Tax Disaffiliation Agreement between Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. and Lender Processing Services, Inc. (July 2, 2008)
This agreement is between Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) and its subsidiary, Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS), and outlines how the two companies will handle tax matters after FIS transfers certain assets to LPS and distributes LPS shares in a tax-free reorganization. The agreement sets out each party’s responsibilities for tax filings, payments, and liabilities related to periods before and after the distribution date, and provides procedures for resolving tax disputes. It is effective as of July 2, 2008, and is intended to ensure proper tax treatment following the corporate separation.
1.1 | In General. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the respective meanings set forth below: |
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GENERAL TAX ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS.
2.1 | Agent for the LPS Group. |
(a) | LPS (on behalf of itself and each member of the LPS Group) hereby authorizes and designates FIS and such other FIS Group member as may be appropriate as its agent for the purpose of taking any and all actions necessary or incidental to the filing of any FIS Return and, except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of making payments to, or collecting refunds from, any Tax Authority in respect of a FIS Return. | ||
(b) | FIS (on behalf of itself and each member of the FIS Group) hereby authorizes and designates LPS and such other LPS Group member as may be appropriate as its agent for the purpose of taking any and all actions necessary or incidental to the filing of any LPS Return and, except as otherwise provided herein, for the purpose of making payments to, or collecting refunds from, any Tax Authority in respect of a LPS Return. |
2.2 | Filing of Returns. |
(a) | FIS shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) in a manner consistent with past practice and shall timely file (or cause to be timely filed) all FIS Returns required to be filed prior to the Distribution Date and LPS Returns required to be filed prior to the Distribution Date. | ||
(b) | FIS shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) in a manner consistent with past practice and shall timely file (or cause to be timely filed) all FIS Returns that are required to be filed after the Distribution Date. | ||
(c) | LPS shall prepare (or cause to be prepared) in a manner consistent with past practice and shall timely file (or cause to be timely filed) all LPS Returns required to be filed after the Distribution Date. | ||
(d) | At least 45 days before the due date (including extensions) of any Consolidated Return or any Filing Party Combined Return that includes any Non-Filing Group |
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company and from time to time as reasonably requested thereafter, the Non-Filing Party shall provide to the Filing Party all information relating to the Non-Filing Group necessary to prepare the Tax Returns described in this Section 2.2. Such information will be prepared in a manner consistent with past practices at the expense of the Non-Filing Party. At least 2 weeks prior to filing, such Consolidated Return or Filing Party Combined Return shall be provided to the Non-Filing Party for review and approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. If the Non-Filing Party proposes an adjustment to any Non-Filing Party item on any Consolidated Return or Filing Party Combined Return, and the Filing Party declines to accept such proposal, then the parties shall resolve their disagreement in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement; provided, however, that if such dispute is not settled prior to the filing date of such return, then the return may be filed without taking the Non-Filing Partys proposal into account but the amount payable pursuant to this Agreement pending the determination under Section 8.5 will be determined as if such proposal was accepted; provided further, that if it is ultimately concluded that the Filing Party was reasonable in rejecting such proposal, the Non-Filing Party shall promptly pay with interest, as provided in Section 4.3, all amounts not yet paid that would have been required to be paid had the amounts required to be paid been calculated without taking such proposal into account. | |||
(e) | Any disagreements with regard to any matters covered by this Section 2.2 shall be resolved in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement. |
2.3 | Amended Returns. |
(a) | The Filing Party shall not file (or cause to be filed), without the prior written consent of the Non-Filing Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), any amended Consolidated Return or amended Combined Return which includes any member of the Non-Filing Group if such return would result in a Tax Detriment to any member of the Non-Filing Group for any Taxable Period. The consent of the Non-Filing Party shall not be required if the Filing Party reimburses the Non-Filing Party for any such Tax Detriment. In the event of disagreement over whether consent is required or is being unreasonably withheld, the parties shall resolve their disagreement in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement. | ||
(b) | The Filing Party, upon receipt of a written request by the Non-Filing Party, shall file an amended Consolidated Return or amended Combined Return which includes any member of the Non-Filing Group if such return would result in a Tax Benefit to any member of the Non-Filing Group for any Taxable Period; provided, however, that if such amended Consolidated Return or such amended Combined Return results in a Tax Detriment to any member of the Filing Group, it shall be filed only upon the written consent of the Filing Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) unless the Non-Filing Party agrees to reimburse the Filing Group for any such Tax Detriment. In the event of disagreement over whether consent is required or is being unreasonably withheld, the parties shall resolve their disagreement in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement. |
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2.4 | Payment of Taxes. |
(a) | LPS shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the appropriate Tax Authority all Taxes, if any, for Tax Returns which it is required to file (or caused to be filed) pursuant to 2.2(c) of this Agreement. | ||
(b) | FIS shall pay (or cause to be paid) to the appropriate Tax Authority all Taxes, if any, for Tax Returns which it is required to file (or caused to be filed) pursuant to Section 2.2 (a) and (b) of this Agreement. | ||
(c) | In no event shall LPSs obligations to pay, or cause to be paid, Taxes in accordance with Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement relieve FIS from any of the obligations imposed on it under Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement to indemnify or provide reimbursement for Taxes paid after the Distribution Date. | ||
