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Exhibit 10.3    
  

TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENT

by and between

TMP Worldwide Inc.

on behalf of itself and the members

of the TMP Worldwide Group

and

Hudson Highland Group, Inc.

on behalf of itself and the members

of the Hudson Highland Group

Dated as of March    , 2003  

  

 
 

TABLE OF CONTENTS    
  

	1.	 	DEFINITIONS	 	1
	2.	 	ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMPLIANCE MATTERS	 	5
	 	 	2(a)	 	Sole Tax Sharing Agreement	 	5
	 	 	2(b)	 	Designation of Agent	 	5
	 	 	2(c)	 	Pre-Spin-Off Period Tax Returns	 	5
	 	 	 	 	    2(c)(i) Preparation of Income Tax Returns	 	6
	 	 	 	 	    2(c)(ii) Audits and Refunds	 	6
	 	 	 	 	    2(c)(iii) Delivery of Tax Packages	 	6
	 	 	 	 	    2(c) (iv) Restructuring Tax Liability	 	6
	 	 	2(d)	 	Ratable Allocation	 	6
	 	 	2(e)	 	Non-Income Tax Returns and Post-Spin-Off Period Returns of the HHGI Group	 	6
	 	 	2(f)	 	Short-Year Combined State Returns	 	6
	3.	 	TAX SHARING	 	7
	 	 	3(a)	 	General	 	7
	 	 	3(b)	 	Prior Years	 	7
	 	 	3(c)	 	2002 and 2003 Short-Year	 	7
	 	 	3(d)	 	Final Determination	 	7
	 	 	3(e)	 	Carrybacks and Certain Other Matters	 	7
	 	 	3(f)	 	Treatment of Adjustments and Payments	 	8
	 	 	3(g)	 	Deductions and Certain Taxes Related to Options	 	9
	4.	 	CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS	 	9
	 	 	4(a)	 	HHGI Representations	 	9
	 	 	4(b)	 	HHGI Covenants	 	10
	 	 	4(c)	 	TMP Representations	 	11
	5.	 	INDEMNITIES	 	11
	 	 	5(a)	 	HHGI Indemnity	 	11
	 	 	5(b)	 	TMP Indemnity	 	12
	 	 	5(c)	 	Discharge of Indemnity	 	12
	 	 	5(d)	 	Tax Benefits	 	13
	6.	 	PERFORMANCE	 	13
	7.	 	COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION	 	13
	 	 	7(a)	 	Consult and Cooperate	 	13
	 	 	7(b)	 	Provide Information	 	14
	 	 	7(c)	 	Tax Attribute Matters	 	14
	8.	 	AUDITS AND CONTEST	 	14
	9.	 	PAYMENTS	 	14
	10.	 	NOTICES	 	15
	11.	 	COSTS AND EXPENSES	 	15
	12.	 	EFFECTIVENESS; TERMINATION AND SURVIVAL	 	15
	13.	 	SECTION HEADINGS	 	15
	14.	 	ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS	 	15
	 	 	14(a)	 	Entire Agreement	 	15
	 	 	14(b)	 	Amendments and Waivers	 	16
	15.	 	GOVERNING LAW AND INTERPRETATION	 	16
	16.	 	DISPUTE RESOLUTION	 	16

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	17.	 	COUNTERPARTS	 	16
	18.	 	ASSIGNMENTS; THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES	 	16
	19.	 	SEVERABILITY	 	16
	20.	 	SETOFF	 	16
	21.	 	FURTHER ASSURANCES	 	16
	22.	 	AUTHORIZATION, ETC.	 	17

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TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENT    
  

        This Agreement is entered into as of the            day of March, 2003 between TMP Worldwide Inc. ("TMP"), a Delaware
corporation, on behalf of itself
and the members of the TMP Group, and Hudson Highland Group, Inc. ("HHGI"), a Delaware corporation, on behalf of itself and the members of the HHGI Group. 

