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TAX SHARING AGREEMENT EXHIBIT 10.16 (4)
This tax sharing agreement (the "Agreement") is entered into by American States
Insurance Company ("ASIC"), a corporation organized under the laws of the State
of Indiana, and American States Preferred Insurance Company ("ASP"), a
corporation also organized under the laws of the State of Indiana, and is
effective as of January 1, 1996. Lincoln National Corporation ("LNC"), as the
ultimate parent of a group of affiliated corporations filing a consolidated
return (the "LNC Consolidated Group"), is also a party to this Agreement. This
Agreement applies to federal, state, local, and foreign income taxes, including
any interest and penalties assessed for any such taxes, arising for any taxable
year ("Tax Year") during which ASIC owns any ASP stock. This Agreement
supersedes all prior tax sharing agreements between ASIC and ASP or any
subsidiaries of ASIC and ASP, except to the extent otherwise noted. As
described more fully below, the rights and obligations of ASIC and ASP depend
upon the amount of ASP stock owned by ASIC, and on whether ASIC and ASP are
members of an affiliated group that files a consolidated federal income tax
return.
SECTION I. ASP IN CONSOLIDATED GROUP
A. Management of Tax Disputes and Tax Computations. For any Tax Year or
portion of a Tax Year in which ASP is a member of the LNC Consolidated Group,
LNC shall be responsible for managing the filing of tax returns and for
determining the appropriate strategy for handling audits and disputes with
taxing authorities. Additionally, LNC shall be responsible for the final
determination of all computations required under this Agreement.
B. Calculation of ASP's Tax Liability. For any Tax Year in which ASP is
a member of the LNC Consolidated Group, the LNC Consolidated Group's federal
income tax liability shall be allocated between ASP and the remainder of the
LNC Consolidated Group as follows:
1. Separate Tax Liability. Periodic computations shall be made of
the federal income tax liability of ASP, on a hypothetical separate return basis
("Separate Tax Liability"), for each Tax Year, or for any part of a Tax Year
during which ASP is included in the LNC Consolidated Group. Computations shall
be made at least once per quarter to support the required payments of quarterly
estimated taxes and shall also be made at the time of the original and extended
due dates for the filing of the federal income tax return for each Tax Year.
Such Separate Tax Liability shall be calculated as follows:
a. ASP shall be treated as a corporation which files a federal
income tax return separate from the LNC Consolidated Group, except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement.
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b. For purposes of this calculation, ASP shall be treated as if
it had never been included in the LNC Consolidated Group.
c. Gains and losses on intercompany transactions shall be
disregarded until such time as they are recognized in the consolidated federal
income tax return of the LNC Consolidated Group.
d. Income, gain, deductions, credits, and similar items of ASP
described in Treasury Regulation section 1.1552-1(a)(2)(ii) shall generally be
taken into account in the manner specified in that subdivision.
e. To the extent that ASP is unable to avail itself of special
rules applicable only to small corporations, lower tax rates applicable to part
or all of the income of a single corporation, the exemption provided in Internal
Revenue Code section 59A (applicable to the environmental tax) or any other
similar item because it participates in the filing of the federal income tax
return of the LNC Consolidated Group, ASP shall not use such benefit in
calculating its Separate Tax Liability.
f. Income, gain, deductions, credits, and similar items of ASP
shall not be included to the extent attributable to a period commencing on or
after the date that ASP ceases to be includible in the LNC Consolidated Group.
g. For each quarter of a Tax Year that ASP has net operating
losses, net capital losses, tax credits or any other tax benefits that have not
been used to decrease ASP's Separate Tax Liability in the current Tax Year
("Excess Tax Items") that can be used as hypothetical carry back items against
prior hypothetical ASP separate return Tax Years ("Carry Back Items"), ASIC
shall reimburse ASP for the use of such Carry Back Items at the rate ASP would
have been entitled to receive had such Carry Back Items actually been used in an
ASP claim for refund.
h. To the extent that Excess Tax Items can ultimately be used as
hypothetical carry forward items against future hypothetical ASP Tax Years
("Carry Forward Items"), ASP shall be entitled to use such Excess Tax Items to
offset future years' income but will be required to reimburse ASIC to the extent
that paragraph 2.c., below, applies.