(d) | In no event shall FISs obligations to pay, or cause to be paid, Taxes in accordance with Section 2.4(b) of this Agreement relieve LPS from any of the obligations imposed on it under Sections 4 and 5 of this Agreement to indemnify or provide reimbursement for Taxes paid after the Distribution Date. |
2.5 | Treatment of Prior Tax Sharing Agreements. |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any Tax Sharing Agreements that may exist between any LPS Group company, on the one hand, and the FIS Group or any FIS Group company, on the other hand, shall terminate, and any obligations under any such agreements or arrangements shall be cancelled, as of the Distribution Date, without any payment by any party thereto. | ||
(b) | Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement, the Tax Sharing Agreement between FIS and NTI-NY shall remain in effect, with respect to any period of time during the tax year in which termination occurs, for which the income of the NTY-NY must be included in the FIS Consolidated Return. LPS will take all steps, as quickly as is reasonably possible, to ratify the Tax Sharing Agreement between LPS and NTI-NY, to make all required regulatory filings, and to obtain all necessary approvals. |
2.6 | Tax Return Treatment to Reflect Private Letter Ruling and Tax Opinion. | |
All Tax Returns filed pursuant to this Section 2 after the Distribution Date shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the rulings obtained from the Service in the Private Letter Ruling and the Tax Opinion (in the absence of a relevant change in law or circumstances). |
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3.1 | Carryforwards and Carrybacks. |
(a) | The Filing Party shall notify the Non-Filing Party of any consolidated or combined carryover item which may be partially or totally attributed to and carried over by any member of the Non-Filing Group and will notify the Non-Filing Party of subsequent adjustments which may affect such carryover item. | ||
(b) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Non-Filing Party shall not be required to make any election under section 172(b)(3) of the Code, or any similar provision of any state or local Tax law, to relinquish any right to carryback net operating losses. Upon a request by the Non-Filing Party, the Filing Party shall be required to include on an amended Consolidated Return or Combined Return that includes any member of the Non-Filing Group any net operating losses of any such member of the Non-Filing Group arising in a Post-Distribution Period to the extent allowed under the Tax Law; and the Non-Filing Party shall be entitled to any payment with respect to such carryforward or carryback; provided, however, that if the Filing Party incurs a Tax Detriment related to the inclusion of such net operating losses on the Consolidated Return or Combined Return, the Non-Filing Party shall indemnify the Filing Party for the amount of such Tax Detriment. |
3.2 | Refunds. | |
Any refund of Taxes resulting from an adjustment made to a Tax Return that includes one or more LPS Group companies on the one hand, and FIS Group companies on the other, shall be allocated in a manner such that a party responsible for indemnification of a Tax liability for a particular Taxable Period pursuant to either Section 4 or Section 5 of this Agreement will be entitled to any refunds with respect to such Tax for such Taxable Period, except as provided in Section 3.1. |
4.1 | General Indemnification. |
(a) | After the Distribution Date, FIS shall indemnify and hold harmless, on an After-Tax Basis, LPS and each other member of the LPS Group against any and all Taxes (i) with respect to any FIS Return, except to the extent that any member of the LPS Group or any income, profits or gains of any of the Dissolving Companies or any of the Merged Companies caused an increase in the Tax liability on the Tax Return; (ii) with respect to any LPS Return, to the extent that any member of the FIS Group caused an increase in the Tax liability on the Tax Return; and (iii) with respect to any FIS Group company for which any LPS Group company may be liable under section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations, or any successor provision thereto, or any provision of state or local law comparable thereto. |
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(b) | After the Distribution Date, LPS will indemnify and hold harmless on an After-Tax Basis FIS and each other member of the FIS Group against any and all Taxes (i) with respect to any LPS Return, except to the extent that any member of the FIS Group caused an increase in the Tax liability on the Tax Return; (ii) with respect to any FIS Return, to the extent that any member of the LPS Group or any income, profits and gains of any of the Dissolving Companies or any of the Merged Companies caused an increase in the Tax liability on the Tax Return; and (iii) with respect to any LPS Group company for which any FIS Group company may be liable under section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations, or any successor provision thereto, or any provision of state or local law comparable thereto. | ||
(c) | If a party is entitled to indemnification for Taxes under this Section 4.1, such party shall also be entitled to indemnification for any Tax Losses incurred in connection with any such Taxes. | ||
(d) | To the extent of any inconsistency in the indemnification for Taxes provided by this Section 4.1 and the indemnification for Taxes arising out of the Transactions provided by Section 5 of this Agreement, the provisions of Section 5 of this Agreement shall control. For the avoidance of doubt, if the FIS Group or the LPS Group incurs a Tax which is subject to indemnification under more than one section of this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall only be entitled to recover the amount of such Tax once so as to avoid duplicate recoveries of any such amounts. |
4.2 | Allocation and Attribution of Taxes. |
(a) | In the case of Taxes arising in a Taxable Period that includes, but does not end on, the Distribution Date, the allocation of Taxes between the Pre-Distribution Period and the Post-Distribution Period shall be governed by Paragraph 5 of Schedule I. | ||
(b) | The determination of whether a company caused an increase in the Tax liability of a Consolidated Return or Combined Return shall be governed by Schedule I. |
4.3 | Indemnity Payments. |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided under this Agreement, to the extent that any party has an indemnification or payment obligation to another party pursuant to this Agreement, the Indemnitee shall provide the Indemnifying Party with its calculation of the amount of such obligation. Such calculation shall provide the Indemnifying Party sufficient detail to permit the Indemnifying Party to reasonably understand the calculations and the existence and correct amount of the Indemnified Liability. All indemnification payments shall be made to such Indemnitee within thirty (30) days after delivery by the Indemnitee to the |
