EX-10.1: FORM OF TAX SHARING AGREEMENT

EX-10.1 5 g94455a3exv10w1.htm EX-10.1: FORM OF TAX SHARING AGREEMENT EX-10.1

Exhibit 10.1

TAX SHARING AGREEMENT

This Tax Sharing Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated as of [___], 2005, is made by and between WebMD Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“WebMD”), and WebMD Health Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Health”).

WHEREAS, WebMD is the common parent corporation of an affiliated group of corporations (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”));

WHEREAS, Health and the Health Domestic Subsidiaries (as defined below) are members of the affiliated group of which WebMD is the common parent corporation;

WHEREAS, Health is making an initial public offering (the “Offering”) of its stock as contemplated by the Form S-1 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 12, 2005, as amended;

WHEREAS, the Offering will not cause Health and the Health Domestic Subsidiaries to cease to be members of WebMD’s consolidated group for federal income tax purposes;

WHEREAS, WebMD, Health and the Health Domestic Subsidiaries will continue to file consolidated federal income tax returns as required by Section 1501 of the Code (“Consolidated Federal Tax Returns”) and various members of the WebMD Group (as defined below) will continue to file consolidated, combined or unitary income tax returns in some states, municipalities and non-U.S. jurisdictions (“State, Local or Foreign Tax Returns”); and

WHEREAS, WebMD, Health, the Health Domestic Subsidiaries and other members of the WebMD Group desire to agree upon a method for determining the financial consequences to each party resulting from the filing of a consolidated, combined or unitary income tax return; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual covenants herein contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:

DEFINITIONS.

(a) For purposes of this Agreement, the terms set forth below shall have the following meanings.

(i) “Alternative Minimum Tax” shall mean the tax imposed on corporations by Section 55 of the Code.

(ii) “Consolidated Federal Tax Liability” shall mean, with respect to any taxable year, the Regular Tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax actually paid by the WebMD Group with respect to such taxable year (without taking into account any carry-backs of tax attributes from later taxable years).

(iii) “Federal Tax Liability” of the Health Subgroup shall mean, with respect to any taxable year, an amount equal to the Consolidated Federal Tax Liability multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Health Subgroup’s Separate Return Tax Liability, and the demoninator is the sum of A) the Health Subgroup’s Separate Return Tax Liability and B) the WebMD Subgroup’s Separate Return Tax Liability.

(iv) “Health Domestic Subsidiary” shall mean any Health Subsidiary that would be eligible, from time to time, to join with Health in the filing of a Consolidated Federal Tax Return, with Health as the common parent corporation, if Health and such Health Subsidiary were not members of the WebMd Group.

(v) “Health Subgroup” shall be comprised of Health and the Health Subsidiaries.

(vi) “Health Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation (as determined for tax purposes) that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by Health. For this purpose, “control” shall mean ownership of 50% or more of the stock or other equity interests in such corporations in terms of voting power or equity value.

(vii) “Health Tax Package” means all information requested by WebMD, in a format determined by WebMD, in connection with a Consolidated Federal Tax Return of the WebMD Group or a State, Local or Foreign Tax Return that includes any member of the WebMD SubGroup and any member of the Health SubGroup. The Health Tax Package shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the past practices of the WebMD Group, or any relevant group of corporations with respect to any consolidated, combined or unitary State, Local or Foreign Tax Return.

(viii) “Regular Tax” shall mean the tax imposed on corporations by Section 11 of the Code.

(ix) “Separate Return Tax Liability” for the WebMD Subgroup or Health Subgroup shall mean the liability for Regular Tax and Alternative Minimum Tax for such taxable year, and any interest, penalties, and other additions to such taxes for such taxable year, computed as if the WebMD Subgroup or Health Subgroup, as the case may be, were not part of the WebMD Group for such taxable year, but rather were a separate affiliated group of corporations filing a Consolidated Federal Tax Return pursuant to Section 1501 of the Code. Such computation shall be made (A) without regard to the income, deductions (including net operating loss and capital loss deductions) and credits in any year of any member of the WebMD Group which is not a member of the relevant Subgroup, (B) with regard to net operating loss and capital loss carry-forwards from earlier years (but not carry-backs from later years except to the extent permitted by Section 2(g)) of the members of the relevant Subgroup, (C) with regard to the minimum tax credits of the relevant Subgroup, (D) as though the highest rate of tax specified