2. Excess Tax Items, Generally.
a. To the extent that the LNC Consolidated Group can use an
Excess Tax Item, which has not otherwise been used as a Carry Back Item, to
decrease its federal income tax liability for that quarter after taking into
account all similar items from the other affiliated corporations in the LNC
Consolidated Group,
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ASIC shall reimburse ASP at an amount equal to the actual decrease in the tax
liability of the LNC Consolidated Group for any Excess Tax Items used,
notwithstanding the fact that ASP could not use these Excess Tax Items in
calculating its Separate Tax Liability.
b. To the extent that the Excess Tax Items are not used under
paragraphs a. or 1.g. above, ASP shall be entitled to a reimbursement from ASIC
if and when such Excess Tax Items actually reduce the LNC Consolidated Group's
federal income tax payments, or when the LNC Consolidated Group actually
receives a refund of previously paid taxes, to the extent that such refund
payment is directly attributable to such Excess Tax Items.
c. To the extent that ASP receives a payment from ASIC for the
actual use of Excess Tax Items pursuant to paragraphs a. or b., above, ASIC
shall be entitled to reimbursement from ASP for the full amount of such payments
to the extent that ASP may use such Excess Tax Items as Carry Forward Items. To
the extent that ASP has been compensated by ASIC under a prior tax sharing
agreement for an amount which would qualify as an Excess Tax Item under this
Agreement, ASIC shall also be entitled to reimbursement from ASP for the full
amount of such prior payments to the extent that ASP may use such Excess Tax
Items as Carry Forward Items.
d. Nothing in this entire Section I. shall be interpreted to
entitle ASP to more than a single use of any Excess Tax Items, Carry Back Items,
Carry Forward Items, or any other items which reduce the tax liability of ASP.
3. Alternative Minimum Tax Periods.
a. If the LNC Consolidated Group is required to pay Alternative
Minimum Tax ("AMT") for any taxable quarter, then the AMT amount shall be
divided among all of the corporations in the LNC Consolidated Group which would
have had to pay AMT if their tax liability had been calculated on a separate
return basis. The allocation of AMT shall be in proportion to the amount of AMT
each corporation would have had to pay on a hypothetical separate return basis.
Any amount of AMT so apportioned to ASP shall be available for use as an AMT
credit in calculating ASP's Separate Tax Liability for future taxable periods in
which the AMT credit may actually be used by the LNC Consolidated Group. This
provision also shall apply to the extent that the LNC Consolidated Group becomes
subject to AMT for prior Tax Years as a result of an IRS audit or other
adjustment to the tax liability payable.
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b. If ASP would be required to pay AMT based upon the
calculation of its Separate Tax Liability, but the LNC Consolidated Group is not
required to pay AMT for that taxable quarter, then ASP shall not be required to
pay the AMT amount to ASIC. Instead, ASP shall pay to ASIC an amount equal to
its Separate Tax Liability calculated without regard to the AMT provisions.
4. Interest and Penalties.
a. If, after netting interest payable by the LNC Consolidated
Group against interest payable by the IRS for a given Tax Year, the LNC
Consolidated Group is required to pay interest to the IRS as a result of any
increase in tax liability for a given Tax Year, such interest shall be divided
among all of the corporations in the LNC Consolidated Group whose tax liability
increased from the initial calculation at the time of the filing of the LNC
consolidated tax return for that Tax Year. This allocation shall be made in
proportion to the increase in tax liability of ASP as compared to the increase
in tax liability of all members of the LNC Consolidated Group.
b. If, after netting interest payable by the LNC Consolidated
Group against interest payable by the IRS for a given Tax Year, the LNC
Consolidated Group is entitled to receive interest from the IRS as a result of
any decrease in tax liability for a given Tax Year, such interest shall also be
divided among all of the corporations in the LNC Consolidated Group whose tax
liability decreased from the initial calculation at the time of the filing of
the LNC consolidated tax return for that Tax Year. This allocation shall be
made in proportion to the decrease in tax liability of ASP as compared to the
decrease in tax liability of all members of the LNC Consolidated Group.
c. Any tax penalties imposed by a taxing authority shall be the
responsibility of the corporation whose tax position or tax item caused the
imposition of such penalties.
