EXHIBIT 10.10
S CORPORATION TERMINATION AGREEMENT
This S CORPORATION TERMINATION AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") dated March
__, 1997 among Computer Generated Solutions, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx (individually a
"Stockholder" and collectively the "Stockholders").
WHEREAS, the Company contemplates offering its stock to the public
pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Public Offering");
WHEREAS, the Company plans to distribute a dividend to the
Stockholders subsequent to the completion of such Public Offering, in an
aggregate amount equal to the Company's undistributed Accumulated Adjustments
Account ("AAA"), as defined in Section 1368(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), as of the Termination Date (as hereinafter
defined);
WHEREAS, the Company has been an S corporation since incorporation and
will continue to be an S corporation until the Termination Date, upon which it
will be a C corporation;
WHEREAS, Real Time Technology, Inc. ("RTT") was an S corporation at
the time of its acquisition by the Company on October 1, 1994;
WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholders wish to enter into an
agreement to apply (and elect) the method provided in Code Section 1362(e)(3) to
allocate the Company's income during its S Termination Year (as hereinafter
defined) between the S Short Year (as hereinafter defined) and the C Short Year
(as hereinafter defined); and
WHEREAS, the Company and the Stockholders wish to provide for a tax
allocation and indemnification agreement in connection with the Company's
termination as an S corporation;
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. THE TERMINATION
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(a) Termination of S Status. The Stockholders agree to terminate the
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S corporation status of the Company by revoking the S corporation election
pursuant to Code Section 1362(d)(1), effective on the day preceding the closing
of the sale of shares of the Company's common stock under the Public Offering
(the "Termination Date").
(b) S Termination Year. The calendar year 1996 will be the Company's
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S Termination Year for federal income tax purposes, as defined in Section
1362(e)(4) of the Code. Pursuant to Section 1362(e)(1) of the Code, the S
Termination Year of the Company shall be divided into two short taxable years:
an S Short Year and a C Short Year. As defined in Section 1362(e)(1)(A) of the
Code, the S Short Year shall be that portion of the Company's S Termination Year
ending on the day immediately preceding the Termination Date, and pursuant to
Section 1362(e)(1)(B) of the Code, the C Short Year shall be that portion of the
Company's S Termination Year beginning on the Termination Date and ending on the
last day of the calendar year. For federal income tax purposes, the Company
will be treated as an S corporation during its S Short Year and as a C
corporation during its C Short Year.
2. ELECTION TO ALLOCATE INCOME
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(a) Allocation Election. The Company shall elect, and the
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Stockholders shall consent, pursuant to Section 1362(e)(3) of the Code, to
allocate tax items to its S Short Year and C Short Year pursuant to normal tax
accounting rules (the "closing of the books method") rather than by the pro rata
allocation method contained in Section 1362(e)(2) of the Code. Pursuant to the
attached resolution, the Company shall make the election and the Stockholders,
as the only Stockholders of the Company on the first day of its C Short Year,
shall sign the requisite consents to said election on the Termination Date.
3. DISTRIBUTIONS
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(a) Distribution of Accumulated Adjustments Account. Immediately
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after the closing of the Public Offering, the Company shall distribute to the
Stockholders the sum of $4,750,000 ("Estimated AAA"), in proportion to the
percentages in which they own the common stock of the Company as of the
Termination Date. Any distributions provided for in the preceding sentences
shall be subject to the limitations set
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forth in Section 170 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(b) Post Termination Date Adjustment. Within forty-five (45) days
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after the Termination Date, the Company shall calculate the actual balance of
the AAA as of the day immediately prior to the Termination Date ("Actual AAA").
If the Actual AAA is greater than the Estimated AAA, the Company shall make an
additional distribution to the Stockholders, or if the Actual AAA is less than
the Estimated AAA, the Stockholders shall make a contribution to the Company, in
proportion to the percentages in which they own the common stock of the Company
as of the Termination Date, in an amount equal to such excess or shortfall. The
Company or the Stockholders, as the case may be, shall also pay interest on the
amount of such distribution or contribution, from the closing under the Public
Offering to the date of the distribution or contribution, at the rate which The
Bank of New York announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in
effect from time to time, compounded annually. Any such additional distribution
and interest shall be due and payable by the Company within three (3) business
days of the determination of the Actual AAA, and any such contribution and
interest shall be due and payable by each Stockholder within three (3) business
days after receipt by such Stockholder of a written notice from the Company
showing the amount of the Actual AAA and the amounts of the contribution and
interest payable by such Shareholder.
(c) Filing of Tax Return. The Company shall file the federal income
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tax return of the Company for the S Termination Year and such return shall
reflect the Actual AAA and the distributions made pursuant to this Section 3.
