TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT
THIS TAX ALLOCATION AGREEMENT, dated as of June __, 1998
('Agreement'), among U.S. Office Products Company, a Delaware corporation
('USOP'), Workflow Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation ('Workflow
Management'), School Specialty, Inc., a Delaware corporation ('School
Specialty'), Aztec Technology Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation
('Aztec') and Navigant International, Inc., a Delaware corporation
('Navigant'). USOP, Workflow Management, School Specialty, Aztec and
Navigant are hereinafter jointly referred to as the 'Companies.' Workflow
Management, School Specialty, Aztec and Navigant are hereinafter jointly
referred to as the 'Spin-Off Companies.'
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, USOP is the common parent of an affiliated group of
domestic corporations, including the Spin-Off Companies, which has elected to
file consolidated federal income Tax returns;
WHEREAS, USOP and the Spin-Off Companies entered into an agreement,
dated as of June __, 1998 (the 'Distribution Agreement'), to, among other
things, provide for the distribution by USOP of all of the issued and
outstanding shares of common stock of the Spin-Off Companies to the holders
of record of shares of common stock of USOP (other than shares held in the
treasury of USOP); divest USOP of all businesses, operations and liabilities
relating to the businesses to be conducted by the Spin-Off Companies after
the Distributions; and allocate and assign responsibility for certain
liabilities among USOP, the Spin-Off Companies and their respective
Subsidiaries;
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (i) USOP will cause
certain Workflow Subsidiaries to be merged into Workflow Management or into a
Workflow Subsidiary; (ii) USOP will contribute to Workflow Management (x) all
its right, title and interest in and to all the shares of capital stock (or
other ownership interests) that it owns, directly or indirectly, of the
Workflow Subsidiaries other than shares of stock (or other ownership
interests) of the Workflow Subsidiaries that are already owned, directly or
indirectly, by Workflow Management or that are to be merged into Workflow
Management or into a Workflow Subsidiary and (y) certain other assets; and
(iii) Workflow Management will assume certain liabilities so that the
Workflow Group is consolidated under Workflow Management prior to the
Workflow Distribution (such mergers, contributions and assumptions of
liabilities, the 'Workflow Contribution');
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (i) USOP will cause
certain School Specialty Subsidiaries to be merged into School Specialty or
into a School Specialty Subsidiary; (ii) USOP will contribute to School
Specialty (x) all its right, title and interest in and to all the shares of
capital stock (or other ownership interests) that it owns, directly or
indirectly, of the School Specialty Subsidiaries other than shares of stock
(or other ownership interests) of the School Specialty Subsidiaries that are
already owned, directly or indirectly, by School Specialty or that are to be
merged into School Specialty or into a School Specialty Subsidiary and (y)
certain other assets and (iii) School Specialty will assume certain
liabilities so that the School Specialty Group is consolidated under School
Specialty prior to the School Specialty Distribution defined herein (such
mergers, contributions and assumptions of liabilities, the 'School Specialty
Contribution');
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (i) USOP will cause
certain Aztec Subsidiaries to be merged into Aztec or into an Aztec
Subsidiary; (ii) USOP will contribute to Aztec (x) all its right, title and
interest in and to all the shares of capital stock (or other ownership
interests) that it owns, directly or indirectly, of the Aztec Subsidiaries
other than shares of stock (or other ownership interests) of the Aztec
Subsidiaries that are already owned, directly or indirectly, by Aztec or that
are to be merged into Aztec or into an Aztec Subsidiary and (y) certain other
assets; and (iii) Aztec will assume certain liabilities so that the
Technology Group is consolidated under Aztec prior to the Technology
Distribution defined herein (such mergers, contributions and assumptions of
liabilities, the 'Technology Contribution');
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement (i) USOP will cause
certain Navigant Subsidiaries to be merged into a Navigant Subsidiary; (ii)
USOP will contribute to Navigant (x) all its right, title and interest in and
to all the shares of capital stock (or other ownership interests) that it
owns, directly or indirectly, of the Navigant Subsidiaries other than shares
of stock (or other ownership interests) of the Navigant Subsidiaries that are
already owned, directly or indirectly, by Navigant or that are to be merged
into Navigant or into a Navigant Subsidiary and (y) certain other assets; and
(iii) Navigant will assume certain liabilities so that the Travel Group is
consolidated under Navigant prior to the Travel Distribution defined herein
(such mergers, contributions and assumptions of liabilities, the 'Travel
Contribution');
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, USOP will
distribute all the shares of stock that it owns in each of Workflow
Management (the 'Workflow Distribution'), School Specialty (the 'School
Specialty Distribution'), Aztec (the 'Technology Distribution') and Navigant
(the 'Travel Distribution') to its shareholders (collectively, the
'Distributions') and, as a result of the Distributions, the Spin-Off
Companies and their Subsidiaries will not be included in the consolidated
federal income Tax return of USOP for the portion of the year following the
Distributions or in future years; and
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WHEREAS, the Companies desire to allocate the Tax burdens and
benefits of transactions which occurred on or prior to the Distribution Date,
and to provide for certain other Tax matters, including the assignment of
responsibility for the preparation and filing of Tax returns and the
prosecution and defense of any Tax controversies;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements contained
herein, the Companies (each on its own behalf and on behalf of each of its
Subsidiaries) hereby agree as follows:
SECTION 1
Definitions
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meaning:
'Adverse Tax Act' shall mean, for any Person, (i) any action or
actions of such Person, or any omission or omissions by such Person of an
action or actions reasonably available to it, after the Distribution Date, or
(ii) a knowing or willful inaccuracy or inaccuracies of any representation
made by any Company by or on behalf of any member of such Company's Group to
USOP's outside tax counsel in connection with such firm's rendering an
opinion to the Companies as to certain Tax aspects of the Contributions and
Distributions as of the Distribution Date, if such action(s) or
inaccuracy(ies) materially contribute to a Final Determination that any of
the Contributions or Distributions results in the recognition of gain to USOP
by virtue of any of the Contributions or Distributions failing to qualify
under sections 355 or 368 of the Code, including without limitation, by
reason of any stock or securities of any of the Spin-Off Companies failing to
qualify as 'qualified property' within the meaning of section 355(c)(2) of
the Code, or otherwise.