5. Payments. Payments between ASIC and ASP shall be made as follows:
a. Within five days following the due date of the quarterly
estimated federal income tax payment for the LNC Consolidated Group, ASP shall
pay to ASIC the full amount (if any) of its Separate Tax Liability for that
taxable quarter. Also, to the extent that an Excess Tax Item can be used to
reduce the amount of the estimated federal income tax payment for the LNC
Consolidated Group in a given tax quarter, ASIC shall reimburse ASP for the use
of that item within five days following the
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due date of such quarterly payment. Likewise, to the extent that ASP can use
an Excess Tax Item for which it has received payment from ASIC pursuant to
Section I.B.2., above, as a Carry Forward Item, ASP shall reimburse ASIC for
such amounts as described in Section I.B.2.c., above, within five days of the
quarter in which it may use the Carry Forward Item.
b. Within five days following the last date for filing a request
for an extension to file the annual federal income tax return, an adjusting
payment shall be made between ASIC and ASP which is equal to the difference
between the quarterly payments made pursuant to paragraph a. above, and the
estimated annual Separate Tax Liability of ASP.
c. Within 45 days after the filing of the annual federal income
tax return of the LNC Consolidated Group, adjusting payments shall be made
between ASIC and ASP to the extent of any difference between the payments made
pursuant to paragraph a. or b. above, and the annual Separate Tax Liability of
ASP. In the event that an Excess Tax Item cannot be used to offset the federal
income tax liability of the LNC Consolidated Group for the current Tax Year, but
ASP can use such an item as a Carry Back Item, then the reimbursement by ASIC to
ASP contemplated in Section I.B.1.g., above, shall also be made within 45 days
after the filing of the annual federal income tax return of the LNC Consolidated
Group.
d. Within 45 days of a settlement of any IRS audit dispute,
adjusting payments shall be made between ASIC and ASP as necessary as a result
of such settlement.
e. LNC shall be responsible for making all required federal
income tax payments for the LNC Consolidated Group.
6. Information. If any information relevant to making any
calculation covered by this Agreement is particularly within the knowledge or
possession of ASP or any subsidiary of ASP, ASP shall promptly provide such
information to LNC and shall also provide any supporting schedules, data or
details which LNC may reasonably request.
7. State Taxes. To the extent that any state tax system permits or
requires that the tax liability of affiliated corporations be computed on a
consolidated, affiliated, unitary or combined basis ("Combined Return Basis")
and ASP files on a
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Combined Return Basis with one or more other corporations in the LNC
Consolidated Group, ASP's state tax liability shall be calculated and allocated
in a manner comparable to that provided in Section I of this Agreement.
SECTION II. ASP NOT CONSOLIDATED
A. Responsibility for Tax Returns and Tax Payments. For any period in
which ASIC owns any stock of ASP, but ASP is not included in the LNC
Consolidated Group, ASP shall be responsible for filing all federal, state,
local, and foreign tax returns relevant to it and shall also be responsible for
paying any such taxes payable by it. Furthermore, any federal, state, local,
or foreign tax liabilities which are not calculated on a consolidated basis
with part or all of the LNC Consolidated Group shall be the responsibility of
the entity incurring such liability even if ASP is filing as part of the LNC
Consolidated Group for federal income tax purposes.
B. Management of Tax Disputes and Tax Computations. For any Tax Year or
portion of a Tax Year in which ASIC owns sufficient ASP stock to result in ASIC
and ASP being treated as a consolidated group for financial statement reporting
purposes, ASIC shall be consulted prior to determining the strategy for
handling audits and disputes with taxing authorities, including, but not
limited to, whether or not to appeal or litigate one or more issues and any
proposed settlements of issues.
C. Carry Over Attributes from Consolidated Periods.
1. General Carry Over Provisions. To the extent that ASP carries
forward tax attributes for which it has already received compensation from ASIC
pursuant to the terms of Section I. above, ASP shall reimburse ASIC for the
previous payment by ASIC to ASP, at the time of the deconsolidation of ASIC and
ASP. To the extent that ASP has paid ASIC for a Separate Tax Liability for
which it remains liable after leaving the LNC Consolidated Group, ASIC shall
reimburse ASP for the previous payment by ASP to ASIC at the time of the
deconsolidation of ASIC and ASP. Similarly, to the extent that the ultimate
amount of tax paid differs from the amount of tax liability initially calculated
for any given Tax Year in which ASP was included in the LNC Consolidated Group,
ASIC or ASP, as the case may be, shall be required to pay and entitled to
receive amounts sufficient to compensate for this difference.
