Tax Contests If, in connection with any examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of any non-Seller Group Tax Return with respect to the income or operations of the Company, Newco or the Sold Subsidiaries for a Pre-Closing Tax Period, any Governmental Body issues to Newco, the Company or the Sold Subsidiaries a notice of an examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding, a request for documents or other information, written notice of deficiency, a notice of reassessment, a proposed adjustment, or an assertion of claim or demand concerning the taxable period covered by such Tax Return, Buyer shall notify Seller of its receipt of such communication from such Governmental Body within fifteen (15) Business Days after receiving such communication. Buyer shall not, and shall not permit Newco, the Company or the Sold Subsidiaries to, settle or otherwise resolve any issue with respect to any Taxes of the Company, Newco or the Sold Subsidiaries if such settlement or other resolution could result in Seller being liable for any amounts pursuant to this Agreement without the prior written consent of Seller. Seller shall have the right to control any examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of any non-Seller Group Tax Return of the Company, Newco or the Sold Subsidiaries for any Pre-Closing Tax Period if such examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding could result in or lead to Seller being liable for any amounts pursuant to this Agreement; provided, however, that Buyer, at its sole cost and expense, shall have the right to participate in any such contest; provided, further, that Seller shall not settle or otherwise resolve such examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding without the prior written consent of Buyer (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); provided, further, that Seller and Buyer shall jointly control any examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of Taxes for a Straddle Period. For avoidance of doubt, Seller shall have the sole right to control and settle any examination, investigation, audit or other administrative or judicial proceeding in respect of any Seller Group Tax Return and Buyer shall have no right to participate therein.
Control of Tax Contests (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (b) and (c), Parent shall control, and have sole discretion in handling, settling or contesting, any Tax Contest relating to any Joint Returns, as well as any Separate Returns that relate to a Pre-Distribution Tax Period or to a Straddle Period or other Tax Return if any such Tax Return is related to Taxes for which Parent is responsible pursuant to Article II, or the Tax treatment of the Separation Transactions, provided that (x) Parent shall act in good faith in connection with its control of any such Tax Contests and (y) SpinCo shall have the right at its sole cost and expense to participate in and advise on (including the opportunity to review and comment upon Parent’s communications with the Tax Authority, which comments shall be incorporated upon the consent of Parent, not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) such items for which SpinCo would reasonably be expected to be liable under Article II or Section 6.06 as a result of such Tax Contest.
(b) Parent shall have exclusive control over any Separation Related Tax Contest, including exclusive authority with respect to any settlement of such Tax Contest, subject to the following provisions of this Section 9.02(b). In the event of any Separation Related Tax Contest as a result of which SpinCo could reasonably be expected (as determined in the sole discretion of Parent acting in good faith) to become liable for any Separation Tax Losses, (A) Parent shall keep SpinCo reasonably informed in a timely manner of all significant developments in respect of such Tax Contest and all significant actions taken or proposed to be taken by Parent with respect to such Tax Contest, (B) Parent shall timely provide SpinCo with copies of any written materials prepared, furnished or received in connection with such Tax Contest, (C) Parent shall consult with SpinCo reasonably in advance of taking any significant action in connection with such Tax Contest and (D) Parent shall offer SpinCo a reasonable opportunity to comment before submitting any written materials prepared or furnished in connection with such Tax Contest. Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, the final determination of the positions taken, including with respect to settlement or other disposition, in any Separation Related Tax Contest shall be made in the sole discretion of Parent and shall be final and not subject to the dispute resolution provisions of Article XIII of this Agreement or Section 11.02 of the Separation and Distribution Agreement.
(c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) or (b), SpinCo shall have sole control over any Tax Contest that relates to Separate Returns of the SpinCo Group for any Post-Distribution Tax Period.
Cooperation on Tax Matters (i) Buyer, the Company, and the Interest Owners shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns pursuant to this section and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other Party’s request) the provision of records and information that are reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Interest Owners agree (A) to retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Company relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified by Buyer or the Company or Interest Owners, any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with any taxing authority, and (B) to give Buyer reasonable written notice prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and records and, if Buyer so requests, the Interest Owners shall allow Buyer to take possession of such books and records.
(ii) Buyer, the Company, and the Interest Owners further agree, upon request, to use their best efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from any governmental authority or any other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax that could be imposed (including, but not limited to, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby).