'Agreement' shall mean this Tax Allocation Agreement.
'Allocable Federal Income Tax Liability' shall mean, for any Group,
the Separate Consolidated Federal Income Tax Liability of such Group, as
adjusted to reflect (i) any AMT (but only if there is a consolidated AMT),
(ii) any Taxes for which USOP is obligated to indemnify such Groups pursuant
to Section 10(b) of this Agreement, and (iii) any Taxes for which such
Group's Spin-Off Company is obligated to indemnify USOP pursuant to Section
3(d) of this Agreement.
'AMT' shall mean the alternative minimum tax imposed by Section 55
of the Code.
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'Aztec' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
to this Agreement.
'Aztec Subsidiary' shall mean those entities that immediately after
the completion of the Distributions will be Subsidiaries of Aztec.
'Closing Date' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
Investment Agreement.
'Companies' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble to this Agreement.
'Code' shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
any successor statute.
'Consolidated Returns' shall mean (i) the consolidated U.S. federal
income Tax return of USOP for the period ending on April 25, 1998 and (ii)
the consolidated U.S. federal income Tax return of USOP for the period
commencing on April 26, 1998 and including the Spin-Off Company Groups
through and including the Distribution Date and including the USOP Group
through and including April 24, 1999.
'Contributions' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals to this Agreement.
'Controlled Return' shall mean (a) the Consolidated Returns, (b) any
Prior Period Consolidated Return and (c) any combined, affiliated or unitary
income Tax returns for any taxable period beginning on or prior to the
Distribution Date that includes USOP or any Retained Subsidiary.
'Distributing Tax Payor' shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in Section 10(a)(iii) of this Agreement.
'Distribution Agreement' shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in the recitals to this Agreement.
'Distribution Date' shall mean the date on which the Distributions
are effective for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.
'Distributions' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
recitals to this Agreement.
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'Final Determination' shall mean the final resolution of liability
for any Tax for any taxable period, including any related interest or
penalties, by or as a result of: (i) a final and unappealable decision,
judgment, decree or other order of a court of competent jurisdiction; (ii) a
closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Section 7121 or 7122
of the Code, or comparable agreement under the laws of other jurisdictions,
which resolves the entire Tax liability for such Tax for such taxable period;
(iii) any allowance of a refund or credit in respect of an overpayment of
Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund
may be recovered (including by way of offset) by the applicable Taxing
jurisdiction; or (iv) any other final disposition, including by reason of the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations.
'FTC' shall mean the foreign tax credit pursuant to Section 27 of
the Code.
'Group' shall mean the USOP Group, Workflow Group, School Specialty
Group, Technology Group and/or Travel Group, as the context may require.
'Investment Agreement' shall mean the Investment Agreement dated as
of January 12, 1998 by and between USOP and CDR-PC Acquisition, L.L.C., a
Delaware limited liability company, as amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto,
dated as of February 3, 1998.
'IPO' shall mean, as to any Spin-Off Company, the initial public
offering of securities to be conducted by such company, which offering is
scheduled to occur on or about the Distribution Date.
'IRS' shall mean the Internal Revenue Service of the United States.
'Losses' shall mean any and all claims, demands, liabilities,
obligations, losses, costs, expenses, fines or damages (whether absolute,
accrued, conditional or otherwise, and whether or not resulting from third
party claims), including interest and penalties with respect thereto and
out-of-pocket expenses and reasonable attorneys' and accountants' fees and
expenses incurred in the investigation or defense of any of the same or in
asserting, preserving or enforcing any rights related thereto.
'Market Capitalization' shall mean, for any entity, the market
capitalization of such entity determined on the basis of the average closing
price for the common stock of such entity for the five-day period ending on
the tenth day after the Distribution Date.
'Navigant' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the
preamble to this Agreement.
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'Navigant Subsidiary' shall mean those entities that immediately
after the completion of the Distributions will be Subsidiaries of Navigant.
'Person' shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture,
corporation, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated organization,
government or department or agency of a government.
'Prime Rate' shall mean the 'prime rate' charged by Citibank, N.A.,
New York, New York, as such rate shall be changed from time to time,
compounded daily on the basis of a year of 365/366 days and actual days
elapsed.
'Prior Period Consolidated Return' shall mean any U.S. federal
consolidated income Tax return of USOP filed, or to be filed, for taxable
periods commencing prior to April 27, 1997.
'Retained Subsidiaries' shall mean all of the Subsidiaries of USOP
other than the Spin-Off Companies and the Spin-Off Company Subsidiaries.