4. INDEMNIFICATION
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(a) Indemnification by Stockholders. The Stockholders jointly and
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severally hereby indemnify and agree to hold the Company harmless from, against
and in respect of (i) any increase in federal, state and local income tax
liability (including interest and penalties, if any), incurred by the Company
(after taking into account any federal tax savings realized by the Company as a
result of an increase in state or local taxes), resulting from a final
determination (whether by judicial decision, administrative settlement, closing
agreement or otherwise) of an adjustment (in connection with an amended return,
claim for refund, audit or otherwise) which has the effect of decreasing the S
Corporation Taxable Income (as hereinafter defined) of such Stockholder and
correspondingly increasing the taxable
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income of the Company for a period ending after the Termination Date, or (ii)
any federal and New York State income tax liability (including interest and
penalties, if any) resulting from a final determination (whether by judicial
decision, administrative settlement, closing agreement or otherwise) that the
Company failed to qualify as an S Corporation for federal and New York State
income tax purposes for any year or years ending on or prior to December 31,
1995 or for the S Short Year; provided, however, that the amount of a payment
made by a Stockholder pursuant to clause (i) of this Section 4(a) shall not
exceed the amount of such Stockholder's S Corporation Taxable Income that was
shifted to a C corporation taxable year of the Company less the amount of
federal, state and local taxes paid (and not refunded) by such Stockholder with
respect thereto. "S Corporation Taxable Income" of a Stockholder shall mean such
Stockholder's allocable share of taxable income of the Company (or RTT) from all
sources for all periods in which it and RTT qualified as an S Corporation for
federal income tax purposes through and including the close of business on the
last day of the S Short Year of the Company.
(b) Indemnification by Company. The Company hereby indemnifies and
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agrees to hold each of the Stockholders harmless from, against and in respect of
any federal, state and local income tax liability (including interest and
penalties, if any), incurred by each such Stockholder resulting from a final
determination (whether by judicial decision, administrative settlement, closing
agreement or otherwise) of an adjustment (in connection with an amended return,
claim for refund, audit or otherwise) which has the effect of decreasing the
Company's taxable income for a period ending after the Termination Date and
correspondingly increasing the S Corporation Taxable Income of such Stockholder;
provided, however, that for purposes of this Section 4(b), the tax liability of
a Stockholder resulting from an adjustment described herein shall be calculated
without regard to any tax benefit such Stockholder may realize from an increase
in the basis of his common stock that results from such adjustment. Any payment
to a Stockholder pursuant to this Section 4(b) made more than one year after the
S Termination Date shall be increased by the amount of all federal, state and
local income taxes incurred by such Stockholder with respect to such payment (as
increased pursuant to this sentence).
(c) Payments. The Stockholders or the Company, as the case may be,
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shall make any payment required under this Agreement within thirty (30) days
after receipt of
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notice from the other party that a payment is due by such party to the
appropriate taxing authority.
(d) Subrogation. The party (or parties) providing the indemnity under
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either Section 4(a) or 4(b) (defined solely for purposes of this Section 4(d) as
the "Indemnifying Party") shall be subrogated to all rights to recovery (the
"Subrogation Claims") that the party (or parties) being indemnified under
Section 4(a) or 4(b), respectively (defined solely for purposes of this Section
4(d) as the "Indemnified Party"), may have against any person or organization in
respect of the tax liabilities for which the Indemnifying Party is providing
indemnity. Such right of subrogation shall not exceed the amount paid by the
Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall
execute and deliver instruments and papers and do whatever else is reasonably
necessary to secure such rights of subrogation for the Indemnifying Party. The
Indemnified Party shall provide all reasonable assistance as requested by the
Indemnifying Party in order for the Indemnifying Party to pursue the Subrogation
Claims. The Indemnified Party shall do nothing after any Subrogation Claim
arises to prejudice the rights of the Indemnifying Party.
5. MISCELLANEOUS
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(a) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
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the State of New York (excluding its choice of law rules).
(b) Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications
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hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if
delivered personally, or mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested,
addressed to the addresses as shall be furnished in writing by either party in
like manner. Any such notice or communication shall be deemed to have been
given as of the date delivered in person or mailed.
(c) Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by any of the
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parties hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties. This
Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure to the benefit of, the parties
hereto, their heirs, legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns.
(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements
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and understandings between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter
contained herein. It shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties
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with respect to such subject matter and may not be modified or terminated
orally. No modification, termination, or attempted waiver shall be valid unless
in writing signed by the party against whom the same is sought to be enforced.
(e) Severability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision
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hereof shall not in any way affect the validity or enforceability of any other
provision.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in several
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counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
counterparts collectively shall constitute an instrument representing the
Agreement between the parties hereto.
(g) Construction of Terms. Nothing herein expressed or implied is
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intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon or give any person, firm or
corporation, other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and
assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement.
(h) Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are solely for
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the purposes of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties and
shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date first above written.
COMPUTER GENERATED SOLUTIONS,
INC.
By:
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Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx
Vice President, Finance &
Administration
STOCKHOLDERS:
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Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
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