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2. AMT Credits. In the event that ASP leaves the LNC Consolidated
Group, the amount of AMT credit which it shall be allowed to carry over without
any obligation to reimburse ASIC shall not exceed the amount allocated pursuant
to Section I.B.3, above. ASIC shall be reimbursed by ASP to the extent that any
AMT credit actually carried over exceeds the amounts calculated in Section
I.B.3., at the time of the deconsolidation. Also, ASP shall be reimbursed by
ASIC to the extent that it is permitted to carry over less than the amount
calculated in Section I.B.3.
3. Prior Consolidation Impacts. Neither LNC nor any member of the
LNC Consolidated Group shall be liable for any payment to ASP should the amount
of tax that ASP pays in any such later year on a separate return basis or as a
member of another consolidated group be increased as a result of ASP having been
a member of the LNC Consolidated Group.
4. Elections Impacting Prior Consolidated Periods. In the event that
ASP wishes to make an election for tax purposes which may adversely affect tax
positions taken by the LNC Consolidated Group during Tax Years when it was a
member of the LNC Consolidated Group, ASP shall submit to LNC a written request
for permission to make such an election. LNC shall not unreasonably withhold
such written permission to make a tax election which may be beneficial to ASP
after it leaves the LNC Consolidated Group. ASP shall, as a condition of
receiving written permission to make the tax election, reimburse LNC for any and
all additional tax costs incurred by the LNC Consolidated Group in connection
with permitting such an election to be made.
SECTION III. GENERAL ITEMS
A. Interaction with Prior Tax Periods
1. Tax Payments for Prior Periods. To the extent that the tax
liability initially allocated to ASP for a prior tax period is subsequently
redetermined, as a result of filing an amended return, the outcome of an IRS
examination, the retroactive application of a new tax law or tax regulation, or
other similar modifying action or item, ASP shall pay ASIC for any such
increases to ASP's tax liability and is also entitled to receive a payment from
ASIC for any decreases in tax liability attributable to ASP.
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2. Prior Tax Payments. To the extent that ASP paid to ASIC an amount
for its share of the LNC Consolidated Group's federal income tax liability or to
the extent that it pays an amount pursuant to paragraph 1. above, ASP shall be
entitled to consider the amount of such prior payments when determining whether
or not Carry Back Items may be used to offset tax payments for prior years.
3. Interest and Penalties for Prior Periods. Any interest and
penalties payable by any member of the LNC Consolidated Group relating to Tax
Years prior to this Agreement shall be subject to the terms of Section I.B.4 to
the extent that they become payable after the effective date of this Agreement.
B. Filing Relevant Items. ASP agrees to file any elections, consents,
and other documents and take any other actions which may be necessary or
appropriate to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
C. Inclusion of ASP Subsidiaries. If ASP owns, acquires or creates any
subsidiary corporation which is an includible corporation as that term is
defined in IRC section 1504, such subsidiary corporation shall be subject to
this Agreement. ASP shall treat each such subsidiary corporation as if ASP has
an identical tax sharing Agreement to this Agreement between itself and the
subsidiary corporation, unless ASP and such subsidiary have entered into a
separate tax sharing Agreement which has been approved in writing by LNC.
D. Applicability to Succeeding Entities. This Agreement shall be binding
on any successor of the parties to this Agreement, including but not limited to
any successor of LNC, ASIC or ASP, to the same extent as if the successor had
been an original party to this Agreement.
E. Provision of Items to Defend Tax Positions. Both ASIC and ASP agree
to cooperate in supplying information reasonably requested by the other party
in order to make any computations required under this Agreement and for the
purpose of defending tax examinations, including appeals and litigation.
F. Maintenance of Books and Records. ASIC and ASP agree to maintain
internal accounting books and records for themselves and each of their
subsidiaries in a manner consistent with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles and relevant statutory accounting principles. Furthermore, ASIC and
ASP agree to account for any
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intercompany transactions entered into by them or any of their subsidiaries and
to make such information available to the other party for tax purposes both
when such transactions are entered into and when such intercompany transactions
become currently taxable.
G. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Indiana and no state court other than
the courts of the State of Indiana shall have jurisdiction over disputes
between the parties concerning the validity, performance, interpretation or
construction of this Agreement.
LINCOLN NATIONAL CORPORATION
Date: August 13, 1996 By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
AMERICAN STATES INSURANCE COMPANY
Date: 8-22-96 By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President and Treasurer
AMERICAN STATES PREFERRED
INSURANCE COMPANY
Date: 8-22-96 By /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
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▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Vice President
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