in Section 11(b) of the Code were the only Regular Tax rate applicable to the relevant Subgroup and (E) consistent with the past practices of the WebMD Group; provided, however, that such computation can depart from the past practices of the WebMD Group in the event of a change in applicable Tax law or if WebMD is advised by its accountants or counsel that adherence to past practices would have an adverse effect on the WebMD Group. Transactions between the Health Subgroup and the WebMD Subgroup that are deferred under the Treasury regulations promulgated pursuant to Section 1502 of the Code shall also be deferred for purposes of this Agreement.

(x) “Subgroup” shall mean the Health Subgroup or the WebMD Subgroup.

(xi) “WebMD Group” shall mean WebMD, Health, the Health Domestic Subsidiaries and any other corporation (as determined for tax purposes) that is controlled, directly or indirectly, by WebMD. For this purpose, “control” shall mean ownership of 50% or more of the stock or other equity interests in such corporation in terms of voting power or equity value.

(xii) “WebMD Subgroup” shall be comprised of all members of the WebMD Group other than the members of the Health Subgroup.

(b) For all purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, the definition of terms not defined herein shall be determined by reference to applicable law.

FEDERAL INCOME TAXES.

(a) References. All references in this Section 2 to taxes or matters related to taxes are references to federal income taxes and related federal income tax matters.

(b) Tax Sharing. With respect to any taxable year (or portion thereof, if applicable) of the Health Subgroup, Health shall pay to WebMD an amount equal to the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability.

(c) Estimated Payments. Not later than fifteen days prior to each date on which an estimated federal income tax installment is due (a “Tax Payment Date”), WebMD shall determine, and notify Health of, (i) the amount of the applicable required installment of the required annual payment of the WebMD Group under Section 6655(d) of the Code and (ii) the amount of such required installment calculated by reference to the estimated Federal Tax Liability of the Health Subgroup (such amount, the “Health Subgroup Estimated Payment”). Health shall then pay to WebMD, on or before the date which is three business days prior to such Tax Payment Date, the Health Subgroup Estimated Payment. The Health Subgroup Estimated Payment shall be computed in accordance with the past practices of the WebMD Group except in the event of a change in applicable Tax law, or if WebMD is advised by its accountants or counsel that adherence to past practices would have an adverse effect on the WebMD Group.

(d) Payment of Taxes at Year-End.

(i) WebMD shall determine, and notify Health of, the Health Subgroup Payment within sixty days following the end of the taxable year for which such payment is to be

made. On or before the date which is three business days prior to the last date prescribed by law for payment of the Consolidated Federal Tax Liability of the WebMD Group for such year, Health shall pay to WebMD an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability over the total Health Subgroup Estimated Payments made by Health with respect to such taxable year. A similar rule shall apply to the extent the amount of the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability is adjusted at or prior to the time at which the Consolidated Federal Tax Return for such year is filed.

(ii) If the aggregate amount of the Health Subgroup Estimated Payments for a given taxable year is greater than the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability, WebMD shall promptly remit such excess amount to Health. A similar rule shall apply to the extent the amount of the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability is adjusted at or prior to the time at which the Consolidated Federal Tax Return for such year is filed.

(iii) With respect to any Consolidated Federal Tax Return of the WebMD Group, (A) WebMD shall not reimburse Health for the tax savings attributable to the utilization of any net operating losses or other tax attributes of the Health Subgroup to offset federal incomes taxes of the WebMD Subgroup and (B) Health shall not reimburse WebMD for the tax savings attributable to the utilization of any net operating losses or other tax attributes of WebMD or any other member of the WebMD Subgroup to offset federal incomes taxes of the Health Subgroup.

(e) Alternative Minimum Tax. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Health shall only be required to make a payment to WebMD with respect to the Health Subgroup’s liability for Alternative Minimum Tax (computed as a Separate Return Tax Liability) for any taxable year if the WebMD Group has an actual Consolidated Federal Tax Liability in excess of the Separate Return Tax Liability of the WebMD Subgroup for such taxable year.