W
I T N E S S E T H: 

        WHEREAS,
pursuant to the tax laws of various jurisdictions, certain members of the HHGI Group, as defined below, will file certain tax returns on an affiliated, consolidated, combined,
unitary, fiscal unity or other group basis (including as permitted by Section 1501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code")) with certain members of the TMP Group, for
taxable periods beginning prior to the Spin-off, as defined below; 

        WHEREAS,
TMP and HHGI intend to enter into a Distribution Agreement and Ancillary Agreements providing for the consolidation of the assets and operations of all the "Executive Search"
and "eResourcing" businesses owned by TMP and its subsidiaries and affiliates into HHGI and its subsidiaries and affiliates; 

        WHEREAS,
TMP intends to distribute all of the shares of HHGI to its shareholders (the "Spin-off"); and 

        WHEREAS,
TMP and HHGI desire to set forth their agreement on the rights and obligations of TMP, HHGI and the members of the TMP Group and the HHGI Group, respectively, with respect to
the handling and allocation of federal, state, local and foreign Taxes incurred in Taxable periods beginning prior to the Spin-off Date, as defined below, Taxes resulting from the
Restructuring, as defined below, and various other Tax matters. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter set forth, the parties agree as follows: 

        1.    DEFINITIONS 

        (a)    As
used in this Agreement: 

        "2003
Short Year" shall mean the short taxable year beginning on the first day of HHGI's first taxable period in 2003 and ending on the Spin-off Date. 

        "Affiliate"
of any Person shall mean (i) any individual, corporation, partnership or other entity directly or indirectly owning more than 50 percent (by vote or value) of,
owned more than 50 percent (by vote or value) by, or under more than 50 percent (by vote or value) common ownership with, such Person, and (ii) any entity that is entitled to the
benefit of any Tax Asset of such Person under applicable law, any entity with any Tax Asset to which such Person is entitled to the benefit of under applicable law, or any entity which is entitled or
required to transfer or assign income, revenues, receipts, or gains to such Person under applicable law. 

        "After-Tax
Amount" shall mean an additional amount necessary to reflect the hypothetical Tax consequences of the receipt or accrual of any payment, using the maximum
statutory rate (or rates, in the case of an item that affects more than one Tax) applicable to the recipient of such payment for the relevant year, reflecting for example, the effect of the deductions
available for interest paid or accrued and for Taxes such as state and local income Taxes. 

        "Ancillary
Agreement" shall have the meaning assigned to it in the Distribution Agreement. 

        "Consolidated
Group" shall mean the HHGI Group, the TMP Group and the TMP Consolidated Group. 

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        "Distribution
Agreement" shall mean the Distribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, between TMP and HHGI. 

        "Executive
Search Business" shall mean any business activity associated with counseling and assisting companies worldwide in the recruitment of high-level executives,
normally vice-president and above, including CEOs, COOs, CFOs and board members, as well as operations and staff positions, as determined by the TMP Vice President—Taxes, in
accordance with past practices. 

        "eResourcing
Business" shall mean any business activity associated with assisting companies around the world in finding suitable employees in the mid-market selection and
temporary contracting industry, excluding any business activity associated with the selection process through the use of interactive media and on-line databases, as determined by the TMP
Vice President—Taxes, in accordance with past practices. 

        "Federal
Tax" shall mean any Tax imposed under the Code and any related penalty imposed under Subtitle F of the Code. 