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Indemnifying Party of written notice of a payment, or, if such Indemnified Liability is contested pursuant to Section 6.2 of this Agreement, within thirty (30) days of the incurrence of such an amount based on a Final Determination, together with a computation of the amounts due. Any disputes with respect to indemnification payments shall be resolved in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement. In the event of such dispute, any payment of an Indemnified Liability shall be made within thirty (30) days of the date of the resolution of such dispute under Section 8.5 of this Agreement. | |||
(b) | Any payment required under this Agreement in an amount in excess of one million dollars ($1,000,000) shall be made by electronic funds transfer of immediately available funds. | ||
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no payment of an Indemnified Liability shall be required under this Section 4 to the extent it is duplicative of any payment made pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement and any such payment shall be made as required by such other provision. |
4.4 | Interest. | |
Payments pursuant to this Agreement that are not made within the period prescribed shall bear interest for the period from and including the date immediately following the last date of the prescribed period through and including the date of payment at a per annum rate equal to the rate provided under section 6621(c) of the Code. Such interest will be payable at the same time as the payment to which it relates and will be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days and the actual number of days for which due. |
AND INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS
5.1 | Representations, Covenants, and Agreements. |
(a) | The parties expressly agree for all purposes to treat the Distribution as a tax-free distribution under section 355 and related sections of the Code, including section 361(c) of the Code (Section 355 Tax Treatment). | ||
(b) | Each of FIS and LPS expressly agrees (i) to comply (and to cause each of its Affiliated Companies to comply) with the representations set forth in the Ruling Documents and the Opinion Documents to the extent that the representations made therein are descriptive of such party, (ii) not to take (and to cause each of its Affiliated Companies not to take) any action within its control that would cause the Section 355 Tax Treatment not to apply (except where such action is required by law), and (iii) to take (and to cause each of its Affiliated Companies to take) any and all actions reasonably available to such party (or Affiliated Company), and to cooperate with the other parties, to support and defend the Section 355 Tax Treatment. |
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(c) | FIS (on behalf of itself and all other members of the FIS Group) hereby represents and warrants that it has reviewed the information and representations made in the Ruling Documents and the Opinion Documents, and to its knowledge, all of such information and representations are true, correct, and complete in all material respects to the extent descriptive of or otherwise relating to FIS or any member of the FIS Group. | ||
(d) | LPS (on behalf of itself and all other members of the LPS Group) hereby represents and warrants that it has reviewed the information and representations made in the Ruling Documents and the Opinion Documents, and to its knowledge, all of such information and representations are true, correct, and complete in all material respects to the extent descriptive of or otherwise relating to LPS or any member of the LPS Group. |
5.2 | Special Restrictions. |
(a) | LPS shall not take any action within its control, and shall cause all other members of the LPS Group to refrain from taking any action within their control, which would result in a direct or indirect Acquisition (taking into account the stock aggregation and attribution rules of section 355(e)) by one or more persons in the two-year period following the Distribution Date. | ||
(b) | LPS (on behalf of itself and all other members of the LPS Group) hereby confirms and agrees that (i) neither LPS nor any other member of the LPS Group will, directly or indirectly, pre-pay, pay down, redeem, retire, or otherwise acquire, however effected, any of the LPS Securities prior to its stated maturity, other than through scheduled amortization payments and any mandatory prepayment amount made in accordance with the terms of the LPS Securities; and (ii) neither LPS nor any member of the LPS Group will take or permit to be taken any action at any time, including, without limitation, any modification to the terms of any of the LPS Securities, that could jeopardize, directly or indirectly, the qualification, in whole or in part, of any of the LPS Securities as securities within the meaning of section 361(c) of the Code. | ||
(c) | The transactions described in Subsections (a) and (b) of Section 5.2 shall be referred to a LPS Capital Transactions. The restrictions on LPS Capital Transactions shall not apply if the LPS Capital Transaction Process is satisfied. As used herein, the LPS Capital Transaction Process shall be satisfied if all the following requirements are satisfied: |
i. | LPS notifies FIS of the proposed LPS Capital Transaction; |
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ii. | LPS obtains either (a) an opinion of a nationally recognized law firm or accounting firm to the effect that such LPS Capital Transaction would not cause the Transactions to be taxable, in whole or in part, or (b) the written consent of FISs General Counsel or senior tax officer; and | ||
iii. | LPS provides a copy of the opinion or consent described in Section 5.2(c)(ii) of this Agreement to FIS. |
5.3 | Indemnification for Transaction Taxes and Adverse Consequences |
(a) | Notwithstanding whether any action is permitted or consented to hereunder and notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein, LPS shall indemnify and hold harmless FIS from and against, and will reimburse FIS for all Taxes and Adverse Consequences arising out of, based upon or relating or attributable to (i) any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation, covenant or obligation of any member of the LPS Group under Section 5.1 or 5.2 of this Agreement or (ii) the Transactions to the extent such Taxes or Adverse Consequences arise as a result of any action taken by LPS or any member of the LPS Group (other than the repayment of the LPS Securities prior to the stated maturity in accordance with the terms of the LPS Securities) following the Distribution and, in the case of Adverse Consequences, arise as a result of the imposition of Taxes on FIS, LPS or the FIS stockholders. For the avoidance of doubt, LPS shall not be relieved of its obligations under this Section 5.3(a) merely because it has satisfied the LPS Capital Transactions Process. | ||
(b) | Notwithstanding whether any action is permitted or consented to hereunder and notwithstanding anything else to the contrary contained herein, FIS shall indemnify and hold harmless LPS, on an After-Tax Basis, from and against, and will reimburse LPS for all Taxes and Adverse Consequences arising out of, based upon or relating or attributable to (i) any breach of or inaccuracy in any representation, covenant or obligation of any member of the FIS Group under Section 5.1 or 5.2 of this Agreement or (ii) the Transactions to the extent such Taxes or Adverse Consequences arise as a result of any action taken by FIS or any member of the FIS Group following the Distribution and, in the case of Adverse Consequences, arise as a result of the imposition of Taxes on FIS, LPS or the FIS stockholders. |
