on the HSN
Distribution Date, to holders of record of shares of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B
Common Stock as of the HSN Distribution Record Date, of the HSN Common Stock
owned by IAC on the basis of a
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fraction of a share of HSN Common Stock equal to the HSN Distribution
Ratio for every one share of IAC Common Stock or IAC Class B Common Stock.
HSN Distribution Date
means the date on which IAC distributes
all of the issued and outstanding shares of HSN Common Stock to the holders of
IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B Common Stock.
HSN Distribution Ratio
means 1/5, subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 5.02(a).
HSN Distribution Record Date
means such date as may be
determined by the IAC Board as the record date for the HSN Distribution.
HSN Effective Time Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(c).
HSN Entities
means those Business Concerns forming part of the
IAC Group which are identified on
Schedule 2.06(b)
and which on and
after the Effective Time form part of the HSN Group.
HSN Group
means HSN Spinco, the HSN Entities and each other
Person (other than any member of any other Group) that is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of HSN Spinco immediately after the Effective Time, and each Person
that becomes a Subsidiary of HSN Spinco after the Effective Time.
HSN Group Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(c).
HSN Liabilities
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
HSN Opening Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.06(e).
HSN Releasors
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).
HSN Spinco
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
HSN Target Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(c).
IAC
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
IAC Auditor
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
IAC Board
has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
IAC Claims
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(e).
IAC Class B Common Stock
has the meaning set forth in the
recitals hereto.
IAC Common Stock
has the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.
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IAC Group
means IAC, its Subsidiaries (subject to Section 1.04(b),
other than any member of any Spinco Group) and their respective domestic and
international businesses, assets and liabilities.
IAC Notes
has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
IAC Record Date Share Number
with respect to any Distribution
means the aggregate number of shares of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B
Common Stock outstanding on the applicable Distribution Record Date.
IAC Releasors
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(e).
Improvements
means, in respect of any Land, all buildings,
structures, plants, fixtures and improvements located on such Land, including
those under construction.
Indemnified Party
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(a).
Indemnifying Party
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b).
Information
means any information, whether or not patentable
or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible
forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, test procedures,
research, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas,
concepts, know-how, techniques, manufacturing techniques, manufacturing
variables, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models,
prototypes, samples, products, product plans, flow charts, data, computer data,
disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans,
customer information, customer services, supplier information, communications
by or to attorneys (including attorney-client privileged communications), memos
and other materials prepared by attorneys or under their direction (including
attorney work product), and other technical, financial, employee or business
information or data.
Insurance Benefits
means, in respect of any Asset or
Liability, all insurance benefits, including rights to Insurance Proceeds,
arising from or relating to such Asset or Liability.
Insurance Proceeds
means those monies (in each case net of any
costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof and net of any applicable
premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium
adjustments)):
(a) received by an
insured from an insurance carrier; or
(b) paid by an insurance
carrier on behalf of the insured.
Intangible Property Rights
means, in respect of any Person,
all intangible rights and property of such Person, including IT Assets, going
concern value and goodwill.
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Intercompany Accounts
means all balances related to
indebtedness, including any intercompany indebtedness, loan, guaranty,
receivable, payable or other account between a member of any Group, on the one
hand, and a member of any other Group, on the other hand.
Interval Acquisition Corp.
means Interval Acquisition Corp., a
Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of IAC that, at the time of
the Interval Distribution, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of Interval
Spinco.
Interval Assets
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05.
Interval Claims
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).
Interval Common Stock
means the common stock, par value $0.01
per share, of Interval Spinco.
Interval Distribution
means the distribution on the Interval
Distribution Date, to holders of record of shares of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B
Common Stock as of the Interval Distribution Record Date, of the Interval
Common Stock owned by IAC on the basis of a fraction of a share of Interval
Common Stock equal to the Interval Distribution Ratio for every one share of
IAC Common Stock or IAC Class B Common Stock.
Interval Distribution Date
means the date on which IAC
distributes all of the issued and outstanding shares of Interval Common Stock
to the holders of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B Common Stock.
Interval Distribution Ratio
means 1/5, subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 5.02(a).
Interval Distribution Record Date
means such date as may be
determined by the IAC Board as the record date for the Interval Distribution.
Interval Effective Time Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth
in Section 4.04(b).
Interval Entities
means those Business Concerns forming part
of the IAC Group which are identified on
Schedule 2.05(b)
and which
on and after the Effective Time form part of the Interval Group.
Interval Group
means Interval Spinco, the Interval Entities
and each other Person (other than any member of any other Group) that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of Interval Spinco immediately after the
Effective Time, and each Person that becomes a Subsidiary of Interval Spinco
after the Effective Time.
Interval Group Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(c).
Interval Liabilities
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
Interval Opening Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.05(e).
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Interval Releasors
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).
Interval Spinco
has the meaning set forth in the preamble
hereto.
Interval Target Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(b).
Inventories
means, in respect of any Person, all inventories
of such Person wherever located, including all finished goods, (whether or not
held at any location or facility of such Person or in transit to or from such
Person), work in process, raw materials, spare parts and all other materials
and supplies to be used or consumed by the Person in production of finished
goods.
IT Assets
means computers, computer software, firmware,
middleware, servers, workstations, routers, hubs, switches, data communications
lines, all other information technology equipments and all associated
documentation.
Land
means, in respect of any Person, all parcels and tracts
of land in which the Person has an ownership interest.
Lending and Real Estate Business
means (a) the businesses and operations of Tree Spinco and its
subsidiaries described in the Information Statement included as an exhibit to
Tree Spincos Registration Statement, (b) any other business conducted
primarily through the use of the Tree Assets prior to the Effective Time and (c) the
businesses and operations of Business Concerns acquired or established by or
for Tree Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement.
Liberty Spinco Agreement
means that
certain Spinco Agreement, dated as of May 13, 2008, among IAC, Barry
Diller, Liberty Media Corporation and certain subsidiaries of Liberty Media
Corporation that hold IAC Common Stock and/or IAC Class B Common Stock.
Liberty Spinco Assumption Agreement
means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 5 to the Liberty
Spinco Agreement.
Liberty Registration Rights Agreement
means an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 4 to the Liberty
Spinco Agreement.
Liability
means, with respect to any Person, any and all
losses, claims, charges, debts, demands, actions, causes of action, suits,
damages, obligations, payments, costs and expenses, sums of money, accounts,
reckonings, bonds, specialties, indemnities and similar obligations,
exoneration covenants, contracts, controversies, agreements, promises, doings,
omissions, variances, guarantees, make whole agreements and similar
obligations, and other liabilities and requirements, including all contractual
obligations, whether absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, liquidated
or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown, joint or several,
whenever arising, and including those arising under any Applicable Law, Action,
threatened or contemplated Action (including the costs and expenses of demands,
assessments, judgments, settlements and compromises relating thereto and
attorneys fees and any and all costs and expenses, whatsoever reasonably
incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any such Actions or
threatened or contemplated Actions) or Order of any
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Governmental Authority or any award of any arbitrator or mediator of
any kind, and those arising under any contract, commitment or undertaking, in
each case, whether or not recorded or reflected or otherwise disclosed or
required to be recorded or reflected or otherwise disclosed, on the books and
records or financial statements of any Person, including any Specified
Financial Liability, EHS Liability or Liability for Taxes.
NASDAQ
means the Nasdaq Stock Market.
New IAC Integrated Warrant
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.05(a)(i).
Non-IAC Indemnified Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.03.
Non-IAC Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(e).
Non-Interval Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(b).
Non-HSN Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(c).
Non-Tree Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(d).
Non-TM Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
Notice Period
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b).
Occupational Health and Safety Law
means any Applicable Law
designed to provide safe and healthful working conditions and to reduce
occupational safety and health hazards, and any program, whether governmental
or private (such as those promulgated or sponsored by industry associations and
insurance companies), designed to provide safe and healthful working
conditions.
Old IAC Integrated Warrant
means the outstanding warrant to purchase
shares of IAC Common Stock identified on
Schedule 1.01(a)
.
Order
means any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling,
assessment or arbitration award of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator.
Ordinary Course of Business
means any action taken by a Person
that is in the ordinary course of the normal, day-to-day operations of such
Person and is consistent with the past practices of such Person.
Parties
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Person
means any individual, Business Concern or Governmental
Authority.
Post-Record Date IAC Shares
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.02(a)
Potential Contributor
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.06(a).
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Prime Rate
means the rate which JPMorgan Chase & Co.
(or any successor thereto or other major money center commercial bank agreed to
by the Parties hereto) announces from time to time as its prime lending rate,
as in effect from time to time.
Prospectus
with respect to a Registration Statement means the
prospectus forming a part of such Registration Statement, as the same may be
amended or supplemented from time to time.
Providing Party
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.08.
Real Property
means any Land and Improvements and all
Appurtenances thereto and any Ground Lease Property.
Record
means information that is inscribed on a tangible
medium or that is stored in an electronic or other medium and is retrievable in
perceivable form.
Registration Statement
means, for each Spinco, the
Registration Statement on Form S-1 first filed by such Spinco with the SEC
on August 1, 2008 (together with all amendments and supplements thereto)
in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of such Spincos Spinco
Common Stock.
Regulation S-K
means Regulation S-K of the General Rules and
Regulations promulgated by the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act.
Relevant Time
means (a) as between any two Spincos, on
the date of the later Distribution Date to occur with respect to such Spincos
if such Distribution Dates are not the same date or, otherwise, on such
Distribution Date and (b) as between IAC and any Spinco, on the
Distribution Date with respect to such Spinco, in either such case (i) 9:00 a.m.,
New York City time, if IAC determines to effect the applicable Distribution(s) prior
to the opening of trading on NASDAQ or (b) otherwise, 4:01 p.m., New
York City time, on such earliest date to occur.
Remaining Business
means all IAC Businesses other than the
Spun Businesses.
Remaining IAC Entity
means any Business Concern that is a
member of the IAC Group on and after the Effective Time.
Representatives
means, with respect to any Person, any of such
Persons directors, officers, employees, agents, consultants, advisors,
accountants or attorneys.
Requesting Party
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.01(a).
Response
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Responding Parties
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Responsible Group
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02(b).
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Responsible Separate-co
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02.
Retailing Business
means (a) the businesses and
operations of HSN Spinco and its Subsidiaries as described in the Prospectus
forming a part of HSN Spincos Registration Statement, (b) any other
business conducted primarily through the use of the HSN Assets prior to the
Effective Time and (c) the businesses and operations of Business Concerns
acquired or established by or for HSN Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries after
the date of this Agreement.
Retained Liabilities
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
Retaining Person
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(b).
SEC
means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act
means the United States Securities Act of 1933,
as amended.
Senior Party Representatives
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.02(a).
Separate-cos
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Separation
has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.
Separation Transactions
means the transactions to effect the
Separation as described in the Transactions Memo and, in the singular, means
any one of them.
Shared Liability
of a
Spinco means any Liability from, relating to, arising out of, or derivative of
any matter, claim or litigation, whether actual or potential, associated with
any securities law litigation relating to any public disclosure (or absence of
public disclosure) with respect to such Spincos Spun Business or the Spun
Entities in such Spincos Corresponding Group made by IAC prior to the
Effective Time, including the fees and expenses of outside counsel retained by
IAC in connection with the defense and/or settlement of any such matter. For purposes of this definition, the phrase securities
law litigation shall include claims alleging any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact in alleged violation of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
any similar state law and any claims premised on, related to or derivative of
such alleged statements, omissions or violations, whether payable to any
current, past or future holders of IAC securities or any Spinco securities, to
any of the co-defendants in such action or to any Governmental Authority. Notwithstanding anything in Section 6.06
to the contrary, the amount of any Shared Liability shall be net of any
insurance proceeds actually recovered by or on behalf of any member of any
Group.
Specified Financial Liabilities
means, in respect of any
Person, all liabilities, obligations, contingencies, instruments and other
Liabilities of a financial nature with Third Parties of, or relating to, such
Person, including any of the following:
(a) foreign exchange
contracts;
(b) letters of credit;
15
(c) guarantees of Third
Party loans;
(d) surety bonds
(excluding surety for workers compensation self-insurance);
(e) interest support
agreements on Third Party loans;
(f) performance bonds
or guarantees issued by Third Parties;
(g) swaps or other
derivatives contracts;
(h) recourse
arrangements on the sale of receivables or notes; and
(i) indemnities for
damages for any breach of, or any inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty
or any breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant,
undertaking or obligation.
Spinco
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Spinco Auditor
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.01(a).
Spinco Common Stock
means the HSN Common Stock, the Interval
Common Stock, the TM Common Stock and/or the Tree Common Stock, as applicable.
Spinco Common Stock Escrow Account
has the meaning set forth
in Section 4.03.
Spinco Group
means any of the HSN Group, the Interval Group,
the TM Group and the Tree Group.
Spun Businesses
has the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.
Spun Assets
means the HSN Assets, the Interval Assets, the TM
Assets and the Tree Assets.
Spun Entities
means the HSN Entities, the Interval Entities,
the TM Entities and the Tree Entities.
Spun Liabilities
means the HSN Liabilities, the Interval
Liabilities, the TM Liabilities and the Tree Liabilities.
Subsidiary
of any Person means any corporation, partnership,
limited liability entity, joint venture or other organization, whether
incorporated or unincorporated, of which a majority of the total voting power
of capital stock or other interests entitled (without the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees
thereof, is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such
Person.
Tangible Personal Property
means, in respect of any Person,
all machinery, equipment, tools, furniture, office equipment, supplies,
materials, vehicles and other items of
16
tangible personal or movable property (other than Inventories and IT
Assets) of every kind and wherever located that are owned or leased by the
Person, together with any express or implied warranty by the manufacturers,
sellers or lessors of any item or component part thereof and all maintenance
Records and other documents relating thereto.
Tax
means Income Taxes and Other Taxes as defined in the Tax
Sharing Agreement.
Tax Sharing Agreement
means the Tax Sharing Agreement among
the Parties to be dated as of even date herewith.
Third Party
means a Person (a) that is not a Party to
this Agreement, other than a member of any Group and (b) that is not an
Affiliate thereof.
Third Party Claim
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.04(b).
Third Party Consent
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11.
Ticketing Business
means (a) the businesses and operations
of TM Spinco and its subsidiaries as described in the Prospectus forming a part
of TM Spincos Registration Statement, (b) any other business conducted
primarily through the use of the TM Assets prior to the Effective Time and (c) the
businesses and operations of Business Concerns acquired or established by or
for TM Spinco or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement.
TM Assets
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04.
TM Claims
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
TM Common Stock
means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of TM Spinco.
TM Distribution
means the distribution on the TM Distribution
Date, to holders of record of shares of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B
Common Stock as of the TM Distribution Record Date, of the TM Common Stock
owned by IAC on the basis of a fraction of a share of TM Common Stock equal to
the TM Distribution Ratio for every one share of IAC Common Stock or IAC Class B
Common Stock.
TM Distribution Date
means the date on which IAC distributes
all of the issued and outstanding shares of TM Common Stock to the holders of
IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B Common Stock.
TM Distribution Ratio
means 1/5, subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 5.02(a).
TM Distribution Record Date
means such date as may be
determined by the IAC Board as the record date for the TM Distribution.
TM Effective Time Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).
17
TM Entities
means those Business Concerns forming part of the
IAC Group which are identified on
Schedule 2.04(b)
and which on and
after the Effective Time form part of the TM Group.
TM Group
means TM Spinco, the TM Entities and each other
Person (other than any member of any other Group) that is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of TM Spinco immediately after the Effective Time, and each Person
that becomes a Subsidiary of TM Spinco after the Effective Time.
TM Group Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(c).
TM Liabilities
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
TM Opening Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.04(e).
TM Releasors
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(a).
TM Spinco
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
TM Target Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(a).
Transfer Impediment
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.01(a).
Transactions Memo
has the meaning set forth in the recitals
hereto.
Transition Services Agreement
means the Transition Services
Agreement among the Parties to be dated as of even date herewith.
Tree Assets
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07.
Tree Claims
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(d).
Tree Common Stock
means the common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, of Tree Spinco.
Tree Distribution
means the distribution on the Tree
Distribution Date, to holders of record of shares of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B
Common Stock as of the Tree Distribution Record Date, of the Tree Common Stock
owned by IAC on the basis of a fraction of a share of Tree Common Stock equal
to the Tree Distribution Ratio for every one share of IAC Common Stock or IAC Class B
Common Stock.
Tree Distribution Date
means the date on which IAC distributes
all of the issued and outstanding shares of Tree Common Stock to the holders of
IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B Common Stock.
Tree Distribution Ratio
means 1/30, subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 5.02(a).
18
Tree Distribution Record Date
means such date as may be
determined by the IAC Board as the record date for the Tree Distribution.
Tree Effective Time Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(d).
Tree Entities
means those Business Concerns forming part of
the IAC Group which are identified on
Schedule 2.07(b)
and which on
and after the Effective Time form part of the Tree Group.
Tree Group
means Tree Spinco, the Tree Entities and each other
Person (other than any member of any other Group) that is a direct or indirect
Subsidiary of Tree Spinco immediately after the Effective Time, and each Person
that becomes a Subsidiary of Tree Spinco after the Effective Time.
Tree Group Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(c).
Tree Liabilities
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10.
Tree Opening Balance Sheet
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.07(e).
Tree Releasors
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.01(d).
Tree Spinco
has the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.
Tree Target Cash Balance
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.04(d).
Unreleased Group
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02.
Unreleased Liabilities
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02.
Unreleased Person
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02.
Unreleased Separate-co
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.02.
Vacations Business
means (a) the
businesses and operations of Interval Spinco and its subsidiaries as described
in the Prospectus forming a part of Interval Spincos Registration Statement, (b) any
other business conducted primarily through the use of the Interval Assets prior
to the Effective Time and (c) the businesses and operations of Business
Concerns acquired or established by or for Interval Spinco or any of its
Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement.
Warrant Share Number
has the meaning
set forth in Section 5.05(a)(i).
1.02.
Schedules
. The following schedules are attached to this
Agreement and form a part hereof:
Schedule 1.01(a)
|
|
Old IAC Integrated Warrant
|
Schedule 2.04(a)
|
|
TM Assets
|
Schedule 2.04(b)
|
|
TM Entities
|
19
Schedule 2.04(c)
|
|
TM Group Balance Sheet
|
Schedule 2.05(a)
|
|
Interval Assets
|
Schedule 2.05(b)
|
|
Interval Entities
|
Schedule 2.05(c)
|
|
Interval Group Balance Sheet
|
Schedule 2.06(a)
|
|
HSN Assets
|
Schedule 2.06(b)
|
|
HSN Entities
|
Schedule 2.06(c)
|
|
HSN Group Balance Sheet
|
Schedule 2.07(a)
|
|
Tree Assets
|
Schedule 2.07(b)
|
|
Tree Entities
|
Schedule 2.07(c)
|
|
Tree Group Balance Sheet
|
Schedule 2.09(a)
|
|
Excluded Assets
|
Schedule 2.10(a)
|
|
TM Liabilities
|
Schedule 2.10(b)
|
|
Interval Liabilities
|
Schedule 2.10(c)
|
|
HSN Liabilities
|
Schedule 2.10(d)
|
|
Tree Liabilities
|
Schedule 2.10(e)
|
|
Retained Liabilities
|
Schedule 2.14(a)
|
|
IAC Resignation Exceptions
|
1.03.
Effective
Time; Suspension
. (a) This
Agreement shall be effective as of the Effective Time.
(b)
Notwithstanding
Section 1.03(a) above, as between any two of the Parties, the
provisions of, and the obligations under, this Agreement shall be suspended as
between such Parties until the applicable Relevant Time (and, as the context
requires, references to the Effective Time shall be deemed to refer to the
Relevant Time), other than Sections 2.01, 2.02, 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07,
2.09 and 2.10, each of which shall be effective as of the Effective Time. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that
one or more of the Distributions shall not be effected on the first
Distribution Date to occur, then for purposes of determining the rights and
obligations between IAC and any Spinco the Spinco Common Stock of which shall
have been distributed on such date, until the Distribution Date, if any, for
each Spinco not so distributed, such undistributed Spinco and the members of
its Corresponding Group shall continue to be treated as members of the IAC
Group and shall not, upon its Distribution Date, bear any Liability for any
Retained Liabilities.
ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION
2.01.
Separation
. To the extent not already complete, IAC and
the Spincos agree to implement the Separation and to cause the Corresponding
Businesses of each Spinco to be transferred to such Spinco and its Subsidiaries
and the Remaining Business to be held by IAC and its Subsidiaries (other than
the Spincos and their Subsidiaries) as of the Effective Time, on the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement. The Parties acknowledge that the Separation
is intended to result in each Spinco, directly or indirectly, operating its
Corresponding Business, owning its Corresponding Assets and assuming its
Corresponding Liabilities as set forth in this Article II.
20
2.02.
Implementation
. The Separation shall be completed in
accordance with the agreed general principles, objectives and other provisions
set forth in this Article II and shall be implemented in the following
manner:
(a)
through
the completion of the steps described in the Transactions Memo;
(b)
through
the transfer from time to time following the Effective Time of the Deferred
Transfer Assets as described in Article III;
(c)
through
the completion from time to time following the Effective Time of the Deferred
Transactions, as described in Section 10.01(a); and
(d)
through
the performance by the Parties of all other provisions of this Agreement.
2.03.
Transfer
of Spun Assets; Assumption of Spun Liabilities
. On the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth in this Agreement, and in furtherance of the Separation, with effect
as of the Effective Time:
(a)
To
the extent not already complete, IAC agrees to cause the Corresponding Assets
of each Spinco to be contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed and
delivered, directly or indirectly, to such Spinco, and each Spinco agrees to
accept all of its Corresponding Assets and all of the rights, title and
interest in and to all its Corresponding Assets owned, directly or indirectly,
by IAC which, except with respect to Deferred Corresponding Assets and
Unreleased Liabilities, will result in such Spinco owning, directly or
indirectly, its Corresponding Business.
(b)
Each
Spinco agrees to accept, assume and faithfully perform, discharge and fulfill
all of its Corresponding Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms.
2.04.
TM
Assets
. For the purposes of this
Agreement,
TM Assets
shall mean, without duplication, those Assets
whether now existing or hereinafter acquired, used or contemplated to be used
or held for use exclusively or primarily in the ownership, operation or conduct
of the Ticketing Business or relating exclusively or primarily to the Ticketing
Business or to a TM Entity including the following:
(a)
all
Assets expressly identified in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement or
in any Schedule hereto or thereto, including those, if any, listed on
Schedule
2.04(a)
, as Assets to be transferred to, or retained by, TM Spinco or any
other member of the TM Group;
(b)
the
outstanding capital stock, units or other equity interests of the TM Entities,
as listed on
Schedule 2.04(b)
, and the Assets owned by such TM Entities;
(c)
all
Assets properly reflected on
Schedule 2.04(c)
(the
TM Group
Balance Sheet
), excluding Assets disposed of by IAC or any other
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC subsequent to the date of the TM Group
Balance Sheet;
21
(d)
all
Assets that have been written off, expensed or fully depreciated by IAC or any
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC that, had they not been written off,
expensed or fully depreciated, would have been reflected on the TM Group
Balance Sheet in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in
the United States (
GAAP
);
(e)
all
Assets acquired by IAC or any Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC after the
date of the TM Group Balance Sheet and that would be reflected on the balance
sheet of TM Spinco as of the Effective Time (the
TM Opening Balance Sheet
),
if such balance sheet were prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(f)
all
Assets transferred to TM Spinco or any member of the TM Group pursuant to Section 10.01(a);
provided
,
however
, that any such transfer shall take effect under
Section 10.01(a) and not under this Section 2.04.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be
excluded from the definition of TM Assets under this Section 2.04 Business
Records to the extent they are included in or primarily relate to any Excluded
Asset or Retained Liability or the Remaining Business or their transfer is
prohibited by Applicable Law or by agreements between any other Separate-co or
any member of another Separate-cos Corresponding Group and Third Parties or
otherwise would subject any other Separate-co or any member of any other
Corresponding Group to liability for such transfer. Access to such excluded Business Records
shall be governed by Article VIII.
2.05.
Interval
Assets
. For the purposes of this
Agreement,
Interval Assets
shall mean, without duplication, those
Assets whether now existing or hereinafter acquired, used or contemplated to be
used or held for use exclusively or primarily in the ownership, operation or
conduct of the Vacations Business or relating exclusively or primarily to the
Vacation Business or to an Interval Entity including the following:
(a)
all
Assets expressly identified in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement or
in any Schedule hereto or thereto, including those, if any, listed on
Schedule
2.05(a)
, as Assets to be transferred to, or retained by, Interval Spinco or
any other member of the Interval Group;
(b)
the
outstanding capital stock, units or other equity interests of the Interval
Entities, as listed on
Schedule 2.05(b),
and the Assets owned by such
Interval Entities;
(c)
all
Assets properly reflected on
Schedule 2.05(c)
(the
Interval
Group Balance Sheet
), excluding Assets disposed of by IAC or any other
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC subsequent to the date of the Interval
Group Balance Sheet;
(d)
all
Assets that have been written off, expensed or fully depreciated by IAC or any
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC that, had they not been written off,
expensed or fully depreciated, would have been reflected on the Interval Group
Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP;
(e)
all
Assets acquired by IAC or any Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC after the
date of the Interval Group Balance Sheet and that would be reflected on the
balance
22
sheet of Interval Spinco as of the Effective
Time (the
Interval Opening Balance Sheet
), if such balance sheet were
prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(f)
all
Assets transferred to Interval Spinco or any member of the Interval Group
pursuant to Section 10.01(a);
provided
,
however
, that any
such transfer shall take effect under Section 10.01(a) and not under
this Section 2.05.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be
excluded from the definition of Interval Assets under this Section 2.05
Business Records to the extent they are included in or primarily relate to any
Excluded Asset or Retained Liability or the Remaining Business or their
transfer is prohibited by Applicable Law or by agreements between any other
Separate-co or any member of another Separate-cos Corresponding Group and
Third Parties or otherwise would subject any other Separate-co or any member of
any other Corresponding Group to liability for such transfer. Access to such excluded Business Records
shall be governed by Article VIII.