        "Final
Determination" shall mean (i) with respect to Federal Taxes, (A) a "determination" as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code, or (B) the date of
acceptance by or on behalf of the IRS of Form 870-AD (or any successor form thereto), as a final resolution of Tax liability for any Taxable period, except that a
Form 870-AD (or successor form thereto) that reserves the right of the taxpayer to file a claim for refund or the right of the IRS to assert a further deficiency shall not
constitute a Final Determination with respect to the item or items so reserved; (ii) with respect to Taxes other than Federal Taxes, any final determination of liability in respect of a Tax
that, under applicable law, is not subject to further appeal, review or modification through proceedings or otherwise; (iii) with respect to any Tax, any final disposition by reason of the
expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or applicable foreign equivalent; or (iv) with respect to any Tax, the payment of Tax by TMP, HHGI, or any member of the TMP Group or the
HHGI Group, whichever is responsible for payment of such Tax under applicable law, with respect to any item disallowed or adjusted by a Taxing Authority, provided that the provisions of
Section 9 hereof have been complied with, or, if such section is inapplicable, that the party responsible under the terms of this Agreement for such Tax is notified by the party paying such Tax
that it has determined that no action should be taken to recoup such disallowed item, and the other party agrees with such determination. 

        "HHGI
Group" shall mean HHGI and its Affiliates immediately after the Spin-off Date, including any predecessors thereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that for purposes of determining
whether an entity is a member of the HHGI Group, a transfer of beneficial ownership of an entity shall be treated as a transfer of title, regardless of whether title has actually passed; PROVIDED
FURTHER, that to the extent that TMP or an Affiliate of any member of the TMP Consolidated Group conducted at least one Executive Search Business or eResourcing Business and at least one
Non-Executive Search/eResourcing Business, each Executive Search Business and/or eResourcing Business, as applicable, shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a separate
corporation that is a member of the HHGI Group, unless such Executive Search Business and/or eResourcing Business, as applicable, continues to be conducted by an Affiliate of any member of the TMP
Group immediately after the Spin-off Date and each Non-Executive Search/eResourcing Business shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a separate corporation that is a
member of the TMP Group; PROVIDED FURTHER, that if with respect to any Pre-Spin-off Period any Affiliate of any member of the TMP Group was involved solely in the conduct of an
Executive Search Business or eResourcing Business, such member shall be treated as a member of the HHGI Group for such Pre-Spin-off Period, unless such Executive
Search Business or eResourcing Business, as applicable, continues to be conducted by an Affiliate of any member of the TMP Group immediately after the Spin-off Date; and PROVIDED FURTHER,
that if with respect to any Pre-Spin-off Period any Affiliate of any member of the HHGI Group was not involved in the conduct of an Executive Search Business or eResourcing
Business, such member shall not be treated as 

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a member of the HHGI Group for such Pre-Spin-off Period. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the HHGI Group shall include any entity (and any Affiliate thereof)
that is sold by TMP or any member of the TMP Group to HHGI or any member of the HHGI Group prior to the Spin-off Date in connection with the Restructuring. 

        "HHGI
Tax Liability" shall mean, with respect to any Taxable period and subject to Sections 3(e)(ii)-(iv), the HHGI Group's Tax liability for such Taxable period, computed as if the
relevant members of the HHGI Group were not and never were part of the TMP Consolidated Group, but rather were a separate affiliated group of corporations filing a similar group Return (PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that transactions with any member of the TMP Group shall not be taken into account until the first Taxable period in which such transaction is required to be taken into account for Tax
purposes under applicable law). Such computation shall be made (A) without regard to the income, deductions (including net operating loss and capital loss deductions) and credits in any year of
any member of the TMP Group, except to the extent that a payment was made to any member of the TMP Group with respect thereto, (B) by taking account of any Tax Asset of the HHGI Group,
including net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards and carrybacks and minimum Tax credits from earlier years of the HHGI Group, and with reduction for any such Tax Assets used by any member
of the TMP Group, (C) by applying the maximum applicable statutory Tax rate in effect under applicable law during the relevant year, (D) reflecting the positions, elections and
accounting methods used by the TMP Consolidated Group in preparing the relevant Return for the TMP Consolidated Group, (E) by not permitting the HHGI Group any compensation deductions
attributable to the exercise of options to purchase stock of TMP which are held by employees or former employees of the HHGI Group, and (F) without regard to gain attributable to the
recognition by TMP of any excess loss account with respect to the stock of HHGI or by HHGI of any excess loss account with respect to the stock of its subsidiaries, in each case as a result of the
Restructuring. 