5.4 | Indemnification Payments. | |
The payments of any indemnification required under this Section 5 shall be made in accordance with the terms of Sections 4.3 and 4.4 of this Agreement. |
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6.1 | Notice. | |
If, after the Distribution Date, any member of a Tax Group receives written notice of, or relating to, an Audit from a Tax Authority that asserts, proposes or recommends a deficiency, claim or adjustment that, if sustained, could result in Taxes for which any member of the Other Tax Group is responsible under this Agreement, then the Tax Group Parent of the Tax Group receiving such notice shall provide or cause to be provided a copy of such notice to the Other Tax Group promptly thereafter, but, in any case, within ten (10) Business Days of receipt thereof. Each Tax Group Parent shall forward or cause to be forwarded to the Other Tax Group relevant portions of any reports or other communications which relate to such matters. |
6.2 | Contests. |
(a) | Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the respective Filing Party shall have the right to control, contest, and represent the interest of any FIS Group company or any LPS Group company in any Contest relating to any Tax Return described in Section 2.2 or 2.3 of this Agreement (other than a Tax Return described in Section 6.2(b) or (c) of this Agreement) and, subject to Section 6.4(b) of this Agreement, to resolve, settle or agree to any deficiency, claim or adjustment proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with or as a result of any such Contest. The Filing Partys rights shall extend to any matter pertaining to the management and control of an Audit, including execution of waivers, choice of forum, scheduling of conferences and the resolution of any Tax Item. | ||
(b) | Except as otherwise provided herein, after the date of execution of this Agreement, in the case of a Contest that relates to a Tax Return for a Taxable Period beginning before the Distribution Date (or any item relating thereto or reported thereon) which would give rise to an Indemnification Liability under this Agreement, of an Indemnifying Party that is not the Filing Party with respect to such Tax Return, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right at its expense to participate in and control the conduct of such Contest. If the Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense of any such Contest for a Pre-Distribution Period, the Filing Party may defend the same in such manner as it may deem appropriate, including, but not limited to, settling such Contest after giving ten (10) Business Days prior written notice to the Indemnifying Party setting forth the terms and conditions of settlement. In the event of a Contest covered by the first sentence of this paragraph that involves issues (i) relating to a potential adjustment for which the Indemnifying Party has liability and (ii) that are required to be dealt with in a proceeding that also involves separate issues relating to a potential adjustment for which any Indemnitee would be liable, the Indemnitee shall have the right at its expense to control the Contest but only with respect to the latter issues. |
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(c) | With respect to a Contest involving an issue for which both (i) any FIS Group company and (ii) any LPS Group company could be liable, both parties may participate in the Contest, and the Contest may be controlled by that party which would bear the burden of the greater portion of the sum of the adjustment and any corresponding adjustments that may reasonably be anticipated for future Taxable Periods. The principle set forth in the immediately preceding sentence shall govern also for purposes of deciding any issue that must be decided jointly (including, without limitation, choice of judicial forum) in situations in which separate issues are otherwise controlled under this Section 6.2 by FIS or by LPS. | ||
(d) | The party that is controlling any Contest pursuant to Sections 6.2(b) and (c) of this Agreement (the Controlling Party): |
(i) | in the case of any material correspondence or filing submitted to the Tax Authority or any judicial authority that relates to the merits of the deficiency, claim or adjustment that is the subject of such Contest shall (A) reasonably in advance of such submission, but subject to applicable time constraints imposed by such Tax Authority or judicial authority, provide the other party (the Non-Controlling Party) with a draft copy of the portion of such correspondence or filing that relates to such deficiency, claim or adjustment, (B) incorporate, subject to applicable time constraints imposed by such Tax Authority or judicial authority, the Non-Controlling Partys reasonable comments and changes on such draft copy of such correspondence or filing, and (C) provide the Non-Controlling Party with a final copy of the portion of such correspondence or filing that relates such deficiency, claim or adjustment; and | ||
(ii) | shall provide the Non-Controlling Party with notice reasonably in advance of, and the Non-Controlling Party shall have the right to attend, any meetings with the Tax Authority (including meetings with examiners) or hearings or proceedings before any judicial authority to the extent they relate to the deficiency, claim or adjustment that is the subject of such Contest. |
6.3 | Judicial Appeals. | |
In the event that a judgment of the United States Tax Court or other court of competent jurisdiction results in an adverse determination with respect to a matter described in Sections 6.2(b) and (c) of this Agreement, then, subject to Section 6.4(b): |
(a) | In the case of an appeal of an adverse determination, which involves no material issues other than matters for which the Non-Filing Party would be the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement, the Non-Filing Party shall have the right to cause the Filing Party to appeal from such adverse determination. |
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(b) | In the case of an appeal of any other adverse determination which involves material issues other than those for which the Non-Filing Party would be the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement and the Filing Party determines not to appeal such adverse determination, the Non-Filing Party shall have the right to cause the Filing Party to appeal from such adverse determination if the Non-Filing Party delivers to the Filing Party an opinion from an independent tax counsel or accountant selected by the Non-Filing Party and reasonably acceptable to the Filing Party that it is more likely than not that such appeal will succeed and the amount in controversy exceeds $100,000. The Filing Party shall give written notice to the Non-Filing Party of its determination of whether to appeal an adverse determination pursuant to this Section 6.3(b) not less than 20 days prior to any applicable filing deadline. | ||