2.06.
HSN
Assets
. For the purposes of this
Agreement,
HSN Assets
shall mean, without duplication, those Assets
whether now existing or hereinafter acquired, used or contemplated to be used
or held for use exclusively or primarily in the ownership, operation or conduct
of the Retailing Business or relating exclusively or primarily to the Retailing
Business or to an HSN Entity including the following:
(a)
all
Assets expressly identified in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement or
in any Schedule hereto or thereto, including those, if any, listed on
Schedule
2.06(a)
, as Assets to be transferred to, or retained by, HSN Spinco or any
other member of the HSN Group;
(b)
the
outstanding capital stock, units or other equity interests of the HSN Entities,
as listed on
Schedule 2.06(b)
, and the Assets owned by such HSN
Entities;
(c)
all
Assets properly reflected on
Schedule 2.06(c)
(the
HSN Group
Balance Sheet
), excluding Assets disposed of by IAC or any other
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC subsequent to the date of the HSN Group
Balance Sheet;
(d)
all
Assets that have been written off, expensed or fully depreciated by IAC or any
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC that, had they not been written off,
expensed or fully depreciated, would have been reflected on the HSN Group
Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP;
(e)
all
Assets acquired by IAC or any Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC after the
date of the HSN Group Balance Sheet and that would be reflected on the balance
sheet of HSN as of the Effective Time (the
HSN Opening Balance Sheet
),
if such balance sheet were prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(f)
all
Assets transferred to HSN Spinco or any member of the HSN Group pursuant to Section 10.01(a);
provided
,
however
, that any such transfer shall take effect under
Section 10.01(a) and not under this Section 2.06.
23
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be
excluded from the definition of HSN Assets under this Section 2.06
Business Records to the extent they are included in or primarily relate to any
Excluded Asset or Retained Liability or the Remaining Business or their
transfer is prohibited by Applicable Law or by agreements between any other
Separate-co or any member of another Separate-cos Corresponding Group and
Third Parties or otherwise would subject any other Separate-co or any member of
any other Corresponding Group to liability for such transfer. Access to such excluded Business Records
shall be governed by Article VIII.
2.07.
Tree
Assets
. For the purposes of this
Agreement,
Tree Assets
shall mean, without duplication, those Assets
whether now existing or hereinafter acquired, used or contemplated to be used
or held for use exclusively or primarily in the ownership, operation or conduct
of the Lending and Real Estate Business or relating exclusively or primarily to
the Lending and Real Estate Business or to a Tree Entity including the
following:
(a)
all
Assets expressly identified in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement or
in any Schedule hereto or thereto, including those, if any, listed on
Schedule
2.07(a)
, as Assets to be transferred to, or retained by, Tree Spinco or any
other member of the Tree Group;
(b)
the
outstanding capital stock, units or other equity interests of the Tree
Entities, as listed on
Schedule 2.07(b)
, and the Assets owned by such Tree
Entities;
(c)
all
Assets properly reflected on
Schedule 2.07(c)
(the
Tree Group
Balance Sheet
), excluding Assets disposed of by IAC or any other
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC subsequent to the date of the Tree Group
Balance Sheet;
(d)
all
Assets that have been written off, expensed or fully depreciated by IAC or any
Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC that, had they not been written off,
expensed or fully depreciated, would have been reflected on the Tree Group
Balance Sheet in accordance with GAAP;
(e)
all
Assets acquired by IAC or any Subsidiary or entity controlled by IAC after the
date of the Tree Group Balance Sheet and that would be reflected on the balance
sheet of Tree Spinco as of the Effective Time (the
Tree Opening Balance Sheet
),
if such balance sheet were prepared in accordance with GAAP; and
(f)
all
Assets transferred to Tree Spinco or any member of the Tree Group pursuant to Section 10.01(a);
provided
,
however
, that any such transfer shall take effect under
Section 10.01(a) and not under this Section 2.07.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be
excluded from the definition of Assets under this Section 2.07 Business
Records to the extent they are included in or primarily relate to any Excluded
Asset or Retained Liability or the Remaining Business or their transfer is
prohibited by Applicable Law or by agreements between any other Separate-co or
any member of another Separate-cos Corresponding Group and Third Parties or
otherwise would subject any other Separate-co or any member of any other
Corresponding Group to liability for such transfer. Access to such excluded Business Records
shall be governed by Article VIII.
24
2.08.
Deferred
Spun Assets
. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained in Section 2.04, 2.05, 2.06 or 2.07 or elsewhere
in this Agreement, the Spun Assets shall not include any Deferred Spun
Assets. The transfer to a Spinco or its
Corresponding Group of any such Deferred Spun Asset shall only be completed at
the time, in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in Article III.
2.09.
Excluded
Assets
. (a) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in Section 2.04, 2.05, 2.06 or 2.07 or
elsewhere in this Agreement, the following Assets of IAC (or of any other
relevant member of the IAC Group) that would otherwise be included among the
Corresponding Assets of a Spinco shall not be transferred to such Spinco (or
any other member of its Corresponding Group), shall not form part of its
Corresponding Assets and shall remain the exclusive property of IAC (or the
relevant member of the IAC Group) on and after the Effective Time (the
Excluded
Assets
):
(i)
any
Asset expressly identified on
Schedule 2.09(a)
; and
(ii)
any
Asset transferred to IAC or to any other relevant member of the IAC Group
pursuant to Section 10.01(a);
provided
,
however
, that any
such transfers shall take effect under Section 10.01(a) and not under
this Section 2.09.
(b)
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, Excluded Assets shall not include
Deferred Excluded Assets. The transfer
to IAC (or to the relevant member of the IAC Group) or to another Spinco (or to
the relevant member of its Corresponding Group) of any such Asset shall be
completed at the time, in the manner and subject to the conditions set forth in
Article III.
2.10.
Liabilities
. For the purposes of this Agreement,
Liabilities shall be identified as
TM Liabilities
,
Interval
Liabilities
,
HSN Liabilities
,
Tree Liabilities
or
Retained Liabilities
under the
following principles:
(a)
any
Liability which is expressly identified on
Schedule 2.10(a)
shall
be a TM Liability;
(b)
any
Liability which is expressly identified on
Schedule 2.10(b)
shall
be an Interval Liability;
(c)
any
Liability which is expressly identified on
Schedule 2.10(c)
shall
be an HSN Liability;
(d)
any
Liability which is expressly identified on
Schedule 2.10(d)
shall
be a Tree Liability;
(e)
any
Liability which is expressly identified on
Schedule 2.10(e)
shall
be a Retained Liability;
(f)
(i) 50%
of any Shared Liability of Ticketmaster Spinco shall be a Ticketmaster
Liability and 50% shall be a Retained Liability, (ii) 50% of any Shared
Liability of Interval Spinco shall be an Interval Liability and 50% shall be a
Retained Liability, (iii) 50% of
25
any Shared Liability of HSN Spinco shall be
an HSN Liability and 50% shall be a Retained Liability and (iv) 50% of any
Shared Liability of Tree Spinco shall be a Tree Liability and 50% shall be a
Retained Liability;
(g)
any
Liability of a Spun Entity, whether arising or accruing prior to, on or after
the Effective Time and whether the facts on which it is based occurred on,
prior to or after the Effective Time and whether or not reflected on the
Corresponding Group Balance Sheet or on the Corresponding Opening Balance
Sheet, shall be a Corresponding Liability of such Spun Entitys Corresponding
Group, unless it is expressly identified in this Agreement (including on any
Schedule) or in any Ancillary Agreement as a Liability to be assumed or
retained by IAC (or any other member of the IAC Group) or by a Spinco that is
not included in such Spun Entitys Corresponding Group (or any other relevant
member of such other Spincos Corresponding Group), in which case it shall be a
Retained Liability or a Spun Liability of such other Spincos Corresponding
Group, as applicable;
(h)
any
Liability relating to, arising out of, or resulting from the conduct of, a Spun
Business (as conducted at any time prior to, on or after the Effective Time) or
relating to a Spun Asset or a Deferred Spun Asset and whether arising or
accruing prior to, on or after the Effective Time and whether the facts on
which it is based occurred on, prior to or after the Effective Time and whether
or not reflected on the Corresponding Group Balance Sheet or the Corresponding
Opening Balance Sheet, shall be a Corresponding Liability of such Spun Business
Corresponding Group, unless it is expressly identified in this Agreement
(including on any Schedule) or in any Ancillary Agreement as a Liability to be
assumed or retained by IAC (or any other member of the IAC Group) or by a
Spinco that is not included in such Spun Entitys Corresponding Group (or any
other relevant member of such other Spincos Corresponding Group), in which
case it shall be a Retained Liability or Spun Liability of such other Spincos
Corresponding Group, as applicable;
(i)
any
Liability which is reflected or otherwise disclosed as a liability or
obligation of any Spinco Group on its Corresponding Group Balance Sheet shall
be a Corresponding Liability of such Spinco Group;
(j)
any
Liability which would be reflected or otherwise disclosed on the Corresponding
Group Balance Sheet of any Spinco Group, if such balance sheet were prepared
under GAAP, shall be a Corresponding Liability of such Spinco Group;
(k)
any
Liability pursuant to contracts entered into by IAC and/or any member of the
IAC Group (i) in connection with the acquisition, by IAC and/or any member
of the IAC Group, of any Spun Entity and/or Spun Business or (ii) otherwise
relating primarily to a Spun Entity and/or the conduct of a Spun Business,
shall be a Corresponding Liability of such Spun Entitys or Spun Businesss
Corresponding Group, unless it is expressly identified in this Agreement
(including on any Schedule) or in any Ancillary Agreement as a Liability to be
assumed or retained by IAC (or any other member of the IAC Group) or by a
Spinco that is not included in such Spun Entitys Corresponding Group (or any
other relevant member of such other Spincos Corresponding Group), in which
case it shall be a Retained Liability or Spun Liability of such other Spincos
Corresponding Group, as applicable;
26
(l)
any
Liability of a Remaining IAC Entity, whether arising or accruing prior to, on
or after the Effective Time and whether the facts on which it is based occurred
on, prior to or after the Effective Time, shall be Retained Liability, unless
it is determined to be a Spun Liability pursuant to clause (a), (b), (c), (d),
(f), (g), (h), (i), (j) or (k) above,
in which case it shall be a Spun Liability as set forth thereunder;
(m)
any
Liability relating to, arising out of, or resulting from the conduct of, a
Remaining IAC Business (as conducted at any time prior to, on or after the
Effective Time) or relating to an Excluded Asset and whether arising or
accruing prior to, on or after the Effective Time and whether the facts on
which it is based occurred on, prior to or after the Effective Time, shall be a
Retained Liability, unless it is determined to be a Spun Liability pursuant to
clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i),
(j) or (k) above, in which case it shall be a Spun Liability
as set forth thereunder; and
(n)
any
Liability of any Spinco or any other member of any Spinco Group under this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be a Corresponding Liability of such
Spinco Group and any Liability of IAC or any other member of the IAC Group
under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be a Retained Liability.
2.11.
Third
Party Consents and Government Approvals
.
To the extent that the Separation or any transaction contemplated
thereby requires a Consent from any Third Party (a
Third Party Consent
)
or any Governmental Authorization, the Parties will use commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain all such Third Party Consents and Governmental Authorizations
prior to the Effective Time. If the
Parties fail to obtain any such Third Party Consent or Governmental
Authorization prior to the Effective Time, the matter shall be dealt with in
the manner set forth in Article III.
2.12.
Preservation
of Agreements
. The Parties each
agree that all written agreements, arrangements, commitments and understandings
between any member or members of its Corresponding Group, on the one hand, and
any member or members of any other Group, on the other hand, shall remain in
effect in accordance with their terms from and after the Effective Time, unless
otherwise terminated by the relevant Parties.
2.13.
Ancillary
Agreements
. On or prior to the
Effective Time, the Parties shall execute and deliver or, as applicable, cause
the appropriate members of their respective Groups to execute and deliver, each
of the following agreements (collectively, the
Ancillary Agreements
):
(a)
the
Employee Matters Agreement;
(b)
the
Tax Sharing Agreement;
(c)
the
Transition Services Agreement; and
(d)
the
Transactions Memorandum, and such other agreements and instruments as may
relate to or be identified in any of the foregoing agreements.
27
2.14.
Resignations
. (a) IAC agrees to cause each Person who
is a director or an officer of any Spun Entity and who will not be or become an
employee of such Spun Entitys Spinco Group (or any member thereof) at the
Effective Time to resign from such position with effect as of the Effective
Time;
provided
,
however
, that this Section 2.14(a) shall
not apply to the persons in the capacities set forth on Schedule 2.14(a).
(b)
Each
Spinco agrees to cause each Person (i) who is a director or an officer of
a Remaining IAC Entity or any Spun Entity that is not a member of such Spincos
Corresponding Group and (ii) who will become an employee of such Spincos
Corresponding Group (or any member thereof) at the Effective Time to resign
from such position with effect as of the Effective Time.
(c)
Each
Separate-co agrees to obtain all such letters of resignation or other evidence
of such resignations as may be necessary or desirable in performing their
respective obligations under this Section 2.14.
2.15.
Cooperation
. The Parties shall cooperate in all aspects of
the Separation and shall sign all such documents and perform all such other
acts as may be necessary or desirable to give full effect to the Separation;
and each Separate-co shall cause each other member of its Corresponding Group
to do likewise.
2.16.
Intercompany
Accounts Among Groups
. Except as
otherwise expressly provided in any Ancillary Agreement, from and after the
Effective Time, each Separate-co agrees to cause any Intercompany Account
payable by any member of its Corresponding Group to any member of any other
Group to be satisfied in full.
2.17.
Disclaimer
of Representations and Warranties
. (a)
Each of the Parties (on behalf of itself and each other member of its
respective Corresponding Group) understands and agrees that, except as
expressly set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, no Party to this
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any other agreement or document
contemplated by this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise, makes any
representation or warranty, express or implied, regarding any of the Spun
Assets, Spun Entities, Spun Businesses, Excluded Assets, Spun Liabilities or
Retained Liabilities including any warranty of merchantability or fitness for a
particular purpose, or any representation or warranty regarding any Consents or
Governmental Authorizations required in connection therewith or their transfer,
regarding the value or freedom from Encumbrances of, or any other matter
concerning, any Spun Asset or Excluded Asset, or regarding the absence of any
defense or right of setoff or freedom from counterclaim with respect to any
claim or other Spun Asset or Excluded Asset, including any Account Receivable
of any Party, or as to the legal sufficiency of any assignment, document or
instrument delivered hereunder to convey title to any Spun Asset or Excluded
Asset upon the execution, delivery and filing hereof or thereof.
(b)
Except
as may expressly be set forth herein or in any Ancillary Agreement, all Spun
Assets and Excluded Assets are being transferred on an as is, where is basis,
at the risk of the respective transferees without any warranty whatsoever on
the part of the transferor, formal or implicit, legal, statutory or
conventional (and, in the case of any Real Property, by means of a quitclaim or
similar form deed or conveyance).
28
ARTICLE III
DEFERRED SEPARATION TRANSACTIONS
3.01.
Deferred
Transfer Assets
. (a) If the
transfer to, or retention by, any member of a Spinco Group of any Asset that
would otherwise constitute its Corresponding Asset (a
Deferred Spun Asset
;
with respect to such Spinco, a
Deferred Corresponding Asset
) or the
transfer to, or retention by, any member of the IAC Group of any Asset that
would otherwise constitute an Excluded Asset (a
Deferred Excluded Asset
,
and together with a Deferred Spun Asset, a
Deferred Transfer Asset
)
cannot be accomplished without giving rise to a violation of Applicable Law, or
without obtaining a Third Party Consent or a Governmental Authorization
(collectively, a
Transfer Impediment
) and any such Third Party Consent
or Governmental Authorization has not been obtained prior to the Effective
Time, then such Asset shall be dealt with in the manner described in this Section 3.01.
(b)
Pending
removal of such Transfer Impediment, the Person holding the Deferred Transfer
Asset (the
Retaining Person
) shall hold such Deferred Transfer Asset
for the use and benefit, insofar as reasonably possible, of the Party to whom
the transfer of such Asset could not be made at the Effective Time (the
Deferred
Beneficiary
). The Retaining Person
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve such Asset and its right,
title and interest therein and take all such other action as may reasonably be
requested by the Deferred Beneficiary (in each case, at such Deferred
Beneficiarys expense) in order to place such Deferred Beneficiary, insofar as
reasonably possible, in the same position as it would be in if such Asset had
been transferred to it or retained by it with effect as of the Effective Time
and so that, subject to the standard of care set forth above, all the benefits
and burdens relating to such Deferred Transfer Asset, including possession,
use, risk of loss, potential for gain, enforcement of rights against third
parties and dominion, control and command over such Asset, are to inure from
and after the Effective Time to such Deferred Beneficiary and the members of
its Group. The provisions set forth in
this Article III contain all the obligations of the Retaining Person
vis-à-vis the Deferred Beneficiary with respect to the Deferred Transfer Asset
and the Retaining Person shall not be bound vis-à-vis the Deferred Beneficiary
by any other obligations under Applicable Law.
(c)
The
Parties shall continue on and after the Effective Time to use commercially
reasonable efforts to remove all Transfer Impediments;
provided
,
however
,
that no Party shall be required to make any unreasonable payment or assume any
material obligations therefor. As and
when any Transfer Impediment is removed, the relevant Deferred Transfer Asset
shall forthwith be transferred to its Deferred Beneficiary at no additional
cost and in a manner and on terms consistent with the relevant provisions of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, including Section 2.17(b) hereof,
and any such transfer shall take effect as of the date of its actual transfer.
(d)
Notwithstanding
the foregoing or any provision of Applicable Law, a Retaining Person shall not
be obligated, in connection with the foregoing, to expend any money in respect
of a Deferred Transfer Asset unless the necessary funds are advanced by the
Deferred Beneficiary of such Deferred Transfer Asset, other than reasonable
attorneys fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly
reimbursed by the Deferred Beneficiary of such Deferred Transfer Asset.
29
3.02.
Unreleased
Liabilities
. If at any time on or
after the Effective Time, any member of any Group shall remain obligated to any
Third Party in respect of any Corresponding Liability not its own i.e., a Corresponding
Liability of another Separate-co (such other Separate-co with respect such
Unreleased Liability and such Unreleased Person, the
Responsible
Separate-co
) the following provisions shall apply. The Liabilities referred to in this Section 3.02
are hereinafter referred to as the
Unreleased Liabilities
, the Person
remaining obligated for such Liability in a manner contrary to what is intended
under this Agreement is hereinafter referred to as the
Unreleased Person
,
such Unreleased Persons Corresponding Separate-co, the
Unreleased
Separate-co
and such Unreleased Persons Corresponding Group, the
Unreleased
Group
.
(a)
Each
Unreleased Person shall remain obligated to Third Parties for such Unreleased
Liability as provided in the relevant Contract, Applicable Law or other source
of such Unreleased Liability and shall pay and perform such Unreleased
Liability as and when required, in accordance with its terms.
(b)
Each
Responsible Separate-co shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Other
Separate-Co Indemnified Party that is an Unreleased Person from and against any
Liabilities arising in respect of each Unreleased Liability of such Unreleased
Person that is a Corresponding Liability of such Responsible Separate-co. Each Responsible Separate-co shall take, and
shall cause the members of its Corresponding Group (the
Responsible Group
)
to take, such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the applicable
Unreleased Separate-co in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement in
order to place the applicable Unreleased Group, insofar as reasonably possible,
in the same position as it would be in if such Unreleased Liability had been
fully contributed, assigned, transferred, conveyed, and delivered to, and
accepted and assumed or retained, as applicable, by such Responsible
Separate-co (or any relevant member of the Responsible Group) with effect as of
the Effective Time and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such
Unreleased Liability, including possession, use, risk of loss, potential for
gain, and dominion, control and command over such Unreleased Liability, are to
inure from and after the Effective Time to the member or members of the
Responsible Group.
(c)
Each
Responsible Separate-co shall continue on and after the Effective Time to use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause the applicable Unreleased Persons to
be released from their respective Unreleased Liabilities.
(d)
If,
as and when it becomes possible to delegate, novate or extinguish any
Unreleased Liability in favor of an Unreleased Person, the relevant Parties
shall promptly sign all such documents and perform all such other acts, and
shall cause each member of their respective Groups, as applicable, to sign all
such documents and perform all such other acts, as may be necessary or
desirable to give effect to such delegation, novation, extinction or other
release without payment of any further consideration by the Unreleased Person.
3.03.
No
Additional Consideration
. For the
avoidance of doubt, the transfer or assumption of any Assets or Liabilities
under this Article III shall be effected without any additional
consideration by any Party hereunder.
30
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
4.01.
General
Covenants
. Each Party covenants with
and in favor of the other Parties that it shall, subject, in the case of IAC,
to Article XII:
(a)
do
and perform all such acts and things, and execute and deliver all such
agreements, assurances, notices and other documents and instruments as may
reasonably be required of it to facilitate the carrying out of the intent and
purpose of this Agreement;
(b)
cooperate
with and assist the other Parties, both before and after the Effective Time, in
dealing with transitional matters relating to or arising from the Separation,
the Distributions, this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements; and
(c)
cooperate
in preparing and filing all documentation (i) to effect all necessary
applications, notices, petitions, filings and other documents; and (ii) to
obtain as promptly as reasonably practicable all Consents and Governmental
Authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any Third Party
and/or any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (including all approvals required under
applicable antitrust laws).
4.02.
Covenants
of the Spincos
. In addition to the
covenants of the Spincos provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each Spinco
covenants and agrees with, and in favor of, the other Parties that it shall:
(a)
use
commercially reasonable efforts and do all things reasonably required of it to
cause the Separation and the Distributions to be completed, including
cooperating with IAC to obtain: the
approval for the listing of such Spincos Spinco Common Stock on NASDAQ or such
other securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system as is reasonably
acceptable to IAC;
(b)
use
its commercially reasonable efforts to take all such action as may be necessary
or desirable under applicable state securities and blue sky laws of the United
States (and any comparable laws under any foreign jurisdictions) in connection
with the Separation and the Distributions;
(c)
use
its commercially reasonable efforts to cause any member of another Group to be
released, as soon as reasonably practicable, from any guarantees given by any
member of such other Group (the
Guaranteeing Group
; its Corresponding
Separate-co, the
Guaranteeing Separate-co
) for the benefit of such
Spinco (the
Guaranteed Spinco
; its Corresponding Group, the
Guaranteed
Group
; its Corresponding Entities, the
Guaranteed Entities
) or
any Guaranteed Entities and (to the extent necessary to secure such releases)
to cause itself or one or more members of the Guaranteed Group to be
substituted in all respects for any member of the Guaranteeing Group in respect
of such guarantees,
provided
, that in the event that, notwithstanding
the commercially reasonable efforts of the Guaranteed Spinco, the Guaranteed
Spinco is unable to obtain such guarantee releases, the Guaranteed Spinco
hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Guaranteeing Separate-co and the other
members of the
31
Guaranteeing
Group harmless from and against all Liabilities incurred by them in connection
with, arising out of or resulting from such guarantees; and
(d)
perform
and, as applicable, cause each member of its Corresponding Group to perform
each of its and their respective obligations under each Ancillary Agreement.
4.03.
Spinco
Common Stock Escrow Accounts.