        "IRS"
shall mean the Internal Revenue Service. 

        "LIBOR"
shall be determined on the basis of the offered rates for deposits in U.S. Dollars for a period of 30 days that appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR Page as of
11:00 a.m., London time. If at least two rates appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR Page, the rate will be the arithmetic mean of such rates. 

        "Non-Executive
Search/eResourcing Business" shall mean any business activity other than an Executive Search Business and/or an eResourcing Business. 

        "Person"
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section 7701(a)(1) of the Code. 

        "Post-Spin-off
Period" shall mean (i) any Taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the close of business on the Spin-off Date and
(ii) with respect to a Taxable period that begins before and ends after the Spin-off Date, the portion of such Taxable period that commences on the day immediately after the
Spin-off Date. 

        "Pre-Spin-off
Period" shall mean (i) any Taxable period ending on or before the close of business on the Spin-off Date and (ii) with
respect to a Taxable period that begins before and ends after the Spin-off Date, the portion of such Taxable period ending on and including the Spin-off Date. 

        "Prime"
shall mean the rate announced from time to time as "prime" as reported in the Wall Street Journal's Money Rates table as its prime rate with respect to the applicable currency. 

        "Restructuring"
shall mean the Spin-off, all transactions effected by the Spin-off and all transactions occurring in connection with the Spin-off;
including, but not limited to, any transaction contemplated by the Distribution Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement. 

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        "Return"
shall mean any Tax return, statement, report, form, election, claim or surrender (including estimated Tax returns and reports, extension requests and forms, and information
returns and reports) required to be filed with any Taxing Authority. 

        "Spin-off"
shall mean the distribution of all the HHGI common stock by TMP to its shareholders. 

        "Spin-off
Date" shall mean the date of closing of the Spin-off. 

        "Tax"
(and the correlative meaning, "Taxes," "Taxing" and "Taxable") shall mean (A) any net income, gross income, gross receipts, alternative or add-on minimum, sales,
use, business and occupation, value-added, trade, goods and services, ad valorem, franchise, profits, license, business royalty, withholding, payroll, employment, capital, excise, transfer, recording,
severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, asset, real estate, acquisition, environmental, custom duty, or other tax, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever,
including applicable foreign, together with any interest and any penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by a Taxing Authority; (B) any liability of a member of the TMP Group or
the HHGI Group, as the case may be, for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (A) for any Taxable period resulting from such member being a part of a Consolidated Group
pursuant to the application of Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-6 or any similar provision applicable under state, local or foreign law; or (C) except as otherwise provided in the Distribution Agreement, any liability of a
member of the TMP Group or the HHGI Group for the payment of any amounts described in clause (A) as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other party. 

        "Tax
Asset" shall mean any net operating loss, net capital loss, investment Tax credit, foreign Tax credit, target jobs Tax credit, low income housing credit, research and
experimentation credit, charitable deduction, or any other loss, credit or Tax attribute, including additions to basis of property and attributes which reduce or offset value-added Tax liability,
which could reduce any Tax (domestic or foreign), including, without limitation, deductions, credits, or alternative minimum net operating loss carryforwards related to alternative minimum Taxes. 

        "Tax
Benefit" shall mean an amount derived with respect to a Tax Asset that is equal to the excess of (A) the amount of Federal Taxes, Foreign Taxes, or State or Local Combined
Income Taxes, as the case may be, that would have been payable by the recipient of the Tax Benefit without the use of a Tax Asset (including, but not limited to, a carryback, carryforward, or
reattribution of the Tax Asset), over (B) the amount of Federal Taxes, Foreign Taxes or State or Local Combined Income Taxes, as the case may be, actually payable by such recipient. In the case
of a tax refund arising out of the use of a Tax Asset, the Tax Benefit shall be equal to the amount of the refund that was actually received over the amount of the refund that would have been received
in the absence of such Tax Asset. 