(c) | In the case of an adverse determination which involves matters for which the Filing Party would be the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement and, within such determination, material matters for which the Non-Filing Party would be the Indemnifying Party pursuant to this Agreement were favorably disposed, the Non-Filing Party shall have the right to prevent the Filing Party from appealing from such adverse determination unless the Filing Party delivers to the Non-Filing Party an opinion from an independent tax counsel selected by the Filing Party and reasonably acceptable to the Non-Filing Party that it is more likely than not that such appeal will succeed. | ||
(d) | If the Non-Filing Party causes the Filing Party to appeal any adverse determination pursuant to this Section 6.3, the Non-Filing Party shall pay the reasonable costs, including legal fees, of the Filing Party incurred in such appeal. |
6.4 | Limitations. |
(a) | The Non-Filing Party shall have a right to contest any deficiency, claim or adjustment in accordance with Section 6.2 of this Agreement only if: |
(i) | within thirty (30) Business Days of a reasonable request by the Filing Party, the Non-Filing Party delivers to the Filing Party a written opinion of a nationally recognized tax attorney or tax accountant that is a member of a recognized law firm or accounting firm, to the effect that the Non-Filing Partys position with respect to such deficiency, claim or adjustment is supported by a reasonable basis (within the meaning of section 1.6662-3(b)(3) of the Treasury Regulations); provided that this Section 6.4(a)(i) shall not apply to with respect to positions relating to the Tax consequences of the Distribution. | ||
(ii) | the Non-Filing Party has agreed to be bound by a Final Determination of such deficiency, claim or adjustment; |
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(iii) | the Non-Filing Party has agreed to pay, and is currently paying, all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Filing Party to contest such deficiency, claim or assessment including reasonable outside attorneys, accountants and investigatory fees and disbursements to the extent such costs relate to the issue being contested by the Non-Filing Party; | ||
(iv) | the Non-Filing Party shall have advanced to the Filing Party, on an interest-free basis (and with no additional net after-tax cost to the Filing Party), the amount of Tax in controversy (but not in excess of the lesser of (A) the amount of Tax for which the Non-Filing Party could be liable under this Agreement or (B) the amounts actually expended by the Filing Party for this item) to the extent necessary for the contest to proceed in the forum selected by the Controlling Party; and | ||
(v) | the Non-Filing Party shall have provided to the Filing Party all documents and information, and shall have made available employees and officers of the Non-Filing Party, as have been reasonably requested by the Filing Party in contesting such deficiency, claim or adjustment. |
(b) | The Filing Party shall not settle, compromise or otherwise resolve any Tax matter relating to Taxes with respect to a Pre-Distribution Period (a Tax Settlement) without the prior written consent of the Non-Filing Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld) if such Tax Settlement is reasonably likely to materially increase the Tax paid by the Non-Filing Party with respect to any Tax not subject to indemnification under this Agreement; provided, however, that in the event that the Non-Filing Party does not consent and the Filing Party reasonably believes that the withholding of consent was unreasonable, or the Filing Party reasonably believes that no consent of the Non-Filing Party is required, the parties shall resolve their disagreement in accordance with Section 8.5 of this Agreement. | ||
(c) | Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 6.4, the Filing Party may resolve, settle, or agree to any deficiency, claim or adjustment for any Taxable Period if the Filing Party waives its right to indemnity with respect to such Tax Item. In such event, the Filing Party shall promptly reimburse the Non-Filing Party for all amounts previously advanced by the Non-Filing Party to the Filing Party in connection with such deficiency, claim or adjustment under Section 6.4(a)(iv) of this Agreement. In addition, except with respect to settlements described in Section 6.4(b) above, the Filing Party shall reimburse the Non-Filing Party for any Tax Detriment that directly results from the settlement of such deficiency, claim or adjustment. No waiver by the Filing Party under this Section 6.4(c) with respect to any deficiency, claim or adjustment relating to any single Tax Item, position, issue or transaction or relating to any single Tax for any one Taxable Period shall operate as a waiver with respect to any other deficiency, claim or adjustment. |
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6.5 | Failure to Notify. | |
The failure of the Filing Party promptly to notify the Non-Filing Party of any matter relating to a particular Tax for a Taxable Period or to take any action specified in Section 6.2 of this Agreement shall not relieve the Non-Filing Party of any liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Filing Party under this Agreement with respect to such Tax for such Taxable Period except to the extent that the Non-Filing Partys rights hereunder are materially prejudiced by such failure and in no event shall such failure relieve the Non-Filing Party of any other liability and/or obligation which it may have to the Filing Party. | ||
6.6 | Remedies. | |
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the parties hereby agree that the sole and exclusive remedy for a breach by the Filing Party of the Filing Partys obligations to the Non-Filing Party with respect to a deficiency, claim or adjustment relating to the redetermination of a Tax Item of the Non-Filing Party for a Taxable Period shall first be a reduction in the amount that would otherwise be payable by the Non-Filing Party for such Taxable Period and then an increase in amount that would otherwise be payable by the Filing Party for such Taxable Period, in either case because of the breach. The parties further agree that no claim against the Filing Party and no defense to the Non-Filing Partys liabilities to the Filing Party under this Agreement shall arise from the resolution by the Filing Party of any deficiency, claim or adjustment relating to the redetermination of any Tax Item of the Filing Party. |
7.1 | Provision of Information and Documents. | |
FIS and LPS shall cooperate and provide each other with all documents and information, and provide access to employees and officers of any member of the FIS Group or the LPS Group, respectively, as reasonably requested by the other party, on a mutually convenient basis during normal business hours (and promptly reimburse the other party for any out-of-pocket costs incurred by a party in providing such cooperation) to aid the other party in preparing any Tax Return described in Section 2.2 or 2.3 of this Agreement or to contest any Audit of any such Tax Return or to obtain any opinion referred to in Section 5.2, including, without limitation, the making of representations (to the extent such representations are true) in connection with obtaining any such opinion. Such cooperation shall include, without limitation: |