(a)
Immediately following the Effective Time, each Spinco shall deposit a number of
shares of its Spinco Common Stock as is equal to the product of (x) its
Corresponding Distribution Ratio and (y) the number of shares of IAC
Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of the Old IAC Integrated Warrant if
such warrant were to be exercised immediately prior to the Effective Time (such
Spincos
Corresponding Escrow Shares
) into an escrow account (a
Spinco
Common Stock Escrow Account
) to be established by each Spinco with The
Bank of New York Mellon (the
Escrow Agent
) to be held by the Escrow
Agent pursuant to the terms of an escrow agreement in customary form to be
agreed upon by each of the Spincos and the Escrow Agent prior to the Effective
Time (an
Escrow Agreement
). The
Spinco Common Stock Escrow Accounts will serve as a source of shares of Spinco
Common Stock deliverable upon the exercise of the New IAC Integrated
Warrant. Under the terms of the Escrow
Agreements, any shares of Spinco Common Stock designated for delivery upon
exercise of the New IAC Integrated Warrant shall be returned to the applicable
Spinco upon the expiration without exercise of the New IAC Integrated Warrant
in accordance with its terms. IAC and
each Spinco acknowledge that IACs obligation to issue shares of IAC Common
Stock to the holder of the Old IAC Integrated Warrant relates to the businesses
that were conducted by the IAC Group and the Spinco Groups prior to the
Effective Time. Accordingly, from and
after the Effective Time, upon an exercise of the New IAC Integrated Warrant,
as between IAC and the Spincos, each Spinco will exclusively bear the
obligation to deliver shares of its Spinco Common Stock. The issuance and delivery by each Spinco of
its Corresponding Escrow Shares to the applicable Spinco Common Stock Escrow
Account is intended to further such Spincos satisfaction of such obligations
following the Separation and the Distributions;
provided
,
however
,
that if for any reason such Spinco Common Stock Escrow Account does not satisfy
such obligations, the transfer of shares by such Spinco to the Spinco Common
Stock Escrow Account under this Section 4.03 is not in substitution of the
obligations of such Spinco under the immediately preceding sentence to deliver
shares of its Spinco Common Stock. For
the avoidance of doubt, any obligations with respect to the delivery of any
Spinco Common Stock on account of the New IAC Integrated Warrant shall be a
Corresponding Liability of such Spinco.
If, at any time or from time to time following the Effective Time,
(X)
IAC
reasonably determines in good faith (which determination, absent manifest
error, shall be final and binding) in its sole discretion that, for any Spinco,
its Corresponding Escrow Shares are insufficient to satisfy the obligations
with respect to the New IAC Integrated Warrant, IAC shall provide to such
Spinco written notice indicating the number of additional shares of such Spinco
Common Stock necessary to satisfy the obligations pursuant to the New IAC
Integrated Warrant and such Spinco shall promptly deposit into the applicable
Spinco Common Stock Escrow Account the number of shares of such Spinco Common
Stock indicated in the written notice from IAC; or
32
(Y)
any
Spinco undertakes any action, or any event shall occur, that either (i) results
in an adjustment to the number of shares of its Spinco Common Stock with
respect to which the New IAC Integrated Warrant is exercisable or (ii) causes
that portion of the New IAC Integrated Warrant that would otherwise have been
exercisable for shares of such Spinco Common Stock to become exercisable into
another form of consideration (including, without limitation, in conjunction
with a merger of such Spinco or a reclassification of such Spinco Common
Stock), then, in each case, such Spinco shall promptly deposit into the
applicable Spinco Common Stock Escrow Account the number of additional shares
of such Spinco Common Stock and/or the other consideration with respect to
which the New IAC Integrated Warrant is exercisable.
(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
lieu of issuing any fractional shares of its Spinco Common Stock upon the
exercise of the New IAC Integrated Warrant, the applicable Spinco shall
promptly deposit into the applicable Spinco Common Stock Escrow Account cash in
lieu of such fractional share in an amount computed in accordance with the
terms of the New IAC Integrated Warrant.
4.04.
Cash
Balance True-Ups
. (a) In the
event that, after review and reconciliation, the amount of cash and cash
equivalents and marketable securities reflected in the bank statements (or
their equivalents) including instruments deposited and interest accrued but not
yet collected of the domestic operations of TM Spinco and its subsidiaries as
of the close of business on the TM Distribution Date (the
TM Effective Time
Cash Balance
) is greater than $0 after reducing the TM Effective Time Cash
Balance for the aggregate amount of any Revolving Facility Borrowings
outstanding under the TM Credit Agreement dated July 25, 2008 (the
TM
Target Cash Balance
), TM Spinco shall make one or more payments to IAC as
promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event more than ninety
(90) days after the Effective Time, totaling an amount equal to the excess of
the TM Effective Time Cash Balance over the TM Target Cash Balance. In the event that, after review and
reconciliation, the TM Effective Time Cash Balance is less than the TM Target
Cash Balance, IAC shall make one or more payments to TM Spinco as promptly as
practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event more than ninety (90)
days after the Effective Time, totaling an amount equal to the excess of the TM
Target Cash Balance over the TM Effective Time Cash Balance. Notwithstanding Section 13.08, payments
pursuant to this Section 4.04(a) shall not bear any interest. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) non-client
cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities reflected in the bank
statements (or their equivalents) of TM Spincos domestic client bank
statements (or their equivalents) will be included in the calculation of the TM
Target Cash Balance and (ii) client cash designated for payment to clients
representing the face amount of tickets sold will not be included in the
calculation of the TM Target Cash Balance.
(b)
In
the event that, after review and reconciliation, the amount of cash and cash
equivalents and marketable securities reflected in the bank statements (or
their equivalents) including instruments deposited and interest accrued but not
yet collected of the domestic operations of Interval Spinco and its
subsidiaries as of the close of business on the Interval Distribution Date (the
Interval Effective Time Cash Balance
) is greater than $50,000,000 (the
Interval Target Cash Balance
), Interval Spinco shall make one or more
payments to IAC as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no
event more than ninety (90) days after
33
the Effective
Time, totaling an amount equal to the excess of the Interval Effective Time
Cash Balance over the Interval Target Cash Balance. In the event that, after review and
reconciliation, the Interval Effective Time Cash Balance is less than the
Interval Target Cash Balance, IAC shall make one or more payments to Interval
Spinco as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event
more than ninety (90) days after the Effective Time, totaling an amount equal
to the excess of the Interval Target Cash Balance over the Interval Effective
Time Cash Balance. Notwithstanding Section 13.08,
payments pursuant to this Section 4.04(b) shall not bear any
interest. For the avoidance of doubt,
cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities reflected in the bank
statements (or their equivalents) of Interval Spincos ResortQuest operations
designated as Trust accounts and restricted cash and cash equivalents and
marketable securities of Interval Spincos Meridian Financial Services
subsidiary will not be included in the calculation of the Interval Target Cash
Balance.
(c)
In
the event that, after review and reconciliation, the amount of cash and cash
equivalents and marketable securities reflected in the bank statements (or
their equivalents) including instruments deposited and interest accrued but not
yet collected of HSN Spinco and its subsidiaries as of the close of business on
the HSN Distribution Date (the
HSN Effective Time Cash Balance
) is
greater than $50,000,000 (the
HSN Target Cash Balance
), HSN Spinco
shall make one or more payments to IAC as promptly as practicable after the
Effective Time, but in no event more than ninety (90) days after the Effective
Time, totaling an amount equal to the excess of the HSN Effective Time Cash
Balance over the HSN Target Cash Balance.
In the event that, after review and reconciliation, the HSN Effective
Time Cash Balance is less than the HSN Target Cash Balance, IAC shall make one
or more payments to HSN Spinco as promptly as practicable after the Effective
Time, but in no event more than ninety (90) days after the Effective Time,
totaling an amount equal to the excess of the HSN Target Cash Balance over the
HSN Effective Time Cash Balance.
Notwithstanding Section 13.08, payments pursuant to this Section 4.04(c) shall
not bear any interest.
(d)
In
the event that, after review and reconciliation, the amount of cash and cash
equivalents and marketable securities in the bank statements (or their
equivalents) including instruments deposited and interest accrued but not yet
collected of Tree Spinco and its subsidiaries as of the close of business on
the Tree Distribution Date (the
Tree Effective Time Cash Balance
) is
greater than $98,250,000 less any amounts placed (or required to be placed) in
escrow in connection with a Tree lease with The Irvine Company (the
Tree
Target Cash Balance
), Tree Spinco shall make one or more payments to IAC
as promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event more than
ninety (90) days after the Effective Time, totaling an amount equal to the
excess of the Tree Effective Time Cash Balance over the Tree Target Cash
Balance. In the event that, after review
and reconciliation, the Tree Effective Time Cash Balance is less than the Tree
Target Cash Balance, IAC shall make one or more payments to Tree Spinco as
promptly as practicable after the Effective Time, but in no event more than
ninety (90) days after the Effective Time, totaling an amount equal to the
excess of the Tree Target Cash Balance over the Tree Effective Time Cash
Balance. Notwithstanding Section 13.08,
payments pursuant to this Section 4.04(d) shall not bear any
interest.
34
4.05.
Non-Solicitation
.
(a)
IAC
and each of the Spincos shall not, and each of them shall cause the other
members of its respective Corresponding Group not to, from the applicable
Distribution Date of a Spinco (the
Subject Spinco
) through and
including the eighteen-month anniversary of such Distribution Date, without the
prior written consent of the Subject Spinco, either directly or indirectly, on
their own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit for
employment or solicit, aid, induce or encourage any person who is an employee
of the Subject Spincos respective Corresponding Group as of such Distribution
Date to leave his or her employment.
(b)
No
Spinco shall, and each of them shall cause the other members of its respective
Corresponding Group not to, from the applicable Distribution Date of such
Spinco through and including the eighteen-month anniversary of such
Distribution Date, without the prior written consent of IAC, either directly or
indirectly, on their own behalf or in the service or on behalf of others, solicit
for employment or solicit, aid, induce or encourage any person who is an
employee of IACs Corresponding Group as of such Distribution Date to leave his
or her employment.
(c)
Nothing
in this Section 4.05 shall be deemed to prohibit any general solicitation
for employment through advertisements and search firms not specifically
directed at employees of another Party,
provided
that the applicable
Party has not encouraged or advised such firm to approach any such employee.
ARTICLE V
THE DISTRIBUTIONS
5.01.
Conditions
to the Distributions
. (a) In
addition to, and without in any way limiting, IACs rights under Section 12.1,
completion of each Distribution is conditioned on:
(i)
the
IAC Board not having determined that such Distribution is not in the best
interests of IAC and its stockholders;
(ii)
no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statements with
respect to such Spincos common shares shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the
SEC;
(iii)
the
applicable Spinco Common Stock shall have been accepted for listing on NASDAQ,
subject to compliance with applicable listing requirements;
(iv)
no
Order or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation of any
of the Distributions, or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or any Ancillary Agreement, including the transactions to effect the
Separation, shall be threatened, pending or in effect;
(v)
any
material Consents and Governmental Authorizations necessary to complete the
Separation and the Distributions shall have been obtained and be in full force
and effect;
35
(vi)
the
written solvency opinion delivered to the IAC Board by Duff & Phelps
regarding the Separation, the Distributions and other transactions contemplated
hereby shall not have been withdrawn or modified;
(vii)
IAC
shall have received an opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, in
form and substance satisfactory to the IAC Board, regarding the qualification
of the Distributions, as transactions that are generally tax free for U.S.
federal income tax purposes under Sections 355 and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the
Code (to the extent such qualification is not addressed by an Internal Revenue
Service private letter ruling (the IRS Ruling) received by IAC), which
opinion (and, in the event IAC shall have received the IRS Ruling, the IRS
Ruling) shall not have been withdrawn or modified; and
(viii)
IAC
shall have received opinions from its external tax advisors, in form and
substance satisfactory to the IAC Board, regarding the U.S. federal income tax
consequences to IAC of certain related matters and transactions (to the extent
such matters are not addressed by the IRS Ruling) and certain state tax
consequences to IAC of the Distributions, which opinions shall not have been
withdrawn or modified.
(b)
The
foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of IAC and shall not give rise to
or create any duty on the part of IAC or the IAC Board to waive or not to waive
such conditions or in any way limit IACs right to terminate this Agreement in
whole or in part as set forth in Article XII or alter the consequences of
any such termination from those specified in such Article XII. Any determination made by IAC prior to the
Separation and the Distributions concerning the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions set forth in this Section 5.01 shall be final and conclusive.
5.02.
Distribution
of Spinco Common Stock
. (a) Prior
to the Effective Time and in accordance with the Transactions Memo, each Spinco
shall issue to IAC such additional shares of its Spinco Common Stock (or shall
take or cause to be taken such other appropriate actions to ensure that IAC has
the requisite number of shares of Spinco Common Stock) to cause the number of
shares of such Spinco Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time to equal the product of (x) the sum of (i) the
applicable IAC Record Date Share Number and (ii) the number of shares of
IAC Common Stock issued or issuable pursuant to (A) the exercise of
outstanding IAC Stock Options following the applicable Distribution Record Date
and prior to August 18, 2008 or (B) pursuant to the settlement of IAC
Restricted Stock Units (as such terms are defined in the Employee Matters
Agreement), following the applicable Distribution Record Date and prior to the
Effective Time (in each case giving effect to any cashless exercise of IAC
Stock Options or withholding of shares of IAC Common Stock to satisfy tax
withholding obligations) (
Post-Record Date IAC Shares
) (y) the
Corresponding Distribution Ratio. The
Corresponding Distribution Ratio with respect to any Spinco shall be
appropriately adjusted in the event of any stock split, reverse stock split or
similar event in respect of the IAC Common Stock and/or IAC Class B Common
Stock following the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time.
(b)
On
the terms and subject to the conditions in this Agreement, with respect to each
Distribution, IAC will cause the applicable distribution or transfer agent (the
Agent
) at the Effective Time to distribute all of the outstanding
shares of the applicable Spinco Common
36
Stock then
owned by IAC to holders of IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B Common Stock
as of the applicable Distribution Record Date and, in accordance with the
Employee Matters Agreement, to holders of Post-Record Date IAC Shares, and to
credit the number of such shares of Spinco Common Stock to book entry accounts
for each such holder or designated transferee or transferees of such holder of
IAC Common Stock or IAC Class B Common Stock. On the terms and subject to the conditions in
this Agreement, each holder of IAC Common Stock or IAC Class B Common
Stock on the applicable Distribution Record Date (or such holders designated
transferee or transferees) will be entitled to receive in the applicable
Distribution a fraction of a share of the applicable Spincos Spinco Common
Stock equal to the applicable Distribution Ratio for each share of IAC Common
Stock or IAC Class B Common Stock so held by such stockholder as of the
applicable Distribution Record Date. No
action by any such stockholder shall be necessary for such stockholder (or such
stockholders designated transferee or transferees) to receive the applicable
number of shares of Spinco Common Stock (and, if applicable, cash in lieu of
any fractional shares) that such stockholder is entitled to receive in the
applicable Distribution.
5.03.
Fractional
Shares
. With respect to each
Distribution, IAC stockholders holding a number of shares of IAC Common Stock
or IAC Class B Common Stock on the applicable Distribution Record Date
which would entitle such stockholders to receive other than a whole number of
shares of the applicable Spinco Common Stock in such Distribution, will receive
cash in lieu of such fractional shares.
Fractional shares of Spinco Common Stock will not be distributed in any
Distribution nor credited to book-entry accounts. The Agent shall, as soon as practicable after
the applicable Distribution Date: (a) determine
the number of whole shares and fractional shares of the applicable Spinco
Common Stock to each holder of record as of close of business on the applicable
Distribution Record Date, (b) aggregate all such fractional shares into
whole shares and sell the whole shares obtained thereby in open market
transactions as soon as practicable after the applicable Distribution Date, in
each case, at then prevailing trading prices on behalf of holders who would
otherwise be entitled to fractional share interests, and (c) distribute to
each such holder, or for the benefit of each such beneficial owner, such holder
or owners ratable share of the net proceeds of such sale, based upon the
average gross selling price per share of applicable Spinco Common Stock, after
making appropriate deductions for any amount required to be withheld for United
States federal income tax purposes. Each
Spinco shall bear the cost of brokerage fees incurred in connection with the
sales of fractional shares of its Spinco Common Stock, which sales shall occur
as soon after the applicable Distribution Date as practicable and as determined
by the Agent. None of the Parties nor
the Agent will guarantee any minimum sale price for fractional shares of Spinco
Common Stock. None of the Parties will
pay any interest on the proceeds from the sale of fractional shares. The Agent acting on behalf of the applicable
Spinco will have the sole discretion to select the broker-dealers through which
to sell the aggregated fractional shares and to determine when, how and at what
price to sell such shares. Neither the
Agent nor the broker-dealers through which the aggregated fractional shares are
sold will be Affiliates of IAC or the applicable Spinco.
5.04.
Actions
in Connection with the Distributions
.
(a) Each Spinco shall file such amendments and supplements to its
respective Registration Statement as IAC may reasonably request, and such
amendments as may be necessary in order to cause the same to become and remain
effective as required by Applicable Law, including filing such amendments and
supplements to its respective Registration Statement as may be required by the
SEC or
37
federal, state or foreign securities
laws. IAC shall mail to the holders of
IAC Common Stock and IAC Class B Common Stock, at such time on or prior to
the applicable Distribution Date as IAC shall determine, the Prospectus forming
a part of the applicable Registration Statement, as well as any other
information concerning any of the Spincos, their business, operations and
management, the Separation and such other matters as IAC shall reasonably
determine are necessary and as may be required by Applicable Law.
(b)
Each
of the Spincos shall also cooperate with IAC in preparing, filing with the SEC
and causing to become effective registration statements or amendments thereof
which are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any
employee benefit and other plans necessary or appropriate in connection with
the Separation or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements. Promptly after
receiving a request from IAC, to the extent requested, each of HSN Spinco,
Interval Spinco, TM Spinco and Tree Spinco, as applicable, shall prepare and,
in accordance with Applicable Law, file with the SEC any such documentation
that IAC determines is necessary or desirable to effectuate the Distributions,
and IAC, HSN Spinco, Interval Spinco, TM Spinco and Tree Spinco shall each use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary approvals from the SEC
with respect thereto as soon as practicable.
(c)
Nothing
in this Section 5.04 shall be deemed, by itself, to shift Liability for
any portion of any Registration Statement or Prospectus to IAC.
(d)
In
addition to the covenants of the Spincos provided for elsewhere in this
Agreement, each Spinco covenants and agrees with, and in favor of, IAC that it
shall (i) cooperate with IAC in connection with IACs performance of its
obligations under the Liberty Spinco Agreement with respect to such Spinco to
be performed by IAC prior to the Effective Time, (ii) enter into a Liberty
Spinco Assumption Agreement and a Liberty Registration Rights Agreement as
contemplated by the Liberty Spinco Agreement and (iii) indemnify and hold
IAC and the other members of the IAC Group harmless from and against all
Liabilities incurred by them in connection with, arising out of or resulting
from such Spincos performance or failure to perform its obligations under such
agreements following the Effective Time.
5.05.
Treatment
of Integrated Warrant
. Immediately
following the Effective Time:
(a)
the
Old IAC Integrated Warrant shall by its terms, effective as of the Effective
Time be adjusted (as so adjusted, the
New IAC Integrated Warrant
),
represent the right to receive upon due exercise (x) a number of shares of
IAC Common Stock equal to the number of shares of IAC Common Stock subject to
the Old IAC Integrated Warrant immediately prior the Effective Time (the
Warrant
Share Number
); (y) a number of shares of Spinco Common Stock (or
substitutions therefor) of each Spinco, if any, the Distribution Date of which
shall have occurred prior to such Effective Time; and (z) such number of
shares of Spinco Common Stock of each Spinco whose Distribution is effected at
such Effective Time as a given holder of IAC Common Stock would be entitled at
the Effective Time had such holder held, on the applicable Distribution Record
Date, a number of shares of IAC Common Stock equal to the Warrant Share Number;
and
38
(b)
the
exercise price of the New IAC Integrated Warrant will not change.
ARTICLE VI
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION
6.01.
Release
of Pre-Distribution Claims
. (a) Except
as provided in Section 6.01(f), effective as of the Effective Time, TM
Spinco does hereby, on behalf of itself and each other member of the TM Group,
their respective Affiliates (other than any member of any other Group),
successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective
Time have been stockholders (other than any member of any other Group),
directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the TM Group (in each
case, in their respective capacities as such) (the
TM Releasors
),
unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably release and discharge each of
the other Separate-cos, the other members of the other Groups, their respective
Affiliates (other than any member of the TM Group), successors and assigns, and
all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been stockholders,
directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of any other Group (in
each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs,
executors, trustees, administrators, successors and assigns (the
Non-TM
Parties
), from any and all Actions, causes of action, choses in action,
cases, claims, suits, debts, dues, damages, judgments and liabilities, of any
nature whatsoever, in law, at equity or otherwise, whether direct, derivative
or otherwise, which have been asserted against a Non-TM Party or which, whether
currently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, and
whether or not concealed or hidden, the TM Releasors ever could have asserted
or ever could assert, in any capacity, whether as partner, employer, agent or
otherwise, either for itself or as an assignee, heir, executor, trustee,
administrator, successor or otherwise for or on behalf of any other Person,
against the Non-TM Parties, relating to any claims or transactions or
occurrences whatsoever, up to but excluding the Effective Time, including in
connection with the transactions and all activities to implement the Separation
and the Distributions (
TM Claims
); and the TM Releasors hereby
unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably agree not to initiate proceedings
with respect to, or institute, assert or threaten to assert, any TM Claim.
(b)
Except
as provided in Section 6.01(f), effective as of the Effective Time,
Interval Spinco does hereby, on behalf of itself and each other member of the
Interval Group, their respective Affiliates (other than any member of any other
Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the
Effective Time have been stockholders (other than any member of any other
Group), directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Interval
Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such) (the
Interval
Releasors
), unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably release and
discharge each of the other Separate-cos, the other members of the other
Groups, their respective Affiliates (other than any member of the Interval
Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the
Effective Time have been stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees
of any member of any other Group (in each case, in their respective capacities
as such), and their respective heirs, executors, trustees, administrators,
successors and assigns (the
Non-Interval Parties
), from any and all
Actions, causes of action, choses in action, cases, claims, suits, debts, dues,
damages, judgments and liabilities, of any nature whatsoever, in law, at equity
or otherwise, whether direct, derivative or otherwise, which have been asserted
against a Non-Interval Party or which, whether currently known or unknown,
suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, and
39
whether or not
concealed or hidden, the Interval Releasors ever could have asserted or ever
could assert, in any capacity, whether as partner, employer, agent or
otherwise, either for itself or as an assignee, heir, executor, trustee,
administrator, successor or otherwise for or on behalf of any other Person,
against the Non-Interval Parties, relating to any claims or transactions or
occurrences whatsoever, up to but excluding the Effective Time, including in
connection with the transactions and all activities to implement the Separation
and the Distributions (
Interval Claims
); and the Interval Releasors
hereby unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably agree not to initiate
proceedings with respect to, or institute, assert or threaten to assert, any
Interval Claim.
(c)
Except
as provided in Section 6.01(f), effective as of the Effective Time, HSN
Spinco does hereby, on behalf of itself and each other member of the HSN Group,
their respective Affiliates (other than any member of any other Group),
successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective
Time have been stockholders (other than any member of any other Group),
directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the HSN Group (in
each case, in their respective capacities as such) (the
HSN Releasors
),
unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably release and discharge each of
the other Separate-cos, the other members of the other Groups, their respective
Affiliates (other than any member of the HSN Group), successors and assigns,
and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been
stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of any
other Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their
respective heirs, executors, trustees, administrators, successors and assigns
(the
Non-HSN Parties
), from any and all Actions, causes of action,
choses in action, cases, claims, suits, debts, dues, damages, judgments and
liabilities, of any nature whatsoever, in law, at equity or otherwise, whether
direct, derivative or otherwise, which have been asserted against a Non-HSN
Party or which, whether currently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected,
fixed or contingent, and whether or not concealed or hidden, the HSN Releasors
ever could have asserted or ever could assert, in any capacity, whether as
partner, employer, agent or otherwise, either for itself or as an assignee,
heir, executor, trustee, administrator, successor or otherwise for or on behalf
of any other Person, against the Non-HSN Parties, relating to any claims or
transactions or occurrences whatsoever, up to but excluding the Effective Time,
including in connection with the transactions and all activities to implement
the Separation and the Distributions (
HSN Claims
); and the HSN
Releasors hereby unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably agree not to
initiate proceedings with respect to, or institute, assert or threaten to
assert, any HSN Claim.
(d)
Except
as provided in Section 6.01(f), effective as of the Effective Time, Tree
Spinco does hereby, on behalf of itself and each other member of the Tree
Group, their respective Affiliates (other than any member of any other Group),
successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective
Time have been stockholders (other than any member of any other Group),
directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of the Tree Group (in
each case, in their respective capacities as such) (the Tree
Releasors
),
unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably release and discharge each of
the other Separate-cos, the other members of the other Groups, their respective
Affiliates (other than any member of the Tree Group), successors and assigns,
and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been
stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of any
other Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their
respective heirs, executors, trustees, administrators, successors and assigns
(the
Non-Tree Parties
), from any and all Actions, causes
40
of action, choses in action, cases, claims,
suits, debts, dues, damages, judgments and liabilities, of any nature
whatsoever, in law, at equity or otherwise, whether direct, derivative or
otherwise, which have been asserted against a Non-LT Party or which, whether
currently known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, and
whether or not concealed or hidden, the Tree Releasors ever could have asserted
or ever could assert, in any capacity, whether as partner, employer, agent or
otherwise, either for itself or as an assignee, heir, executor, trustee,
administrator, successor or otherwise for or on behalf of any other Person,
against the Non-LT Parties, relating to any claims or transactions or
occurrences whatsoever, up to but excluding the Effective Time, including in connection
with the transactions and all activities to implement the Separation and the
Distributions (
Tree Claims
); and the Tree Releasors hereby
unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably agree not to initiate
proceedings with respect to, or institute, assert or threaten to assert, any
Tree Claim.