        "Tax
Item" shall mean any item of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit, or other attribute that may have the effect of increasing or decreasing any Tax. 

        "Tax
Packages" shall mean one or more packages of information that are (i) reasonably necessary for the purpose of preparing Returns of any Consolidated Group with respect to a
Pre-Spin-off Period and (ii) completed in all material respects in accordance with the standards that TMP has established for its subsidiaries with respect to the
relevant Pre-Spin-off Period. 

        "Tax
Proceeding" shall mean any Tax audit, dispute or proceeding (whether administrative or judicial). 

        "Taxing
Authority" shall mean any governmental authority (domestic or foreign), including, without limitation, any state, municipality, political subdivision or governmental agency,
responsible for the imposition of any Tax. 

        "TMP
Consolidated Group" shall mean with respect to any Taxable period, TMP and its Affiliates (including their predecessors and successors), including those Affiliates comprising the
HHGI Group. 

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        "TMP
Group" shall mean, with respect to any Taxable period, TMP and its Affiliates (including their predecessors and successors) other than those Affiliates comprising the HHGI Group. 

        "TMP
Tax Liability" shall mean, with respect to any Taxable period and subject to Sections 3(e)(ii)-(iv), the TMP Group's Tax liability for such Taxable period, computed as if the
relevant members of the TMP Group were not and never were part of the TMP Consolidated Group, but rather were a separate affiliated group of corporations filing a similar group Return (PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that transactions with any member of the HHGI Group shall not be taken into account until the first Taxable period in which such transaction is required to be taken into account for Tax
purposes under applicable law). Such computation shall be made (A) without regard to the income, deductions (including net operating loss and capital loss deductions) and credits in any year of
any member of the HHGI Group, except to the extent that a Tax Asset of any member of the HHGI Group was used to reduce the TMP Group Tax Liability, (B) by taking account of any Tax Asset of the
TMP Group, including net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards and carrybacks and minimum Tax credits from earlier years of the TMP Group, and without reduction for any such Tax Assets used by
any member of the HHGI Group, (C) by applying the maximum applicable statutory Tax rate in effect under applicable law during the relevant year, (D) reflecting the positions, elections
and accounting methods used by the Consolidated Group in preparing the relevant Return for the Consolidated Group and (E) by taking into account any compensation deductions in accordance with
Section 3(g) hereof. 

        "TMP
Vice President—Tax" shall include any successor position or title; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if such successor position or title does not have responsibility for Tax
matters, then the most senior position or title that has responsibility for Tax matters shall be substituted for the TMP Vice President-Tax in this Agreement. 

        (b)    Any
term used in this Agreement which is not defined in this Agreement shall, to the extent the context requires, have the meaning assigned to it in the Code or the
applicable Treasury regulations thereunder (as interpreted in administrative pronouncements and judicial decisions) or in comparable provisions of applicable law. 

        2.    ADMINISTRATIVE
AND COMPLIANCE MATTERS. 

        (a)    Sole
Tax Sharing Agreement. Any and all existing Tax sharing agreements or arrangements, written or unwritten, between any member of the TMP Group and any member of the
HHGI Group shall be or shall have been terminated as of the date of this Agreement. As of the date of this Agreement, neither the members of the HHGI Group nor the members of the TMP Group shall have
any further rights or liabilities thereunder, and this Agreement shall be the sole Tax sharing agreement between members of the HHGI Group and the members of the TMP Group. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any such termination is not binding on any Taxing Authority, the HHGI Group shall hold the affected
member of the TMP Group harmless against any adverse effect which would have been avoided if such termination had been given effect by such Taxing Authority. 

        (b)    Designation
of Agent. HHGI and each member of the HHGI Group, hereby irrevocably authorize TMP as its agent, coordinator, and administrator, for the purpose of taking
any and all actions (including the execution of waivers of applicable statutes of limitation) necessary or incidental to the filing of any Return, any amended Return, or any claim for refund (even
where an item or Tax Asset giving rise to an amended Return or refund claim arises in a Post-Spin-off Period), credit or offset of Tax or any other proceedings, and for the
purpose of making payments to, or collecting refunds from, any Taxing Authority, in each case relating only to any Pre-Spin-off Period. 