(f) Treatment of Adjustments. If any adjustment (including an adjustment resulting in a refund of tax) is made after the filing of a Consolidated Federal Tax Return of the WebMD Group in which income or loss of the Health Subgroup is included, then upon the earlier of the date on which such adjustment is agreed to by WebMD or becomes final and nonappealable as a matter of law, Health shall pay to WebMD, or WebMD shall pay to Health, as the case may be, the difference between all payments actually made by Health under Sections 2(b)-2(e) with respect to the taxable year covered by such Consolidated Federal Tax Return and all payments that would have been made by Health under Sections 2(b)-2(e) after taking into account the applicable adjustment, together with any penalties and interest actually paid or received.

(g) Treatment of Refunds. If a net operating loss is generated by the Health Subgroup or any member thereof during any period in which it is not a member of the WebMD Group, Health and/or the relevant Health Subsidiary shall elect to relinquish any carry-back period with respect to the WebMD Group to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. If a net operating loss, net capital loss, business credit or other tax attribute generated by the Health Subgroup (or any member thereof) during any period in which it is not a member of the WebMD Group is carried back to a Consolidated Federal Tax Return of the WebMD Group, and a tax refund or credit is obtained or otherwise realized, such refund or credit shall be the property of WebMD and, if received by any member of the Health Subgroup, shall be promptly paid over to

WebMD. Any tax refund or credit relating to the carry-back of a net operating loss, net capital loss, business credit or other tax attribute of the Health Subgroup (or any member thereof) from a period during which it is a member of the WebMD Group shall be properly allocated between the WebMD Subgroup and the Health Subgroup in accordance with Section 2.

(h) Preparation of Returns. So long as the WebMD Group elects to file Consolidated Federal Tax Returns as permitted by Section 1501 of the Code, WebMD shall prepare and file such Consolidated Federal Tax Returns and any other returns, documents or statements required to be filed with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the determination of the Consolidated Federal Tax Liability of the WebMD Group. Each member of the Health Subgroup appoints WebMD as its agent (as long as such corporation is a member of the WebMD Group) for purposes of filing such Consolidated Federal Tax Returns, making any election or application or taking any action in connection therewith on behalf of the members of the WebMD Group. Each member of the Health Subgroup consents to the filing of such Consolidated Federal Tax Returns and the making of such elections and applications and agrees to take, or the taking of, any action (including the execution of any documents) necessary to permit such filings, elections or applications to be made.

(i) Audits and Proceedings. WebMD shall have sole control of any audits or other proceedings conducted by the IRS or any judicial proceeding, with respect to the Consolidated Federal Tax Liabilities of the WebMD Group. WebMD shall give Health notice of, and shall consult with Health in good faith with respect to, any issues relating to items of income, gain, loss, deduction, credit or other tax attribute of any member of the Health Subgroup (any such items, “Health Subgroup Return Items”). Health may, at its sole expense, participate in such audits or proceedings solely with respect to Health Subgroup Return Items to the extent that WebMD, in its sole discretion, shall deem appropriate. For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to an audit or proceeding conducted by the IRS, WebMD shall have the right, in its sole discretion, to pay any disputed taxes and sue for a refund in the forum of its choice. The terms of settlement of any issues relating to such proceeding shall be in the sole discretion of WebMD, and each member of the Health Subgroup hereby appoints WebMD as its agent for the purpose of proposing and concluding any such settlement.

(j) Cooperation. Health and each Health Subsidiary shall cooperate in the filing of any Consolidated Federal Tax Returns for the WebMD Group by maintaining such books and records and providing such information as may be necessary or useful in the filing of such Consolidated Federal Tax Returns and executing any documents and taking any actions which WebMD or any member of the WebMD Group may reasonably request in connection therewith. WebMD and each member of the WebMD Group will provide one another with such information concerning such returns and the application of this Agreement as WebMD or such member may reasonably request. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Health shall deliver to WebMD the Health Tax Package within thirty days after request by WebMD. Each of the WebMD Subgroup and Health Subgroup shall preserve all records relating to taxes for which the other Subgroup may be liable hereunder until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, and shall make such records available to the other Subgroup upon such other Subgroup’s prior reasonable request. To the extent that WebMD prepares and files any tax return of Health or any other member of the Health Subgroup that does not include any member of the WebMD Subgroup (a “Health Separate Return”), Health and the Health Subsidiaries shall

provide cooperation consistent with this Section 2(j) including, without limitation, the delivery of a Health Tax Package relating to the Health Separate Return.