(e)
Except
as provided in Section 6.01(f), effective as of the Effective Time, IAC
does hereby, on behalf of itself and each other member of the IAC Group, their
respective Affiliates (other than any member of any Spinco Group), successors
and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have
been stockholders, directors, officers, agents or employees of any member of
the IAC Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such) (the
IAC
Releasors
), unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably release and
discharge each of the Spincos, the other members of the Spinco Groups, their
respective Affiliates (other than any member of the IAC Group), successors and
assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Time have been
stockholders (other than any member of the IAC Group), directors, officers,
agents or employees of any member of any Spinco Group (in each case, in their
respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors,
trustees, administrators, successors and assigns (the
Non-IAC Parties
),
from any and all Actions, causes of action, choses in action, cases, claims,
suits, debts, dues, damages, judgments and liabilities, of any nature whatsoever,
in law, at equity or otherwise, whether direct, derivative or otherwise, which
have been asserted against an Non-IAC Party or which, whether currently known
or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, fixed or contingent, and whether or not
concealed or hidden, the IAC Releasors ever could have asserted or ever could
assert, in any capacity, whether as partner, employer, agent or otherwise,
either for itself or as an assignee, heir, executor, trustee, administrator,
successor or otherwise for or on behalf of any other Person, against the
Non-IAC Parties, relating to any claims or transactions or occurrences
whatsoever, up to but excluding the Effective Time including in connection with
the transactions and all activities to implement the Separation and the
Distributions (
IAC Claims
); and the IAC Releasors hereby
unequivocally, unconditionally and irrevocably agree not to initiate
proceedings with respect to, or institute, assert or threaten to assert, any
IAC Claim.
(f)
Nothing
contained in Section 6.01(a), 6.01(b),
6.01(c), 6.01(d) or 6.01(e) shall impair any right of any
Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or, any agreement,
arrangement, commitment or understanding that is contemplated by Section 2.12
or any other agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding that is
entered into after the Effective Time among any member of any Group, on the one
hand, and any member of any other Group, on the other hand, nor shall anything
contained in those sections be interpreted as terminating as of the Effective
Time any rights under any such agreements, contracts, commitments or
understandings. For purposes of
clarification, nothing contained in Section 6.01(a), 6.01(b), 6.01(c),
6.01(d) or 6.01(e) shall release any Person from:
41
(i)
any
Liability provided in or resulting from this Agreement or any of the Ancillary
Agreements;
(ii)
any
Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any members of any
Group that is contemplated by Section 2.13 (including for greater
certainty, any Liability resulting or flowing from any breaches of such
agreements that arose prior to the Effective Time);
(iii)
any
Liability provided in or resulting from any other agreement, arrangement, commitment
or understanding that is entered into after the Effective Time between any
member of any Group, on the one hand, and any member of any other Group, on the
other hand;
(iv)
(A) with
respect to each Spinco, any Corresponding Liability of such Spinco and (B) with
respect to IAC, any Retained Liability;
(v)
any
Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification or
contribution pursuant to Article III or Section 5.04(d) of this
Agreement or this Article VI for Third Party Claims;
(vi)
any
Liability for unpaid Intercompany Accounts; or
(vii)
any
Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other
than a Person released pursuant to this Section 6.01.
In addition,
nothing contained in Section 6.01(a), 6.01(b), 6.01(c), 6.01(d) or 6.01(e) hereof
shall release any Separate-co from honoring its existing obligations to
indemnify any director, officer or employee of any Group who was a director,
officer or employee of such Separate-co on or prior to the Effective Time, to
the extent that such director, officer or employee becomes a named defendant in
any litigation involving such Separate-co and was entitled to such
indemnification pursuant to then existing obligations.
(g)
TM
Spinco shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the TM Group to
make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or
demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against any
other Separate-co or any member of any other Group or any other Person released
pursuant to Section 6.01(a), with respect to any Liabilities released
pursuant to Section 6.01(a).
(h)
Interval
Spinco shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the Interval
Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim
or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against
any other Separate-co or any member of any other Group or any other Person
released pursuant to Section 6.01(b), with respect to any Liabilities
released pursuant to Section 6.01(b).
(i)
HSN
Spinco shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the HSN Group
to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or
demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against any
other Separate-co
42
or any member
of any other Group or any other Person released pursuant to Section 6.01(c),
with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 6.01(c).
(j)
Tree
Spinco shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the Tree Group
to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or
demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against any
other Separate-co or any member of any other Group or any other Person released
pursuant to Section 6.01(d), with respect to any Liabilities released
pursuant to Section 6.01(d).
(k)
IAC
shall not make, and shall not permit any other member of the IAC Group to make,
any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand,
including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against any Spinco
or any other member of any Spinco Group or any other Person released pursuant
to Section 6.01(e), with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 6.01(e).
6.02.
Indemnification
by Spincos
. Except as provided in
Sections 6.04 and 6.05 and subject to Section 13.01, each Spinco shall,
and shall cause the other members of its Corresponding Group to, fully
indemnify, defend and hold harmless each other Separate-co, each other member
of each other Group and each of their respective current and former directors,
officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, trustees,
administrators, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively,
such Spincos
Corresponding Other Separate-cos Indemnified Parties
),
from and against any and all Liabilities of its Corresponding Other
Separate-cos Indemnified Parties relating to, arising out of or resulting from
any of the following items (without duplication):
(a)
with
respect to such Spinco, the Corresponding Business, any Corresponding Entity,
any Corresponding Asset, any Corresponding Liability or, subject to Article III,
any Deferred Spun Asset;
(b)
any
breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant, undertaking or
obligation of, this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, by such
Spinco or any other member of it Corresponding Group, subject to any limitation
on liability set forth in any Ancillary Agreement for any such breach or
failure to perform or comply with any covenant, undertaking or obligation under
such Ancillary Agreement; and
(c)
any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent relating to such Spincos Corresponding Group or Corresponding Business
contained in any Registration Statement or any other filings made with the SEC
in connection with the Separation and the Distributions.
6.03.
Indemnification
by IAC
. Except as provided in
Sections 6.04 and 6.05 and subject to Section 13.01, IAC shall indemnify,
defend and hold harmless each Spinco, each other member of each Spinco Group
and each of their respective current and former directors, officers and
employees, and each of the heirs, executors, trustees, administrators,
successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the
Non-IAC
Indemnified Parties
), from and
43
against any and all Liabilities of the
Non-IAC Indemnified Parties relating to, arising out of or resulting from any
of the following items (without duplication):
(a)
any
Remaining IAC Business or any Retained Liability;
(b)
any
breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant, undertaking or
obligation of, this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements, by IAC or any
other member of the IAC Group, subject to any limitation on liability set forth
in any Ancillary Agreement for any such breach or failure to perform or comply
with any covenant, undertaking or obligation under such Ancillary Agreement;
(c)
except
to the extent set forth in Section 6.02(c), any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, contained in any Registration Statement or
Prospectus forming a part thereof; provided that, notwithstanding anything in Section 6.02(c),
IAC shall also indemnify the Non-IAC Indemnified Parties from any Liability
arising as a result of any disclosure contained in the Prospectus contained in
any Registration Statement which disclosure was not in the Registration
Statement on Form 10 for any Spinco as filed with the SEC on July 22,
2008 other than (y) information relating to financial results for the
second quarter of 2008 and 2007 and (z) any information specifically
reviewed and/or approved by the Spinco; and
(d)
any
determination by a court of competent jurisdiction (whether or not in a final,
non-appealable judgment) that any of the Spincos has any liability (whether
direct or indirect) for the payment of the IAC Notes; it being understood that
in the event of any such determination, IAC shall be entitled to elect either
of the following options: (1) IAC shall make arrangements that are
reasonably satisfactory to any such Spinco to provide assurance that IAC has
the financial wherewithal to promptly satisfy the IAC Notes or (2) IAC
shall repay, redeem, satisfy and discharge, or otherwise retire the IAC Notes;
provided, that if such determination could reasonably be expected to result in
a default under any of such Spincos indebtedness, then such Spinco shall be
entitled to require IAC to exercise option (2) above.
6.04.
Procedures
for Indemnification of Third Party Claims
.
(a) All claims for indemnification relating to a Third Party Claim
by any indemnified party (an
Indemnified Party
) hereunder shall be
asserted and resolved as set forth in this Section 6.04.
(b)
In
the event that any written claim or demand for which an indemnifying party (an
Indemnifying
Party
) may have liability to any Indemnified Party hereunder, is asserted
against or sought to be collected from any Indemnified Party by a Third Party
(a
Third Party Claim
), such Indemnified Party shall promptly, but in
no event more than ten (10) days following such Indemnified Partys
receipt of a Third Party Claim, notify the Indemnifying Party in writing of
such Third Party Claim, the amount or the estimated amount of damages sought
thereunder to the extent then ascertainable (which estimate shall not be
conclusive of the final amount of such Third Party Claim), any other remedy
sought thereunder, any relevant time constraints relating thereto and, to the
extent practicable, and any other material details pertaining thereto (a
Claim
Notice
);
provided
,
however
, that the failure to timely give
a Claim Notice shall affect the rights of an Indemnified Party hereunder only
to the extent that such
44
failure has a
material prejudicial effect on the defenses or other rights available to the
Indemnifying Party with respect to such Third Party Claim. The Indemnifying
Party shall have thirty (30) days (or such lesser number of days set forth in
the Claim Notice as may be required by court proceeding in the event of a
litigated matter) after receipt of the Claim Notice (the
Notice Period
)
to notify the Indemnified Party whether it desires to defend the Indemnified
Party against such Third Party Claim;
provided
that in the event a Claim
Notice in respect of indemnification sought pursuant to Section 6.02(c) so
specifies, the Indemnified Party shall have the right to require the
Indemnifying Party, and in such event the Indemnifying Party shall be required,
to defend the Indemnified Party against such Third Party Claim at the
Indemnifying Partys expense.
(c)
In
the event that the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within the
Notice Period that it desires to defend the Indemnified Party against a Third
Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend the
Indemnified Party by appropriate proceedings and shall have the sole power to
direct and control such defense, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party at the Indemnifying Partys expense. Once the Indemnifying Party has duly assumed
the defense of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnified Party shall have the right,
but not the obligation, to participate in any such defense and to employ
separate counsel of its choosing. The
Indemnified Party shall participate in any such defense at its expense,
provided that such expense shall be the responsibility of the Indemnifying
Party if (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party are both
named parties to the proceedings and the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably
concluded that representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them (in
which case the Indemnifying Party shall not be responsible for expenses in
respect of more than one counsel for the Indemnified Party in any single
jurisdiction), or (ii) the Indemnified Party assumes the defense of a
Third Party Claim after the Indemnifying Party has failed to diligently defend
a Third Party Claim it has assumed the defense of, as provided in the first
sentence of this Section 6.04(c).
The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior written consent of
the Indemnified Party, settle, compromise or offer to settle or compromise any
Third Party Claim on a basis that would result in (i) the imposition of a
consent order, injunction or decree that would restrict the future activity or
conduct of the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates, (ii) a finding
or admission of a violation of Applicable Law or violation of the rights of any
Person by the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates or (iii) a
finding or admission that would have an adverse effect on other claims made or
threatened against the Indemnified Party or any of its Affiliates.
(d)
If
the Indemnifying Party (i) elects not to defend the Indemnified Party
against a Third Party Claim, whether by not giving the Indemnified Party timely
notice of its desire to so defend or otherwise or (ii) after assuming the
defense of a Third Party Claim or after receiving a Claim Notice specified in
the proviso to the last sentence of Section 6.04(b), fails to take
reasonable steps necessary to defend diligently such Third Party Claim within
ten (10) days after receiving written notice from the Indemnified Party to
the effect that the Indemnifying Party has so failed, the Indemnified Party
shall have the right but not the obligation to assume its own defense; it being
understood that the Indemnified Partys right to indemnification for a Third
Party Claim shall not be adversely affected by assuming the defense of such
Third Party Claim. The Indemnified Party
shall not settle a Third Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnifying
Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
45
(e)
The
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall cooperate in order to ensure
the proper and adequate defense of a Third Party Claim, including by providing
access to each others relevant business records and other documents, and
employees; it being understood that the reasonable costs and expenses of the
Indemnified Party relating thereto shall be Liabilities, subject to
indemnification.
(f)
The
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to avoid production of confidential information (consistent with
Applicable Law), and to cause all communications among employees, counsel and
others representing any party to a Third Party Claim to be made so as to
preserve any applicable attorney-client or work-product privileges.
6.05.
Procedures
for Indemnification of Direct Claims
.
Any claim for indemnification made directly by the Indemnified Party
against the Indemnifying Party that does not result from a Third Party Claim
shall be asserted by written notice from the Indemnified Party to the
Indemnifying Party specifically claiming indemnification hereunder. Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period
of 45 days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond
within such 45-day period, such Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have
accepted responsibility to make payment and shall have no further right to
contest the validity of such claim. If
such Indemnifying Party does respond within such 45-day period and rejects such
claim in whole or in part, such Indemnified Party shall be free to pursue
resolution as provided in Article IX.
6.06.
Adjustments
to Liabilities
. (a) If an
Indemnified Party receives any payment from an Indemnifying Party in respect of
any Liabilities and the Indemnified Party could have recovered all or a part of
such Liabilities from a Third Party (a
Potential Contributor
) based on
the underlying claim or demand asserted against such Indemnifying Party, such
Indemnified Party shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, assign such
of its rights to proceed against the Potential Contributor as are necessary to
permit such Indemnifying Party to recover from the Potential Contributor the
amount of such payment.
(b)
If
notwithstanding Section 6.06(a) an Indemnified Party receives an
amount from a Third Party in respect of a Liability that is the subject of
indemnification hereunder after all or a portion of such Liability has been
paid by an Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnified Party
shall promptly remit to the Indemnifying Party the excess (if any) of (i) the
amount paid by the Indemnifying Party in respect of such Liability, plus the
amount received from the Third Party in respect thereof, over (ii) the
full amount of the Liability.
(c)
An
insurer who would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved
of the responsibility with respect thereto or, solely by virtue of the
indemnification provisions hereof, have any subrogation rights with respect
thereto, it being expressly understood and agreed that no insurer or any other
Third Party shall be entitled to a wind-fall (i.e., a benefit they would not
be entitled to receive in the absence of the indemnification provisions) by
virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof.
46
6.07.
Payments
. The Indemnifying Party shall pay all amounts
payable pursuant to this Article VI by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, promptly following receipt from an Indemnified Party of a
bill, together with all accompanying reasonably detailed backup documentation,
for a Liability that is the subject of indemnification hereunder, unless the
Indemnifying Party in good faith disputes the Liability, in which event it
shall so notify the Indemnified Party.
In any event, the Indemnifying Party shall pay to the Indemnified Party,
by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the amount of any Liability
for which it is liable hereunder no later than three (3) days following
any final determination of such Liability and the Indemnifying Partys
liability therefor. A final
determination shall exist when (a) the parties to the dispute have
reached an agreement in writing, (b) a court of competent jurisdiction
shall have entered a final and non-appealable order or judgment, or (c) an
arbitration or like panel shall have rendered a final non-appealable
determination with respect to disputes the parties have agreed to submit
thereto.
6.08.
Contribution
. If the indemnification provided for in this Article VI
shall, for any reason, be unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless the
Indemnified Party hereunder in respect of any Liability, then each Indemnifying
Party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Party, contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such Liability,
in such proportion as shall be sufficient to place the Indemnified Party in the
same position as if such Indemnified Party were indemnified hereunder, the
Parties intending that their respective contributions hereunder be as close as possible
to the indemnification under Sections 6.02 and 6.03. If the contribution provided for in the
previous sentence shall, for any reason, be unavailable or insufficient to put
the Indemnified Party in the same position as if it were indemnified under Section 6.02
or 6.03, as the case may be, then the Indemnifying Party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Party as a result of such
Liability, in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by and the relative fault of the Indemnifying Party on the
one hand and the Indemnified Party on the other hand with respect to the matter
giving rise to the Liability.
6.09.
Remedies Cumulative
. The remedies provided in this Article VI
shall be cumulative and, subject to the provisions of Article IX, shall
not preclude assertion by any Indemnified Party of any other rights or the
seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party.
6.10.
Survival of Indemnities
. The rights and obligations of each of the
Separate-cos and their respective Indemnified Parties under this Article VI
shall survive the distribution, sale or other transfer by any Party of any
Assets or the delegation or assignment by it of any Liabilities.
6.11.
Shared Liabilities
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained in this Agreement:
(a) In order to facilitate the defense of
any Shared Liability, the Parties agree that (i) the relevant Parties
shall cooperate in the defense of any Shared Liability; (ii) each relevant
Party shall be responsible for the costs of its own in-house counsel and other
internal personnel in the defense of any Shared Liability; (iii) IAC shall
be entitled to control the defense and/or settlement of any Shared Liability,
although each relevant Spinco shall be entitled to
47
observe with counsel of its own selection and
at its own expense;
provided
,
however
, that after the Effective
Time IAC shall not settle all or any portion of any Shared Liability unless any
remaining Liability of any Spinco and its Affiliates and their respective
current and former officers and directors relating to the Shared Liability will
be fully released as a result of such settlement.
(b) The Parties agree to act in good
faith and to use their reasonable best efforts to preserve and maximize the
insurance benefits due to be provided under all policies of insurance and to
cooperate with one another as necessary to permit each other to access or obtain
the benefits under those policies;
provided
,
however
, that
nothing hereunder shall be construed to prevent any party or any other Person
from asserting claims for insurance benefits or accepting insurance benefits
provided by the policies. The Parties
agree to exchange information upon reasonable request of the other Party
regarding requests that they have made for insurance benefits, notices of
claims, occurrences and circumstances that they have submitted to the insurance
companies or other entities managing the policies, responses they have received
from those insurance companies or entities, including any payments they have
received from the insurance companies and any agreements by the insurance
companies to make payments, and any other information that the Parties may need
to determine the status of the insurance policies and the continued availability
of benefits thereunder.
(c) If any Party receives notice or
otherwise learns of the assertion by any person or entity (including a
Governmental Authority) of a Shared Liability, that Party shall give the other
Parties written notice of such Shared Liability, providing notice of such
Shared Liability in reasonable detail.
The failure to give notice under this subsection shall not relieve any
Party of its Liability for any Shared Liability except to the extent the Party
is actually prejudiced by the failure to give such notice. The Parties shall be deemed to be on notice
of any Shared Liability pending prior to the Effective Time.
ARTICLE VII
INSURANCE
7.01.
Insurance Matters
. (a) Each Spinco does hereby, for itself
and each other member of its Corresponding Group, agree that no member of the
IAC Group or any IAC Indemnified Party shall have any liability whatsoever as a
result of the insurance policies and practices of IAC and its Affiliates as in
effect at any time prior to the Effective Time, including as a result of the
level or scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance
carrier, the terms and conditions of any policy, the adequacy or timeliness of
any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential
claim or otherwise; provided this Section 7.01(a) shall not negate
IACs agreement under Section 7.01(b).
(b) IAC agrees to use its reasonable best
efforts to cause the interest and rights of each Spinco and the other members
of its Corresponding Group as of the Relevant Time as insureds or beneficiaries
or in any other capacity under occurrence-based insurance policies and programs
(and under claims-made policies and programs to the extent a claim has been
submitted prior to the Relevant Time) of IAC or any other member of the IAC
Group in respect of periods prior to the Relevant Time to survive the Relevant
Time for the period for which such interests and rights would have survived
without regard to the transactions contemplated hereby
48
to the extent permitted by such policies, and IAC shall continue to
administer such policies and programs on behalf of the relevant Spincos and the
other relevant members of the Spinco Groups, subject to such Spincos
reimbursement to IAC and the other relevant members of the IAC Group for the
actual out-of-pocket costs of such ongoing administration and the internal
costs (based on the proportion of the amount of time actually spent on such
matter to such employees normal working time) of any employee or agent of IAC
of any other relevant member of the IAC Group who will be required to spend at
least ten percent of his or her normal working time over any ten (10) Business
Days working with respect to any such matter on behalf of a Spinco or any
member of its Corresponding Group. Any
proceeds received by IAC or any other member of the IAC Group after the
Relevant Time under such policies and programs in respect of a Spinco or other
members of its Corresponding Group shall be for the benefit of such Spinco and
such other members.
(c) This Agreement is not intended as an
attempted assignment of any policy of insurance or as a contract of insurance
and shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of any member of the
IAC Group in respect of any insurance policy or any other contract or policy of
insurance.
(d) Nothing in this Agreement shall be
deemed to restrict any member of any Spinco Group from acquiring at its own
expense any other insurance policy in respect of any Liabilities or covering
any period.
ARTICLE VIII
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY
8.01.
Agreement for Exchange of
Information; Archives
. (a)
Without limiting any rights or obligations under any Ancillary Agreement
between the Parties and/or any other member of their respective Groups relating
to confidentiality, each Party agrees to provide, and to cause its
Representatives, its Group members and its respective Group members
Representatives to provide, to the other Groups and any member thereof (a
Requesting
Party
), at any time before, on or after the Effective Time, subject to the
provisions of Section 8.04 and as soon as reasonably practicable after
written request therefor, any Information within the possession or under the
control of such Party or one of such Persons which the Requesting Party
reasonably needs (i) to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing or other
requirements imposed on the Requesting Party (including under applicable
securities laws) by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the
Requesting Party, (ii) for use in any other judicial, regulatory,
administrative or other proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting,
claims, regulatory, litigation or similar requirements of the Requesting Party,
in each case other than claims or allegations that one Party to this Agreement
or any of its Group members has or brings against the other Party or any of its
Group members, or (iii) subject to the foregoing clause (ii) above,
to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;
provided
,
however
, that in the event that any Party determines
that any such provision of Information could be commercially detrimental,
violate any Applicable Law or agreement, or waive any attorney-client
privilege, the Parties shall take all reasonable measures to permit the
compliance with such obligations in a manner that avoids any such harm or
consequence. More particularly, and
without limitation to the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Parties
agree
49
that the provisions of the Tax Sharing Agreement shall govern with
respect to the sharing of Information relating to Tax.
(b) After the Effective Time, each Spinco
and the other members of its Spinco Group shall have access during regular
business hours (as in effect from time to time), and upon reasonable advance
notice, to the documents and objects of historical significance that relate to
the Spun Businesses, the Spun Assets or the Spun Entities with respect to such
Spinco and that are located in archives retained or maintained by (i) IAC
or any other member of the IAC Group or (ii) by another Spinco or any
other member of another Spinco Group.
Each Spinco and the other members of its Spinco Group may obtain copies
(but not originals) of documents for bona fide business purposes and may obtain
objects for exhibition purposes for commercially reasonable periods of time if
required for bona fide business purposes,
provided
that (i) such
Spinco shall cause any such objects to be returned promptly, at such Spincos
expense, in the same condition in which they were delivered to such Spinco or
to any member of its Spinco Group and (ii) such Spinco and the other
members of its Spinco Group shall comply with any rules, procedures or other
requirements, and shall be subject to any restrictions (including prohibitions
on removal of specified objects), that are then applicable to such other
Separate-co or such other member of such other Separate-cos Group. In any event, the foregoing shall not be
deemed to restrict the access of IAC or any other member of the IAC Group to
any such documents or objects. Nothing
herein shall be deemed to impose any Liability on IAC or any other member of
the IAC Group if documents or objects referred to in this Section 9.01 are
not maintained or preserved by IAC or any other member of the IAC Group. Alternatively, IAC, acting reasonably, may
request from any Spinco and any other member of such Spincos Group that they
provide IAC with reasonable advance notice, with a list of the requested
Information that relates to the relevant Spun Businesses, the Spun Assets or
the Spun Entities and IAC shall use, and shall cause the other members of the
IAC Group that are in possession of the Information requested to use,
commercially reasonable efforts to locate all requested Information that is
owned or possessed by IAC or any of its Group members or Representatives. IAC will make available all such Information
for inspection by the relevant Spincos or any other relevant member of any
Spinco Group during normal business hours at the place of business reasonably
designated by IAC. Subject to such confidentiality
or security obligations as IAC or the other relevant members of its Group may
reasonably deem necessary, the Spincos and the other relevant members of the
Spinco Groups may have all requested Information duplicated. Alternatively, IAC or the other relevant
members of the IAC Group may choose to deliver to a Spinco, at such Spincos
expense, all requested Information in the form reasonably requested by such
Spinco or any other member of its Group.
At IACs request, such Spinco shall cause such Information when no
longer needed to be returned to IAC at such Spincos expense.
(c) With respect to the other Spinco
Groups and the IAC Group, each Spinco shall make available and shall cause its
Corresponding Group to make available to the other Spinco Groups and the IAC
Group at least the level of access provided by the IAC Group under Section 8.01(b) to
all Spinco Groups.
8.02.
Ownership of Information
. Any Information owned by a Party or any of
its Group members and that is provided to a Requesting Party pursuant to Section 8.01
shall be deemed to remain the property of the providing party. Unless specifically set forth herein or in
50
any Ancillary Agreement, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be
construed as granting or conferring rights of license or otherwise in any such
Information.
8.03.