        (c)    Pre-Spin-Off
Period Returns. 

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        (i)    Preparation
of Income Tax Returns.    TMP will prepare and file, with the assistance of HHGI Group, all Returns of TMP Consolidated Group and all Separate
Income Tax Returns of any member of that group for all Pre-Spin-off Periods. TMP shall have the right with respect to such Returns to determine (A) the manner in which
such returns, documents or statements shall be prepared and filed, including, without limitation, the manner in which Tax Items shall be reported; (B) whether any extensions should be
requested, and (C) the elections that will be made by any member of TMP Group or HHGI Group. 

        (ii)    Audits
and Refunds.    With respect to all Returns of TMP Consolidated Group and all Separate Income Tax Returns of any member of that group for all
Pre-Spin-off Periods, except as otherwise provided in Section 8, TMP shall have the right to (i) contest, compromise or settle any adjustment or deficiency
proposed, asserted or assessed as a result of any audit of any Return, (ii) file, prosecute, compromise or settle any claim for refund, (iii) determine whether any refunds to which a
Consolidated Group may be entitled shall be received by way of refund or credited against the Tax liability of such Group and (iv) determine whether a deposit will be made with a Taxing
Authority to stop the running of interest. 

        (iii)    Delivery
of Tax Packages.    With respect to the 2002 and 2003 Tax years, HHGI and the members of the HHGI Group shall prepare and deliver to TMP all Tax
Packages no later than 90 days prior to the due date of such Returns taking into account duly filed extensions of time. 

        (iv)    Restructuring
Tax Liability.    To the extent that any Return for a Pre-Spin-off Period reflects any transaction effected in
connection with the Restructuring, TMP shall have complete discretion in determining the amount of any Tax liability resulting from the Restructuring that will be shown on such Return. For the purpose
of exercising such discretion, any such Return that is filed by a member of the HHGI Group shall be submitted by such member of the HHGI Group to TMP (together with any
relevant schedules, statements and, to the extent requested by TMP, supporting documentation) at least 45 days prior to the due date (including extensions) of such Return. To the extent
necessary to determine the amount of any Tax liability resulting from the Restructuring which will be shown on such Return, TMP shall have the right to review all work papers and procedures used to
prepare such Return. If, within 10 business days after delivery of any such Return, TMP objects to the amount of any Tax liability shown on such Return and resulting from the Restructuring, the Return
shall be adjusted in the manner TMP deems appropriate and as so adjusted shall be binding upon the parties without further adjustment. 

        (d)    Ratable
Allocation.    TMP may, at its option, elect and HHGI will join TMP (if necessary) in electing to ratably allocate items (other than extraordinary
items) of the HHGI Group in accordance with relevant provisions of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-76. If TMP exercises its option to make the election, each member of the HHGI
Group will provide a statement stating its consent to such election as required under the regulations. 

        (e)    Non-Income
Tax Returns and Post-Spin-Off Period Returns of the HHGI Group.    HHGI shall be solely responsible for the
preparation and filing of (i) Income Tax Returns of the HHGI Group for all Post-Spin-off Periods and the separate Foreign, State and Local Returns of HHGI and any member
of the HHGI Group, if any, for all Tax periods that end after the Spin-off Date and (ii) the Returns of HHGI Group for Non-Income Taxes for any tax period. 

        (f)    Short-Year
Combined State Returns.    TMP and HHGI agree that State or Local Returns in which a member of the HHGI Group files such Return with a
member of the TMP Group on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis and which was filed for Tax periods beginning prior to the Spin-off Date, will reflect a short taxable year for HHGI
ending on the Spin-off Date in any state or local taxing jurisdiction in which such tax year is allowed by administrative practice, whether or not required by law. 

