TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT
This Tax Matters Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of March 10, 2022, is entered into by and among BellRing Intermediate Holdings, Inc. (f/k/a BellRing Brands, Inc.), a Delaware corporation (“BellRing”), Post Holdings, Inc., a Missouri corporation (“Post”), and BellRing Brands, Inc. (f/k/a BellRing Distribution, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company), a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly owned Subsidiary of Post (“SpinCo” and, together with BellRing and Post, the “Parties”). Any capitalized term used herein without definition shall have the meaning given to it in the Transaction Agreement and Plan of Merger.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, BellRing, Post, SpinCo and the other Persons party thereto have entered into a Transaction Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 26, 2021, as amended by that certain Amendment No. 1 to the Transaction Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 28, 2022 (as it may be further amended from time to time, the “Transaction Agreement”), pursuant to which, in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof, at the Merger Effective Time, Merger Sub will merge with and into BellRing, with BellRing continuing as the surviving corporation, and BellRing becoming a wholly owned Subsidiary of SpinCo;
WHEREAS, prior to the Distribution, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Agreement, Post will cause the Separation to be completed;
WHEREAS, following the Separation, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Agreement, Post will effectuate the Debt Exchange;
WHEREAS, in connection with and as part of the Separation, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Agreement, Post will cause the Distribution to be completed;
WHEREAS, within six months following the Distribution and in connection with the Distribution, Post may effectuate the Equity Exchange;
WHEREAS, immediately following consummation of the Distribution, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Agreement, the Parties will effectuate the Merger;
WHEREAS, following the Merger, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Transaction Agreement, SpinCo may effectuate the Post-Merger Transactions;
WHEREAS, the material steps of the various transactions contemplated under the Separation Plan and Transaction Agreement (“Transactions”) and their intended Tax treatment for U.S. federal income tax purposes are set forth in more detail in the Separation Plan;
WHEREAS, the Parties to this Agreement intend that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (i) the Separation, together with the Distribution, will qualify as a tax-free reorganization under Sections 368(a)(1)(D) and 355 of the Code; (ii) the Distribution will qualify as a distribution of SpinCo Common Stock to Post shareholders eligible for nonrecognition under Sections 355 and 361 of the Code; (iii) the Debt Exchange and Equity Exchange will each qualify as a distribution in connection with the Separation and Distribution eligible for nonrecognition under Section 361(c) of the Code; (iv) the Merger will qualify as a tax-free reorganization pursuant to Section 368(a) of the Code; (v) no gain or loss will be recognized as a result of such transactions for U.S. federal income tax purposes by any of Post, SpinCo, Merger Sub, BellRing or their respective Subsidiaries, BellRing stockholders (except as a result of cash paid to such stockholders) or the Post shareholders; (vi) the Post-Merger Transactions will be treated as contributions eligible for nonrecognition under Section 351 of the Code and (vii) the Transaction Agreement is a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Section 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the Treasury Regulations; and
4