(iii) Buyer, the Company, and the Interest Owners further agree, upon request, to provide the other Party with all information that either Party may be required to report pursuant to Code §6043 and all Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
Conduct of Third Party Claims If the matter or circumstance that may give rise to a Claim other than a Tax Claim is a result of or in connection with a claim by a third party (a “Third Party Claim”) then:
11.4.1 the Purchaser shall, to the extent reasonably practicable and subject to Applicable Law, consult with the Seller in relation to the conduct of the Third Party Claim and shall take reasonable account of the views of the Seller before taking any action in relation to the Third Party Claim;
11.4.2 no admissions in relation to the Third Party Claim shall be made by or on behalf of the Purchaser or any member of the Purchaser’s Group and the Third Party Claim shall not be compromised, disposed of or settled without the written consent of the Seller, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed;
11.4.3 subject to the Seller indemnifying the Purchaser or member of the Purchaser’s Group concerned against all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal and professional costs and expenses) that may be incurred thereby, the Purchaser shall, or the Purchaser shall procure that the members of the Purchaser’s Group shall, take such action as the Seller may reasonably request to avoid, dispute, deny, defend, resist, appeal, compromise or contest the Third Party Claim;
11.4.4 the Seller shall, subject in each case to being paid all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses:
(i) make available to the Purchaser and the relevant Group Company such persons and all such information as the Purchaser may reasonably request for assessing, contesting, disputing, defending, compromising or appealing the Third Party Claim; and
(ii) shall give the Purchaser and the relevant Group Company reasonable access to its premises and to its books and records for such purpose during normal business hours on any Business Day following reasonable notice being given to the Seller;
11.4.5 subject to 11.4.3, the Seller shall be entitled at its own expense and in its absolute discretion, by notice in writing to the Purchaser, to assume conduct of any Third Party Claim and to have the conduct of any related proceedings, negotiations or appeals;
11.4.6 if the Seller sends a notice to the Purchaser pursuant to Clause 11.4.5 and until such time as any final compromise, agreement, expert determination or non-appealable decision of a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction is made in respect of that Third Party Claim or that Third Party Claim is otherwise finally disposed of:
(i) the Purchaser shall, and the Purchaser shall procure that any member of the Purchaser’s Group shall:
(a) give, subject to being paid all reasonable costs and expenses, all such information and assistance including access to premises and personnel, and the right to examine and copy or photograph any assets, accounts, documents and records (excluding, in each case, information or documents which are protected by legal professional privilege but including, in each case, information or documents that are subject to common interest privilege), as the Seller may reasonably request, including instructing such professional or legal advisers as the Seller may nominate to act on behalf of the Purchaser or other member of the Purchaser’s Group concerned but in accordance with the Seller’s instructions, provided that the appointment of such adviser or advisers shall have been approved in writing by the Purchaser (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed); and
(b) not make any admission of liability, agreement or compromise in relation to that Third Party Claim without the prior written approval of the Seller (such approval not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed);
(ii) the Seller shall:
(a) consult with the Purchaser and take reasonable account of the views of the Purchaser before taking any action in relation to the Third Party Claim;
(b) without prejudice to its ability to defend the Third Party Claim, conduct the Third Party Claim with a view to minimising any material harm to the goodwill and reputation of the Wider Group or the Purchaser’s Group;
(c) keep the Purchaser informed of all relevant matters relating to the Third Party Claim and shall promptly forward or procure to be forwarded to the Purchaser copies of all correspondence and other written communications with such other information, including non-written records (except information or documents which are protected by legal professional privilege), relating to the Third Party Claim;
(d) not make any admission of liability, settlement or compromise of the Third Party Claim without the written consent of the Purchaser, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. If the Purchaser or member of the Purchaser’s Group fails to consent to a settlement or compromise, the maximum liability of the Seller shall (without prejudice to Clause 10) not exceed the full amount of the proposed settlement or compromise and the Purchaser or member of the Purchaser’s Group shall be liable for any damages awarded in excess of the proposed settlement or compromise and costs incurred from (and including) the date the Seller notified the Purchaser of the settlement or compromise; and
(e) indemnify, save as set out in Clause 11.4.6(ii)(d), the Purchaser or other member of the Purchaser’s Group concerned against all reasonable costs and expenses (including legal and professional costs and expenses) that may be incurred as a result of the Seller assuming conduct of the Third Party Claim.
11.4.7 The covenants in this Clause 11.4 may be enforced:
(i) by any Group Company against the Seller; and
(ii) by any member of the Seller’s Group against the Purchaser or a Group Company, under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇.
11.4.8 The provisions of this Clause 11.4 may be varied or terminated by agreement between the Seller and the Purchaser (and the Purchaser may also release or compromise in whole or in part any liability in respect of rights or claims contemplated by this Clause 11.4) without the consent of any Group Company.
Tax Proceedings (i) Buyer shall, upon receipt of notice thereof by Company, notify the Members of any written communication from a Tax authority with respect to any pending Tax Proceeding involving a Pre-Acquisition Tax Liability. Buyer shall include with such notification a copy of the written communication so received by Company.
(ii) The Buyer shall have responsibility and authority to represent the interests of the Company in any Tax Proceeding relating to Pre-Acquisition Taxable Periods and Straddle Periods and to employ counsel of its choice in connection therewith; provided, however, that Members shall be permitted to participate in any such Tax Proceedings and all hearings related thereto at the expense of the Members; and provided further, that, without the prior written consent of the Members, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, the Buyer shall not agree to settle or compromise any such Tax Proceeding and/or any Pre-Acquisition Tax Liability issue arising therein if such settlement can reasonably be expected to result in a material increase in the Pre-Acquisition Tax Liabilities for which the Members are responsible hereunder, provided, however, the consent of the Members to such settlement or compromise shall not be required hereunder if the failure to settle or compromise the Tax Proceeding or an issue arising therein can reasonably be expected to result in an adverse effect on the Company following the Closing. The Members, promptly upon demand from the Buyer, shall pay the reasonable costs and expenses, including attorney fees, incurred by Buyer in connection with any such Tax Proceedings, provided, however, in any Tax Proceeding related to a Straddle Period which involves Tax Liabilities for which Members are responsible hereunder and Tax Liabilities attributable to the Post-Closing Period for which Members are not responsible, the Buyer, on the one hand, and the Members, on the other hand, shall jointly bear the costs and expenses thereof as allocated between them on an equitable basis.
(iii) All notices to Members provided for hereunder shall be deemed delivered to each Member upon receipt thereof either directly by the Member. The Members shall proportionately pay all Tax Liabilities and costs and expenses for which the Members are responsible hereunder; provided, however, the Members shall be jointly and severally liable for all such Tax Liabilities, costs and expenses.
(iv) The Member shall furnish to Buyer such information and documents as may be reasonably requested by Buyer, and shall otherwise reasonably cooperate with Buyer, in connection with Buyer's conduct of any Tax Proceedings described herein.