DFS Annual Report

The spin-off from RRD could result in significant liability to Donnelley Financial. The spin-off was intended to qualify for tax-free treatment to RRD and its stockholders under Sections 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code). Completion of the spin-off was conditioned upon, among other things, the receipt of a private letter ruling from the IRS regarding certain issues relating to the tax-free treatment of the spin-off. Although the IRS private letter ruling is generally binding on the IRS, the continuing validity of such ruling is subject to the accuracy of factual representations and assumptions made in the ruling. Completion of the spin-off was also conditioned upon RRD’s receipt of a tax opinion from Sullivan & Cromwell LLP regarding certain aspects of the spin-off not covered by the IRS private letter ruling. The opinion was based upon various factual representations and assumptions, as well as certain undertakings made by RRD, Donnelley Financial and LSC. If any of the factual representations or assumptions in the IRS private letter ruling or tax opinion are untrue or incomplete in any material respect, an undertaking is not complied with, or the facts upon which the IRS private letter ruling or tax opinion are based are materially different from the actual facts relating to the spin-off, the opinion or IRS private letter ruling may not be valid. Moreover, opinions of a tax advisor are not binding on the IRS. As a result, the conclusions expressed in the opinion of a tax advisor could be successfully challenged by the IRS. If the Separation is determined to be taxable, RRD and its stockholders could incur significant tax liabilities, and under the tax matters agreement and the letter agreement, Donnelley Financial may be required to indemnify RRD for any liabilities incurred by RRD if the liabilities are caused by any action or inaction undertaken by Donnelley Financial following the spin-off. For additional detail, refer to Tax Disaffiliation Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.4 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The tax rules applicable to the Separation may restrict us from engaging in certain corporate transactions or from raising equity capital beyond certain thresholds for a period of time after the separation. To preserve the tax-free treatment of the Separation from RRD under the Tax Disaffiliation Agreement, for the two-year period following the Separation, we are subject to restrictions with respect to: • taking any action that would result in our ceasing to be engaged in the active conduct of our business, with the result that we are not engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business within the meaning of certain provisions of the Code; • redeeming or otherwise repurchasing any of our outstanding stock, other than through certain stock purchases of widely held stock on the open market; • amending our Certificate of Incorporation (or other organizational documents) that would affect the relative voting rights of separate classes of our capital stock or would convert one class of our capital stock into another class of our capital stock; • liquidating or partially liquidating; • merging with any other corporation (other than in a transaction that does not affect the relative shareholding of our shareholders), selling or otherwise disposing of (other than in the ordinary course of business) our assets, or taking any other action or actions if such merger, sale, other disposition or other action or actions in the aggregate would have the effect that one or more persons acquire (or have the right to acquire), directly or indirectly, as part of a plan or series of related transactions, assets representing one-half or more our asset value; • taking any other action or actions that in the aggregate would have the effect that one or more persons acquire (or have the right to acquire), directly or indirectly, as part of a plan or series of related transactions, capital stock of ours possessing (i) at least 50% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock or equity interests of ours entitled to vote, or (ii) at least 50% of the total value of shares of all classes of stock or of the total value of all equity interests of ours, other than an acquisition of our shares as part of the Separation solely by reason of holding RRD common stock (but not including such an acquisition if such RRD common stock, before such acquisition, was itself acquired as part of a plan (or series of related transactions) pursuant to which one or more persons acquire, directly or indirectly, shares of our stock meeting the voting and value threshold tests listed previously in this bullet); and • taking any action that (or failing to take any action the omission of which) would be inconsistent with the Separation qualifying as, or that would preclude the Separation from qualifying as, a transaction that is generally tax-free to RRD and the holders of RRD common stock for U.S. federal income tax purposes. These restrictions may limit our ability during such period to pursue strategic transactions of a certain magnitude that involve the issuance or acquisition of our stock or engage in new businesses or other transactions that might increase the value of our business. These restrictions may also limit our ability to raise significant amounts of cash through the issuance of stock, especially if our stock price were to suffer substantial declines, or through the sale of certain of our assets. For more information, refer to Tax Disaffiliation Agreement, filed as Exhibit 2.4 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 12