Tax Sharing Agreement between Transocean Holdings Inc. and TODCO

Summary

This agreement is between Transocean Holdings Inc. and TODCO, both Delaware corporations, and outlines how they will allocate and manage their tax liabilities before, during, and after TODCO's initial public offering (IPO). The agreement covers the preparation and filing of tax returns, the sharing of tax benefits and refunds, and the handling of tax payments between the companies. It also sets rules for cooperation, record-keeping, and dispute resolution related to taxes. The agreement ensures both parties understand their tax responsibilities as TODCO separates from Transocean Holdings.

EX-10.4 10 h01890a1exv10w4.txt FORM OF TAX SHARING AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.4 TAX SHARING AGREEMENT BETWEEN TRANSOCEAN HOLDINGS INC. AND TODCO TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF TERMS....................................................4 SECTION 2. ALLOCATION OF INCOME TAX LIABILITIES...................................8 2.1 Federal Income Taxes. ...................................................8 2.2 State Income Taxes.......................................................9 2.3 Foreign Income Taxes....................................................10 2.4 Other Taxes.............................................................11 2.5 Special Rules...........................................................11 2.6 Tax Payments and Intercompany Billings..................................12 SECTION 3. PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS.................................12 3.1 Combined Returns and Consolidated Returns...............................12 3.2 Separate Returns and Other Returns......................................13 3.3 Special Rules Relating to the Preparation of Tax Returns................14 SECTION 4. TAX BENEFITS, REFUNDS, AND CARRYBACKS.................................15 4.1 Compensation by Holdings for TODCO's Post-IPO Tax Assets................15 4.2 Compensation by TODCO for Pre-IPO Tax Assets............................15 4.3 Claims for Refund from Carrybacks.......................................16 4.4 Tax Benefits Resulting from Exercise of Employee Stock Options..........17 SECTION 5. TAX PAYMENTS AND INTERCOMPANY BILLINGS................................17 5.1 Consolidated and Combined Returns.......................................17 5.2 Payment of Refunds and Tax Benefits.....................................17 5.3 Initial Determinations and Subsequent Adjustments.......................18 5.4 Indemnification Payments................................................19 5.5 Payments by or to Other Members of the Groups...........................19 5.6 Interest ...............................................................19 5.7 Tax Consequences of Payments. .........................................19 SECTION 6. ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION............................................19 SECTION 7. TAX RECORDS...........................................................20 7.1 Retention of Tax Records................................................20 7.2 Access to Tax Records...................................................20 SECTION 8. TAX CONTESTS..........................................................20 8.1 Notices..... .........................................................20 8.2 Control of Tax Contests.................................................20 8.3 Cooperation.............................................................21
-1- SECTION 9. RESTRICTION ON CERTAIN POST-IPO ACTIONS OF TODCO.....................21 SECTION 10. GENERAL PROVISIONS...................................................21 10.1 Survival of Obligations.................................................21 10.2 Expenses................................................................21 10.3 Breach of Agreement.....................................................21 10.4 Disputes................................................................21 10.5 Notices.................................................................21 10.6 Counterparts............................................................22 10.7 Binding Effect; Assignment..............................................22 10.8 Severability............................................................22 10.9 Amendment...............................................................23 10.10 Effective Time..........................................................23 10.11 Change in Law...........................................................23 10.12 Authorization, Etc......................................................23 10.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries............................................23
-2- TAX SHARING AGREEMENT THIS TAX SHARING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of ___________ ___, 2003, between Transocean Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Holdings"), and TODCO (formerly named R&B Falcon Corporation), a Delaware corporation. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, all "Section" references in this Agreement are to sections of this Agreement. RECITALS WHEREAS, TODCO is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings, which in turn is a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Transocean Inc., a company organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands ("Transocean"); and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Transocean has determined that it would be appropriate and desirable for Transocean to separate the TODCO Tax Group from the Transocean Tax Group and, in that connection, for each Group to acquire certain assets from and assume certain liabilities of the other Group; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of TODCO and Transocean Holdings has also approved such transactions; and WHEREAS, TODCO intends to acquire a portion or all of its outstanding debt held by Transocean in exchange for newly issued shares of TODCO common stock, and it is expected that as a result of such exchange TODCO will cease to be a member of the Holdings Consolidated Group; and WHEREAS, Transocean, Holdings and TODCO currently contemplate that TODCO will make an initial public offering ("IPO") of shares of TODCO Class A Common Stock held by Transocean and Holdings pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 filed pursuant to the Securities Act; and WHEREAS, Transocean wishes to retain the flexibility so that, if following the IPO Transocean's direct and indirect ownership of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock is at least 80%, Transocean may distribute to the holders of its ordinary shares (including any distribution in exchange for Transocean ordinary shares or other securities), by means of a distribution or exchange offer, shares of Voting Stock it then owns in a transaction intended to qualify as a tax-free distribution under Section 355 of the Code or any corresponding provision of any successor statute; and WHEREAS, the parties set forth in a Master Separation Agreement the principal arrangements between them regarding the separation of the TODCO Tax Group from the Transocean Tax Group, the IPO and any distribution; and -3- WHEREAS, the parties desire to provide for and agree upon the allocation between the parties of liabilities for Taxes arising prior to, as a result of, and subsequent to the IPO, and to provide for and agree upon other matters relating to Taxes. NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements set forth below, the parties hereto agree as follows: SECTION 1. DEFINITION OF TERMS. For purposes of this Agreement (including the recitals hereof), the following terms have the following meanings: "Agreement" means this Tax Sharing Agreement. "Carryback" means any net operating loss, net capital loss, tax credit or other similar Tax Item which may or must be carried from one Tax Year to a prior Tax Year under applicable Tax Law. "Code" means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, or any successor law. "Combined Return" means any State or Foreign Income Tax Return which is filed by one or more members of the Transocean Tax Group and which includes, to any extent, one or more members of the TODCO Tax Group or in which income, deductions, or credits of any member of the Transocean Tax Group may be combined with, or offset against, income, deductions, or credits of any member of the TODCO Tax Group. "Combined Year" means, with respect to any State Income Tax or Foreign Income Tax, as applicable, any Tax Year for which a Combined Return is filed; provided, however, that Combined Year means only that portion of such Tax Year in which one or more members of the TODCO Tax Group are included in the Combined Return. "Company" means Holdings or TODCO or one of their Subsidiaries, as the context requires. "Consolidated Return" means any Federal Income Tax Return which is filed on a consolidated basis by Holdings, as common parent, and its eligible Subsidiaries (as determined under Section 1504(a) of the Code or any successor provision) and which includes, to any extent, TODCO and its eligible Subsidiaries (as determined under Section 1504(a) of the Code or any successor provision). "Consolidated Year" means, with respect to any Federal Income Tax, any Tax Year for which a Consolidated Return is filed; provided, however, that Consolidated Year means only that portion of such Tax Year in which TODCO and its eligible Subsidiaries are included in the Consolidated Return. "Deconsolidation Date" means the last day, occurring on or after the Effective Date but before the IPO Closing Date, on which TODCO is a member of the -4- affiliated group, within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code, of which Holdings is the common parent. "Effective Date" means the date recited above on which the parties entered into this Agreement. "Federal Income Tax" means any Income Tax imposed by the United States federal government (including, without limitation, the Taxes imposed by Sections 11, 55, 59A and 1201(a) of the Code). "Federal Income Tax Return" means any report of Federal Income Taxes due, any claims for refund of Federal Income Taxes paid, any information return with respect to Federal Income Taxes, or any other similar report, statement, declaration, or document required to be filed under U.S. federal income Tax Law, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing. "Foreign Country" means any country other than the United States. "Foreign Income Tax" means any Income Tax imposed by any Foreign Country or any possession of the United States or by any political subdivision of any Foreign Country or possession of the United States. "Group" means the Transocean Tax Group or the TODCO Tax Group, as the context requires. "Holdings" has the meaning set forth in the recital hereto. "Holdings Consolidated Group" means Holdings and its eligible Subsidiaries (as determined under Section 1504(a) of the Code or any successor provision) that file a Federal Income Tax Return on a consolidated basis. "Income Tax" means all Taxes (i) based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to, net income, net profits or deemed net profits (including, without limitation, any capital gains Tax, minimum Tax, any Tax on items of Tax preference and depreciation recapture or clawback, but not including sales, use, real or personal property, gross or net receipts, gross profits, transfer and similar Taxes), (ii) imposed by a Foreign Country which qualifies under Section 903 of the Code or (iii) based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to multiple bases (including, but not limited to, corporate franchise and occupation Taxes) if such Tax may be based upon, measured by, or calculated with respect to one or more bases described in clause (i) above. Notwithstanding the above, the Taxes described in clause (iii) shall be considered Income Taxes only to the extent that such Taxes exceed the hypothetical amount of such Taxes that would have been imposed had all of the bases described in clause (i) on which such Taxes are based, measured, or calculated been equal to zero. "IPO" has the meaning set forth in the recital hereto. -5- "IPO Closing Date" means the first date on which the proceeds of any sale of TODCO Class A Common Stock to the underwriters in the IPO are received by Transocean or any of its Subsidiaries. "Master Separation Agreement" means the Master Separation Agreement entered into by Transocean and TODCO on ___________ ___, 2003. "Other Return" means any Tax Return which is not a Federal, State, or Foreign Income Tax Return. "Other Tax" means any Tax that is not an Income Tax. "Payment Date" means (x) with respect to any Consolidated Return, the due date for any required installment of estimated taxes determined under Code Section 6655, the due date (determined without regard to extensions) for filing the return determined under Code Section 6072, and the date the return is filed, and (y) with respect to any Combined Return, Separate Return, or Other Return the corresponding dates determined under the applicable Tax Law. "Separate Return" means any Federal, State, or Foreign Income Tax Return which is not a Consolidated Return or Combined Return. "Separate Return Year" means, with respect to any Federal Income Tax, State Income Tax or Foreign Income Tax, as applicable, a Tax Year or portion thereof which is not a Consolidated Year or Combined Year. "State Income Tax" means any Income Tax imposed by any State of the United States or by any political subdivision of any such State. "Straddle Period" means any Tax Year beginning on or before the IPO Closing Date and ending after the IPO Closing Date. "Subsidiary" means any entity that directly or indirectly is "controlled" by the person or entity in question. "Control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise. "Tax" or "Taxes" means any income, gross income, gross receipts, profits, capital stock, franchise, withholding, payroll, social security, workers compensation, unemployment, disability, property, ad valorem, stamp, excise, severance, occupation, service, sales, use, license, lease, transfer, import, export, value added, alternative minimum, estimated or other similar tax (including any fee, assessment, or other charge in the nature of or in lieu of any tax) imposed by any Tax Authority and any interest, penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts in respect of the foregoing. "Tax Asset" means any Tax Item that could reduce a Tax, including a net operating loss, net capital loss, loss deferred under Section 267(f) of the Code, investment -6- tax credit, foreign tax credit, charitable deduction or credit related to alternative minimum tax or any other Tax credit, but does not include the tax basis of any asset. "Tax Authority" means, with respect to any Tax, the governmental entity or political subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof that imposes such Tax, and the agency, commission or authority (if any) charged with the assessment, determination or collection of such Tax for such entity or subdivision. "Tax Benefit" means a reduction in the Tax liability of a taxpayer. "Tax Contest" means an audit, review, examination, or any other administrative or judicial proceeding with the purpose or effect of redetermining Taxes of any member of either Group (including any administrative or judicial review of any claim for refund). "Tax Item" means, with respect to any Income