(a) | the retention and provision on reasonable request of any and all information including all books, records, documentation or other information, any necessary explanations of information, and access to personnel, until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitation for additional assessments of Tax for the Taxable Period for which such document or other information arises (giving effect to any extension, waiver, or mitigation thereof); |
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(b) | within the limits otherwise set forth herein, the execution by such party of any document that is relevant and may be necessary or helpful in connection with any Tax Return or in connection with any Contest; | ||
(c) | the use of the parties reasonable best efforts to obtain any documentation from a governmental authority or a third party that may be necessary or helpful in connection with the foregoing; and | ||
(d) | informing the other party on a timely basis as to the status and progress of all matters related to a Contest under Section 6.2 of this Agreement. Each party shall provide the other party, within 10 days of the receipt thereof, with copies of all written communications received from any Tax Authority relating to any such Contest, appropriately redacted for any unrelated issues also discussed therein. |
7.2 | Special Rules Regarding Information Required for Tax Return Preparation. | |
The Non-Filing Party will provide employees or representatives of the Filing Party responsible for preparing its Tax Returns access to any relevant information, including any Ruling Documents, Opinion Documents, or Tax Opinion, not in the possession of the Filing Party, as it relates to the Filing Party or any member of the Filing Group, and will provide the Filing Party with a copy of such relevant information to the extent that the issues discussed therein are relevant to the Filing Party or any member of the Filing Group within a reasonable time thereafter, but, in any case, not later than five (5) Business Days after the receipt of a written request therefor. | ||
7.3 | Consultations With Regard to Tax Items. | |
FIS and LPS shall advise and consult with each other with respect to any Tax election or the Tax treatment of any item (including the treatment of any item that would be affected by a proposed Tax adjustment relating to a Consolidated Return or Combined Return which is the subject of an Audit or investigation, or is the subject of any proceeding or litigation) which could affect any Tax attribute of the other party or the Other Tax Group (including, but not limited to, basis in an asset or the amount of earnings and profits). | ||
7.4 | Limitations on Cooperation. | |
In the event that a Filing Party determines that the provision of any information to any member of the Other Tax Group could be commercially detrimental, violate any law or agreement, or waive any privilege that may be asserted under applicable law including any privilege arising under or relating to the attorney-client relationship (including the attorney-client and work product privileges), the parties shall take reasonable measures to permit the compliance with such obligations in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence. |
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8.1 | Effectiveness. | |
This Agreement shall become effective as of the Distribution Date. | ||
8.2 | Notices. | |
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and hand delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or sent by any means of electronic message transmission with delivery confirmed (by voice or otherwise) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as shall be specified by like notice) and will be deemed given on the date on which such notice is received: |
601 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Attention: Richard Cox, Senior Vice President and Corporate Tax Director
601 Riverside Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32204
Attention: Richard Cox, Senior Vice President and Corporate Tax Director
8.3 | Changes in Law. |
(a) | Any reference to a provision of the Code or any other Tax law shall include a reference to any applicable successor provision or law. | ||
(b) | If, due to any change in applicable law or regulations or their interpretation by any court of law or other governing body having jurisdiction subsequent to the Distribution Date, performance of any provision of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated thereby shall become impracticable or impossible, the parties hereto shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such provision. |
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8.4 | Consent. | |
Whenever this Agreement specifies that consent is not to be unreasonably withheld, the determination shall take into account, among other things, the relative amount of potential Tax exposure or refund involved for FIS Group companies on the one hand and the LPS Group companies on the other hand, and if the consent relates to bringing proceedings in one venue rather than another, the impact on such decision on such interests of each group. Any controversy or refusal of consent shall be resolved pursuant to Section 8.5 of this Agreement. | ||
8.5 | Dispute Resolution. |
(a) | Amicable Resolution. FIS and LPS mutually desire that friendly collaboration continue between them. Accordingly, they will try, and they will cause their respective group members to try, to resolve in an amicable manner all disagreements and misunderstandings connected with their respective rights and obligations under this Agreement. In furtherance thereof, in the event of any dispute or disagreement (a Dispute) between any FIS Group member and any LPS Group member as to the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement (or the performance of obligations hereunder), the matter, upon written request of either party, will be referred for resolution to a steering committee established pursuant to Section 7.3(a) of the Distribution Agreement (the Steering Committee). The Steering Committee will have two members, one of whom will be appointed by FIS and the other of whom will be appointed by LPS, and each of whom shall be a senior executive of the party appointing the member. The Steering Committee will make a good faith effort to promptly resolve all Disputes referred to it. Steering Committee decisions will be unanimous and will be binding on FIS and LPS. If the Steering Committee does not agree to a resolution of a Dispute within 30 days after the reference of the matter to it, then the parties will be free to exercise the remedies available to them under applicable law, subject to Sections 8.5(b) and 8.5(c). | ||
(b) | Mediation. If the Steering Committee is unable to resolve any Dispute as contemplated by Section 8.5(a), either FIS or LPS may demand mediation of the Dispute by written notice to the other in which case the two parties will select a mediator within 14 days after the demand. Neither party may unreasonably withhold consent to the selection of the mediator. Each of FIS and LPS will bear its own costs of mediation but both parties will share the costs of the mediator equally. | ||