(k) Payment of Tax; Indemnification. WebMD shall pay or discharge, or cause to be paid or discharged, the Consolidated Federal Tax Liability of the WebMD Group for each taxable year of the WebMD Group. With respect to each taxable year of the WebMD Group, (i) WebMD shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Health from and against the difference between the Consolidated Federal Tax Liability of the WebMD Group and the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability, and (ii) Health shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless WebMD against the Health Subgroup’s Federal Tax Liability; provided, however, that Health shall indemnify and hold harmless WebMD against any liability resulting from any information included in the Health Tax Package that is not correct and complete in all material respects or the failure by Health to timely furnish WebMD with the Health Tax Package (or any material part thereof). Except as provided in this Agreement, (i) WebMD shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless Health against, any taxes of any member of the WebMD Subgroup, and (ii) Health shall be responsible for, and shall indemnify and hold harmless WebMD against, any taxes of any member of the Health Subgroup.

3. STATE, LOCAL AND FOREIGN TAXES. If, for any taxable period, any tax based on or measured by gross or net income or gross receipts or any franchise, capital, net worth or other similar tax imposed by any state, local or foreign government (collectively, “State, Local or Foreign Taxes”) is determined on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis by considering all or part of the income, losses, properties, payrolls, sales or other attributes of a Health Subsidiary with those of WebMD or any other member of the WebMD Subgroup (regardless of whether a State, Local or Foreign Tax Return is filed on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis), Health shall make payments to WebMD in satisfaction of such State, Local or Foreign Tax, and WebMD shall make payments to Health with respect to such State, Local or Foreign Tax, according to the same general principles described above in Sections 2(b) through 2(f). Each of Health and WebMD also shall be subject to the tax refund or credit provisions of Section 2(g), tax return preparation and filing provisions of Section 2(h), the tax audit provisions of Section 2(i), the tax cooperation provisions of Section 2(j) and the indemnification provisions of Section 2(k) with respect to such State, Local or Foreign Tax in the same manner as if the State, Local or Foreign Tax was a Consolidated Federal Tax Liability (subject to such adjustments, as reasonably determined by WedMD, to give effect to differences between applicable State, Local or Foreign Tax law and federal income tax law).

TERM AND OTHER MATTERS.

(a) Survival. The term of this Agreement shall commence as of the date hereof, for the taxable year including the date hereof for which a Consolidated Federal Tax Return for the WebMD Group is filed. Subject to Section 4(b) below, this Agreement shall terminate with respect to any Health Subsidiary as of the end of the date on which such Health Subsidiary ceases to be a member of the WebMD Group and shall terminate as to all Health Subsidiaries in the event the Health Subgroup ceases to be part of the WebMD Group as of the end of the date of such termination; provided, however, that all rights and obligations arising hereunder with respect to a taxable period ended at or prior to any cessation or termination shall survive until the expiration of the statute of limitations for such taxable period.