'Restricted Transaction' shall mean for any Spin-Off Company (i) any
issuance of capital stock (including, without limitation, in connection with
any public offering or any acquisition by such Spin-Off Company, or in
connection with any merger or consolidation of another Person into such
Spin-Off Company or any Subsidiary of such Spin-Off Company, and including
any delivery of capital stock from the treasury of such Spin-Off Company),
other than an IPO or in connection with the exercise of any employee stock
option granted on or prior to the Distribution Date; (ii) any issuance of
securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, capital
stock of such Spin-Off Company; or (iii) any merger or consolidation or other
business combination of such Spin-Off Company into another Person or any sale
or transfer of all or substantially all of such Spin-Off Company's assets to
another Person.
'School Specialty' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the preamble to this Agreement.
'School Specialty Contribution' shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
'School Specialty Distribution' shall have the meaning assigned to
such term in the recitals to this Agreement.
'School Specialty Group' shall mean School Specialty and each School
Specialty Subsidiary.
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'School Specialty Subsidiary' shall mean those entities that
immediately after the completion of the Distributions will be Subsidiaries of
School Specialty.
'Separate Consolidated Federal Income Tax Liability' shall mean, for
any Group and any taxable year or portion thereof during which it is included
in the Consolidated Returns or any Prior Period Consolidated Return, the U.S.
federal income Tax liability which such Group would have incurred if such
Group, on a stand-alone basis, had been an affiliated group eligible to file
a consolidated return for such taxable year or any portion thereof and had
filed such a return for such period, computed without regard to AMT.
'Spin-Off Companies' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in
the preamble to this Agreement.
'Spin-Off Company Groups' shall mean the Workflow Group, the School
Specialty Group, the Technology Group and the Travel Group.
'Spin-Off Company Subsidiaries' shall mean the Workflow
Subsidiaries, the School Specialty Subsidiaries, the Aztec Subsidiaries and
the Navigant Subsidiaries.
'Subsidiary' shall mean any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture or other entity (i) in which another Person
owns, directly or indirectly, ownership interests sufficient to elect a
majority of the Board of Directors (or Persons performing similar functions)
(irrespective of whether at the time any other class or classes of ownership
interests of such corporation, partnership, joint venture or other entity
shall or might have such voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency)
or (ii) of which another Person is a general partner or an entity performing
similar functions (e.g., a trustee or managing member).
'Tax' or 'Taxes' shall mean all forms of taxation, whenever created
or imposed, and whether of the United States or elsewhere, and whether
imposed by a local, municipal, governmental, state, foreign, federal or other
body, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall include
income, sales, use, ad valorem, gross receipts, license, value added,
franchise, transfer, recording, withholding, payroll, wage withholding,
employment, excise, occupation, unemployment insurance, social security,
business license, business organization stamp, environmental, premium and
property taxes, together with any related interest, penalties and additions
to any such tax, or additional amounts imposed by any Taxing Authority.
'Tax Administrator' shall mean Don Platt, the Chief Financial
Officer of USOP, or such other person as USOP shall appoint with the consent
of each of the Spin-Off Companies, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
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'Taxing Authority' shall mean any governmental or quasi-governmental
body, domestic or foreign, exercising any Taxing authority or Tax regulatory
authority.
'Tax Credits' shall include all credits against Tax pursuant to
Subtitle A, Chapter 1, Subchapter A, Part IV of the Code.
'Tax Item' shall mean any net operating loss, net capital loss,
deduction or credit (including, but not limited to, any FTC).
'Technology Contribution' shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in the recitals to this Agreement.
'Technology Distribution' shall have the meaning assigned to such
term in the recitals to this Agreement.
'Technology Group' shall mean Aztec and each Aztec Subsidiary.
'Travel Contribution' shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the recitals to this Agreement.
'Travel Distribution' shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the recitals to this Agreement.
'Travel Group' shall mean Navigant and each Navigant Subsidiary.
'USOP' shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble
to this Agreement.
'USOP Group' shall mean USOP and each Retained Subsidiary.
'USOP Stock Plan' shall mean any of the 1994 Amended and Restated
Long-Term Incentive Plan, the 1996 Non-Employee Directors' Stock Plan, the
1997A Stock Option Plan for Employees of Mail Boxes Etc., the 1997B Stock
Option Plan for Employees of Mail Boxes Etc. and the 1997 Stock Option Plan
for former Non-Employee Directors of Mail Boxes Etc. (and any underlying
original or predecessor plans).
'Workflow Contribution' shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the recitals to this Agreement.
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'Workflow Distribution' shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the recitals to this Agreement.
'Workflow Group' shall mean Workflow Management and each Workflow
Subsidiary.
'Workflow Management' shall have the meaning assigned to such term
in the preamble to this Agreement.
'Workflow Subsidiary' shall mean those entities that immediately
after the completion of the Distributions will be Subsidiaries of Workflow
Management.
SECTION 2
Tax Returns to be Filed
(a) Consolidated Returns and Prior Period Consolidated Returns.
(i) Each of the Companies will join, and will cause each of
their respective Subsidiaries to join, in the Consolidated Returns to the
extent each is eligible to join in such return under the provisions of the
Code and the regulations thereunder. The Tax Administrator will cause the
Consolidated Returns to be timely prepared and filed, and will timely prepare
and file any consents and requests for extension of time within which to file
the Consolidated Returns or any related information or similar returns. The
Tax Administrator shall make the Consolidated Returns available to the Chief
Financial Officers of the Spin-Off Companies for their review prior to filing
and shall furnish them a copy of the return promptly after it is filed.