Tax, any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or other attribute that may have the effect of increasing or decreasing any Tax. "Tax Law" means the law of any governmental entity or political subdivision thereof, and any controlling judicial or administrative interpretations of such law, relating to any Tax. "Tax Records" means Tax Returns, Tax Return work papers, documentation relating to any Tax Contests, and any other books of account or records required to be maintained under applicable Tax Laws (including but not limited to Section 6001 of the Code) or under any record retention agreement with any Tax Authority. "Tax Return" means any report of Taxes due, any claims for refund of Taxes paid, any information return with respect to Taxes, or any other similar report, statement, declaration, or document required to be filed under any applicable Tax Law, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing. "Tax Year" means, with respect to any Tax, the year, or shorter period, if applicable, for which the Tax is reported as provided under applicable Tax Law. "TODCO" has the meaning set forth in the recital hereto. "TODCO Business" has the meaning set forth in the Master Separation Agreement. "TODCO Tax Group" means TODCO and all Persons that are Subsidiaries of TODCO immediately after the IPO Closing Date, including without limitation the Subsidiaries set forth in Schedule 1.1 and Persons that become Subsidiaries of TODCO thereafter. If the Transocean Tax Group transfers any part of the TODCO Business (including any Subsidiary) to the TODCO Tax Group, or the TODCO Tax -7- Group transfers any part of the Transocean Business (including any Subsidiary) to the Transocean Tax Group, after the IPO Closing Date in a transaction contemplated by Sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the Master Separation Agreement, such transfer will be deemed to have occurred immediately before the IPO Closing Date. "Transocean" has the meaning set forth in the recital hereto. "Transocean Business" has the meaning set forth in the Master Separation Agreement. "Transocean Tax Group" means Transocean and all Persons that are Subsidiaries of Transocean, other than members of the TODCO Tax Group, immediately after the IPO Closing Date, including without limitation the Subsidiaries set forth in Schedule 1.2 and Persons that become Subsidiaries of Transocean thereafter. If the Transocean Tax Group transfers any part of the TODCO Business (including any Subsidiary) to the TODCO Tax Group, or the TODCO Tax Group transfers any part of the Transocean Business (including any Subsidiary) to the Transocean Tax Group, after the IPO Closing Date in a transaction contemplated by Article II of the Master Separation Agreement, such transfer will be deemed to have occurred immediately before the IPO Closing Date. "Treasury Regulations" means the regulations promulgated from time to time under the Code as in effect for the relevant Tax Year. "Voting Stock" means the TODCO Class A Common Stock, the TODCO Class B Common Stock and any other capital stock of TODCO entitled to vote generally in the election of directors but excluding any class or series of capital stock only entitled to vote in the event of dividend arrearages thereon, unless at the time of determination there are any such dividend arrearages. SECTION 2. Allocation of Income Tax Liabilities. 2.1 Federal Income Taxes. Except as provided in Section 2.5, liability for Federal Income Taxes shall be allocated as follows: (a) Consolidated Years. (i) Except as provided in Section 2.1(a)(ii), for each Consolidated Year, TODCO shall be liable for and pay to Holdings an amount equal to the Federal Income Taxes attributable to the TODCO Tax Group. Such amount shall be determined as if TODCO and its eligible Subsidiaries were not required to join and did not join in the filing of the Consolidated Return for that Consolidated Year but instead filed their own consolidated Federal Income Tax Return on which TODCO's tax liability was calculated pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1552-1(a)(2)(ii). (ii) TODCO shall not be liable for any Federal Income Taxes attributable to the TODCO Tax Group (x) for any Consolidated Year which ends -8- on or before the IPO Closing Date or (y) in the case of a Consolidated Year which is a Straddle Period, for the portion thereof which ends on the IPO Closing Date. (iii) Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for all Federal Income Taxes for all Consolidated Years other than amounts for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Section 2.1(a). (b) Separate Return Years. (i) Except as provided in Section 2.1(b)(ii), TODCO shall be liable for all Federal Income Taxes imposed on members of the TODCO Tax Group with respect to all Separate Return Years. (ii) TODCO shall not be liable for any Federal Income Taxes imposed on members of the TODCO Tax Group (x) for any Separate Return Year which ends on or before the IPO Closing Date or (y) in the case of a Separate Return Year which is a Straddle Period, for the portion thereof which ends on the IPO Closing Date. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if any member of the TODCO Tax Group becomes a member of such Group after the IPO Closing Date (determined after the application of Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement), TODCO shall be liable for all Federal Income Taxes imposed on such member for all Separate Return Years. (iii) Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for all Federal Income Taxes for all Tax Years which are not Consolidated Years other than amounts for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Section 2.1(b). 2.2 State Income Taxes. Except as provided in Section 2.5, liability for State Income Taxes shall be allocated as follows: (a) Combined Years. (i) Except as provided in Section 2.2(a)(ii), for each Combined Year, TODCO shall be liable for and pay to Holdings (or another member of the Transocean Tax Group designated by Holdings pursuant to Section 5.5) an amount equal to the State Income Taxes attributable to the TODCO Tax Group. Such amount shall be determined as if TODCO and its eligible Subsidiaries were not required to join and did not join in the filing of a Combined Return for that Combined Year but instead filed their own combined State Income Tax Return on which TODCO's tax liability was calculated consistently with the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1552-1(a)(2)(ii). (ii) TODCO shall not be liable for any State Income Taxes attributable to the TODCO Tax Group (x) for any Combined Year which ends on or before the IPO Closing Date or (y) in the case of a Combined Year which is a Straddle Period, for the portion thereof which ends on the IPO Closing Date. -9- (iii) Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for all State Income Taxes for all Combined Years other than amounts for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Section 2.2(a). (b) Separate Return Years. (i) Except as provided in Section 2.2(b)(ii), TODCO shall be liable for all State Income Taxes imposed on members of the TODCO Tax Group with respect to all Separate Return Years. (ii) TODCO shall not be liable for any State Income Taxes imposed on members of the TODCO Tax Group (x) for any Separate Return Year which ends on or before the IPO Closing Date or (y) in the case of a Separate Return Year which is a Straddle Period, for the portion thereof which ends on the IPO Closing Date. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if any member of the TODCO Tax Group becomes a member of such Group after the IPO Closing Date (determined after the application of Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement), TODCO shall be liable for all State Income Taxes imposed on such member for all Separate Return Years. (iii) Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for all State Income Taxes for all Separate Return Years other than amounts for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Section 2.2(b). 2.3 Foreign Income Taxes. Except as provided in Section 2.5, liability for Foreign Income Taxes shall be allocated as follows: (a) Combined Years. (i) Except as provided in Section 2.3(a)(ii), for each Combined Year, TODCO shall be liable for and pay to Holdings (or another member of the Transocean Tax Group designated by Holdings pursuant to Section 5.5) an amount equal to the Foreign Income Taxes that are attributable to the TODCO Tax Group. Such amount shall be determined as if TODCO and its eligible Subsidiaries were not required to join and did not join in the filing of a Combined Return for that Combined Year but instead filed their own combined Foreign Income Tax Return on which TODCO's tax liability was calculated consistently with the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1552-1(a)(2)(ii). (ii) TODCO shall not be liable for any Foreign Income Taxes attributable to the TODCO Tax Group (x) for any Combined Year which ends on or before the IPO Closing Date or (y) in the case of a Combined Year which is a Straddle Period, for the portion thereof which ends on the IPO Closing Date. (iii) Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for all Foreign Income Taxes for all Combined Years other than amounts for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Section 2.3(a). (b) Separate Return Years. -10- (i) Except as provided in Section 2.3(b)(ii), TODCO shall be liable for all Foreign Income Taxes imposed on members of the TODCO Tax Group with respect to all Separate Return Years. (ii) TODCO shall not be liable for any Foreign Income Taxes imposed on the TODCO Tax Group (x) for any Separate Return Year which ends on or before the IPO Closing Date or (y) in the case of a Separate Return Year which is a Straddle Period, for the portion thereof which ends on the IPO Closing Date. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if any member of the TODCO Tax Group becomes a member of such Group after the IPO Closing Date (determined after the application of Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement), TODCO shall be liable for all Foreign Income Taxes imposed on such member for all Separate Return Years. (iii) Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for all Foreign Income Taxes for all Separate Return Years other than amounts for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Section 2.3(b). 2.4 Other Taxes. Except as provided in Section 2.5, TODCO shall be liable for any Other Tax attributable to the TODCO Business, and Holdings shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for any Other Tax that is not attributable to the TODCO Business. 2.5 Special Rules. (a) Separation Transactions Occurring After the IPO Closing Date. If the Transocean Tax Group transfers any part of the TODCO Business (including any Subsidiary) to the TODCO Tax Group, or the TODCO Tax Group transfers any part of the Transocean Business (including any Subsidiary) to the Transocean Tax Group, after the IPO Closing Date in a transaction contemplated by Sections 2.7 and 2.8 of the Master Separation Agreement, such transfer will be deemed to have occurred immediately before the IPO Closing Date for purposes of computing the Taxes imposed on or attributable to the TODCO Tax Group and the Transocean Tax Group. (b) Straddle Periods. For purposes of determining the Income Taxes attributable to or imposed on the TODCO Tax Group for the portion of any Straddle Period which ends on the IPO Closing Date, such Straddle Period shall be treated as two Tax Years, one ending on the IPO Closing Date and the other beginning on the following day, and all calculations shall be made by (x) closing the books of the TODCO Tax Group at the end of the month preceding the month in which the IPO Closing Date occurs, (y) closing the books of TODCO Tax Group again at the end of the month in which the IPO Closing Date occurs, and (z) apportioning Tax Items accruing in the month in which the IPO Closing Date occurs to each hypothetical Tax Year pro rata in proportion to the number of days in such month that are within each hypothetical Tax Year. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, all Tax Items that are extraordinary items within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-76(b)(2)(ii)(C) shall be allocated to the hypothetical Tax Year in which they accrue; -11- provided, however, that all extraordinary items accruing after the Deconsolidation Date and on or before the IPO Closing Date will be allocated entirely to the hypothetical Tax Year that begins on the day following the IPO Closing Date. (c) Short Years. If a Consolidated or Combined Return is filed with respect to a Tax Year, and if TODCO and its eligible Subsidiaries are not included in such Consolidated or Combined Return for that entire Tax Year, then for purposes of determining the Income Taxes attributable to or imposed on the TODCO Tax Group for the resulting short Consolidated or Combined Year and the short Separate Return Year, all calculations shall be made by (x) closing the books of the TODCO Tax Group at the end of the month preceding the month in which the first short year ends, (y) closing the books of TODCO Tax Group again at the end of the month in which the first short year ends, and (z) apportioning Tax Items accruing in the month in which the first short year ends to each short year pro rata in proportion to the number of days in such month that are within each short year. Notwithstanding clause (z) of the immediately preceding sentence, all Tax Items that are extraordinary items within the meaning of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-76(b)(2)(ii)(C) shall be allocated to the short year in which they accrue; provided, however, that the principles of Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-76(b)(1)(ii)(B) (Next Day Rule) shall apply in determining the proper allocation of extraordinary items accruing on the last day of the earlier short Tax Year. (d) Payments to Foreign Jurisdictions. If at any time after the Deconsolidation Date any member of the TODCO Tax Group makes a payment to a foreign Tax Authority for Taxes for which Holdings is otherwise liable under this Agreement, Holdings shall have no obligation to indemnify such member unless such member obtains prior written consent from Holdings to make such payment. If Holdings fails to consent to such payment, it shall indemnify TODCO and its Subsidiaries for any Taxes resulting from the failure to make such payment. 2.6 Tax Payments and Intercompany Billings. Each Company shall pay the Taxes allocated to it by this Section 2 either to the applicable Taxing Authority or to the other appropriate Company in accordance with Section 5. SECTION 3. PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS. 3.1 Combined Returns and Consolidated Returns. (a) Preparation by Transocean and Holdings. Holdings shall be responsible for preparing all Consolidated Returns and Combined Returns. (b) Provision of Information and Assistance by TODCO. (i) Information with Respect to Final Returns. TODCO shall, for each Consolidated Return or Combined Return, provide Holdings with all information relating to members of the TODCO Tax Group which Holdings needs to prepare such return. TODCO shall use its best efforts to provide such information no later than the earlier of (x) thirty days prior to the due date of such Consolidated Return or Combined Return or (y) the first day of the fifth month following the end of the Tax -12- Year to which such information relates, but in any event shall provide such information no later than the earlier of (x) fifteen days prior to the due date of such Consolidated Return or Combined Return and (y) the fifteenth day of the fifth month following the end of such Tax Year. (ii) Information with Respect to Estimated Payments and Extension Payments. TODCO shall provide Holdings with all information relating to members of the TODCO Tax Group which Holdings needs to determine the amount of Taxes due on any Payment Date. TODCO shall use its best efforts to provide such information no later than fifteen days before such Payment Date, but in any event shall provide such information no later than ten days before such Payment Date. (iii) Assistance. At the request of Holdings, TODCO shall take any action (e.g., filing a ruling request with the relevant Tax Authority or executing a power of attorney) that is reasonably necessary in order for Holdings to prepare and file any Consolidated or Combined Return. 