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        3.    TAX
SHARING. 

        (a)    General.    Any
Return filed by TMP or a member of the TMP Group prior to the Spin-off Date that reflected the income, assets or operations of an
Executive Search Business or an eResourcing Business shall be treated as required to be filed by the TMP Group and any payment made prior to the Spin-off Date with respect to such Return
shall be treated as having been made by the TMP Group. Any Return filed by HHGI or a member of the HHGI Group prior to the Spin-off date that reflected the income, assets or operations of
a Non-Executive Search/eResourcing Business shall be treated as required to be filed by the HHGI Group and any payment made prior to the Spin-off date with respect to such
Return shall be treated as having been made by the HHGI Group. 

        (b)    Prior
Years.    Except as otherwise provided in Section 3(d)-(g), for all Taxable periods of TMP Consolidated Group, for which a Return has been filed
on the date of the Spin-off, during which the Tax Asset of the HHGI Group or TMP Group, as appropriate, was included in a Return of such Consolidated Group and the Tax Asset resulted in a
reduction of Taxes, neither the HHGI Group nor the TMP Group, as appropriate, is obligated to pay the HHGI Group or the TMP Group, as appropriate, for the Tax Benefit of the use of the Tax Asset in
such Return. 

        (c)    2002
and 2003 Short Year.    Except as otherwise provided in Section 3(d)-(g), for the calendar year 2002 and the 2003 Short Year of the TMP
Consolidated Group, for which a Return will be filed subsequent to the date of the Spin-off, during which the Tax Asset of the HHGI Group or the TMP Group, as applicable, may be included
in a Return of such Consolidated Group and the Tax Asset will result in a reduction of Taxes, neither the HHGI Group or the TMP Group, as applicable, will be obligated to pay the HHGI Group or the TMP
Group, as applicable, for the Tax benefit of the use of the Tax Asset in such Return. 

        (d)    Final
Determination.    If the Final Determination of the TMP Tax Liability with respect to any Consolidated Group reflects a Tax Asset that was not used to
reduce the Tax liability of the TMP Group, but may under applicable law be used to reduce the Tax liability of the HHGI Group for any Tax period, HHGI shall pay to TMP the actual Tax saving produced
by such Tax Asset within 30 days after such Tax saving is claimed on a Return, and the future Returns of the HHGI Group shall be adjusted to reflect such use. The amount of any such Tax saving
for any Tax period shall be the amount of the reduction in Taxes payable to a Taxing Authority (or the increase in any Tax refund) with respect to such period as compared to the Taxes that would have
been payable to a Taxing Authority (or the Tax refund that would have been received) by the Consolidated Group with respect to such period in the absence of such Tax Asset. 

        (e)    Carrybacks
and Certain Other Matters. 

        (i)    HHGI
and each member of the HHGI Group agrees not to carry back any Tax Asset of the HHGI Group from a Post-Spin-off Period without the advance
written consent of TMP. If TMP consents to such carryback, TMP shall not be obligated to pay to HHGI or any member of the HHGI Group the Tax Benefit received by TMP Consolidated Group from the use in
any Pre-Spin-Off Period of a carryback of any Tax Asset of HHGI Group from a Post-Spin-Off Period. 

        (ii)    Notwithstanding
the definitions of HHGI Tax Liability or TMP Tax Liability or any other provision in this Agreement, any loss recognized upon any sale to any member of
the TMP Consolidated Group of any Executive Search Business or eResourcing Business from a Pre-Spin-Off Period, or any Tax Asset used in an Executive Search Business and/or
eResourcing Business from a Pre-Spin-Off Period, shall be treated as a Tax Asset of the TMP Group. 

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        (iii)    Notwithstanding
the definitions of HHGI Tax Liability or TMP Tax Liability or any other provision in this Agreement, any Tax Asset or refund of Tax resulting from the
matters relating to the UK Inland Revenue Thin Capitalization examination shall be treated as a Tax Asset of, or a refund of Tax attributable to, the TMP Group, respectively. 