(ii) Each of the Spin-Off Companies agrees that it will cause
its respective Chief Financial Officer to furnish to the Tax Administrator on
a timely basis such information, schedules, analyses and any other items as
may be reasonably required to prepare the Consolidated Returns. Such
information, schedules, analyses and other items will be prepared in a manner
consistent with existing practice and in accordance with the work plan and
schedule to be agreed upon among the Tax Administrator and the Chief
Financial Officer of each of the Spin-Off Companies, acting reasonably, as
soon as practicable after the Distribution Date.
(iii) The Companies hereby agree to execute and deliver all
documentation reasonably required (including powers of attorney, if
requested) to enable the Tax Administrator to timely file, and to take all
actions necessary or incidental to the filing of, the Consolidated Returns
(including, without limitation, the execution of Treasury Form 1122), or
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any amendment of the Consolidated Returns or any Prior Period Consolidated
Return. The Tax Administrator shall decide in his sole discretion whether to
file an amended return, and no consent of any Company shall be required for
the filing of any such amended return.
(iv) Taxes with respect to the Consolidated Returns or any
Prior Period Consolidated Return shall be paid or caused to be paid by USOP,
which shall act as agent of the Spin-Off Companies and their includable
Subsidiaries in all Tax matters having to do with the Consolidated Returns or
any Prior Period Consolidated Return.
(b) Other Controlled Returns. The Tax Administrator shall cause
any other Controlled Returns and any amendment of any such Controlled Returns
to be timely prepared, filed and paid, utilizing procedures substantially
similar to those provided in Section 2(a) of this Agreement with respect to
the Consolidated Returns and Prior Period Consolidated Returns.
(c) Other Tax Returns. The Companies shall, and shall cause their
respective Subsidiaries to, timely prepare and file Tax returns for any
taxable period beginning prior to the Distribution Date (other than
Controlled Returns) in those jurisdictions in which they are required to do
so in a manner consistent with past practice. Taxes shown as payable on any
Tax return filed by one of the Companies pursuant to this Section 2(c) shall
be paid or caused to be paid by the Company responsible under this Section
2(c) for filing such return or causing such return to be filed. The Tax
Administrator shall have the right to approve any Tax returns filed pursuant
to this Section 2(c) prior to such filing if USOP could be liable for Taxes
due with respect to any such Tax returns under principles analogous to
Treasury regulation section 1.1502-6.
SECTION 3
Consolidated Returns Computations of Tax and Payments
(a) Computations of Tax and Payments for the Consolidated Return
year ending on April 25, 1998:
(i) On or before July 14, 1998, an interim Tax settlement
payment shall be made to or by USOP by or to each of the Spin-Off Companies,
as the case may be, equal to the difference between their respective Group's
Separate Consolidated Federal Income Tax Liability (as reasonably determined
by the Tax Administrator) and the net amounts previously paid with respect to
estimated Taxes by such Group for the Consolidated Return year ending on
April 25, 1998.
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(ii) Based on computations to be prepared by the affected
Spin-Off Company and approved by the Tax Administrator, an adjusting payment
equal to the difference between its Group's Allocable Federal Income Tax
Liability and the net amounts previously paid with respect to estimated Taxes
by such Group for the Consolidated Return year ending on April 25, 1998,
including payments pursuant to Sections 3(a)(i) of this Agreement, shall be
made to or by USOP by or to such Spin-Off Company, as the case may be, on or
before February 15, 1999 based on the Consolidated Return for the year ending
April 25, 1998 as filed.
(b) Computations of Tax and Payments for the Consolidated Return
year ending on April 24, 1999:
(i) On or before April 14, 1999, each of the Spin-Off
Companies agrees to make payments to USOP equal to the excess, if any, of its
Group's estimated Separate Consolidated Federal Income Tax Liability for the
Consolidated Return year ending on April 24, 1999 (as reasonably determined
by the Tax Administrator) over such Group's prior payments, including any
payments with respect to estimated Taxes for such Consolidated Return year,
and USOP agrees to make payments to each of the Spin-Off Companies equal to
the excess, if any, of their respective Group's prior payments with respect
to estimated Taxes for the Consolidated Return year ending on April 24, 1999
over such Group's estimated Separate Consolidated Federal Income Tax
Liability (as reasonably determined by the Tax Administrator) for the
Consolidated Return year ending on April 24, 1999.
(ii) On or before July 14, 1999, an interim Tax settlement
payment shall be made to or by USOP by or to each of the Spin-Off Companies,
as the case may be, equal to the difference between their respective Group's
Separate Consolidated Federal Income Tax Liability (as reasonably determined
by the Tax Administrator) and the net amounts previously paid with respect to
estimated Taxes by such Group for the Consolidated Return year ending on
April 24, 1999.
(iii) Based on computations to be prepared by the affected
Spin-Off Company and approved by the Tax Administrator, an adjusting payment
equal to the difference between its Group's Allocable Federal Income Tax
Liability and the net amounts previously paid by such Group with respect to
estimated Taxes for the Consolidated Return year ending on April 24, 1999,
including payments pursuant to Sections 3(b)(i) and 3(b)(ii) of this
Agreement, shall be made to or by USOP by or to such Spin-Off Company, as the
case may be, on or before February 15, 2000 based on the Consolidated Return
for the year ending April 24, 1999 as filed. Each of the Spin-Off Companies
shall increase or decrease, as the case may be, its Group's liability for
such adjusting payment by the amount of any AMT credit carryforward allocated
to its Group under the consolidated return regulations which exceeds or is
less than, as the case may be, the AMT calculated on a separate consolidated
basis.