3.2 Separate Returns and Other Returns. (a) Tax Returns to be Prepared by Holdings. Holdings shall be responsible for preparing all Separate Returns and Other Returns which either (x) relate solely to one or more members of the Transocean Tax Group for any Tax Year or (y) relate solely to one or more members of the TODCO Tax Group for any Tax Year ending on or before the IPO Closing Date or for any Tax Year which is a Straddle Period. In connection with the preparation of the Tax Returns specified in this Section 3.2(a), TODCO shall provide information and assistance as described in Sections 3.1(b)(ii) and (iii) in the same manner as if such Tax Returns were Consolidated Returns or Combined Returns. (b) Tax Returns to be Prepared by TODCO. (i) Except as otherwise provided in this Section 3.2(b), TODCO shall be responsible for preparing all Separate Returns and Other Returns which relate solely to one or more members of the TODCO Tax Group for any Tax Year ending after the IPO Closing Date and which is not a Straddle Period. In preparing such Other Returns, TODCO may not take any positions that it knows, or reasonably should know, would adversely affect any member of the Transocean Tax Group. (ii) Holdings will have the right to determine the items specified in clauses (1), (3) and (4) of Section 3.3(a) with respect to any Tax Return described in Section 3.2(b)(i) if either (x) such Tax Return is filed for a Tax Year at any time during which Transocean or Holdings owned stock possessing greater than 50% of the voting power of all of the outstanding TODCO stock or (y) such Tax Return is filed for a Tax Year during which TODCO has an obligation under Section 4.2 to pay Holdings for the Tax Benefits realized, if any, in such Tax Year or a subsequent Tax Year with respect to any Tax Item created before the IPO Closing Date. -13- (c) Provision of Information. Holdings shall provide to TODCO, and TODCO shall provide to Holdings, any information about members of the Transocean Tax Group or the TODCO Tax Group, respectively, which the party receiving such information needs to comply with Section 3.2(a) or (b). Such information shall be provided within the time prescribed by Section 3.1(b) for the provision of information for Consolidated Returns and Combined Returns. 3.3 Special Rules Relating to the Preparation of Tax Returns. (a) General Rule. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the party responsible for filing a Tax Return pursuant to Sections 3.1 or 3.2 shall have the exclusive right, in its sole discretion, with respect to such Tax Return to determine (1) the manner in which such Tax Return shall be prepared and filed, including the elections, methods of accounting, positions, conventions and principles of taxation to be used and the manner in which any Tax Item shall be reported, (2) whether any extensions may be requested, (3) the elections that will be made on such Tax Return, (4) whether an amended Tax Return shall be filed, (5) whether any claims for refund shall be made, (6) whether any refunds shall be paid by way of refund or credited against any liability for the related Tax and (7) whether to retain outside firms to prepare or review such Tax Return. (b) Election to File Consolidated or Combined Returns. Holdings shall have the sole discretion of filing any Consolidated Return or Combined Return, if the filing of such return is elective under the relevant Tax Law. (c) Returns Affecting Liability of Other Party. Insofar as a Tax Return prepared by Holdings may affect Taxes for which TODCO is liable pursuant to this Agreement, or vice versa: (i) Tax Accounting Practices. The Tax Return shall be prepared consistently with past Tax accounting practices to the extent permissible under applicable Tax Law. (ii) Review Prior to Filing. The Company responsible for preparing any Tax Return (whether Holdings on the one hand or TODCO on the other hand) shall make the Tax Return or relevant portion thereof available to the other Company no later than thirty days before the Tax Return is due and shall in good faith take into account any comments on such Tax Return by the other Company. (d) Standard of Performance. Holdings shall prepare the Tax Returns for which it is responsible pursuant to this Section 3 and which relate to the TODCO Tax Group with the same general degree of care as it uses in preparing Tax Returns relating solely to the Transocean Tax Group. Holdings shall not be liable for any additional Taxes that result from a redetermination in a Tax Contest and for which TODCO is otherwise liable under Section 2, unless such additional Taxes arise solely as a result of Holdings failure to exercise such degree of care. -14- SECTION 4. TAX BENEFITS, REFUNDS, AND CARRYBACKS. 4.1 Compensation by Holdings for TODCO's Post-IPO Tax Assets. In the event that any member of the Transocean Tax Group realizes a Tax Benefit during any Consolidated Year or Combined Year as a result of the use or absorption by any Transocean Tax Group member of any Tax Asset of the TODCO Tax Group which was created after the IPO Closing Date, as determined under the principles of Section 4.2(b), then Holdings (or other appropriate member of the Transocean Tax Group) shall pay to TODCO, in accordance with Section 5, the amount of the Tax Benefit realized by the member of the Transocean Tax Group. 4.2 Compensation by TODCO for Pre-IPO Tax Assets. (a) Payment for Tax Assets. Except as otherwise provided in Section 4.2(f), if on any Tax Return, any member of the TODCO Tax Group uses or absorbs any Tax Asset which was created on or before the IPO Closing Date to reduce any Tax for which it is liable under Section 2, then TODCO shall, in accordance with Section 5, pay to Holdings (or another member of the Transocean Tax Group designated by Holdings pursuant to Section 5.5) an amount equal to the value of such Tax Asset. (b) Time at which Tax Asset is Created. For purposes of Section 4.2(a), a Tax Asset shall be considered created in the Tax Year relating to the Tax Return (including an information return of U.S. persons with respect to certain foreign corporations on Internal Revenue Service Form 5471) on which the Tax Asset is first included. However, any Tax Asset not included in a Tax Return by reason of Sections 163(j) or 267 of the Code, Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-13 or any similar deferral provision under federal, state or foreign Tax Law shall be considered included in such Tax Return. A Tax Asset resulting from foreign income tax shall be considered created in the year in which such tax accrues, regardless of the year in which such tax is paid. (c) Value of Tax Assets. For purposes of Section 4.2(a), the value of any Tax Asset shall be considered equal to: (i) in the case of