Compensation for Providing
Information
. The Party requesting
Information agrees to reimburse the providing Party for the reasonable costs,
if any, of creating, gathering and copying such Information, to the extent that
such costs are incurred for the benefit of the Requesting Party. Except as may be otherwise specifically
provided elsewhere in this Agreement, in the Ancillary Agreements, or in any other
agreement between the Parties, such costs shall be computed in accordance with
the providing Partys standard methodology and procedures.
8.04.
Record Retention
. To facilitate the possible exchange of
Information pursuant to this Article VIII and other provisions of this
Agreement after the Effective Time, the Parties agree to use commercially
reasonable efforts to retain, and to cause the members of their respective
Group to retain, all Information in their respective possession or control at
the Effective Time in accordance with the policies of the IAC Group as in
effect at the Effective Time or such other policies as may be reasonably
adopted by the appropriate Party after the Effective Time. No Party will destroy, or permit any member
of its Group to destroy, any Information which another Party or any member of
its Group may have the right to obtain pursuant to this Agreement prior to the
fifth (5th) anniversary of the Effective Time without first using commercially
reasonable efforts to notify such other Party of the proposed destruction and
giving such other Party the opportunity to take possession of such Information
prior to such destruction.
8.05.
Other Agreements Providing for
Exchange of Information
. The rights
and obligations granted or created under this Article VIII are subject to
any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the
sharing, exchange, retention or confidential treatment of Information set forth
in any Ancillary Agreement.
8.06.
Production of Witnesses; Records;
Cooperation
. (a) After the
Effective Time, but only with respect to a Third Party Claim, each Party hereto
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, and shall cause the other
relevant members of its Group to use commercially reasonable efforts to, make
available to a requesting Party or any member of the Group to which such
Requesting Party belongs, upon written request, its then former and current
Representatives (and the former and current Representatives of its respective
Group members) as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within
its control (or that of its respective Group members) or which it (or its
respective Group members) otherwise has the ability to make available, to the
extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such
Representatives) or books, records or other documents may reasonably be
required in connection with any Action in which the Requesting Party may from
time to time be involved, regardless of whether such Action is a matter with
respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder. The Requesting Party
shall bear all costs and expenses in connection therewith.
(b) If a Party, being entitled to do so
under this Agreement, chooses to defend or to seek to settle or compromise any
Third Party Claim, the other relevant Party or Parties shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to make available to such Party, upon written request, its
or their then former and current Representatives and those of its or their
respective Group members
51
as witnesses and any books, records or other documents within its or
their control (or that of its or their respective Group members) or which it or
they (or its or their respective Group members) otherwise has or have the
ability to make available, to the extent that any such Person (giving
consideration to business demands of such Representatives) or books, records or
other documents may reasonably be required in connection with such defense,
settlement or compromise, as the case may be, and shall otherwise cooperate in
such defense, settlement or compromise, as the case may be.
(c) Without limiting the foregoing, the
Parties shall cooperate and consult, and shall cause their respective Group
members to cooperate and consult, to the extent reasonably necessary with
respect to any Actions (except in the case of an Action by one Party against
another).
(d) The obligation of the Parties to
provide witnesses pursuant to this Section 8.06 is intended to be
interpreted in a manner so as to facilitate cooperation and shall include the
obligation to provide as witnesses inventors and other employees without regard
to whether the witness or the employer of the witness could assert a possible
business conflict (subject to the limitation set forth in the first sentence of
Section 8.06(a) regarding Third Party Claims).
(e) In connection with any matter
contemplated by this Section 8.06, the relevant Parties will enter into,
and shall cause all other relevant members of their respective Groups to enter
into, a mutually acceptable joint defense agreement so as to maintain to the
extent practicable any applicable attorney-client privilege or work-product
privileges of any member of any Group.
8.07.
Confidentiality
. (a) Subject to Section 8.08, each
Separate-co shall hold, and shall cause its respective Group members and its
respective Affiliates (whether now an Affiliate or hereafter becoming an
Affiliate) and its Representatives to hold, in strict confidence, with at least
the same degree of care that applies to IACs confidential and proprietary
Information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Time, all
confidential and proprietary Information concerning another Group (or any
member thereof) that is either in such Separate-cos possession (including
Information in its possession prior to the date hereof) or furnished by any
other Group (or any member thereof) or by any of such other Groups Affiliates
(whether now an Affiliate or hereafter becoming an Affiliate) or their
respective Representatives at any time pursuant to this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (any
such Information referred to herein as
Confidential Information
), and
shall not use, and shall cause its respective Group members, Affiliates and
Representatives not to use, any such Confidential Information other than for
such purposes as shall be expressly permitted hereunder or thereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential
Information shall not include Information that is or was (i) in the public
domain other than by the breach of this Agreement or by breach of any other
agreement relating to confidentiality between or among the relevant Parties
and/or their respective Group members, their respective Affiliates or
Representatives, (ii) lawfully acquired by such disclosing Party (or any
member of the Group to which such Party belongs or any of such Partys
Affiliates) from a Third Party not bound by a confidentiality obligation, or (iii) independently
generated or developed by Persons who do not have access to, or descriptions
of, any such confidential or
52
proprietary Information of the other Parties (or any member of the
Group to which such other Party belongs).
(b) Each Party shall maintain, and shall
cause its respective Group members to maintain, policies and procedures, and
develop such further policies and procedures as will from time to time become
necessary or appropriate, to ensure compliance with Section 8.07(a).
(c) Each Party agrees not to release or
disclose, or permit to be released or disclosed, any Confidential Information
to any other Person, except its Representatives who need to know such
Confidential Information (who shall be advised of their obligations hereunder
with respect to such Confidential Information), except in compliance with Section 8.08. Without limiting the foregoing, when any
Information furnished by another Party after the Effective Time pursuant to
this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement is no longer needed for the purposes
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, such Party will
promptly, after request of the furnishing Party and at the election of the
Party receiving such request, destroy or return to the furnishing Party all
such Information in a printed or otherwise tangible form (including all copies
thereof and all notes, extracts or summaries based thereon), and destroy all
Information in an electronic or otherwise intangible form and certify to the
furnishing Party that it has destroyed such Information (and such copies
thereof and such notes, extracts or summaries based thereon). Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Parties agree that to the extent some Information to be
destroyed or returned is retained as data or records for the purpose of
business continuity planning or is otherwise not accessible in the Ordinary
Course of Business, such data or records shall be destroyed in the Ordinary
Course of Business in accordance, if applicable, with the business continuity
plan of the applicable Party.
8.08.
Protective Arrangements
. In the event that any Party or any member of
its Group or any Affiliate of such Party or any of their respective
Representatives either determines that it is required to disclose any
Confidential Information (the
Disclosing Party
) pursuant to Applicable
Law or receives any demand under lawful process or from any Governmental
Authority to disclose or provide Confidential Information of another Party (or
any member of the Group to which such other Party belongs) (the
Providing
Party
), the Disclosing Party shall, to the extent permitted by Applicable
Law, promptly notify the Providing Party prior to the Disclosing Party
disclosing or providing such Confidential Information and shall use
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Providing Party so that
the Providing Party may seek any reasonable protective arrangements or other
appropriate remedy and/or waive compliance with this Section 8.08. All expenses reasonably incurred by the
Disclosing Party in seeking a protective order or other remedy will be borne by
the Providing Party. Subject to the
foregoing, the Disclosing Party may thereafter disclose or provide such
Confidential Information to the extent (but only to the extent) required by
such Applicable Law (as so advised by legal counsel) or by lawful process or by
such Governmental Authority and shall promptly provide the Providing Party with
a copy of the Confidential Information so disclosed, in the same form and
format as disclosed, together with a list of all Persons to whom such
Confidential Information was disclosed.
8.09.
Disclosure of Third Party Information
. Each Spinco acknowledges that it and the
other members of its respective Group may have in its or their possession
confidential or proprietary Information of Third Parties that was received
under confidentiality or non-disclosure
53
agreements with such Third Party while it or they were part of the IAC
Group. Each Spinco will hold, and will
cause the other members of its Group and its and their respective
Representatives to hold, in strict confidence the confidential and proprietary
Information of Third Parties to which such Spinco or any other member of its
respective Group has access, in accordance with the terms of any agreements
entered into prior to the Effective Time between one or more members of
another Group (whether acting through,
on behalf of, or in connection with, the Spun Businesses) and such Third
Parties.
ARTICLE IX
DISPUTE RESOLUTION
9.01.
Interpretation; Agreement to Resolve
Disputes
.
(a) In the event of any ambiguous
provision in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, or any inconsistency
or conflict between or among the provisions of this Agreement and one or more
Ancillary Agreements or between or among the provisions of the Ancillary
Agreements, IACs interpretation of such ambiguity or resolution of such
inconsistency or conflict shall be final and binding unless such interpretation
or resolution is unreasonable or clearly erroneous; it being understood and
agreed that the reasonableness of an interpretation or resolution
shall be assessed without regard to whether such interpretation or resolution
happens to be in IACs self-interest.
(b) Except as otherwise specifically
provided in any Ancillary Agreement, the procedures for discussion, negotiation
and dispute resolution set forth in this Article IX shall apply to all
disputes, controversies or claims (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise)
that may arise out of or relate to, or arise under or in connection with this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby
or thereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby on or prior to the date hereof), or the commercial or
economic relationship of the Parties relating hereto or thereto, between or
among any member of any Group on the one hand and any other Group on the other
hand. Each Party agrees on behalf of
itself and each member of its respective Group that the procedures set forth in
this Article IX shall be the sole and exclusive procedures in connection
with any dispute, controversy or claim relating to any of the foregoing matters
and irrevocably waives any right to commence any Action in or before any
Governmental Authority, except as otherwise required by Applicable Law.
9.02.
Dispute Resolution; Mediation
. (a) Any Party (a
Claimant Party
)
may commence the dispute resolution process of this Section 9.02 by giving
the other Party or Parties with whom there is such a controversy, claim or
dispute written notice (a
Dispute Notice
) of any controversy, claim or
dispute of whatever nature arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
breach, termination, enforceability or validity thereof (a
Dispute
)
which has not been resolved in the normal course of business. The relevant Parties shall attempt in good
faith to resolve any Dispute by negotiation among executives of such Parties (
Senior
Party Representatives
) who have authority to settle the Dispute and who
are at a higher level of management than the persons who have direct
responsibility for the administration of this Agreement. Within 15 days after delivery of the Dispute
Notice, the receiving Party or Parties (the
Responding Parties
and,
together with the Claimant Party, the
Dispute Parties
) shall
54
submit to the other Dispute Party or Parties a written response (the
Response
). The Dispute Notice and the Response shall
include (i) a statement setting forth the position of the Dispute Party
giving such notice and a summary of arguments supporting such position and (ii) the
name and title of such Dispute Partys Senior Party Representative and any
other persons who will accompany the Senior Party Representative at the meeting
at which the Dispute Parties will attempt to settle the Dispute. Within 30 days after the delivery of the
Dispute Notice, the Senior Party Representatives of the Dispute Parties shall
meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and thereafter as often as they
reasonably deem necessary, to attempt to resolve the Dispute. The Dispute Parties shall cooperate in good
faith with respect to any reasonable requests for exchanges of information
regarding the Dispute or a Response thereto.
(b) If the Dispute has not been resolved
within 60 days after delivery of the Dispute Notice, or if the Dispute Parties
fail to meet within 30 days after delivery of the Dispute Notice as hereinabove
provided, the Dispute Parties shall make a good faith attempt to settle the
Dispute by mediation pursuant to the provisions of this Section 9.02
before resorting to arbitration contemplated by Section 9.03 or any other
dispute resolution procedure that may be agreed by the Dispute Parties.
(c) All negotiations, conferences and
discussions pursuant to this Section 9.02 shall be confidential and shall
be treated as compromise and settlement negotiations. Nothing said or disclosed, nor any document
produced, in the course of such negotiations, conferences and discussions that
is not otherwise independently discoverable shall be offered or received as
evidence or used for impeachment or for any other purpose in any current or
future arbitration.
(d) Unless the Dispute Parties agree
otherwise, the mediation shall be conducted in accordance with the CPR
Institute for Dispute Resolution Model Procedure for Mediation of Business Disputes
in effect on the date of this Agreement by a mediator selected by the Dispute
Parties.
(e) Within 30 days after the mediator has
been selected as provided above, all Dispute Parties and their respective
attorneys shall meet with the mediator for one mediation session of at least
four hours, it being agreed that each representative of a Dispute Party
attending such mediation session shall be a Senior Party Representative with
authority to settle the Dispute. If the
Dispute cannot be settled at such mediation session or at any mutually agreed
continuation thereof, any of the Dispute Parties may give the other and the
mediator a written notice declaring the mediation process at an end.
9.03.
Arbitration
. If the Dispute has not been resolved by the
dispute resolution process described in Section 9.02, the Dispute Parties
agree that any such Dispute shall be settled by binding arbitration before the
American Arbitration Association (
AAA
) in Wilmington, Delaware
pursuant to the Commercial Rules of the AAA. Any arbitrator(s) selected to resolve
the Dispute shall be bound exclusively by the laws of the State of Delaware
without regard to its choice of law rules.
Any decisions of award of the arbitrator(s) will be final and
binding upon the Dispute Parties and may be entered as a judgment by the
Dispute Parties hereto. Any rights to
appeal or review such award by any court or tribunal are hereby waived to the
extent permitted by law.
55
9.04.
Costs
. The costs of any mediation or arbitration
pursuant to this Article IX shall be shared equally among the Dispute
Parties.
9.05.
Continuity
of Service and Performance
. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the
Dispute Parties will continue to provide service and honor all other
commitments under this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement during the course
of dispute resolution pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX with
respect to all matters not subject to such dispute, controversy or claim.
ARTICLE X
FURTHER ASSURANCES
10.01.
Further
Assurances
. (a) Except as provided in Section 12.01,
each Party covenants with and in favor of the other Parties as follows:
(i)
prior
to, on and after the Effective Time, each Party hereto shall, and shall cause
the other relevant members of its Group to, cooperate with the other Parties,
and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting
Party, to execute, acknowledge and deliver, or use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, assurances or
documents, including instruments of conveyance, assignments and transfers, and
to make all filings with, and to
obtain
all consents, approvals or authorizations of, any Governmental Authority or any
other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other
instrument (including any Consents or Governmental Authorizations), and to take
all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by the
requesting Party (or any member of its Group) from time to time, consistent
with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to give
effect to the provisions, obligations and purposes of this Agreement and the
Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the Spun Businesses and of the Spun
Assets and the assignment and assumption of the Spun Liabilities and the other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and
(ii)
to
the extent that IAC or any Spinco discovers at any time following the Effective
Time any Asset that was intended to be transferred to any Separate-co or any
other member of another Spinco Group pursuant to this Agreement was not so
transferred at the Effective Time, IAC and the Spincos shall, or shall cause
the other relevant members of their Corresponding Groups to promptly, assign
and transfer to such Separate-co or another member of such Separate-cos Group
reasonably designated by such Separate-co such Asset and all right, title and
interest therein in a manner and on the terms consistent with the relevant
provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation, Section 2.17(b). Similarly, to the extent that IAC or any
Spinco discovers at any time following the Effective Time any Asset that was
intended to be retained by IAC or any other member of the IAC Group was not so
retained at the Effective Time, the relevant Spinco shall, or shall cause the
other relevant members of its Group to promptly to, assign and transfer to IAC
or any other member of the IAC Group reasonably designated by IAC such Asset
and all right, title and interest therein in a manner and on the terms
consistent with the relevant provisions of this Agreement, including, without
limitation, Section 2.17(b). For
the avoidance of doubt, the transfer of any Assets under
56
this
paragraph (a) shall be effected without any additional consideration by
any Party hereunder (such deferred transfers being referred to as
Deferred
Transactions
).
(b)
On
or prior to the Effective Time, each of the Separate-cos, in their respective
capacities as direct and indirect parent companies of the members of their
respective Groups, shall each approve or ratify any actions of the members of
their respective Groups as may be necessary or desirable to give effect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.
(c)
Prior
to the Effective Time, if a Party identifies any commercial or other service
that is needed to assure a smooth and orderly transition of the businesses in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and
that is not otherwise governed by the provisions of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement, the relevant Parties will cooperate in determining whether
there is a mutually acceptable arms length basis on which the such Party can
provide such service.
ARTICLE XI
CERTAIN OTHER MATTERS
11.01.
Auditors
and Audits; Annual and Quarterly Financial Statements and Accounting
. Each Party agrees that during the one hundred
and eighty (180) days following the Effective Time and in any event solely with
respect to the preparation and audit of each of IACs and each Spincos
financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008, the printing,
filing and public dissemination of such financial statements, the audit of IACs
internal control over financial reporting and managements assessment thereof
and managements assessment of IACs disclosure controls and procedures, in
each case made as of December 31, 2008:
(a)
Date
of Spinco Auditors Opinions
. Each Spinco shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to enable such Spincos auditors (in each case, such auditors, the
Spinco
Auditor
) to complete their audit such that they will date their opinion on
such Spincos audited annual financial statements on the same date that the IACs
auditors (the
IAC Auditor
) date their opinion on IACs audited annual
financial statements (except to the extent an earlier date is necessary to
comply with SEC rules), and to enable IAC to meet its timetable for the
printing, filing and public dissemination of IACs annual financial statements.
(b)
Annual
Financial Statements
. Each (i) Separate-co shall provide to
the other Separate-cos on a timely basis all Information reasonably required to
meet such Separate-cos schedule for the preparation, printing, filing, and
public dissemination of its annual financial statements and for managements
assessment of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures in
accordance with Item 307 of Regulation S-K and (ii) each Spinco shall
provide to the IAC on a timely basis all Information reasonably required to
meet IACs schedule for its report on
internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Item308 of
Regulation S-K and its auditors audit of its internal control over financial
reporting and managements assessment thereof in accordance with Section 404
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the SECs and Public Company Accounting
Oversight Boards rules and auditing standards thereunder (such
assessments and audit being referred to as the
2008 Internal Control Audit
and Management Assessments
).
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each Separate-co
57
will provide all required financial and other
Information with respect to such Separate-co and its Subsidiaries to its
respective auditors in a sufficient and reasonable time and in sufficient
detail to permit its respective auditors to take all steps and perform all
reviews necessary to provide sufficient assistance to the IAC Auditor and each
other Spinco Auditor with respect to respective Information to be included or
contained in the annual financial statements of such other Separate-co and to
permit the IAC Auditor and IACs management to all complete the 2008 Internal
Control Audit and Management Assessments.
(c)
Access
to Personnel and Books and Records
.
(i)
Each
Spinco (an
Authorizing Spinco
) shall authorize its respective Spinco
Auditor (the
Authorized Auditor
) to make available to each of the IAC
Auditor and the Spinco Auditor of each other Spinco both the personnel who performed
or are performing the annual audits of the Authorizing Spinco and work papers
related to the annual audits of the Authorizing Spinco, in all cases within a
reasonable time prior to the Authorized Auditors opinion date, so that (A) the
IAC Auditor is able to perform the procedures it considers necessary to take
responsibility for the work of the Authorized Auditor as it relates to the IAC
Auditors report on IACs financial statements, all within sufficient time to
enable IAC to meet its timetable for the printing, filing and public
dissemination of IACs annual financial statements; and (B) each such
other Spinco Auditor is able to perform the procedures it considers necessary
to take responsibility for the work of the Authorized Auditor as it relates to
the relevant Spinco Auditors report on such Spincos financial statements, all
within sufficient time to enable such Spinco to meet its timetable for the
printing, filing and public dissemination of such Spincos annual financial
statements.
(ii)
IAC
shall authorize the IAC Auditor to make available to each Spinco Auditor both
the personnel who performed or are performing the annual audits of IAC and work
papers related to the annual audits of IAC, in all cases within a reasonable
time prior to the IAC Auditors opinion date, so that each Spinco Auditor is
able to perform the procedures it considers necessary to take responsibility
for the work of the IAC Auditor as it relates to such Spinco Auditors report
on the relevant Spincos financial statements, all within sufficient time to
enable such Spinco to meet its timetable for the printing, filing and public
dissemination of such Spincos annual financial statements.
(iii)
Each
Spinco shall make available to the IAC Auditor and IACs management such Spincos
personnel and such Spincos books and records in a reasonable time prior to the
IAC Auditors opinion date and IACs managements assessment date so that the
IAC Auditor and IACs management are able to perform the procedures they
consider necessary to conduct the 2008 Internal Control Audit and Management
Assessments.
(d)
Spinco
Annual Reports
. Each Spinco will deliver to IAC a
substantially final draft, as soon as the same is prepared, of the first report
to be filed with the SEC that includes such Spincos audited financial
statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 (such Spincos
Corresponding
Annual Report
);
provided
,
however
, that a Spinco may
continue to
58
revise such Corresponding Annual Report prior to
the filing thereof, which changes will be delivered to IAC as soon as
reasonably practicable;
provided
,
further
, that the respective
personnel of IAC and each Spinco will actively consult with each other
regarding any changes which a Spinco may consider making to its Corresponding
Annual Report and related disclosures prior to the anticipated filing with the
SEC, with particular focus on any changes which would have an effect upon IACs
financial statements or related disclosures.
Nothing
in this Section 11.01 shall require any Party to violate any agreement
with any Third Party regarding the confidentiality of confidential and
proprietary Information relating to that Third Party or its business;
provided
,
however
, that in the event that a Party is required under this Section 11.01
to disclose any such Information, such Party shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to seek to obtain such Third Party Consent to the disclosure of such
Information.
ARTICLE XII
SOLE DISCRETION OF IAC; TERMINATION
12.01.
Sole
Discretion of IAC
. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Agreement, until the occurrence of the applicable Relevant Time, IAC shall have
the sole and absolute discretion:
(a)
to
determine whether to proceed with all or any part of the Separation, including
any Separation Transaction, or any or all of the Distributions, and to
determine the timing of and any and all conditions to the completion of the
Separation and the Distributions or any part thereof or of any other
transaction contemplated by this Agreement; and
(b)
to
amend or otherwise change, delete or supplement, from time to time, any term or
element of the Separation, including any Separation Transaction, or any or all
of the Distributions or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
12.02.
Termination
. (a) This Agreement and all Ancillary
Agreements may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be
amended, supplemented, modified or abandoned in any respect at any time prior
to the Effective Time of the first Distribution to occur, by and in the sole
and absolute discretion of IAC without the approval of any Spinco or of the
stockholders of IAC. In the event of
such termination, no Party shall have any liability of any kind to any other
Party or any other Person.
(b)
After
the Effective Time of the first Distribution to occur, this Agreement may not
be terminated to the extent the rights and obligations provided for hereunder
are between and among IAC and those Spincos the Distribution of which shall
have previously occurred except by an agreement in writing signed by the
relevant Parties;
provided
, that IAC in its sole discretion may abandon
one or more of the Distributions the Distribution date of which shall not yet
have occurred and, by notice to the other Spincos, shall have the right to
terminate (subject to the last sentence of Section 1.04(b)) this Agreement
and the Ancillary Agreements to the extent of the rights and obligations
provided between the Spinco(s) the Distribution of which shall have been
abandoned and the Spincos the Distribution of which shall have previously
occurred.
59
ARTICLE XIII
MISCELLANEOUS
13.01.
Limitation
of Liability
. In no event shall any member of any Group be
liable to any member of any other Group for any special, consequential,
indirect, collateral, incidental or punitive damages or lost profits or failure
to realize expected savings or other commercial or economic loss of any kind,
however caused and on any theory of liability (including negligence) arising in
any way out of this Agreement, whether or not such Person has been advised of
the possibility of any such damages;
provided
,
however
, that the
foregoing limitations shall not limit any Partys indemnification obligations
for Liabilities with respect to Third Party Claims as set forth in Article VI. The provisions of Article
IX
shall be the Parties sole recourse for any breach hereof or any breach of the
Ancillary Agreements.
13.02.
Counterparts
. This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement
may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered
one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more
counterparts have been signed by each of the parties thereto and delivered to
the other party or parties.
13.03.
Entire
Agreement
. This Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and
the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and thereto and the specific agreements
contemplated hereby or thereby contain the entire agreement between the Parties
with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all previous
agreements, oral or written, negotiations, discussions, writings,
understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject
matter. No agreements or understandings
exist between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or
therein.
13.04.
Construction
. In this Agreement and each of the Ancillary
Agreements, unless a clear contrary intention appears:
(a)
the
singular number includes the plural number and vice versa;
(b)
reference
to any Person includes such Persons successors and assigns but, if applicable,
only if such successors and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement or the
relevant Ancillary Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular
capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually;
(c)
reference
to any gender includes each other gender;
(d)
reference
to any agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or
instrument as amended, modified, supplemented or restated, and in effect from
time to time in accordance with the terms thereof subject to compliance with
the requirements set forth herein or in the relevant Ancillary Agreement;
(e)
reference
to any Applicable Law means such Applicable Law as amended, modified, codified,
replaced or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect from time to time,
including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and reference to
any section or other provision of any Applicable Law means that provision of
such Applicable Law from time to time
60
in effect and constituting the substantive
amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such
section or other provision;
(f)
herein,
hereby, hereunder, hereof, hereto and words of similar import shall be
deemed references to this Agreement or to the relevant Ancillary Agreement as a
whole and not to any particular article, section or other provision hereof or
thereof;
(g)
including
(and with correlative meaning include) means including without limiting the
generality of any description preceding such term;
(h)
the
Table of Contents and headings are for convenience of reference only and shall
not affect the construction or interpretation hereof or thereof;
(i)
with
respect to the determination of any period of time, from means from and
including and to means to but excluding; and
(j)
references
to documents, instruments or agreements shall be deemed to refer as well to all
addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments thereto.