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(c) Computations of Tax and Payments for Controlled Returns Other
than Consolidated Returns. Tax Payments shall be made to or by USOP by or to
each of the Spin-Off Companies, as the case may be, utilizing procedures
substantially similar to, and determining the amount payable by or to each
Group using, to the extent possible, methods substantially similar to, those
provided in Sections 3(a) and 3(b) of this Agreement with respect to any
Controlled Return other than a Consolidated Return for any period beginning
prior to the Distribution Date and ending on or after April 25, 1998.
(d) Intercompany Transactions. Each of the Spin-Off Companies
shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and hold USOP harmless from
and against any Losses with respect to Taxes attributable to any
'intercompany transaction' to the extent such Loss is attributable to any
'intercompany item' that such Spin-Off Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
required to take into account immediately prior to the Distributions pursuant
to Treasury Regulations section 1.1502-13.
SECTION 4
Special Rules
(a) If the Tax liability (including any interest relating thereto)
for either Consolidated Return exceeds or is less than the total of the five
Groups' Allocable Federal Income Tax Liability (including any interest
relating thereto), a payment shall be made to or by USOP by or to each of the
Spin-Off Companies equal to each of the Spin-Off Companies pro rata portion
of such excess or shortfall based on their respective Group's relative
Allocable Federal Income Tax Liability (including any interest relating
thereto) for such Consolidated Return; provided, that AMT in an amount equal
to any AMT credit carryforward from the Consolidated Returns allocated to a
Group shall be charged to and paid by such Group.
(b) A payment shall be made to or by USOP by or to each of the
Spin-Off Companies utilizing procedures substantially similar to those
provided in Sections 4(a) of this Agreement with respect to any Controlled
Return other than a Consolidated Return for any period beginning prior to the
Distribution Date and ending on or after April 25, 1998.
(c) Each of the Companies agrees that, unless it obtains consent
of the Tax Administrator, all members of its Group will waive the carryback
of any net operating loss from a Tax period beginning on or after the
Distribution Date to the Consolidated Returns or Prior Period Consolidated
Return.
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SECTION 5
Deductions Related to Exercise of Options
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Section 3 of this
Agreement, any Tax saving or other benefit attributable to any compensation
deduction arising from or in connection with the exercise by any employee of
any Company, or of any such Company's Subsidiaries (determined immediately
after the Distributions), of any option granted under any of the USOP Stock
Plans shall be apportioned to the entity whose shares were issued upon the
exercise of such option, provided that any compensation deduction arising
from or in connection with any such exercise on or prior to the Closing Date
by any employee of any Company or of any such Company's Subsidiaries
(determined immediately after the Closing Date) shall be apportioned to such
Company.
SECTION 6
Dispute Resolution
In the event of a disagreement between the Tax Administrator and any
or all of the Spin-Off Companies, all computations or recomputations of
federal or state and local income and franchise Tax liability, and all
computations or recomputations of any amount or any payment (including, but
not limited to, computations of the amount of the Tax liability, any loss or
credit or deduction, federal statutory Tax rate change for a year,
utilization of carryback items, interest, penalties, and adjustments) and all
determinations of the amount of payments or repayments, or determinations of
any other nature necessary to carry out the terms of this Agreement will be
reviewed by the national office of Ernst & Young, LLP (unless the disputing
parties unanimously agree on another accounting firm of national reputation),
with the costs of such review being shared equally by such disputing parties.
If any disagreement remains after any such review, including any
disagreement as to the construction, applicability or binding nature of this
Agreement, that disagreement shall be resolved by an arbitrator with the cost
of such arbitration being shared equally by such disputing parties; provided
that such arbitrator shall be a retired or former judge of the United States
Tax Court or such other qualified person as the relevant parties may agree to
designate; provided further, that, in the event that the relevant parties
agree to designate a qualified person (other than a retired or former judge
of the United States Tax Court), such other qualified person shall have had
substantial experience with regard to settling complex Tax disputes. The
decision of the arbitrator shall be binding on the parties.
If the procedures for resolving a dispute, controversy or claim
between the Companies or any of their respective Subsidiaries arising out of
or relating to this Agreement are not controlled by this Agreement, such
dispute, controversy or claim shall be resolved (and costs
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shall be apportioned) pursuant to the procedures set forth in Article IX of
the Distribution Agreement.
SECTION 7
Survival of Terms
The provisions of this Agreement shall survive the Distribution Date
and remain in full force until all periods of limitations, including any
extension or waiver periods, as well as the ten-year statute of limitations
with respect to FTC redeterminations, for the Controlled Return taxable
periods, have expired and no further carrybacks to such periods are possible
and for 30 days thereafter; provided that the provisions of this Agreement
shall remain in full force and effect with respect to any pending claim under
this Agreement until the final resolution of such claim.