(c) | Arbitration. In the event that the Dispute is not resolved in an amicable manner as set forth in Section 8.5(a) or through mediation pursuant to Section 8.5(b), the latter within 30 days of the submission of the Dispute to mediation, either party |
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involved in the Dispute may submit the dispute to binding arbitration pursuant to this Section 8.5(c). All Disputes submitted to arbitration pursuant to this Section 8.5(c) shall be resolved in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, unless either party involved elects to utilize an independent referee (Referee) mutually acceptable to the parties, in which event all references herein to the American Arbitration Association shall be deemed modified accordingly. Expedited rules shall apply regardless of the amount at issue. Arbitration proceedings hereunder may be initiated by either party making a written request to the American Arbitration Association, together with any appropriate filing fee, at the office of the American Arbitration Association in Orlando, Florida. The arbitration shall be by a single qualified arbitrator (Arbitrator) experienced in the matters at issue, such Arbitrator to be mutually agreed upon by FIS and LPS. If the parties fail to agree on an Arbitrator within 30 days after notice of commencement of arbitration, the American Arbitration Association shall, upon the request of any party to the dispute or difference, appoint the Arbitrator. All arbitration proceedings shall be held in the city of Jacksonville, Florida in a location to be specified by the Arbitrator (or any place agreed to by the parties and the Arbitrator). Any order or determination of the arbitral tribunal shall be final and binding upon the parties to the arbitration as to matters submitted and may be enforced by any party to the Dispute in any court having jurisdiction over the subject matter or over any of the parties. The parties agree that the length of time to be provided in any arbitration action to conduct discovery shall be limited to 90 days, the length of time to conduct the arbitration hearing shall be limited to ten days (with each party having equal time) and that the Arbitrator shall be required to render his or her decision within 30 days of the completion of the arbitration hearing. All costs and expenses incurred by the Arbitrator shall be shared equally by the parties. Each party shall bear its own costs and expenses in connection with any such arbitration proceeding. The use of any alternative dispute resolution procedures hereunder will not be construed under the doctrines of laches, waiver or estoppel to affect adversely the rights of either party. | |||
(d) | Non-Exclusive Remedy. |
i. | Nothing in this Section 8.5 shall prevent either FIS or LPS from commencing formal litigation proceedings or seeking injunctive or similar relief if any delay resulting from efforts to mediate such Dispute could result in serious and irreparable injury to FIS, LPS or any member of either partys group. | ||
ii. | Nothing in this Section 8.5 shall prevent either FIS or LPS from immediately seeking injunctive or interim relief in the event of any actual or threatened breach of any confidentiality provisions of the Distribution Agreement. If an arbitral tribunal has not been appointed with respect to |
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any Dispute at the time of such actual or threatened breach, then either party may seek such injunctive or interim relief from any court with jurisdiction over the matter. If an arbitral tribunal has been appointed with respect to any Dispute at the time of such actual or threatened breach, then the parties agree to submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of Duval County, Florida, pursuant to Section 7.2 of the Distribution Agreement, with respect to such matter. |
(e) | Commencement of Dispute Resolution Procedure. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, FIS and LPS are the only members of their respective group entitled to commence a dispute resolution procedure under this Agreement, whether pursuant to this Section 8.5 or otherwise, and each party will cause its respective group members not to commence any dispute resolution procedure other than through such party as provided in this Section 8.5(e). |
8.6 | Authorization. | |
Each of the parties hereto hereby represents and warrants (a) that it has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, (b) that this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each such party, (c) that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each such party and (d) that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such party does not contravene or conflict with any provision of law or of its charter or bylaws or any agreement, instrument or order binding on such party. | ||
8.7 | Successors. | |
The provisions to this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. | ||
8.8 | Assignment. | |
Except for assignments or transfers by operation of law, this Agreement shall not be assignable, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other party hereto, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, and any attempt to assign any rights or obligations arising under this Agreement without such consent shall be void. | ||
8.9 | Entire Agreement. | |
This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and shall supersede all previous negotiations, commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter. |
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8.10 | Governing Law. | |
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of Florida. | ||
8.11 | Counterparts. | |
This 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 such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to the other parties. | ||
8.12 | Severability. | |
In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby. The parties shall endeavor in good-faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions, the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions. | ||
8.13 | No Third Party Beneficiaries. | |
Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the FIS Group and the LPS Group. This Agreement should not be deemed to confer upon third parties any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other rights in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement. | ||
8.14 | Waivers. | |
The failure of any party to require strict performance by any other party of any provision in this Agreement will not waive or diminish that partys right to demand strict performance thereafter of that or any other provision hereof. | ||
8.15 | Setoff. | |
All payments to be made by any party under this Agreement may be netted against payments due to such party under this Agreement, but otherwise shall be made without setoff, counterclaim or withholding, all of which are hereby expressly waived. | ||
8.16 | Amendments. | |
This Agreement may not be modified or amended except by an agreement in writing signed by each of the parties hereto. |
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8.17 | Schedules. | |