13.05.
Signatures
. Each Party acknowledges that it and the other
Party (and the other members of their respective Groups) may execute certain of
the Ancillary Agreements by facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each
such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature made in its respective name (or
that of the applicable member of its Group) as if it were a manual signature,
agrees that it will not assert that any such signature is not adequate to bind
such Party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and agrees that at
the reasonable request of the other Party at any time it will as promptly as
reasonably practicable cause each such Ancillary Agreement to be manually
executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof).
13.06.
Assignability
. Except as set forth in any Ancillary
Agreement, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and
their respective successors and assigns;
provided
,
however
, that
except as specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, no Party hereto or
thereto may assign its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations
under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement without the express prior written
consent of the other parties hereto or thereto.
13.07.
Third
Party Beneficiaries
. Except for the indemnification rights under
this Agreement of any Corresponding Indemnified Party in its capacity as such
and for the release under Section 6.01 of any Person provided therein and
except as specifically provided in any Ancillary Agreement, (a) the
provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the
benefit of the parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns and are not intended to confer upon any Person, except the
parties hereto and thereto and their respective successors and permitted
assigns, any rights or remedies hereunder and (b) there are no third party
beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; and neither this
Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any Third Party with any
remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in
excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement.
61
13.08.
Payment
Terms
. (a) Except as expressly provided to the
contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount to be paid
or reimbursed by one Party to the other under this Agreement shall be paid or
reimbursed hereunder within thirty (30) days after presentation of an invoice
or a written demand therefor and setting forth, or accompanied by, reasonable
documentation or other reasonable explanation supporting such amount.
(b)
Except
as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary
Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement (and any
amount billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that is
not paid within thirty (30) days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall
bear interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus 2%
(or the maximum legal rate, whichever is
lower), calculated for the actual number of days elapsed, accrued from the date
on which such payment was due up to the date of the actual receipt of payment.
13.09.
Governing
Law
. Except as set forth in Article IX, this
Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement, shall be governed by and construed and
interpreted in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware,
irrespective of the choice of laws principles of the State of Delaware, as to
all matters, including matters of validity, construction, effect,
enforceability, performance and remedies.
13.10.
Notices
.
All notices or other communications
under this Agreement and, unless expressly provided therein, each Ancillary
Agreement, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given when
delivered in person or successfully transmitted by facsimile, addressed as
follows:
If
to IAC, to:
IAC/InterActiveCorp
555
West 18th Street
New
York, NY 10011
Attention: General Counsel
Telecopier: (212) 632-9642
with
a copy to:
Wachtell,
Lipton, Rosen & Katz
51
West 52nd Street
New
York, NY 10019
Attention: Pamela S. Seymon, Esq.
Telecopier: (212) 403-2000
If
to TM Spinco:
Ticketmaster
8800
Sunset Boulevard
West
Hollywood, California 90069
Attention:
General Counsel
Telecopier: (310) 360-3373
62
If
to Interval Spinco:
Interval
Leisure Group, Inc.
6262
Sunset Drive
Miami,
Florida 33143
Attention:
General Counsel
Telecopier: (305) 667-2072
If
to HSN Spinco:
1
HSN Drive
St.
Petersburg, Florida 33729
Attention:
General Counsel
Telecopier: (727) 872-6866
If
to Tree Spinco:
11115
Rushmore Drive
Charlotte,
North Carolina 28277
Attention:
General Counsel
Telecopier: (949) 255-5139
Any
Party may, by notice to the other Parties as set forth herein, change the
address or fax number to which such notices are to be given.
13.11.
Severability
. If any provision of this Agreement or any
Ancillary Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or
unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application
of such provision to Persons or circumstances or in jurisdictions other than
those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, shall remain in
full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated
thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, as the case may be, is not affected in any
manner adverse to any party hereto or thereto.
Upon such determination, the relevant Parties shall negotiate in good
faith in an effort to agree upon such a suitable and equitable provision to
effect the original intent of the Parties.
13.12.
Publicity
. Prior to the Effective Time, IAC shall be
responsible for issuing any press releases or otherwise making public
statements with respect to this Agreement, the Separation, the Distributions or
any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and no Spinco
shall make such statements without the prior written consent of IAC. Prior to the Effective Time, the Separate-cos
shall each consult with the other prior to making any filings with any
Governmental Authority with respect thereto.
63
13.13.
Survival
of Covenants
. Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, any covenants, representations or
warranties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall
survive the Separation and the Distributions and shall remain in full force and
effect.
13.14.
Waivers
of Default; Conflicts
. (a) Waiver by any Party of any default
by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent
or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of the other Party. No failure or delay by any Party in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or
further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege.
(b)
Each
Party acknowledges that each of the Parties and each member of their respective
Group are all currently represented by members of IACs legal department and
IACs outside counsel. IAC (on behalf of
itself and every member of its Group), on the one hand, and each Spinco (on
behalf of itself and every member of its Group), on the other hand, waives any
conflict with respect to such common representation that may arise before, at
or after the Effective Time.
13.15.
Amendments
. After the Effective Time, no provisions of
this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended,
supplemented or modified by any Party, unless such waiver, amendment,
supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized
representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver,
amendment, supplement or modification.
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64
IN WITNESS
WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly
authorized representatives.
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IAC/INTERACTIVECORP
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By:
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/s/ Gregg Winiarski
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Name: Gregg Winiarski
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Title: Vice President
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HSN, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Mindy Grossman
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Name: Mindy Grossman
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Title: Chief Executive
Officer
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INTERVAL LEISURE GROUP, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Craig Nash
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Name: Craig M. Nash
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Title: Chairman,
President &
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Chief
Executive Officer
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TICKETMASTER
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By:
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/s/ Sean Moriarty
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Name: Sean P. Moriarty
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Title: President and Chief
Executive
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Officer
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TREE.COM, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Douglas R. Lebda
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Name: Douglas R. Lebda
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Title: Chairman and Chief
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Executive
Officer
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65
Exhibit 10.2
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT
by and among
IAC/INTERACTIVECORP,
TICKETMASTER,
INTERVAL LEISURE GROUP, INC.,
HSN, INC.
and
TREE.COM, INC.
Dated as of
August 20, 2008
TAX
SHARING AGREEMENT
This
TAX SHARING AGREEMENT (this
Agreement
), dated as of August 20,
2008, by and among IAC/InterActiveCorp, a Delaware corporation (
Parent
),
Ticketmaster, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (
Ticketmaster
Spinco
), Interval Leisure Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent (
Interval Spinco
), HSN, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (
HSN Spinco
), and
Tree.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent (
Tree Spinco
, together with Ticketmaster Spinco, Interval
Spinco, and HSN Spinco, the
Spincos
, and each of the Spincos, a
Spinco
). Each of Parent, Ticketmaster Spinco, Interval
Spinco, HSN Spinco and Tree Spinco is sometimes referred to herein as a
Party
and collectively, as the
Parties
.
W
I
T
N
E
S
S
E
T
H
WHEREAS,
the Parties have entered into a Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as
of August 20, 2008 (the
Separation Agreement
), providing for the
restructuring of Parent and its subsidiaries into the Parent Group, the
Ticketmaster Spinco Group, the Interval Spinco Group, the HSN Spinco Group, and
the Tree Spinco Group (each as defined herein);
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, Parent and its subsidiaries
will consummate a series of internal restructuring steps (the
Internal
Restructuring Steps
) described in the Transactions Memo;
WHEREAS,
for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Internal Distributions
(as defined herein) shall qualify as tax-free transactions under Sections 355(a) and/or
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the terms of the Separation Agreement, the Parties will effect the
Distributions (as defined herein) and related transactions;
WHEREAS,
for federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Distributions shall
qualify as tax-free transactions under Sections 355(a) and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of
the Code;
WHEREAS,
at the close of business on the Distribution Date of a Spinco, the taxable year
of such Spinco shall close for federal income tax purposes; and
WHEREAS,
the Parties wish to provide for the payment of Income Taxes and Other Taxes and
entitlement to Refunds thereof, allocate responsibility and provide for
cooperation in connection with the filing of returns in respect of Income Taxes
and Other Taxes, and provide for certain other matters relating to Income Taxes
and Other Taxes.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations, covenants
and agreements herein contained and intending to be legally bound hereby, the
Parties agree as follows:
2
1.
Definitions
.
Capitalized terms used but not
defined herein shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the
Separation Agreement. For purposes of
this Agreement, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
Actually
Realized
or
Actually Realizes
shall mean, for purposes of
determining the timing of the incurrence of any Spin-Off Tax Liability, Income
Tax Liability or Other Tax Liability or the realization of a Refund (or any
related Tax cost or benefit), whether by receipt or as a credit or other offset
to Taxes payable, by a Person in respect of any payment, transaction,
occurrence or event, the time at which the amount of Income Taxes or Other
Taxes paid (or Refund realized) by such Person is increased above (or reduced
below) the amount of Income Taxes or Other Taxes that such Person would have
been required to pay (or Refund that such Person would have realized) but for
such payment, transaction, occurrence or event.
Aggregate
Spin-Off Tax Liabilities
shall mean the sum of the Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities with respect to each Taxing Jurisdiction.
Breaching
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.
Carryback
shall mean the carryback of a Tax Attribute (including, without limitation, a
net operating loss, a net capital loss or a tax credit) by a member of a Spinco
Group from a Post-Distribution Taxable Period to a Pre-Distribution Taxable
Period during which the member of the Spinco Group was included in a Combined
Return filed for such Pre-Distribution Taxable Period.
Carryback
Spinco
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7(b) hereof.
Cash
Acquisition Merger
shall mean a merger of a newly-formed Subsidiary of a
Spinco with a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership,
general partnership or joint venture (in each case, not previously owned
directly or indirectly by such Spinco) pursuant to which such Spinco acquires
such corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, general
partnership or joint venture solely for cash and no Equity Securities of such
Spinco or any Subsidiary of such Spinco are issued, sold, redeemed or acquired,
directly or indirectly.
Code
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Combined
Return
shall mean a consolidated, combined or unitary Income Tax Return or
Other Tax Return that includes, by election or otherwise, one or more members
of the Parent Group together with one or more members of a Spinco Group.
Compensatory
Equity Interests
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a).
Delayed
Common Stock
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the EMA.
3
Distribution
or
Distributions
shall mean, individually or collectively, the
Ticketmaster Spinco Distribution, the Interval Spinco Distribution, the HSN
Spinco Distribution and the Tree Spinco Distribution.
Distribution
Date
shall mean, with respect to a Spinco, the date on which the
Distribution of such Spinco is completed.
Distribution-Related
Proceeding
shall mean any Proceeding in which the IRS, another Tax
Authority or any other party asserts a position that could reasonably be
expected to adversely affect the Tax-Free Status of any of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions.
EMA
shall mean the Employee Matters Agreement by and among Parent and the Spincos
dated as of August 20, 2008.
Employing
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11(a) hereof.
Equity
Securities
shall mean any stock or other securities treated as equity for
federal income tax purposes, options, warrants, rights, convertible debt, or
any other instrument or security that affords any Person the right, whether
conditional or otherwise, to acquire stock or to be paid an amount determined
by reference to the value of stock.
Fifty-Percent or Greater Interest
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term for purposes of Sections 355(d) and
(e) of the Code.
Final
Determination
shall mean the final resolution of liability for any Tax,
which resolution may be for a specific issue or adjustment or for a taxable
period, (a) by IRS Form 870 or 870-AD (or any successor forms
thereto), on the date of acceptance by or on behalf of the taxpayer, or by a
comparable form under the laws of any other Taxing Jurisdiction, except that a Form 870
or 870-AD or comparable form shall not constitute a Final Determination to the
extent that it reserves (whether by its terms or by operation of law) the right
of the taxpayer to file a claim for Refund or the right of the Tax Authority to
assert a further deficiency in respect of such issue or adjustment or for such
taxable period (as the case may be); (b) by a decision, judgment, decree,
or other order by a court of competent jurisdiction, which has become final and
unappealable; (c) by a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise
under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the
laws of any other Taxing Jurisdiction; (d) by any allowance of a Refund or
credit in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of
all periods during which such Refund may be recovered (including by way of
offset) by the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Tax; or (e) by any other
final disposition, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations or by mutual agreement of the parties.
Group
shall mean the Parent Group, the Ticketmaster Spinco Group, the Interval Spinco
Group, the HSN Spinco Group or the Tree Spinco Group, as applicable.
4
HSN
Spinco Consolidated Group
shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which HSN Spinco
is the common parent, determined immediately after the HSN Spinco Distribution
(and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group other than the
Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco Consolidated Group).
HSN
Spinco Distribution
shall mean the distribution by Parent of all the
common stock of HSN Spinco
pro rata
to
holders of Distributing Common Stock and Distributing Class B Common
Stock.
HSN
Spinco Group
shall mean (a) HSN Spinco and each Person that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of HSN Spinco (including any Subsidiary of HSN
Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of
any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the HSN Spinco
Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, (b) any
corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged or liquidated into HSN
Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor or successor to any
Person otherwise described in this definition.
Income
Taxes
(a) shall mean (i) any federal, state, local or foreign
taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments that are based upon,
measured by, or calculated with respect to (A) net income or profits
(including, but not limited to, any capital gains, gross receipts, or minimum
tax, and any tax on items of tax preference, but not including sales, use,
value added, real property gains, real or personal property, transfer or
similar taxes), (B) multiple bases (including, but not limited to,
corporate franchise, doing business or occupation taxes), if one or more of the
bases upon which such tax may be based, by which it may be measured, or with
respect to which it may be calculated is described in clause (a)(i)(A) of
this definition, or (C) any net worth, franchise or similar tax, in each
case together with (ii) any interest and any penalties, fines, additions
to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Tax Authority with respect thereto
and (b) shall include any transferee or successor liability in respect of
an amount described in clause (a) of this definition.
Income
Tax Benefit
shall mean, with respect to a Party and the members of its
Group, the excess of (a) the hypothetical Income Tax Liability of the
Party and the members of its Group for such taxable period, calculated as if
such Carryback had not been utilized but with all other facts unchanged over (b) the
actual Income Tax Liability of the Party or the members of its Group for such
taxable period, calculated taking into account such Carryback (and treating any
Refund as a negative Income Tax Liability for purposes of such calculation).
Income
Tax Return
shall mean any return, report, filing, statement,
questionnaire, declaration or other document required to be filed with a Tax
Authority in respect of Income Taxes.
Indemnified
Party
shall mean any Person seeking indemnification pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement.
5
Indemnifying
Party
shall mean any Party from which any Indemnified Party is seeking
indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.
Indemnifying
Spinco
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.
Injured
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(c) hereof.
Internal
Distribution
shall mean any of the Internal Restructuring Steps that is
intended to qualify as a tax-free transaction under Section 355(a) and/or
368(a)(1)(D) of the Code.
Internal
Restructuring Steps
shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
Interval
shall mean Interval Acquisition Corp.
Interval
Spinco Consolidated Group
shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which Interval
Spinco is the common parent, determined immediately after the Interval Spinco
Distribution (and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group other
than the Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco Consolidated Group).
Interval Spinco Distribution
shall
mean the distribution by Parent of all the common stock of Interval Spinco
pro rata
to holders of Distributing Common Stock and
Distributing Class B Common Stock.
Interval
Spinco Group
shall mean (a) Interval Spinco and each Person that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of Interval Spinco (including any Subsidiary of
Interval Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for
purposes of any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the
Interval Spinco Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions, (b) any corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged
or liquidated into Interval Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor
or successor to any Person otherwise described in this definition.
IRS
shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
IRS
Ruling
shall mean any private letter ruling issued by the IRS in
connection with any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
IRS
Ruling Documents
shall mean the request for a private letter ruling
submitted by Parent to the IRS on April 11, 2008, together with the
appendices and exhibits thereto, and any supplemental filings or other
materials subsequently submitted to the IRS in connection with the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
Losses
shall mean any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, obligations,
payments, costs and expenses, matured or unmatured, absolute or contingent,
6
accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, known or unknown
(including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of any and all Actions,
threatened Actions, 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 Actions or threatened Actions).
Option
shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in the EMA.
Other
Tax Returns
shall mean any return, report, filing, statement,
questionnaire, declaration or other document required to be filed with a Tax
Authority in respect of Other Taxes.
Other
Taxes
shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges,
fees, imposts, levies or other assessments of any nature whatsoever, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall include superfund,
sales, use, ad valorem, value added, occupancy, transfer, recording,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, occupation, premium or property taxes
(in each case, together with any related interest, penalties and additions to
tax, or additional amounts imposed by any Tax Authority thereon);
provided
,
however
, that Other Taxes shall not include any Income Taxes.
Parent
Consolidated Group
shall mean the affiliated group of corporations (within
the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to the
exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which Parent is the
common parent (and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group).
Parent
Group
shall mean (a) Parent and each Person that is a direct or
indirect Subsidiary of Parent (including any Subsidiary of Parent that is
disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of any state,
local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the Distributions after giving
effect to the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, (b) any corporation (or other
Person) that shall have merged or liquidated into Parent or any such Subsidiary
and (c) any predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in
this definition.
Parent
Separate Return
shall mean any Separate Return required to be filed by
Parent or any member of the Parent Group.
Participating
Spinco
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.
Party
or
Parties
shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
Permitted
Transaction
shall mean any transaction that satisfies the requirements of
Sections 4(c).
Person
shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
company, corporation, association, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated
7
organization or similar entity or a governmental authority or any
department or agency or other unit thereof.
Post-Distribution
Taxable Period
shall mean, with respect to a Spinco and its Subsidiaries,
a taxable period that begins after the Distribution Date of such Spinco.
Pre-Distribution
Taxable Period
shall mean, with respect to a Spinco and its Subsidiaries,
a taxable period that ends on or before the Distribution Date of such Spinco.
Proceeding
shall mean any audit or other examination, or judicial or administrative
proceeding relating to liability for, or Refunds or adjustments with respect
to, Taxes.
Refund
shall mean any refund of Taxes, including any reduction in Tax Liabilities by
means of a credit, offset or otherwise.
Relying
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d) hereof.
Representative
shall mean with respect to a Person, such Persons officers, directors,
employees and other authorized agents.
Representing
Spinco
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(a) hereof.
Requesting
Spinco
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(c)(ii) hereof.
Responsible
Spinco
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4(e) hereof.
Restriction
Period
shall mean, with respect to a Spinco, the period beginning on the
Distribution Date after the Distribution of such Spinco and ending on the
twenty five (25) month anniversary thereof.
Separate
Return
shall mean (a) in the case of any Tax Return required to be
filed by any member of a Spinco Group (including any consolidated, combined or
unitary return), any such Tax Return that does not include any member of the
Parent Group or any member of any other Spinco Group and (b) in the case
of any Tax Return required to be filed by any member of the Parent Group
(including any consolidated, combined or unitary return), any such Tax Return
that does not include any member of a Spinco Group.
Separation
Agreement
shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals of this
Agreement.
8
Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes
shall mean any Income Taxes of Parent or any
entity that is or was a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent prior to the
Distributions resulting from (a) the transfer of any Equity Securities of
Interval to Interval Spinco prior to the Interval Spinco Distribution; (b) any
transfer of assets by FLMG Holdings Corp. to TM Spinco or one of its direct or
indirect Subsidiaries prior to the TM Spinco Distribution; (c) any
Internal Distribution (or portion thereof) failing to achieve Tax-Free Status, (d) the
sum of (i) any money and (ii) the fair market value of other
property, in each case, transferred by any Spinco or Interval to any
shareholder of such Spinco or Interval in connection with a Distribution
exceeding (x) such shareholders tax basis in its shares of stock of such
Spinco or Interval or (y) the net tax basis of any assets contributed by
such shareholder to such Spinco, and (e) the triggering of any excess loss
account as a result of the Distributions or the Internal Restructuring Steps.
Spinco Adjustment
shall mean, with
respect to a Spinco, an adjustment of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction
or credit on a Combined Return that is attributable to members of such Spinco
Group (including, in the case of any state or local consolidated, combined or
unitary income or franchise Taxes, a change in one or more apportionment
factors of members of a Spinco Group) pursuant to a Final Determination for a
Pre-Distribution Taxable Period.
Spinco Business
shall mean, with
respect to a Spinco, each trade or business actively conducted (within the
meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code) by such Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco
Group immediately after the Distribution of such Spinco, as set forth in the
IRS Ruling Documents (if applicable) and the Tax Opinion Documents.
Spinco
Consolidated Group
or
Spinco Consolidated Groups
shall mean,
individually or collectively, the Ticketmaster Spinco Consolidated Group, the
Interval Spinco Consolidated Group, the HSN Spinco Consolidated Group, and the
Tree Spinco Consolidated Group.
Spinco
Group
or
Spinco Groups
shall mean, individually or collectively,
the Ticketmaster Spinco Group, the Interval Spinco Group, the HSN Spinco Group,
and the Tree Spinco Group.
Spinco
Separate Return
shall mean any Separate Return required to be filed by a
Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group, including, without
limitation, (a) any consolidated federal Income Tax Returns of the Spinco
Consolidated Group required to be filed with respect to a Post-Distribution
Taxable Period and (b) any consolidated federal Income Tax Returns for any
group of which any member of the Spinco Group was the common parent.
Spin-Off-Related Transactions
shall
mean, with respect to a Distribution of a Spinco, any related contribution of
assets to, and assumption of liabilities by, such Spinco, the Distribution of
such Spinco and any Internal Restructuring
9
Steps associated with such Distribution, in each case, as described in
the Transactions Memo.
Spin-Off
Tax Liabilities
shall mean, with respect to any Taxing Jurisdiction, the
sum of (a) any increase in a Tax Liability (or reduction in a Refund)
Actually Realized as a result of any corporate-level gain or income recognized
with respect to the failure of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions to
qualify for Tax-Free Status under the Income Tax laws of such Taxing
Jurisdiction pursuant to any settlement, Final Determination, judgment,
assessment, proposed adjustment or otherwise, (b) interest on such amounts
calculated pursuant to such Taxing Jurisdictions laws regarding interest on
Tax liabilities at the highest Underpayment Rate in such Taxing Jurisdiction
from the date such additional gain or income was recognized until full payment
with respect thereto is made pursuant to Section 3 hereof (or in the case
of a reduction in a Refund, the amount of interest that would have been
received on the foregone portion of the Refund but for the failure of any of
the Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify for Tax-Free Status), and (c) any
penalties actually paid to such Taxing Jurisdiction that would not have been
paid but for the failure of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify
for Tax-Free Status in such Taxing Jurisdiction.
Supplying
Party
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8(d) hereof.
Tax
Attribute
shall mean a consolidated, combined or unitary net operating
loss, net capital loss, unused investment credit, unused foreign tax credit, or
excess charitable contribution (as such terms are used in Treasury Regulations
1.1502-79 and 1.1502-79A or comparable provisions of foreign, state or local
tax law), or a minimum tax credit or general business credit.
Tax
Authority
shall mean a governmental authority (foreign or domestic) 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, without limitation, the IRS).
Tax
Benefits
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(a) hereof.
Tax
Counsel
shall mean tax counsel or an accounting firm of recognized
national standing that is acceptable to Parent in its sole discretion.
Taxes
shall mean Income Taxes and Other Taxes.
Tax-Free
Status
shall mean, with respect to a Distribution, the qualification of
each of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions (other than the transfer by Parent of
its membership interests in LendingTree, LLC to LendingTree Holdings Corp.) as (a) a
transaction described in Sections 355(a) and/or 368(a)(1)(D) of the
Code (or, in the case of the Internal Restructuring Steps associated with a
Distribution, the qualification of such Internal Restructuring Steps as one or
more transactions that are generally tax-free for federal income tax purposes
pursuant to Section 351, Section 355, Section 368(a), Sections
332 and 337, or otherwise), (b) except with respect to the Distribution of
Tree Spinco, as a transaction in which the stock distributed thereby is
10
qualified property for purposes of Section 361(c) of the
Code, and (c) as a transaction in which the Parties and the members of
their respective Groups recognize no income or gain other than intercompany
items or excess loss accounts, if any, taken into account pursuant to the
Treasury Regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 1502 of the Code.
Taxing
Jurisdiction
shall mean the United States and every other government or
governmental unit having jurisdiction to tax one or more of the Parties or any
of their respective Affiliates.
Tax
Liabilities
shall mean any liabilities for Taxes.
Tax
Opinions
shall mean the tax opinions issued by Tax Counsel in connection
with the Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
Tax
Opinion Documents
shall mean the Tax Opinions and the information and
representations provided by, or on behalf of, the Parties to Tax Counsel in
connection therewith.