SECTION 8
Parties to Cooperate
Each of the Companies shall, and shall cause their respective
Subsidiaries to, cooperate fully and to the extent reasonably requested by
any other Company in connection with the preparation and filing of any return
or the conduct of any audit, dispute, proceeding, suit or action concerning
any issues or any other matter contemplated hereunder. Such cooperation shall
include, without limitation, (i) the retention and provision on demand of
books, records, documentation or other information relating to any Tax matter
until the later of (x) the expiration of the applicable statute of limitation
(giving effect to any extension, waiver, or mitigation thereof) and (y) in
the event any claim has been made under this Agreement for which such
information is relevant, until a Final Determination with respect to such
claim, (ii) the provision of additional information with respect to, and
explanations of, Tax practices (including elections, accounting methods,
conventions and principles of taxation) and the provision of material
described in clause (i) of this Section 8; (iii) the execution of any
document that may be necessary or reasonably helpful in connection with the
filing of any Tax return by any member of one of the Groups, or in connection
with any audit, proceeding, suit or action addressed in the preceding
sentence; and (iv) the use by each of the Companies of its reasonable efforts
to obtain any documentation from a governmental authority or a third party
that may be necessary or helpful in connection with the foregoing. Each of
the Companies shall make its employees and facilities available on a mutually
convenient basis to facilitate such cooperation and shall retain as permanent
records all documentation necessary to enable it to determine any obligation
under this Agreement. The records described above will be made available to
representatives of any of the Companies within a reasonable time upon request
and may be photocopied on an as needed basis. The requesting Company shall
pay the reasonable out of pocket costs incurred by any
14
Company, or Subsidiary thereof, in cooperating with the requesting Company
pursuant to this Section 8.
SECTION 9
Notices
Any notice, request, instruction or other communication to be given
hereunder by any party to another shall be in writing and shall be deemed to
have been duly given (i) on the date of delivery if delivered personally, or
by telefacsimile, upon confirmation of receipt, (ii) on the first business
day following the date of dispatch if delivered by Federal Express or other
nationally reputable next-day courier service with proof of delivery, or
(iii) on the fifth business day following the date of mailing if delivered by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All
notices hereunder shall be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to such
other instructions as may be designated in writing by the party to receive
such notice.
(a) If to Workflow Management:
Workflow Management, Inc.
240 Royal Palm Way
Palm Beach, Florida 33480
Attention: Thomas B. D'Agostino
Telefacsimile: (561) 659-7793
(b) If to School Specialty:
School Specialty, Inc.
1000 North Bluemound Drive
Appleton, Wisconsin 54914
Attention: Daniel P. Spalding
Telefacsimile: (920) 734-6276
15
(c) If to Aztec:
Aztec Technology Partners, Inc.
52 Roland Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02129
Attention: James E. Claypoole
Telefacsimile: (617) 623-58888
(d) If to Navigant:
Navigant International, Inc.
84 Inverness Circle East
Englewood, Colorado 80112-5314
Attention: Edward S. Adams
Telefacsimile: (303) 706-0770
(e) If to USOP:
U.S. Office Products Company
1025 Thomas Jefferson Street, N.W., Suite 600 East
Washington, D.C. 20007-5490
Attention: Mark D. Director, Esq.
Kathleen Delaney, Esq.
Telefacsimile: (202) 339-6733
with copies to:
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc.
375 Park Avenue
Eighteenth Floor
New York, NY 10152
Attention: Donald J. Gogel
Telefacsimile: (212) 407-5200
16
SECTION 10
Indemnification
(a) Pre-Distribution & Distribution Taxes.
(i) USOP Indemnification. USOP shall be liable for and
shall indemnify, defend and hold the Spin-Off Companies harmless from and
against any Losses with respect to Taxes that result from, or arise in
connection with, an Adverse Tax Act of USOP or any of the Retained
Subsidiaries.
(ii) Spin-Off Companies Indemnification. The Spin-Off
Companies shall be jointly and severally liable for and shall jointly and
severally indemnify, defend and hold USOP harmless from and against any
Losses with respect to Taxes that result from, or arise in connection with,
an Adverse Tax Act of any of the Spin-Off Companies or any of their
respective Subsidiaries.
(iii) Multiple Adverse Tax Acts. If any Losses with respect
to Taxes result from, or arise in connection with, (a) an Adverse Tax Act of
USOP or any of the Retained Subsidiaries and (b) an Adverse Tax Act of any or
all of the Spin-Off Companies or any of their respective Subsidiaries (each
Spin-Off Company that is responsible or whose Subsidiary is responsible for
an Adverse Tax Act a 'Distributing Tax Payor'), then the Spin-Off Companies
shall be jointly and severally liable for and shall jointly and severally
indemnify, defend and hold USOP harmless from and against a percentage of
such Losses with respect to Taxes equal to the percentage determined by
dividing (x) the aggregate Market Capitalizations of the Distributing Tax
Payors by (y) the aggregate Market Capitalizations of the Distributing Tax
Payors and USOP.
(iv) No Adverse Tax Acts. If USOP incurs any Losses with
respect to Taxes resulting from the Contributions or Distributions, as a
result of the failure of the Contributions or Distributions to qualify under
Section 355 or 368 of the Code or otherwise, including, without limitation,
by reason of any stock or securities of any of the Spin-Off Companies failing
to qualify as 'qualified property' within the meaning of Section 355(c)(2) of
the Code, except to the extent such Losses result from an Adverse Tax Act by
any of the Companies or any of their respective Subsidiaries, then each of
the Spin-Off Companies shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and
hold USOP harmless from the portion of such Losses that bears the same ratio
to the aggregate amount of such Losses as the Market Capitalization of such
Spin-Off Company bears to the aggregate Market Capitalization of all of the
Companies.