any deduction, loss previously deferred under Section 267(f) of the Code, net operating loss or net capital loss, the product of (1) the amount of such deduction or loss used or absorbed on such Tax Return and (2) the highest statutory tax rate applicable under Section 11 of the Code or relevant state or foreign Tax Law and (ii) in the case of any tax credit, one hundred percent (100%) of such tax credit used or absorbed on such Tax Return. (d) Determination of Tax Assets Used or Absorbed. The determination of whether any Tax Asset created on or before the IPO Closing Date has been used or absorbed on any relevant Tax Return after the IPO Closing Date shall be determined by TODCO and reported by a nationally recognized accounting firm no later than sixty (60) days after the date on which the relevant Tax Return is filed. Such -15- accounting firm shall report the Tax Assets it determines are used or absorbed on the relevant Tax Return by applying the same standards as it would in preparing a tax return that it would sign as an "income tax return preparer" (as defined in Section 7701(a)(36) of the Code) and such accounting firm shall sign a letter certifying that such determination has been made in accordance with such standards and on a fair and impartial basis. Holdings shall be given an opportunity to review such determination and the supporting schedules and calculations. Holdings shall be given the opportunity to ask questions of the accounting firm, and if Holdings is not satisfied with the detail given in the supporting schedules, the accounting firm shall provide Holdings with any additional supporting detail as Holdings shall reasonably request. Holdings shall have, in its sole discretion, the right to designate a nationally recognized accounting firm and shall bear all costs associated with such firms reporting under this Section 4.2(d). (e) Forecast of Tax Assets Used or Absorbed. If during any Tax Year ending after the IPO Closing Date any Tax Asset created on or before the IPO Closing Date continues to be available for use by any member of the TODCO Tax Group, then TODCO shall provide Holdings with periodic forecasts of the anticipated use of such Tax Asset during such year no later than March 15, June 15, September 15 and December 15 of such year. TODCO shall also provide Holdings, no later than October 15 of such year, a forecast of the expected use or absorption of any such Tax Asset in the following year. (f) Acceleration of Payments Upon Change of Control. Notwithstanding Section 4.2(a), if on any day following the IPO Closing Date any person or entity other than a member of the Transocean Tax Group owns stock (or would be treated as owning stock if the attribution rules of Section 318(a) of the Code were to apply) possessing greater than 50% of the voting power of all of the outstanding TODCO stock, TODCO shall, in accordance with Section 5, pay to Holdings (or another member of the Transocean Tax Group designated by Holdings pursuant to Section 5.5) the amount equal to the value of all unused Tax Assets described in Section 4.2(a) as if such Tax Assets had been used or absorbed by TODCO immediately prior to the day such person or entity first owns the amount of stock possessing such voting power. If (x) an unused Tax Asset is treated by this Section 4.2(f) as being used or absorbed and (y) such Tax Asset is a foreign tax credit under Section 9.01 of the Code, then such Tax Asset shall be valued under Section 4.2(c)(i) as if it were a deduction rather than under Section 4.2(c)(ii). 4.3 Claims for Refund from Carrybacks. (a) Filing Claims and Making Payments for Carrybacks. If the TODCO Tax Group generates a Carryback to a Consolidated Year or Combined Year, then, upon request of TODCO, Holdings may, in its sole discretion, file a claim for refund arising from such Carryback and pay such refund to TODCO in accordance with Section 5. (b) Adjustment of Tax Items. In the event that a Carryback by the TODCO Tax Group to a Consolidated Year or Combined Year increases the liability for Taxes of the Transocean Tax Group, the amount of the refund to which the TODCO Tax Group shall be entitled to receive, in accordance with Section 5, shall be net of such increased liability to the Transocean Tax Group. -16- 4.4 Tax Benefits Resulting from Exercise of Employee Stock Options. If (x) pursuant to the exercise of an employee stock option the Transocean Tax Group delivers to an employee of the TODCO Tax Group stock of Transocean at any time during a Tax Year, or portion thereof, that begins after the IPO Closing Date and (y) the delivery of such stock results in a present or potential future Tax Benefit to the TODCO Tax Group, TODCO shall pay to Holdings the deemed value of such Tax Benefit within thirty days after the delivery of such stock. For purposes of this Section 4.4, the deemed value of such Tax Benefit shall be an amount equal to the product of (x) the amount of the deduction allowed to the TODCO Tax Group by the Code with respect to the delivery of the Transocean stock and (y) the highest statutory rate applicable under Section 11 of the Code. However, if any deduction otherwise described in this Section 4.4 exceeds U.S.$1.0 million, determined on an employee-by-employee basis, the Tax Benefit relating to such deduction shall not be treated as a Tax Benefit described in this Section 4.4, but the underlying deduction shall be treated in the same manner as if it were a Tax Asset created on or before the IPO Closing Date, as described in Section 4.2. SECTION 5. TAX PAYMENTS AND INTERCOMPANY BILLINGS. 5.1 Consolidated and Combined Returns. (a) Computation and Payment of Tax Due. At least ten business days prior to any Payment Date for a Consolidated or Combined Return, Holdings shall compute the amount of Tax required to be paid to the relevant Tax Authority with respect to such Tax Return on such Payment Date and shall notify TODCO in writing of (x) the amount of Tax required to be paid on such Payment Date, and (y) the amount, if any, of such Tax which is allocable to TODCO under Sections 2.1(a), 2.2(a) and 2.3(a). Holdings will pay, or shall cause one or more of its Subsidiaries (other than members of the TODCO Tax Group) to pay, the amount described in clause (x) of the immediately preceding sentence to the relevant Tax Authority on or before such Payment Date. (b) Computation and Payment of TODCO Liability With Respect to Tax Due. Within thirty days following any Payment Date, TODCO will pay to Holdings (or another member of the Transocean Tax Group designated by Holdings pursuant to Section 5.5) the amount, if any, of Tax paid on such Payment Date for which TODCO is liable in accordance with Sections 2.1(a), 2.2(a) and 2.3(a), appropriately adjusted for prior payments made by TODCO with respect to that Consolidated or Combined Year. If, at any time, the total amount of payments made by TODCO to Transocean (or any of its Subsidiaries other than members of the TODCO Tax Group) with respect to Taxes for a Combined Year exceeds the amount for which TODCO is liable in accordance with Sections 2.1(a), 2.2(a) and 2.3(a), Holdings will promptly remit the excess to TODCO. 5.2 Payment of Refunds and Tax Benefits. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement: -17- (a) Refund or Tax Benefit Received by Transocean Tax Group. If a member of the Transocean Tax Group receives a Tax refund with respect to Taxes for which a member of the TODCO Tax Group is liable hereunder or receives a Tax Benefit for which TODCO is entitled to reimbursement hereunder, Holdings, as appropriate, shall pay to TODCO, within thirty days following the receipt of the Tax refund or Tax Benefit, an amount equal to such Tax refund or Tax Benefit. Unless specified otherwise in this Agreement, a Tax Benefit will be considered received at the time the Tax Return is filed with respect to such Tax Benefit. (b) Refund or Tax Benefit Received or Tax Asset Used by TODCO Tax Group. If a member of the TODCO Tax Group receives a Tax refund with respect to Taxes for which a member of the Transocean Tax Group is liable hereunder, receives a Tax Benefit for which Holdings is entitled to reimbursement hereunder, or uses or absorbs a Tax Asset for which Holdings is entitled to reimbursement, TODCO shall pay to Holdings, within thirty days after the receipt of the Tax refund or Tax Benefit or use or absorption of the Tax Asset, an amount equal to such Tax refund or Tax Benefit. Unless specified otherwise in this Agreement, a Tax Benefit will be considered received, and a Tax Asset will be considered used or absorbed, at the time the Tax Return is filed with respect to such Tax Benefit or Tax Asset. 5.3 Initial Determinations and Subsequent Adjustments. (a) General Rules. The initial determination of the amount of a payment, if any, which one Company is required to make to another under this Agreement shall be made on the basis of the Tax Return as filed, or, if the Tax to which the payment relates is not reported in a Tax Return, on the basis of the amount of Tax initially paid to the Tax Authority. Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.3, payments will be made, as appropriate, if additional Taxes to which such determination relates are subsequently paid, or a refund of such Taxes or a Tax Benefit relating to such Taxes is received, whether as a result of an audit by a Tax Authority or for any other reason. Each payment required by the immediately preceding sentence (x) as a result of a payment of additional Taxes will be due thirty days after the date on which the additional Taxes were paid or, if later, thirty days after the date of a request from the other Company for the payment or (y) as a result of the receipt of a refund or Tax Benefit will be due thirty days after the refund or Tax Benefit was received. If a payment is made as a result of an audit by a Tax Authority which does not conclude the matter, further adjusting payments will be made, as appropriate, to reflect the outcome of subsequent administrative or judicial proceedings. (b) Taxes that Generate TODCO Tax Benefits. If (x) pursuant to Section 5.3(a), Holdings indemnifies TODCO and its Subsidiaries against any additional State Income Tax, Foreign Income Tax, or Other Tax that is attributable to any Tax Year or portion thereof beginning before the IPO Closing Date and (y) the payment of such Tax generates a present or potential future Tax Benefit to the TODCO Tax Group, then TODCO shall be liable for and pay to Holdings within thirty days after the payment of such Tax by Holdings the deemed value of such Tax Benefit. For purposes of this Section 5.3(b), the deemed value of such Tax Benefit shall be an amount equal to the -18- product of (x) the amount of the Tax giving rise to such Tax Benefit and (y) the highest statutory rate applicable under Section 11 of the Code. However, if any Tax otherwise described in this Section 5.3(b) exceeds U.S.$1.0 million, determined separately for each Tax Contest, the Tax Benefit relating to such Tax shall not be treated as a Tax Benefit described in this Section 5.3(b), but the underlying deduction allowed by the Code arising from the payment of such Tax shall be treated in the same manner as if it were a Tax Asset created on or before the IPO Closing Date, as described in Section 4.2. 5.4 Indemnification Payments. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.5(d), if any member of one Group is required to make a payment to a Tax Authority for Taxes for which a Company belonging to the other Group is liable under this Agreement, the Company which is liable for such Taxes under this Agreement will remit the amount for which it is liable to the appropriate other Company within thirty days after receiving notification requesting such amount. 5.5 Payments by or to Other Members of the Groups. When appropriate under the circumstances to reflect the underlying liability for a Tax or entitlement to a Tax refund or Tax Benefit, a payment which is required to be made by or to a Company may be made by or to another member of the Group to which that Company belongs, but nothing in this Section 5.5 shall relieve any Company of its obligations under this Agreement. 5.6 Interest. Payments pursuant to this Agreement that are not made within the period prescribed in this Agreement or, if no period is prescribed, within fifteen (15) business days after demand for payment is made (the "Payment Period") shall bear interest for the period from and including the date immediately following the last date of the Payment Period through and including the date of payment at a per annum rate equal to the rate specified in Section 6.5 of the Master Separation Agreement.. Such interest will be payable at the same time as the payment to which it relates and shall be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days and the actual number of days for which due. 5.7 Tax Consequences of Payments. For all Tax purposes and to the extent permitted by applicable law, the parties hereto shall treat any payment made pursuant to this Agreement as a capital contribution or a dividend distribution, as the case may be, immediately prior to the Effective Date and, accordingly, as not includible in the taxable income of the recipient. If a Tax Authority determines that the receipt or accrual of any payment made under this Agreement is taxable to the payee, the payer shall pay to the payee an amount equal to any increase in the Income Taxes of the payee as a result of receiving the payment (grossed up to take into account such payment, if applicable). SECTION 6. ASSISTANCE AND COOPERATION. The parties will cooperate (and cause their respective affiliates to cooperate) with each other and with each other's agents, including accounting firms and legal counsel, in connection with Tax matters, including provision of relevant documents and information in their possession and making available to each other, as reasonably requested and available, personnel (including officers, directors, employees and agents of the Companies or their affiliates) -19- responsible for preparing, maintaining, and interpreting information and documents relevant to Taxes, and personnel reasonably required as witnesses or for purposes of providing information or documents in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes. Any information or documents provided under this Section 6 shall be kept confidential by the Company receiving the information or documents, except as may otherwise be necessary in connection with the filing of Tax Returns or in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings relating to Taxes. SECTION 7. TAX RECORDS. 7.1 Retention of Tax Records. Each Company shall preserve, and shall cause its affiliates to preserve, all Tax Records which are in its possession, and which could affect the liability of any member of the other Group for Taxes, for so long as the contents thereof may become material in the administration of any matter under applicable Tax Law, but in any event until the later of (x) the expiration of any applicable statutes of limitation, as extended, and (y) seven years after the IPO Closing Date. 7.2 Access to Tax Records. The Companies and their respective affiliates shall make available to members of the other Group for inspection and copying during normal business hours upon reasonable notice all Tax Records in their possession to the extent reasonably requested by any such member of the other Group in connection with the preparation of Tax Returns, audits, litigation, or the resolution of items under this Agreement. SECTION 8. TAX CONTESTS. 