Tax-Related Losses
shall mean:
(a) the Aggregate Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities,
(b) all accounting, legal and other
professional fees, and court costs incurred in connection with any settlement,
Final Determination, judgment or other determination with respect to such
Aggregate Spin-Off Tax Liabilities, and
(c) all costs, expenses and damages
associated with stockholder litigation or controversies and any amount paid by
a Party in respect of the liability of shareholders, whether paid to
shareholders or to the IRS or any other Tax Authority payable by a Party or its
respective Affiliates, in each case, resulting from the failure of any of the
Spin-Off-Related Transactions to qualify for Tax-Free Status.
Ticketmaster
Spinco Consolidated Group
shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which
Ticketmaster Spinco is the common parent, determined immediately after the
Ticketmaster Spinco Distribution (and any predecessor or successor to such
affiliated group other than the Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco
Consolidated Group).
Ticketmaster
Spinco Distribution
shall mean the distribution by Parent of all the
common stock of Ticketmaster Spinco
pro rata
to
holders of Distributing Common Stock and Distributing Class B Common
Stock.
Ticketmaster
Spinco Group
shall mean (a) Ticketmaster Spinco and each Person that
is a direct or indirect Subsidiary of Ticketmaster Spinco (including any
Subsidiary of Ticketmaster Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax
purposes (or for purposes of any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately
after the Ticketmaster Spinco Distribution after giving effect to the
Spin-Off-Related
11
Transactions, (b) any corporation (or other Person) that shall
have merged or liquidated into Ticketmaster Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any
predecessor or successor to any Person otherwise described in this definition.
Tree
Spinco Consolidated Group
shall mean the affiliated group of corporations
(within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code without regard to
the exclusions in Section 1504(b)(1) through (8)) of which Tree
Spinco is the common parent, determined immediately after the Tree Spinco
Distribution (and any predecessor or successor to such affiliated group other
than the Parent Consolidated Group or any other Spinco Consolidated Group).
Tree
Spinco Distribution
shall mean the distribution by Parent of all the
common stock of Tree Spinco
pro rata
to
holders of Distributing Common Stock and Distributing Class B Common
Stock.
Tree
Spinco Group
shall mean (a) Tree Spinco and each Person that is a
direct or indirect Subsidiary of Tree Spinco (including any Subsidiary of Tree
Spinco that is disregarded for federal Income Tax purposes (or for purposes of
any state, local, or foreign tax law)) immediately after the Tree Spinco
Distribution after giving effect to the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, (b) any
corporation (or other Person) that shall have merged or liquidated into Tree
Spinco or any such Subsidiary and (c) any predecessor or successor to any
Person otherwise described in this definition.
Underpayment
Rate
shall mean the annual rate of interest described in Section 6621(c) of
the Code for large corporate underpayments of Income Tax (or similar provision
of state, local, or foreign Income Tax law, as applicable), as determined from
time to time.
Unqualified
Tax Opinion
shall mean an unqualified opinion of Tax Counsel on which
Parent may rely to the effect that a transaction (a) will not disqualify
any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions from having Tax-Free Status, assuming
that the Spin-Off-Related Transactions would have qualified for Tax-Free Status
if such transaction did not occur, and (b) will not adversely affect any
of the conclusions set forth in the IRS Ruling (if applicable) or the Tax
Opinions;
provided
, that any tax opinion obtained in connection with a
proposed acquisition of Equity Securities of a Spinco (or any entity treated as
a successor to such Spinco), other than Tree Spinco, entered into during the
Restriction Period shall not qualify as an Unqualified Opinion unless such tax
opinion concludes that such proposed acquisition will not be treated as part
of a plan (or series of related transactions), within the meaning of Section 355(e) of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, that includes the
Distribution of such Spinco.
12
2.
Filing of Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes
.
(a)
Filing of Tax
Returns; Payment of Income Taxes and Other Taxes
.
(i)
Parent Consolidated Returns;
Other Combined Returns
. Parent shall
prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed (A) all consolidated
federal Income Tax Returns of the Parent Consolidated Group and (B) all
other Combined Returns for all taxable periods that end, with respect to a
Spinco, on or before the Distribution Date of such Spinco. Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, any
and all Taxes due or required to be paid with respect to or required to be
reported on any such Tax Return (in each case, including any increase in such
Tax Liabilities attributable to a Final Determination with respect to a
Pre-Distribution Taxable Period (including a Spinco Adjustment);
provided
that
Parent shall not be responsible for any Spinco Adjustment if the
Spinco Group to which such Spinco Adjustment relates fails to promptly provide
such cooperation as is requested by Parent in connection with Parents conduct
of the Proceeding to which such Final Determination relates).
(ii)
Parent Separate Returns
. Parent shall prepare and file or cause to be
prepared and filed all Parent Separate Returns for all taxable periods. Parent shall pay, or cause to be paid, any
and all Taxes due or required to be paid with respect to or required to be
reported on any Parent Separate Return (including any increase in such Tax
Liabilities attributable to a Final Determination).
(iii)
Spinco Adjustments
. If a Spinco fails to promptly provide such
cooperation as is requested by Parent in connection with Parents conduct of a
Proceeding relating to a Spinco Adjustment with respect to such Spinco, such
Spinco shall pay and shall be responsible for any Tax Liabilities (including
any Specified Restructuring Income Tax Liabilities) attributable to such Spinco
Adjustment.
(iv)
Spinco Separate Returns
. Each Spinco shall prepare and file or cause
to be prepared and filed its respective Spinco Separate Returns for all taxable
years. Each Spinco shall pay, or cause
to be paid, any and all Taxes due or required to be paid with respect to or
required to be reported on its Spinco Separate Returns (including any increase
in such Tax Liabilities attributable to a Final Determination).
(b)
Preparation of
Tax Returns
.
(i) Parent (or its designee) shall
determine the entities to be included in any Combined Return and make or revoke
any Tax elections, adopt or change any Tax accounting methods, and determine
any other position taken on or in respect of any Tax Return required to be
prepared and filed by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) or
(ii). Any Tax Return
filed by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a)(i) with
respect to any Pre-Distribution Taxable Period shall, to the extent relating to
one or more of the Spincos or their respective Spinco Groups, be prepared in
good faith. For the avoidance of doubt,
with respect to the consolidated federal income tax return of Parent and its
subsidiaries for any taxable year that includes one or more Distributions,
Parent shall determine in its sole discretion whether to elect ratable
allocation under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-76. Each Spinco shall, and shall cause each
member of its respective Spinco Group to, take all actions necessary to give
effect to such
13
election. Each Spinco shall, and shall cause each
member of its respective Spinco Group to, prepare and submit at Parents
request (but in no event later than 90 days after such request), at its own
expense, all information that Parent shall reasonably request, in such form as
Parent shall reasonably request, including any such information requested to
enable Parent to prepare any Tax Return
required
to be filed by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a)(i).
(ii) Except as otherwise required by
applicable law or as a result of a Final Determination, (A) no Party
shall, or permit or cause any member of its respective Group to, take any
position that is either inconsistent with the treatment of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions as having Tax-Free Status (or analogous status under state, local
or foreign law) and, (B) no Spinco shall, or permit or cause any member of
its respective Spinco Group to, take any position with respect to an item of income,
deduction, gain, loss, or credit on a Tax Return, or otherwise treat such item
in a manner which is inconsistent with the manner such item is reported on a
Tax Return required to be prepared or filed by Parent pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof
(including, without limitation, the claiming of a deduction previously claimed
on any such Tax Return).
3.
Indemnification for Income Taxes and Other Taxes
.
(a)
Indemnification by Parent
. From and after the Distribution of a Spinco,
except as otherwise provided in Sections 3(b) and 3(c), Parent and each
member of the Parent Group shall be responsible for and shall jointly and
severally indemnify, defend and hold harmless such Spinco and each member of
its Spinco Group and each of its Representatives and Affiliates (and the heirs,
executors, successors and assigns of any of them) from and against (i) all
Spin-Off Tax Liabilities incurred by any member of the Parent Group, (ii) without
duplication, all Tax Liabilities that any member of the Parent Group is
required to pay pursuant to Section 2, (iii) all Taxes, Spin-Off Tax
Liabilities and Tax-Related Losses incurred by any member of any Group by
reason of the breach by Parent or a member of the Parent Group of any of its
representations or covenants hereunder or made in connection with the IRS
Ruling (if applicable) and/or the Tax Opinions and, in each case, any related
costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees
and expenses), and (iv) all Specified Restructuring Income Taxes;
provided
,
however
, that neither Parent nor any member of the Parent Group shall
have any obligation to indemnify, defend or hold harmless any Person pursuant
to this Section 3(a) to the extent that such indemnification
obligation is otherwise attributable to a breach by a Spinco (or a member of
its Group) of any of its representations or covenants hereunder or made in
connection with the IRS Ruling (if applicable) and/or the Tax Opinions;
provided
further
,
that
(x) in the event that an IRS Ruling is not
obtained with respect to the Distribution of a Spinco, neither Parent nor such
Spinco shall be deemed to make any representations regarding such Distribution
in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no Spinco makes any representations
regarding any facts that, if untrue, would result in Specified Restructuring
Income Taxes (other than representations regarding (1) whether such Spinco
is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within the meaning of Section 355(b) of
the Code, (2) such Spincos conduct after the Distribution, and (3) the
matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof). If the indemnification obligation of Parent
or any member of the Parent Group under this Section 3(a) (or any
adjustment for which Parent is responsible pursuant to this Section 3(a),
including any adjustment with respect to a Tax Return for which Parent is
responsible pursuant to Section
14
2(a)(i)) results in (i) increased
deductions, losses, or credits, or (ii) decreases in income, gains or
recapture of Tax credits (
Tax Benefits
) to a Spinco or any member of
such Spincos Group, which would not, but for the indemnification obligation
(or the adjustment giving rise to such indemnification obligation), be
allowable, then each Spinco receiving such Tax Benefit shall pay Parent the
amount by which such Tax Benefit actually reduces, in cash, the amount of Tax
that such Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group would have been required to
pay and bear (or increases, in cash, the amount of a Refund to which such
Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group would have been entitled) but for such
indemnification obligation (or adjustment giving rise to such indemnification
obligation). Each Spinco receiving the
Tax Benefit shall pay Parent for such Tax Benefit no later than five days after
such Tax Benefit is Actually Realized.
(b)
Indemnification by Spincos
. From and after the Distribution Date of a
Spinco, such Spinco (an
Indemnifying Spinco
) and each member of its
Spinco Group shall be responsible for and shall jointly and severally
indemnify, defend and hold harmless each other Party and the members of each
other Partys respective Group and their respective Representatives and
Affiliates (and the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of them)
from and against (i) all Tax Liabilities (including Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes), Spin-Off Tax Liabilities and Tax-Related Losses
that the Indemnifying Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group is required to
pay under Section 2(a)(iii) and (iv) or is responsible for under
Section 4(e) (including, without limitation, any Tax Liabilities or
Spin-Off Tax Liabilities or Tax-Related Losses arising with respect to a
Permitted Transaction for which the Indemnifying Spinco is liable pursuant to Section 4(e)(i));
provided
,
that
a Spinco shall not be responsible for (and Parent
shall indemnify such Spinco for) Specified Restructuring Income Taxes payable
with respect to any Tax Return described in Section 2(a)(iv) except
to the extent such Spinco is responsible for such Taxes under clause (ii) hereof;
(ii) all Taxes (including Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes), Spin-Off Tax Liabilities and other Tax-Related
Losses incurred by any member of any Group by reason of the breach by the Indemnifying
Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group of any of its representations or
covenants hereunder or made in connection with the IRS Ruling (if applicable)
and/or the Tax Opinions (irrespective of whether Parent made the same
representation on behalf of, or with respect to, such Spinco) and, in each
case, any related costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys fees and expenses);
provided
,
that
(x) in the
event that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the Distribution of a
Spinco, such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any representations regarding
such Distribution in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no Spinco makes any
representations regarding any facts that, if untrue, would result in Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes (other than representations regarding (1) whether
such Spinco is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within the
meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, (2) such Spincos conduct
after the Distribution, and (3) the matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof). If the indemnification obligation of a Spinco
or any member of its Spinco Group under this Section 3(b) (or any
adjustment for which such Spinco is responsible pursuant to this Section 3(b))
results in a Tax Benefit to another Party or any member of such other Partys
Group, which would not, but for the Tax which is the subject of the
indemnification obligation (or the adjustment giving rise to such
indemnification obligation), be allowable, then each Party receiving such Tax
Benefit shall pay the Indemnifying Spinco the amount by which such Tax Benefit
actually reduces, in cash, the amount of Tax that the Party or any member of
its Group would have been required to pay and bear (or increases, in cash, the
amount of a Refund to which the Party or any member of its Group would have
been entitled) but for such
15
indemnification (or
adjustment giving rise to such indemnification obligation). Each Party receiving such Tax Benefit shall
pay the Indemnifying Spinco for such Tax Benefit no later than five days after
such Tax Benefit is Actually Realized.
(c)
Spinco Group Indemnification
Failure
. In the event that (i) pursuant
to a Final Determination, any member of a Spinco Group is liable for, or
otherwise required to make a payment in respect of, Spin-Off Tax Liabilities
for which such Spinco Group is not responsible pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) full
indemnification cannot be obtained from the Spinco Group responsible for such
Spin-Off Tax Liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, Parent and each member of
the Parent Group shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold
harmless the Spinco referred to in clause (i) and each member of its
Spinco Group and each of its respective Representatives and Affiliates (and the
heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of them) from and against the
portion of such liability for which full indemnification cannot be obtained
from the Spinco Group referred to in clause (ii). Upon any payment by Parent or any member of
the Parent Group in accordance with the preceding sentence, Parent or such
member of the Parent Group shall be subrogated to any and all rights (including
rights to payment and causes of action, under this Agreement or otherwise) of
each member of the Spinco Group described in clause (i) in connection with
the Final Determination at issue.
(d)
Timing of Indemnification Payments
. Any payment and indemnification made pursuant
to this Section 3 shall be made by the Indemnifying Party promptly, but,
in any event, no later than:
(i) in the case of an indemnification
obligation with respect to any Tax Liabilities or Spin-Off Tax Liabilities, the
later of (A) five Business Days after the Indemnified Party notifies the Indemnifying
Party and (B) five Business Days prior to the date the Indemnified Party
is required to make a payment of taxes, interest, or penalties to the
applicable Tax Authority (including a payment with respect to an assessment of
a tax deficiency by any Taxing Jurisdiction or a payment made in settlement of
an asserted tax deficiency) or realizes a reduced Refund; and
(ii) in the case of any payment or
indemnification of any Losses not otherwise described in clause (i) of
this Section 3(d) (including, but not limited to, any Losses
described in clause (b) or (c) of the definition of Tax-Related
Losses, attorneys fees and expenses and other indemnifiable Losses), the later
of (A) five Business Days after the Indemnified Party notifies the
Indemnifying Party and (B) five Business Days prior to the date the
Indemnified Party makes a payment thereof.
4.
Spin-Off Related Matters
.
(a)
Representations
.
(i)
IRS Ruling Documents and Tax
Opinion Documents
. Each Spinco (a
Representing
Spinco
) hereby represents and warrants that (A) such Representing
Spinco has examined the IRS Ruling Documents and the Tax Opinion Documents
(including, without limitation, the representations to the extent that they
relate to the plans, proposals, intentions, and policies of the Representing
Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group, or the
16
Spinco Business of such
Spinco Group), and (B) to the extent in reference to such Representing
Spinco, any member of its Spinco Group, or the Spinco Business of such Spinco
Group, the facts presented and the representations made therein are true,
correct and complete;
provided
,
that
(x) in the event that
an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the Distribution of a Spinco,
such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any representations regarding such
Distribution in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no Spinco makes any
representations regarding any facts that, if untrue, would result in Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes (other than representations regarding (1) whether
such Spinco is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within the
meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, (2) such Spincos conduct
after the Distribution, and (3) the matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof).
(ii)
Tax-Free Status
. Each Representing Spinco hereby represents
and warrants that it has no plan or intention of taking any action, or failing
to take any action, in each case, from and after its respective Distribution
that could reasonably be expected to
cause
any representation or factual statement made in this Agreement, the Separation
Agreement, the IRS Ruling Documents, the Tax Opinion Documents or any of the
Ancillary Agreements to be untrue;
provided
,
that
, in the event
that an IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the Distribution of a
Spinco, such Spinco shall not be deemed to make any representations regarding
the IRS Ruling Documents.
(iii)
Plan or Series of Related
Transactions
. Each Representing
Spinco hereby represents and warrants that, during the two-year period ending
on the Distribution Date of such Spinco, there was no agreement,
understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations or discussions (as such
terms are defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(h)) by any one or
more officers or directors of any member of such Spinco Group or by any other
person or persons with the implicit or explicit permission of one or more of
such officers or directors regarding an acquisition of all or a significant
portion of the Equity Securities of such Spinco (or any predecessor);
provided
that
no representation is made by any Spinco regarding any agreement,
understanding, arrangement, substantial negotiations or discussions (as such
terms are defined in Treasury Regulation 1.355-7(h)) by any one or more
officers or directors of Parent.
(b)
Covenants
.
(i)
Actions Consistent with
Representations and Covenants
. From
and after its respective Distribution, no Spinco (or any member of its
respective Spinco Group) shall take any action, or fail to take any action or
permit any member of its respective Group, to fail to take any action, where
such action or failure to act would be inconsistent with or cause to be untrue
any material information, covenant or representation made in connection with
the IRS Ruling (if applicable), the Tax Opinions, the Separation Agreement or
this Agreement.
(ii)
Preservation of Tax-Free Status;
Spinco Business
. From and after its
respective Distribution, no Spinco shall (A) take any action or permit any
member of its respective Spinco Group to take any action, and each Spinco shall
not fail to take any action or permit any member of its respective Spinco Group
to fail to take any action, in each case, unless such action or failure to act
could not reasonably be expected to cause any of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions to fail to have Tax-Free Status or could not require any of the
Parties to
17
reflect a liability or
reserve for Income Taxes with respect to any of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions in its financial statements, and (B) until the first day
after the Restriction Period, engage in any transaction that could reasonably
be expected to result in it or any member of its respective Spinco Group ceasing
to be a company engaged in its respective Spinco Business.
(iii)
Sales, Issuances and Redemptions of
Equity Securities
. From and after its respective Distribution until the
first day after the Restriction Period applicable to a Spinco, such Spinco
shall not and shall not agree to (and shall cause the members of its respective
Spinco Group not to and not to agree to) sell or otherwise issue to any Person,
or redeem or otherwise acquire from any Person, any Equity Securities of such
Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group;
provided
,
however
, that
(A) the adoption of a shareholder rights plan shall not constitute a sale
or issuance of Equity Securities, (B) a Spinco may issue Equity Securities
to the extent the issuance satisfies Safe Harbor VIII (relating to acquisitions
in connection with a persons performance of services) or Safe Harbor IX
(relating to acquisitions by a retirement plan of an employer) of Treasury
Regulation Section 1.355-7(d), and (C) members of a Spinco Group
(other than a Spinco) may issue or sell Equity Securities to other members of
the same Spinco Group, and may redeem or purchase Equity Securities from other
members of the same Spinco Group, in each case, to the extent not inconsistent
with the Tax-Free Status of the Spin-Off Related Transactions. Anything in this Section 4(b)(iii) to
the contrary notwithstanding, there shall be no limitation on the ability of
Tree Spinco to issue Equity Securities of Tree Spinco (or any member of its
Group to issue Equity Securities of such member) to any Person, or to redeem or
otherwise acquire from any Person, any Equity Securities of Tree Spinco or any
member of its Group;
provided
that any redemption or acquisition of
Equity Securities of Tree Spinco by Tree Spinco or any member of its Spinco Group
prior to (or pursuant to an agreement or arrangement negotiated, in whole or in
part, prior to) the first anniversary of the Distribution Date of Tree Spinco
shall be permitted only if such transaction satisfies the requirements of Section 4.05(1)(b) of
Revenue Procedure 96-30.
(iv)
Tender Offers; Other Business
Combination Transactions
. From and after its respective Distribution, until
the first day after the Restriction Period applicable to a Spinco, such Spinco
shall (and shall cause the members of its Spinco Group) not to (A) solicit
any Person to make a tender offer for, or otherwise acquire or sell, Equity
Securities of such Spinco, (B) participate in or support any unsolicited
tender offer for, or other acquisition or disposition of, Equity Securities of
such Spinco, or (C) approve or otherwise permit any transaction described
in clauses (A) or (B). In addition,
no Spinco (nor any members of its respective Spinco Group) shall at any time,
whether before or subsequent to the expiration of the Restriction Period
applicable to such Spinco, engage in any action described in clauses (A), (B) or
(C) of the preceding sentence pursuant to an agreement or arrangement
negotiated (in whole or in part) prior to the first anniversary of the
Distribution of such Spinco, even if at the time of the Distribution or
thereafter such action is subject to one or more conditions. Anything in this Section 4(b)(iv) to
the contrary notwithstanding, unless (x) such action is taken prior to the
first anniversary of the Distribution Date of Tree Spinco (or pursuant to an
agreement or arrangement negotiated, in whole or in part, prior to the first
anniversary of the Distribution Date of Tree Spinco) and (y) relates to a subsequent
sale or exchange (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-2(d)(2)(iii) (taking
into account clause (E) thereof) of Tree Spinco stock, the limitations
described in this Section 4(b)(iv) shall not apply to Tree Spinco (or
any member of its Spinco Group).
18
(v)
Dispositions of Assets
. From
and after its respective Distribution until the first day after the Restriction
Period, no Spinco (nor any member of its respective Spinco Group) shall sell,
transfer, or otherwise dispose of or agree to sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose (including in any transaction treated for federal income tax purposes
as a sale, transfer or disposition) of assets (including, any shares of capital
stock of a Subsidiary) that, in the aggregate, constitute more than 30% of the
gross assets of such Spinco or more than 30% of
the consolidated gross assets of such Spinco Group. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) sales,
transfers, or dispositions of assets in the ordinary course of business, (B) any
cash paid to acquire assets from an unrelated Person in an arms-length
transaction, or (C) any assets transferred to a Person that is disregarded
as an entity separate from the transferor for federal income tax purposes or (D) any
mandatory or optional repayment (or pre-payment) of any indebtedness of such
Spinco (or any member of its Spinco Group).
The percentages of gross assets or consolidated gross assets of such
Spinco or its respective Spinco Group, as the case may be, sold, transferred,
or otherwise disposed of, shall be based on the fair market value of the gross
assets of such Spinco and the members of its respective Spinco Group as of the
Distribution Date of such Spinco. For
purposes of this Section 4(b)(v), a merger of a Spinco or one of its
Subsidiaries with and into any Person shall constitute a disposition of all of
the assets of such Spinco or such Subsidiary.
(vi)
Liquidations, Mergers,
Reorganizations
. From and after its respective Distribution until the first
day after the Restriction Period, no Spinco (nor any of its Subsidiaries)
shall, or shall agree to, voluntarily dissolve or liquidate (including
by converting into an entity that is treated as a disregarded
entity or partnership for federal income tax purposes) or engage in any
transaction involving a merger (except for a Cash Acquisition Merger),
consolidation or other reorganization;
provided
,
that
, mergers of
direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of a Spinco solely with and into
such Spinco or with other direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of such
Spinco, and liquidations of such Spincos wholly-owned subsidiaries are not
subject to this Section 4(b)(vi) to the extent not inconsistent with
the Tax-Free Status of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions.
(c)
Permitted Transactions
.
(i) Anything in Sections 4(b)(iii) and
4(b)(iv) to the contrary notwithstanding, a Spinco (or any member of its
Group) shall not be prohibited from entering into or consummating a transaction
otherwise prohibited solely by Section 4(b)(iii) or 4(b)(iv), if such
transaction, together with any other transaction or transactions previously
permitted pursuant to this Section 4(c)(i), would not result in one or
more Persons acquiring,
directly
or indirectly, Equity Securities representing a 10% or greater interest, by
vote or value, in such Spinco (or any successor thereto) pursuant to one or
more transactions that have not been approved by Parent pursuant to Section 4(c)(ii). In the event the transaction at issue is a
redemption or purchase of Equity Securities of a Spinco by such Spinco or a
member of its Spinco Group prior to (or pursuant to an agreement or arrangement
negotiated, in whole or in part, prior to) the first anniversary of the
Distribution Date of such Spinco, such transaction shall be permitted only if
it also satisfies the requirements of Section 4.05(1)(b) of Revenue
Procedure 96-30.