(b) Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1502-6 and 1.1502-77. USOP
shall be liable for and shall indemnify, defend and hold each of the Spin-Off
Companies harmless from
17
and against any federal or state income or franchise Taxes for the
Consolidated Return or any Prior Period Consolidated Return for which any of
the Spin-Off Company Groups may be liable solely as a result of the operation
of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.1502-6 and 1.1502-77 or any state
counterpart statute or regulation.
SECTION 11
Tax Deficiencies and Claims
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 11(b), the Tax
Administrator shall control all audits, examinations and proceedings with
respect to Taxes with respect to any Controlled Returns. The Tax
Administrator shall have overall responsibility for obtaining and
coordinating all responses in connection with any such proceedings with
respect to any Controlled Returns. To the extent that any such audit affects
one of the Groups, such Group shall prepare and submit such responses in a
manner consistent with prior practice; provided, however that the Tax
Administrator shall have the right to approve all such responses prior to
their submission. Adjustments affecting solely the taxable income, gain,
loss or deductions of, or Tax Credits generated by, any Group may be agreed
upon or settled only upon approval of that Group, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(b) Spin-Off Company Claims. Any proposed or actual income Tax
deficiencies or refund claims with respect to Controlled Returns which arise
from the business activities of one of the Spin-Off Company Groups, and do
not otherwise affect any Controlled Return or the Tax treatment of the
Contributions or Distributions, may be defended or prosecuted by such Group
at its own cost and expense and with counsel and accountants of its own
selection; provided that in an action for an income Tax deficiency such Group
shall have theretofore acknowledged in writing its liability for such Taxes,
if any. The Tax Administrator may participate in any such prosecution or
defense at USOP's cost and expense (in either event such cost or expense is
not to include the amount of any payment of any Tax claim, interest or
penalties, or of any compromise settlement or other disposition thereof).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Spin-Off Company Groups shall have
a right to an extension of the statute of limitations beyond the time
reasonably necessary to complete review at the Appeals Division of the IRS or
to any waiver of any other procedural safeguard without the prior written
consent of the Tax Administrator, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. The limitation expressed in the preceding sentence applies, but is
not limited to, the filing of a petition with the United States Tax Court. If
one of the Spin-Off Groups defends or prosecutes an action, it shall keep the
Tax Administrator informed of matters relating to such defense or prosecution.
18
(c) Cost of Advisors. In connection with the defense of any audit
of any Controlled Return, except with regard to claims described in Section
11(b) of this Agreement, the Tax Administrator may retain advisors and charge
the reasonable cost of their services to the appropriate Group or Groups.
SECTION 12
Payment of Deficiencies and Refunds
(a) The Allocable Federal Income Tax Liability and any other Tax
liability of the Spin-Off Company Groups with respect to any Controlled
Returns shall be adjusted in computations to be prepared by the relevant
Spin-Off Company Group and approved by the Tax Administrator with respect to
changes in the taxable income, loss, deduction or Tax credits of the relevant
Spin-Off Company Group:
(i) in each instance when payments are to be made to, or
refunds are received from, the relevant Taxing authority;
(ii) when no payment is to be made or refund is to be
received due to offsetting adjustments, upon filing of an amended return,
completion of an audit and an appellate review by the relevant Taxing
authority; and
(iii) to reflect the results of any Final Determination.
Each of the Spin-Off Companies agree to pay to USOP additional
amounts (plus penalties and additions to Tax, if any) equal to any increases
in the Allocable Federal Income Tax Liability (or any other Tax liability
with respect to a Controlled Return) of such Spin-Off Company's Group
resulting from any such changes, and USOP agrees to pay to each of the
Spin-Off Companies amounts equal to any decreases in the Allocable Federal
Income Tax Liability (or any other Tax liability with respect to a Controlled
Return) of each such Spin-Off Company's Group resulting from any such
changes, in each case together with any interest relating thereto. For
purposes of this Agreement, unless specifically provided otherwise, interest
shall be computed at the federal statutory rate used, pursuant to Section
6621(a) of the Code, by the IRS in computing the interest payable to or by it
on the net balance due to or from the IRS. Any interest under Section 6621(c)
of the Code shall be charged to the Group whose separate deficiency gave rise
to such interest. If the separate deficiencies of more than one Group gave
rise to such interest, then such interest shall be allocated between or among
such Groups. Penalties levied in respect of any Controlled Return shall be
charged to the Group whose separate computations gave rise to such penalty.
19
(b) Amounts payable to or from USOP from or to any of the Spin-Off
Companies under Section 12(a) of this Agreement shall be paid upon written
request therefor approved by the Tax Administrator, together with interest
thereon from the original due date or such other date as may be appropriate
under the circumstances. Any amounts due to or from USOP from or to any of
the Spin-Off Companies under Section 12(a) of this Agreement as a result of a
payment to a Taxing authority or the receipt of a refund shall be paid within
five working days after such payment or receipt, together with appropriate
interest thereon. If no payment is to be made or refund is to be received
due to offsetting items among the various Groups, then Tax and interest
(computed at the IRS overpayment rates) shall be paid within 30 calendar days
after the completion of each of the audit and appellate review of the Tax
period in question and a Final Determination. After expiration of the five
day period (or, if applicable, 30 day period) any amounts unpaid shall bear
interest computed from the date of payment or receipt (or, if applicable,
completion or Final Determination) at the Prime Rate.
(c) No payment relating to a change in Allocable Federal Income
Tax Liability (or any other Tax liability with respect to a Controlled
Return) shall be made by or to any Group with respect to the IRS audit of any
Controlled Return until the audit has been completed with respect to all
Groups, unless such advance payment has been approved by the Tax
Administrator.