8.1 Notices. Each of the parties shall provide prompt notice to the other party of any pending or threatened Tax audit, assessment or proceeding or other Tax Contest of which it becomes aware relating to Taxes for which it is or may be indemnified by the other party hereunder. Such notice shall contain factual information (to the extent known) describing any asserted Tax liability in reasonable detail and shall be accompanied by copies of any notice and other documents received from any Tax Authority in respect of any such matters. If an indemnified party has knowledge of an asserted Tax liability with respect to a matter for which it is to be indemnified hereunder and such party fails to give the indemnifying party prompt notice of such asserted Tax liability, then (x) if the indemnifying party is precluded from contesting the asserted Tax liability in any forum as a result of the failure to give prompt notice, the indemnifying party shall have no obligation to indemnify the indemnified party for any Taxes arising out of such asserted Tax liability, and (y) if the indemnifying party is not precluded from contesting the asserted Tax liability in any forum, but such failure to give prompt notice results in a monetary detriment to the indemnifying party, then any amount which the indemnifying party is otherwise required to pay the indemnified party pursuant to this Agreement shall be reduced by the amount of such detriment. 8.2 Control of Tax Contests. Each Company shall have full responsibility and discretion in handling, settling or contesting any Tax Contest involving a Tax for which it is liable pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, except that (x) -20- Holdings shall have full responsibility and discretion in handling, settling or contesting any Tax Contest with respect to a Consolidated Return or Combined Return and (y) TODCO shall not, without written consent from Holdings, exercise its discretion in handling, settling or contesting or paying Taxes subject to any Tax Contest in a manner that TODCO knows, or reasonably should know, would adversely affect any member of the Transocean Tax Group. 8.3 Cooperation. The indemnified Company shall provide the Company controlling any Tax Contest pursuant to Section 8.2 with all information relating to the indemnified Company and its Subsidiaries which the Company controlling the Tax Contest needs to handle, settle or contest the Tax Contest. At the request of the Company controlling the Tax Contest, the indemnified Company shall take any action (e.g., executing a power of attorney) that is reasonably necessary in order for the Company controlling the Tax Contest to handle, settle or contest the Tax Contest. TODCO shall assist Holdings in taking any remedial actions permitted by Internal Revenue Service Revenue Procedure 99-32 in order to avoid the effects of any secondary adjustment under Section 482 of the Code. The Company controlling the Tax Contest shall have no obligation to indemnify the indemnified Company for any additional Taxes resulting from the Tax Contest, if the indemnified Company fails to cooperate fully or provide complete assistance to the Company controlling the Tax Contest. SECTION 9. RESTRICTION ON CERTAIN POST-IPO ACTIONS OF TODCO. TODCO agrees that it will not take or fail to take, or permit any Subsidiary of TODCO to take or fail to take, any action where such action or failure to act would be inconsistent with or prohibit a distribution by Transocean of its stock in TODCO from qualifying as a tax-free distribution under Section 355 of the Code. SECTION 10. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 10.1 Survival of Obligations. The representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement shall be unconditional and absolute and shall remain in effect without limitation as to time. 10.2 Expenses. Each Company and its affiliates shall bear their own expenses incurred in connection with preparation of Tax Returns, Tax Contests, and other matters related to Taxes under the provisions of this Agreement. 10.3 Breach of Agreement. A breach of this Agreement shall be treated as a breach of an Ancillary Agreement within the meaning of Sections 3.3(c) or 3.4(c), as appropriate, of the Master Separation Agreement. 10.4 Disputes. The procedures for discussion, negotiation and arbitration set forth in Article VI of the Master Separation Agreement shall apply to all disputes, controversies or claims (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise) that may rise out of or relate to, or arise under or in connection with this Agreement. 10.5 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be delivered in person, by telecopy, by express or overnight mail -21- delivered by a nationally recognized air courier (delivery charges prepaid), or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested) to the respective parties as follows: (a) If to Holdings to: ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- (b) If to TODCO to: ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- ------------------- or to such other address as the party to whom notice is given may have previously furnished to the others in writing in the manner set forth above. Any notice or communication delivered in person shall be deemed effective on delivery or when delivery is refused. Any notice or communication sent by telecopy or by air courier shall be deemed effective on the first business day at the place at which such notice or communication is received following the day on which such notice or communication was sent. 10.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. The Agreement may be delivered by facsimile transmission of a signed copy thereof. 10.7 Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon the parties hereto and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except with respect to a merger of a party, neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that Holdings and TODCO may assign their respective rights, interests, duties, liabilities and obligations under this Agreement to any other member of their Group, but such assignment shall not relieve Holdings or TODCO, as the assignor, of its obligations hereunder. 10.8 Severability. Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining -22- provisions hereof. Any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction. 10.9 Amendment. This Agreement may not be amended or modified in any respect except by a written agreement signed by all of the parties hereto. 10.10 Effective Time. This Agreement shall become effective on the Effective Date. 10.11 Change in Law. Any reference to a provision of the Code or any other Tax Law shall include a reference to any applicable successor provision or law. 10.12 Authorization, Etc. Each of the parties hereto hereby represents and warrants that it has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement, that this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such party, that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each such party and that the execution, deliver 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 such party. 10.13 No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Sections 3.3 and 3.4 of the Master Separation Agreement, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of Transocean, Holdings, TODCO and their Subsidiaries and is not intended to confer upon any other person any rights or remedies hereunder. -23- IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by the respective officers as of the date set forth above. TRANSOCEAN HOLDINGS INC. By: --------------------------------- Name: Title: TODCO By: --------------------------------- Name: Title: -24-