(b) WebMD Distribution of Health Stock. Neither WebMD nor Health shall knowingly take or fail to take (or permit any member of its respective Subgroup to take or fail to take) any action that could reasonably be expected to preclude WebMD’s ability to undertake (as determined in its sole discretion) a distribution of all or a portion of WebMD’s Health shares to the shareholders of WebMD in a transaction intended to qualify as a distribution under Section 355 of the Code (a “Health Stock Distribution”). In the event WebMD decides to undertake (as determined in its sole discretion) a Health Stock Distribution, WebMD and Health acknowledge and agree that, prior to the consummation of such Health Stock Distribution, they shall execute a new tax sharing agreement setting forth the respective rights, responsibilities and obligations of the parties with respect to such Health Stock Distribution and any other tax matters (including tax liabilities) of the WebMD Group for taxable years prior to and including the taxable year in which such Health Stock Distribution is effected. For the avoidance of doubt, such new tax sharing agreement may contain provisions that substantively differ from those herein, and shall include (i) customary covenants designed to ensure that neither WebMD nor Health knowingly takes or fails to take (or permits any of its affiliates to take or fail to take) any action that could reasonably be expected to preclude the qualification of the Health Stock Distribution under Section 355 of the Code, (ii) an allocation of tax liability between WebMD and Health in the event of a determination (within the meaning of Section 1313 of the Code) that the Health Stock Distribution did not qualify under Section 355 of the Code and (iii) reasonable or customary tax indemnity (and related) provisions relating to past tax liabilities and attributes of the Health Subgroup.

5. DISPUTE RESOLUTION. In the event that any dispute arises under this Agreement, WebMD and Health agree to negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute prior to submitting such dispute to a nationally recognized independent accounting firm, mutually acceptable to both WebMD and Health (the “Independent Accounting Firm”). Either WebMD or Health may at any time deliver a notice to the other party requesting referral of a dispute to a senior executive of WebMD and a senior executive of Health. Following receipt of such notice each of WebMD and Health shall designate one of its senior executives to negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute within 10 days (or such longer period of time as such officers may agree to in writing). If at the end of such 10-day (or longer if properly extended) period the designated officers have not fully resolved the dispute to their mutual satisfaction, either party may thereafter submit such dispute to the Independent Accounting Firm. The Independent Accounting Firm shall issue its determination within thirty days of submission of a dispute. Absent manifest error, the decision of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be final and binding on the parties. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be shared equally by WebMD and Health.

6. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement may not be assigned by a party by operation of law or otherwise without the express written consent of WebMD, in the case of assignment by a member of the Health Subgroup, or Health, in the case of assignment by a member of the WebMD Subgroup (which consent may be granted or withheld by WebMD or Health, as the case may be, in its sole discretion). For the avoidance of doubt, this agreement shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of any successor, by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise, to any of the parties hereto (including but not limited to any successor of WebMD or any member of the WebMD Group succeeding to the tax attributes of such party under Section 381 of the Code), to the same extent as if such successor had been an

original party hereto. If any corporation (other than any member of the WebMD Group as of the date hereof) becomes a member of the WebMD Group after the date hereof, then WebMD, if such corporation is a member of the WebMD Subgroup, or Health, if such corporation is a member of the Health Subgroup, shall cause such corporation to sign a joinder agreement and become bound by the terms hereof.

7. SUCCESSOR PROVISIONS. Any reference herein to any provisions of the Code or Treasury regulations shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions thereto.

8. 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 such party and 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.

9. SECTION CAPTIONS. Section captions used in this Agreement are for convenience and reference only and shall not affect the construction of this Agreement.

10. GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO LAWS AND PRINCIPLES RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAW.

11. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

12. WAIVERS AND AMENDMENTS. This Agreement shall not be waived, amended or otherwise modified except in writing, duly executed by all of the parties hereto.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this Tax Sharing Agreement to be executed by a duly authorized officer as of the date first above written.


WEBMD CORPORATION


By:

Name:	[	]
Title:	[	]


WEBMD HEALTH CORP. WEBMD, INC. BABYDATA.COM, INC. BOCA SUBSIDIARY CORP. DEMAND MANAGEMENT, INC. ENDEAVOR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. HEALTH DECISIONS, INC. HEALTHEON/WEBMD CABLE CORPORATION HEALTHEON/WEBMD INTERNET CORPORATION HEALTHSHARE TECHNOLOGY, INC. HW JAPAN, INC. MEDICINENET, INC. MEDSCAPE PORTALS, INC. MMM ACQUISITION COMPANY ONHEALTH NETWORK COMPANY OW CORP. PHYSICIANS TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, INC. RXLIST, INC. TELEMEDICS, INC. THE ORNISH HEALTH PROGRAM, INC. WEBMD DOMAIN CORP. WELLMED, INC.


By:

Name:	[	]
Title:	[	]