19
(ii) Notwithstanding the restrictions
otherwise imposed by Sections 4(b)(iii) through 4(b)(vi), during the Restriction
Period, a Spinco (the
Requesting Spinco
) may (i) issue, sell,
redeem or otherwise acquire (or cause a member of its respective Spinco Group
to issue, sell, redeem or otherwise acquire) its own Equity Securities or
Equity Securities of any member of its respective Spinco Group in a transaction
that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(iii) (determined
after giving effect to Section 4(c)(i)), (ii) approve, participate
in, support or otherwise permit a proposed business combination or transaction
that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(iv) (determined
after giving effect to Section 4(c)(i)), (iii) sell or otherwise
dispose of its assets or the assets of any member of its respective Spinco
Group in a transaction that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(v),
or (iv) merge itself or any member of its respective Spinco Group with
another entity without regard to which party is the surviving entity in a
transaction that would otherwise breach the covenant set forth in Section 4(b)(vi),
if and only if such transaction would not violate Section 4(b)(i) or Section 4(b)(ii)
and
prior to entering into any agreement contemplating a transaction described in
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of this Section 4(c)(ii), and
prior to consummating any such transaction: (X) the Requesting Spinco
obtains Parents written consent (which may be withheld in Parents sole
discretion), (Y) the Requesting Spinco provides Parent with an Unqualified
Tax Opinion (or, subject to Section 4(d)(iii), a private letter ruling),
in each case, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent in its sole and
absolute discretion exercised in good faith (and in determining whether an
opinion or ruling is satisfactory, Parent may consider, among other factors,
the appropriateness of any underlying assumptions and managements
representations if used as a basis for the opinion or supplemental ruling), or (Z) the
Requesting Spinco shall request that Parent obtain a private letter ruling (or,
if applicable, a supplemental private letter ruling) in accordance with Section 4(d)(ii) of
this Agreement to the effect that such transaction will not affect the Tax-Free
Status of any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions and Parent shall have
received such private letter ruling, in form and substance satisfactory to
Parent in its sole and absolute discretion, exercised in good faith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect
to any action or transaction involving an acquisition of the Requesting Spincos
stock entered into at least 18 months after the Distribution Date of the
Requesting Spinco, the Requesting Spinco shall be permitted to consummate such
transaction if it delivers an unconditional officers certificate establishing
facts evidencing that such acquisition satisfies the requirements of Safe
Harbor III in Treasury Regulation Section 1.355-7(d), and Parent, after
due diligence, is satisfied with the accuracy of such certification.
(d)
Private Letter Rulings and
Restrictions on the Spincos
.
(i)
Private Letter Ruling at Parents
Request
. Parent shall have the right
to obtain a private letter ruling (or, if applicable, a supplemental private
letter ruling) in its sole discretion.
If Parent determines to obtain a private letter ruling, each Spinco
shall (and shall cause each member of its respective Spinco Group to) cooperate
with Parent and take any and all actions reasonably requested by Parent in
connection with obtaining the private letter ruling (including, without limitation,
by making any representation or covenant or providing any materials or
information requested by any Tax Authority;
provided
that
none of
the Spincos shall be required to make (or cause any member of their respective
Spinco Groups to make) any representation or covenant that is inconsistent with
historical facts or as to future matters or events over which it has no
control).
20
(ii)
Private Letter Rulings at Spincos Request
. Parent agrees that at the reasonable request
of a Requesting Spinco pursuant to Section 4(c), Parent shall (and shall
cause each member of the Parent Group to) cooperate with the Requesting Spinco
and use reasonable efforts to seek to obtain, as expeditiously as reasonably
practicable, a private letter ruling (or supplemental private letter ruling)
from the IRS for the purpose of confirming compliance on the part of the
Requesting Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group with its
obligations under Section 4(b) of this Agreement. Further, in no event shall Parent be required
to file any request for a private letter ruling under this Section 4(d)(ii) unless
the Requesting Spinco represents that (A) it has reviewed the request for
the private letter ruling and any materials, appendices and exhibits submitted
or filed therewith, and (B) all information and representations, if any,
relating to any member of the Requesting Spincos Spinco Group contained in the
IRS Ruling Documents (if applicable) or Tax Opinion Documents are true, correct
and complete in all material respects.
The Requesting Spinco shall reimburse Parent for all reasonable costs
and expenses incurred by the Parent Group in obtaining a private letter ruling
requested by the Requesting Spinco within 10 Business Days after receiving an
invoice from Parent therefor. Each
Spinco hereby agrees that Parent shall have sole and exclusive control over the
process of obtaining a private letter ruling, and that only Parent shall have
the right to apply for a private letter ruling relating to any of the Spin-Off
Related Transactions. In connection with
obtaining a private letter ruling pursuant to this Section 4(d)(ii),
(A) Parent shall, to the extent practicable, consult with the Requesting
Spinco reasonably in advance of taking any material action in connection
therewith; (B) Parent shall (1) reasonably in advance of the
submission of any documents to the IRS provide the Requesting Spinco with a draft
copy thereof, (2) reasonably consider the Requesting Spincos comments on
such documents, and (3) provide the Requesting Spinco with copies of all
documents submitted to or received from the Tax Authority in connection with
such ruling request; and (C) Parent shall provide the Requesting Spinco
with notice reasonably in advance of, and the Requesting Spinco shall have the
right to attend and participate in, any formally scheduled meetings with any
Tax Authority (subject to the approval of the Tax Authority) that relate to
such supplemental private letter ruling.
(iii)
Prohibition on the Spincos
. Each Spinco hereby agrees that, except to the
extent permitted by Section 4(d)(ii) or as otherwise consented to by
Parent in writing, neither it nor any member of its respective Spinco Group
shall seek any guidance from the IRS or any other Tax Authority (whether
written, verbal or otherwise) concerning any of the Spin-Off-Related
Transactions (or the impact of any transaction on any of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions).
(e)
Liability
of each Spinco for Undertaking Certain Actions
. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, each Spinco (a
Responsible Spinco
) and the members of
its respective Spinco Group shall be responsible for any and all Tax-Related
Losses that are attributable to, or result from:
(i) any act or failure to act by the Responsible Spinco or
any member of its respective Spinco Group, which action or failure to act is
inconsistent with any of the covenants set forth in Sections
4(b)(i) through 4(b)(vi) of this Agreement, in each case, determined
without regard to any of the exceptions or provisos contained in such
provisions or in Section 4(c)), expressly including, for this purpose, any
Permitted Transaction and any act or
21
failure to act that is inconsistent with
Section 4(b)(i) or 4(b)(ii), regardless of whether such act or
failure to act is permitted by Sections 4(b)(iii) through 4(b)(vi);
(ii) any acquisition or disposition of Equity Securities of the
Responsible Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group occurring after
the Distribution of such Spinco by any Person or Persons (including, without
limitation, as a result of an issuance of the Responsible Spincos Equity
Securities or a merger of another entity with and into the Responsible Spinco
or any member of its respective Spinco Group) or any acquisition of assets of
the Responsible Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group (including,
without limitation, as a result of a merger) occurring after the Distribution
of such Spinco by any Person or Persons; and
(iii) any breach by the Responsible Spinco or any member of its
Spinco Group of a representation or covenant made in this Agreement, the Separation
Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, or any documents relating to the IRS Ruling
or the Tax Opinions;
provided
,
that
(x) in the event that an
IRS Ruling is not obtained with respect to the Distribution of a Spinco, such
Spinco shall not be deemed to make any representations regarding such
Distribution in the IRS Ruling Documents, and (y) no Spinco makes any
representations regarding any facts that, if untrue, would result in Specified
Restructuring Income Taxes (other than representations regarding (1) whether
such Spinco is engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within the
meaning of Section 355(b) of the Code, (2) such Spincos conduct
after the Distribution, and (3) the matters set forth in Section 4(a)(iii) hereof).
(f)
Cooperation
.
(i) Without limiting the prohibition set forth in
Section 4(d)(iii), until the first day after the Restriction Period, each
Spinco shall furnish Parent with a copy of any ruling request that any member
of its respective Spinco Group may file with the IRS or any other Tax Authority
and any opinion received that in any respect relates to, or otherwise
reasonably could be expected to have any effect on, the Tax-Free Status of any
of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions with respect to such Spinco.
(ii) Each Party shall reasonably cooperate with the Requesting
Spinco in connection with any request by the Requesting Spinco for an
Unqualified Tax Opinion pursuant to
Section 4(c)(ii).
(iii) Until the first day after the Restriction Period, each
Spinco shall provide adequate advance notice to Parent in accordance with the
terms of Section 4(f)(iv) of any action described in Sections
4(b)(i) through 4(b)(vi) within a period of time sufficient to enable
Parent to seek injunctive relief pursuant to Section 4(g) in a court
of competent jurisdiction;
provided
that Tree Spinco shall not be
required to provide advance notice with respect to any action described in
Sections 4(b)(iii) through 4(b)(vi) with respect to which Tree Spinco
is not subject to restrictions.
(iv) Each notice required by Section 4(f)(iii) shall
set forth the terms and conditions of any such proposed transaction, including,
without limitation, (A) the nature of any related action proposed to be
taken by the board of directors of such Spinco, (B)
22
the approximate number of Equity Securities (and
their voting and economic rights) of such Spinco or any member of its
respective Spinco Group (if any) proposed to be sold (or otherwise issued) or
acquired, (C) the approximate value of such Spincos assets (or assets of
any member of its respective Spinco Group) proposed to be transferred, and
(D) the proposed timetable for such transaction, all with sufficient
particularity to enable Parent to seek such injunctive relief. Promptly, but in any event within 30 days,
after Parent receives such written notice from such Spinco, Parent shall notify
such Spinco in writing of Parents decision to seek injunctive relief pursuant to
Section 4(g).
(v) From and after its respective Distribution until the first
day after the Restriction Period, no Spinco nor any member of its respective
Spinco Group shall take (or refrain from taking) any action to the extent that
such action or inaction would have caused a representation made with respect to
such Spinco in connection with the IRS Ruling (but only if such IRS Ruling was
received) and/or the Tax Opinions to have been untrue as of the relevant
representation date, had such Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco
Group intended to take (or refrain from taking) such action on the relevant
representation date.
(g)
Enforcement
.
The
Parties acknowledge that irreparable harm would occur in the event that any of
the provisions of this Section 4 were not performed in accordance with
their specific terms or were otherwise breached. The Parties agree that, in order to preserve
the Tax-Free Status of the Spin-Off-Related Transactions, injunctive relief is
appropriate to prevent any violation of the foregoing covenants;
provided
,
however
, that injunctive relief shall not be the exclusive legal or
equitable remedy for any such violation.
5.
Refunds
. Parent
shall be entitled to all Refunds (and any interest thereon received from the
applicable Tax Authority) in respect of Taxes paid with respect to any Tax
Return for which Parent or any member of the Parent Group is responsible
pursuant to Section 2. Each Spinco
shall be entitled to all Refunds (and any interest thereon received from the
applicable Tax Authority) in respect of Taxes paid with respect to any Tax
Return for which it or members of its respective Spinco Group are responsible
pursuant to Section 2.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event a Party obtains a Refund of
Taxes for which it was indemnified by another Party (other than Taxes for which
a Spinco is responsible pursuant to Section 2(a)(iii)), the indemnifying
Party shall be entitled to such Refund.
A Party receiving a Refund to which another Party is entitled pursuant
to this Section 5 shall pay the amount to which such other Party is
entitled within fifteen Business Days after such Refund is Actually
Realized. The Parties shall cooperate
with each other in connection with any claim for a Refund in respect of a Tax
for which any member of their respective Groups is responsible pursuant to
Section 2.
6.
Tax Contests
.
(a)
Notification
.
Each Party shall notify the other Parties in writing of any
communication with respect to any pending or threatened Proceeding in
connection with a Tax Liability (or any issue related thereto) of any Party or
member of its Group, for which another Party or member of its Group, may be
responsible pursuant to this Agreement within ten (10) Business Days of
receipt;
provided
,
however
, that in the case of any
Distribution-Related Proceeding (no matter which Party is responsible), such
notice shall be provided no later than ten
23
(10) Business Days after such
Party first receives written notice from the IRS or other Tax Authority of such
Distribution-Related Proceeding. The
notifying Party shall include with such notification a true, correct and
complete copy of any written communication, and an accurate and complete
written summary of any oral communication, received by such notifying Party or
member of its Group. The failure of one
Party to notify the other Parties of such communication in accordance with the
immediately preceding sentence shall not relieve such other Party of any
liability or obligation that it may have under this Agreement, except to the
extent that the failure timely to forward such notification actually prejudices
the ability of such other Party to contest such Income Tax Liability or Other
Tax Liability or increases the amount of such Income Tax Liability or Other Tax
Liability.
(b)
Representation with Respect to Tax Disputes
. Parent (or such member of the Parent Group as
Parent shall designate) shall have the sole right to administer and control and
to employ counsel of its choice at its expense in any Proceeding (including any
Distribution-Related Proceeding) relating to (i) any consolidated federal
Income Tax Returns of the Parent Consolidated Group, (ii) any other
Combined Returns and (iii) any Parent Separate Returns. Each Spinco (or such member of its respective
Spinco Group as such Spinco shall designate) shall have the sole right to
administer and control and to employ counsel of its choice at its expense in
any Proceeding (excluding any Distribution-Related Proceeding) relating to its
respective Spinco Consolidated Return or Spinco Separate Return.
(c)
Power of Attorney
.
Each Spinco (and members of its respective Group) shall execute and
deliver to Parent (or such member of the Parent Group as Parent shall
designate) any power of attorney or other document requested by Parent (or such
designee) in connection with any Proceeding described in the first sentence of
Section 6(b).
(d)
Distribution-Related Proceedings
.
(i) In the event of any Distribution-Related Proceeding as a
result of which a Spinco could reasonably be expected to become liable for any
Tax or Tax-Related Losses (each, a
Participating Spinco
) and which
Parent has the right to administer and control pursuant to
Section 6(b) above, (A) Parent shall consult with each
Participating Spinco reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in
connection with such Proceeding, (B) Parent shall offer each Participating
Spinco a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written
materials prepared or furnished in connection with such Proceeding,
(C) Parent shall defend such Proceeding diligently and in good faith as if
it were the only party in interest in connection with such Proceeding, and
(D) Parent shall provide each Participating Spinco copies of any written
materials relating to such Proceeding received from the relevant Tax
Authority. Notwithstanding anything in
the preceding sentence to the contrary, the final determination of the
positions taken, including with respect to settlement or other disposition, in
any Distribution-Related Proceeding shall be made in the sole discretion of
Parent and shall be final and not subject to the dispute resolution provisions
of Article 9 of the Separation Agreement.
(ii) In the event of any Distribution-Related Proceeding with
respect to any Spinco Separate Return,
(A) such Spinco shall consult with Parent reasonably in advance of taking
any significant action in connection with such Proceeding, (B) such Spinco
24
shall consult with Parent and offer Parent a
reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials
prepared or furnished in connection with such Proceeding, (C) such Spinco
shall defend such Proceeding diligently and in good faith as if it were the
only party in interest in connection with such Proceeding, (D) Parent
shall be entitled to participate in such Proceeding and receive copies of any
written materials relating to such Proceeding received from the relevant Tax
Authority, and (E) such Spinco shall not settle, compromise or abandon any
such Proceeding without obtaining the prior written consent of Parent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
7.
Apportionment of Tax Attributes; Carrybacks
.
(a)
Apportionment of Tax Attributes
.
(i) If the Parent Consolidated Group has a Tax Attribute, the
portion, if any, of such Tax Attribute apportioned to any Spinco or the members
of its respective Spinco Consolidated Group and treated as a carryover to the
first Post-Distribution Taxable Period of such Spinco (or such member) shall be
determined by Parent in accordance with Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-21,
1.1502-21T, 1.1502-22, 1.1502-79 and, if applicable, 1.1502-79A.
(ii) No Tax Attribute with respect to consolidated federal
Income Tax of the Parent Consolidated Group, other than those described in
Section 7(a)(i), and no Tax Attribute with respect to consolidated,
combined or unitary state, local, or foreign Income Tax, in each case, arising
in respect of a Combined Return shall be apportioned to any Spinco or any
member of its respective Spinco Group, except as Parent (or such member of the
Parent Group as Parent shall designate) determines is otherwise required under
applicable law.
(iii) Parent (or its designee) shall determine the portion, if
any, of any Tax Attribute which must (absent a Final Determination to the
contrary) be apportioned to a Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco
Group in accordance with this Section 7(a) and applicable law, and
the amount of tax basis and earnings and profits to be apportioned to such
Spinco or any member of its respective Spinco Group in accordance with
applicable law, and shall provide written notice of the calculation thereof to
such Spinco as soon as reasonably practicable after the information necessary
to make such calculation becomes available to Parent.
(iv) The written notice delivered by Parent pursuant to
Section 7(a)(iii) shall be binding on each Spinco Group and shall not
be subject to dispute resolution. Except as otherwise required by a change in
applicable law or pursuant to a Final Determination, no Spinco shall take any
position (whether on a Tax Return or otherwise) that is inconsistent with the
information contained in such written notice.
(b)
Carrybacks
.
Except to the extent otherwise consented to by Parent or prohibited by
applicable law, each Spinco shall elect to relinquish, waive or otherwise forgo
all Carrybacks. In the event that a
Spinco (the
Carryback Spinco
), or the appropriate member of its
respective Spinco Group, is prohibited by applicable law to relinquish, waive
or otherwise forgo a Carryback (or Parent consents to a Carryback),
(i) each Party shall cooperate with the Carryback Spinco, at the Carryback
Spincos expense, in seeking from the appropriate Tax
25
Authority such Refund as reasonably
would result from such Carryback, and (ii) the Carryback Spinco shall be
entitled to any Income Tax Benefit Actually Realized by a member of another
Group (including any interest thereon received from such Tax Authority), to the
extent that such Refund is directly attributable to such Carryback, within 15
Business Days after such Refund is Actually Realized;
provided
,
however
,
that the Carryback Spinco shall indemnify and hold the members of the other
Partys Group harmless from and against any and all collateral tax consequences
resulting from or caused by any such Carryback, including (but not limited to)
the loss or postponement of any benefit from the use of tax attributes generated
by a member of the other Partys Group or an Affiliate thereof if (x) such
tax attributes expire unutilized, but would have been utilized but for such
Carryback, or (y) the use of such tax attributes is postponed to a later
taxable period than the taxable period in which such tax attributes would have
been utilized but for such Carryback. If
there is a Final Determination that results in any change to or adjustment of
an Income Tax Benefit Actually Realized by a member of the other Partys Group that
is directly attributable to a Carryback, then the other Party (or its designee)
shall make a payment to the Carryback Spinco, or the Carryback Spinco shall
make a payment to the other Party (or its designee), as may be necessary to
adjust the payments between the Carryback Spinco and the other Party (or its
designee) to reflect the payments that would have been made under this
Section 7(b) had the adjusted amount of such Income Tax Benefit been
taken into account in computing the payments due under this Section 7(b).
8.
Cooperation and Exchange of Information
.
(a)
Cooperation
and Exchange of Information
. Each
Party, on behalf of itself and the members of its Group, agrees to provide each
other Party (or its designee) with such cooperation or information as such
other Party (or its designee) reasonably shall request in connection with the
determination of any payment or any calculations described in this Agreement,
the preparation or filing of any Tax Return or claim for Refund, or the conduct
of any Proceeding. Such cooperation and
information shall include, without limitation, upon reasonable notice
(i) promptly forwarding copies of appropriate notices and forms or other
communications (including, without limitation, information document requests,
revenue agents reports and similar reports, notices of proposed adjustments
and notices of deficiency) received from or sent to any Tax Authority or any
other administrative, judicial or governmental authority, (ii) providing
copies of all relevant Tax Returns, together with accompanying schedules and
related workpapers, documents relating to rulings or other determinations by
any Tax Authority, and such other records concerning the ownership and tax
basis of property, or other relevant information, (iii) the provision of
such additional information and explanations of documents and information
provided under this Agreement (including statements, certificates, forms,
returns and schedules delivered by either party) as shall be reasonably
requested by any of the other Parties (or their designee), (iv) the
execution of any document that may be necessary or reasonably helpful in
connection with the filing of a Tax Return, a claim for a Refund, or in
connection with any Proceeding, including such waivers, consents or powers of
attorney as may be necessary for the other Party to exercise its rights under
this Agreement, and (v) the use of the Partys reasonable efforts to
obtain any documentation from a governmental authority or a third party that
may be necessary or reasonably helpful in connection with any of the
foregoing. It is expressly the intention
of the Parties to take all actions that shall be necessary to establish Parent
as the sole agent for Tax purposes of each member of the Spinco Groups with
respect to all
26
Combined Returns. Upon reasonable notice, each Party shall make
its, or shall cause the members of its respective Group, as applicable, to make
their, employees and facilities available on a mutually convenient basis to
provide explanation of any documents or information provided hereunder. Any information obtained under this
Section 8 shall be kept confidential, except as otherwise reasonably may
be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or claims for Refund
or in conducting any Proceeding.
(b)
Retention
of Records
. The Parties each agree to retain all Tax Returns, related
schedules and workpapers, and all material records and other documents as
required under Section 6001 of the Code and the regulations promulgated
thereunder (and any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law) existing
on the date hereof or created in respect of (i) any taxable period that
ends on or before or includes the Distribution Date or (ii) any taxable
period that may be subject to a claim hereunder until the later of (A) the
expiration of the statute of limitations (including extensions) for the taxable
periods to which such Tax Returns and other documents relate and (B) the
Final Determination of any payments that may be required in respect of such
taxable periods under this Agreement.
From and after the end of the period described in the preceding sentence
of this Section 8(b), if a Party or a member of its respective Group
wishes to dispose of any such records and documents, then such Party shall
provide written notice thereof to the other Parties and shall provide the other
Parties the opportunity to take possession of any such records and documents
within 90 days after such notice is delivered;
provided
,
however
,
that if no other Party, within such 90-day period, confirms its intention to
take possession of such records and documents, then the Party wishing to
destroy or otherwise dispose of such records and documents may do so.
(c)
Remedies
.
Each of the Parties hereby acknowledges
and agrees that (i) the failure of any member of its respective Group to
comply with the provisions of this Section 8 may result in substantial
harm to the other Parties, including the inability to determine or appropriately
substantiate a Tax Liability (or a position in respect thereof) for which a
Party (or a member of its respective Group) would be responsible under this
Agreement or appropriately defend against an adjustment thereto by a Tax
Authority, (ii) the remedies available to one Party (the
Injured Party
)
for the breach by a member of another Party (the
Breaching Party
) of
its obligations under this Section 8 shall include (without limitation)
the indemnification by the Breaching Party of the Injured Party for any Tax
Liabilities incurred or any tax benefit lost or postponed by reason of such
breach and the forfeiture by the Breaching Party of any related rights to
indemnification by the Injured Party.
(d)
Reliance
. If any member of a Group supplies (
Supplying
Party
)
information to a member of another Group (
Relying Party
)
in connection with a Tax Liability and an officer of a member of the Relying
Party signs a statement or other document under penalties of perjury in
reliance upon the accuracy of such information, then upon the written request
of the member of the Relying Party identifying the information being so relied
upon, the chief financial officer of Supplying Party (or his or her designee)
shall certify in writing that to his knowledge (based upon consultation with
appropriate employees) the information so supplied is accurate and
complete. Each Party agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each member of the other Groups and its directors, officers
and employees from and against any fine, penalty, or other cost or expense of
any kind attributable to a member of its respective Group having
27
supplied, pursuant to this
Section 8, a member of another Group with inaccurate or incomplete
information in connection with a Tax Liability.
9.
Resolution of Disputes
.
The provisions of Article 9
of the Separation Agreement (Dispute Resolution) shall apply to any dispute
arising in connection with this Agreement;
provided
,
however
,
that in the case of disputes arising under this Agreement, the relevant
Parties shall jointly select the arbitrator, who shall be an attorney or
accountant who is generally recognized in the tax community as a qualified and
competent tax practitioner with experience in the tax area involved in the
issue or issues to be resolved.
10.
Payments
.
(a)
Method
of Payment
. All payments required by
this Agreement shall be made by (i) wire transfer to the appropriate bank
account as may from time to time be designated by the Parties for such purpose;
provided
that
, on the date of such wire transfer, notice of the
transfer is given to the recipient thereof in accordance with Section 11,
or (ii) any other method agreed to by the Parties. All payments due under this Agreement shall
be deemed to be paid when available funds are actually received by the payee.
(b)
Interest
. Any payment required by this Agreement that
is not made on or before the date required hereunder shall bear interest, from
and after such date through the date of payment, at the Underpayment Rate.
(c)
Characterization
of Payments
. For all Income Tax
purposes, the Parties agree to treat, and to cause their respective Affiliates
to treat, (i) any payment required by this Agreement or by the Separation
Agreement, by (A) Parent to any of the Spincos as a contribution by Parent
to the appropriate Spinco occurring immediately prior to the Distribution of
such Spinco, (B) a Spinco to Parent as a distribution by such Spinco
occurring immediately prior to the Distribution of such Spinco, and (C) a
Spinco to another Spinco as a distribution by the first Spinco to Parent
occurring immediately before the Distribution of the first Spinco followed by a
contribution by Parent to the recipient Spinco occurring immediately before the
Distribution of the second Spinco; and (ii) any payment of interest or
non-federal Income Taxes by or to a Tax Authority, as taxable or deductible, as
the case may be, to the Party entitled under this Agreement to retain such
payment or required under this Agreement to make such payment, in either case,
except as otherwise mandated by applicable law or a Final Determination;
provided
that
in the event it is determined (A) pursuant to applicable law
that it is more likely than not, or (B) pursuant to a Final Determination,
that any such treatment is not permissible (or that an Indemnified Party
nevertheless suffers a Tax detriment as a result of such payment), the payment
in question shall be adjusted to place the Indemnified Party in the same
after-tax position it would have enjoyed absent such applicable law or Final
Determination.
11.
Compensa