Schedules I and II shall be construed with and as an integral part of this Agreement to the same extent as if the same had been set forth verbatim herein. |
FIDELITY NATIONAL INFORMATION SERVICES, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Lee A. Kennedy | ||||
Lee A. Kennedy | |||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
LENDER PROCESSING SERVICES, INC. | |||||
By: | /s/ Jeffrey S. Carbiener | ||||
Jeffrey S. Carbiener | |||||
President and Chief Executive Officer | |||||
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1. | Any Federal Income Tax to be allocated to a Consolidated Group or to any member thereof in accordance with this Agreement shall be allocated on the basis of the Hypothetical Tax of the Consolidated Group or of the relevant member thereof. |
(a) | For purposes of this Agreement, the Hypothetical Tax of the Consolidated Group or any member thereof for any Taxable Period shall be the Federal Income Tax liability that the Consolidated Group or any member thereof would have had for such Taxable Period if the Consolidated Group or any member thereof had filed its own Consolidated Return or Separate Return for such Taxable Period, taking into account any carryovers to, or carrybacks from, other Taxable Periods of the Consolidated Group or any member thereof that are available in such Taxable Period of the Consolidated Group or any member thereof, or would have been so available (after taking into account Paragraph 1(b)(i) of this Schedule I), if the Consolidated Group or any member thereof had filed its own Consolidated Return or Separate Return, respectively, for such other Taxable Periods, and the Consolidated Group or any member thereof was subject to Tax on all of its taxable income at the applicable maximum rate specified in the Code but without the benefit of any surtax exemption. | ||
(b) | In computing the Hypothetical Tax of the Consolidated Group or any member thereof: |
(i) | in the case of any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit that is computed or subject to a limitation only on a consolidated basis, including but not limited to, charitable contributions, capital losses, foreign tax credits, research and experimentation credit and section 1231 gains and losses (Consolidated Items), such Consolidated Items shall be taken into account by the Consolidated Group or any member thereof only if, and to the extent that, a Consolidated Item is taken into account in the Taxable Period and actually affects the amount of the Tax liability of the Consolidated Group; |
(ii) | in the case of the treatment of an item subject to an election made only on a consolidated basis, the treatment will be governed by the election made by agent of the group on the Consolidated Return, | ||
and |
(iii) | all intercompany transactions (as defined in section 1.1502-13(b)(1) of the Treasury Regulations) between and among |
members of the Consolidated Group will be taken into account at the time when such transactions are required to be taken into account by the Consolidated Group under the consolidated return regulations, and any Consolidated Item not initially taken into account in computing the tax of the Consolidated Group or any member thereof shall be taken into account by the Consolidated Group or any member thereof in the Taxable Period, and to the extent, that such Consolidated Item is taken into account by the Consolidated Group. |
2. | Combined State/Local Taxes shall be allocated between members of the Filing Group and members of the Non-Filing Group first on the basis of, and to the extent that, the receipts, income, capital or net worth of a member of the Filing Group or of the Non-Filing Group resulted in, or increased, such Taxes, with any remaining Combined State/Local Taxes allocated among the members on the basis which each members relative attribute (positive or negative) was taken into account in determining the amount of such Taxes. | |
3. | If any Affiliated Company of a Consolidated Group has foreign tax credits, investment credits, or any current loss or loss carryovers (collectively referred to herein as Credits) that are used on a Consolidated Return for any Taxable Period, FIS or LPS (as the case may be) shall determine (on any reasonable basis) the amount by which the tax liability of the Consolidated Group is actually reduced as a result of such Credits. | |
4. | If a Consolidated Federal Tax, Combined State/Local Tax, or Separate Tax liability is assessed after the Distribution Date pursuant to a Final Determination, such amount shall be allocated under the principles of Paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Schedule I. | |
5. | All Tax allocations relating to Taxable Periods that include, but do not end on, the Distribution Date, shall be made, between the Pre-Distribution Period and Post-Distribution Period on the basis of an interim closing of the books as if such Taxable Period ended as of the close of business on the Distribution Date. Any real or personal property Tax, or similar Tax, determined on an annual or periodic basis shall be attributed to the Pre-Distribution Period on the basis of the number of days in such Pre-Distribution Period to the total number of days in the entire Taxable Period. Any adjustment required by section 481 of the Code (including adjustments for marking receivables to market) shall be attributable to the deductions or credits (or lack thereof) giving rise to the section 481 adjustment. | |
6. | All Hypothetical Tax calculations under this Schedule I shall be subject to the restriction that a Consolidated Item may not be utilized in the calculation of a members Hypothetical Tax for any Taxable Period if the member received a payment for such Consolidated Item in an earlier Taxable Period. |
1. | The excess loss accounts (ELAs) in stock of LSI Title Company, ASAP Legal Publication Services, Inc. and Geosure, Inc. will be eliminated. | |
2. | Fidelity Information Services, Inc. (FISI) will contribute its mortgage processing services business to Residential Lending Services, Inc. (RLS), a newly formed and wholly owned subsidiary of FISI in exchange for all of the RLS stock and the assumption by RLS of related liabilities. | |
3. | RLS will form LPS Management Services, LLC as a Delaware disregarded entity. | |
4. | FIS Management Services, LLC (a disregarded entity) will distribute the lender processing services employee group (LPS Employee Group) to FISI; FISI will contribute the LPS Employee Group to RLS; and RLS will contribute the LPS Employee Group to LPS Management Services, LLC. | |
5. | Fidelity National Information Solutions, LLC (FNIS LLC) will distribute the stock of Fidelity National Information Solutions, Inc. (FNIS) and FIS Tax Service Inc. (FIS Tax) to FIS. | |
6. | FNIS will distribute the stock of FISI to FIS. | |
7. | FISI will distribute the stock of RLS to FIS. | |
8. | FIS will contribute the stock of Espiel, Inc. to FNIS. |
HomeBuilders Financial Network, LLC
HomeBuilders Investment, LLC
HomeBuyers Mortgage Network, LLC
National Underwriting Services, LLC
No others
Fidelity National Information Solutions, Inc.
FIS Credit Services, Inc.
Geosure, Inc.
Geosure, L.P.
LSI Service Partners, L.P.
NRC Insurance Services, Inc.
NCLSI, L.P.
NCLSIGP, LLC
No others