SECTION 13
Certain Post-Distribution Actions
(a) USOP.
(i) USOP shall comply with and otherwise not take any action
inconsistent with any representation or statement made, or to be made, by or
on behalf of any member of the USOP Group in connection with this Agreement
or to USOP's outside Tax counsel in connection with such firm's rendering an
opinion to the Companies as to certain Tax aspects of the Contributions and
Distributions.
(ii) Until two years after the Distribution Date, USOP will
maintain its status as a company engaged in the active conduct of a trade or
business, as defined in Section 355(b) of the Code.
(b) Workflow Management.
(i) Workflow Management shall comply with and otherwise not
take action inconsistent with each representation and statement made, or to
be made, by or on behalf
20
of any member of the Workflow Group in connection with this Agreement or to
USOP's outside Tax counsel in connection with such firm's rendering an
opinion to the Companies as to certain Tax aspects of the Contributions and
Distributions.
(ii) Until two years after the Distribution Date, Workflow
Management will maintain its status as a company engaged in the active
conduct of a trade or business, as defined in Section 355(b) of the Code.
(c) School Specialty.
(i) School Specialty shall comply with and otherwise not
take action inconsistent with each representation and statement made, or to
be made, by or on behalf of any member of the School Specialty Group in
connection with this Agreement or to USOP's outside Tax counsel in connection
with such firm's rendering an opinion to the Companies as to certain Tax
aspects of the Contributions and Distributions.
(ii) Until two years after the Distribution Date, School
Specialty will maintain its status as a company engaged in the active conduct
of a trade or business, as defined in Section 355(b) of the Code.
(d) Aztec.
(i) Aztec shall comply with and otherwise not take action
inconsistent with each representation and statement made, or to be made, by
or on behalf of any member of the Technology Group in connection with this
Agreement or to USOP's outside Tax counsel in connection with such firm's
rendering an opinion to the Companies as to certain Tax aspects of the
Contributions and Distributions.
(ii) Until two years after the Distribution Date, Aztec will
maintain its status as a company engaged in the active conduct of a trade or
business, as defined in Section 355(b) of the Code.
(e) Navigant.
(i) Navigant shall comply with and otherwise not take action
inconsistent with each representation and statement made, or to be made, by
or on behalf of any member of the Travel Group in connection with this
Agreement or to USOP's outside Tax counsel in connection with such firm's
rendering an opinion to the Companies as to certain Tax aspects of the
Contributions and Distributions.
21
(ii) Until two years after the Distribution Date, Navigant
will maintain its status as a company engaged in the active conduct of a
trade or business, as defined in Section 355(b) of the Code.
(f) During the two-year period following the Distribution Date,
none of the Spin-Off Companies shall effect, or agree to effect, any
Restricted Transaction unless and until the following conditions have been
satisfied or waived, in writing, by USOP with respect to such Restricted
Transaction:
(i) Such Company shall have given USOP at least 10 business
days' written notice prior to effecting such Restricted Transaction, which
notice shall describe the Restricted Transaction in detail reasonably
sufficient to permit analysis of the potential effect of the Restricted
Transaction on the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the Contributions and
the Distributions; provided, that such Company will not be required to
disclose the name of any other party participating in the Restricted
Transaction unless such disclosure is necessary to permit such analysis; and
provided further, that USOP will keep confidential all information relating
to the Restricted Transaction;
(ii) Such Company shall have afforded USOP and its
representatives 10 business days (which may overlap with the notice period in
Section 13(f)(i) of this Agreement) to discuss with the Spin-Off Company and
its representatives the terms of such Restricted Transaction, subject to the
provisos in Section 13(f)(i); and
(iii) At USOP's request, such Company shall have provided to
USOP, an opinion of outside counsel, reasonably satisfactory to USOP, in form
and substance reasonably satisfactory to USOP, to the effect that such
transaction will not adversely affect the U.S. federal income tax treatment
of the Contributions and/or the Distributions as transactions described in
Sections 355 and 368 of the Code.
SECTION 14
Entire Agreement and Termination of Existing Tax Allocation Agreements
This Agreement contains the entire agreement among the Companies
with respect to the subject matter hereof. Any and all existing tax
allocation agreements, written or unwritten, exclusively between any member
of the USOP Group and any member of any of the Spin-Off Company Groups other
than this Agreement shall be terminated immediately prior to the Distribution
Date. Nothing in this Section 14 shall affect any provision of the
Distribution Agreement or of this Agreement relating to Taxes.
22
SECTION 15
Choice of Law; Successors and Assigns
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to contracts made and
to be performed entirely within such state, without regard to the conflicts
of law principles of such state.
The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the
benefit of and be enforceable by the Companies and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION 16
Modifications
This Agreement may not be amended, supplemented or discharged except
by performance or by an instrument in writing signed by all of the Companies.
SECTION 17
Counterparts
This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
23
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Companies have duly executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
U.S. OFFICE PRODUCTS COMPANY
By
Name:
Title:
Seal
Attest:
WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
Seal
Attest:
SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
Seal
Attest:
24
AZTEC TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
Seal
Attest:
NAVIGANT INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By
Name:
Title:
Seal
Attest:
Tax Allocation Agreement - U.S. Office Products Co., Workflow Management Inc., School Specialty Inc., Aztec Technology Partners Inc. and Navigant International Inc.
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