        (iv)    Notwithstanding
the definitions of HHGI Tax Liability or TMP Tax Liability or any other provision in this Agreement, any Tax Asset or refund of Tax resulting from the
sale or transfer of the stock or assets of the European restructurings, in accordance with the Distribution and Ancillary Agreements, shall be treated as a Tax Asset of, or a refund of Tax
attributable to, the TMP Group, respectively. 

        (f)    Treatment
of Adjustments and Payments. 

        (i)    Responsibility
for Payment.    Except as provided in paragraph (f)(ii)-(iv) or in Section 9, TMP shall be responsible for any payment due
to any taxing authority as a result of an audit adjustment to any Income Tax Return which relates solely to a Pre-Spin-off Period. HHGI shall be responsible for any payment due
to any taxing authority as a result of an adjustment to any Return of HHGI Group which relates solely to a Post-Spin-off period. In the case of any adjustment not covered in
the preceding sentence, TMP Vice President-Tax shall determine the amount to be paid by each party in a manner consistent with the principles of this Agreement and with past practices. 

        (ii)    Timing
Differences.    To the extent that any audit adjustment of an Income Tax Return relating to a Pre-Spin-off period is
attributable to timing differences attributable to the HHGI Group, HHGI shall pay to TMP an amount reflecting the timing differences. In the case of a Federal Return, or Foreign Return this amount
shall be equal to the actual amount of the adjustment to TMP Consolidated Group Tax liability that is attributable to the timing differences, as determined by TMP Vice President-Tax. In
the case of a Combined Income Tax Return or Separate Income Tax Return, the amount shall be equal to the difference between the tax actually due on the adjusted Return and the amount that would have
been due on the adjusted Return had HHGI not been included as a member of TMP Consolidated Group, as determined by TMP Vice President-Tax. 

        (iii)    Except
as provided in clause (iv) below, if any adjustment by reason of audit, amended return or otherwise is made with respect to a Return filed by a member of
the TMP Group which would have increased the HHGI Tax Liability with respect to a Pre-Spin-off Period Return, then within 30 days after any member of the TMP Group makes
a payment to a Taxing Authority or makes a deposit with a Taxing Authority to stop the running of interest with respect to such audit adjustment, the HHGI Group shall pay to the TMP Group the
additional HHGI Tax Liability. 

        (iv)    Any
refunds or credits of Tax (including a return of a deposit described in Section 3(f)(iii)) received by a member of the HHGI Group relating to a
Pre-Spin-off Period, to the extent attributable to any Tax Asset of any member of the HHGI Group shall be paid by the HHGI Group to the TMP Group within
30 days of receipt; provided that no such payment shall be required to the extent such refund or credit is attributable to an adjustment for which payment in respect thereof has previously been
made pursuant to Section 3(f)(iii) and PROVIDED FURTHER that, in determining the extent to which a refund is attributable to any Tax Asset of a member of the HHGI Group, if the portion
of any such refund represents interest with respect to Taxes and the items or Tax attributes to which such interest relates are not readily identifiable, then the TMP Vice President-Tax
shall in good faith determine the allocation of such interest among the items and Tax attributes of the members of the HHGI Group. 

8

 

        (g)    Deductions
and Certain Taxes Related to Options.    The TMP Group shall file Returns claiming (x) the Tax deductions attributable to the exercise of
options to purchase stock of TMP which are held by employees or former employees of the HHGI Group and (y) any other similar compensation related Tax deductions. Accordingly, (i) the TMP
Group shall be entitled to any such Tax deductions, (ii) the Returns of the TMP Group and the HHGI Group shall reflect the entitlement of the TMP Group to such deductions, and (iii) to
the extent any such deductions are disallowed, the HHGI Group shall file amended Returns claiming such deductions and shall pay to the TMP Group an amount equal to the actual benefit received by the
HHGI Group in respect of such deductions. If, at any time subsequent to a disallowance described in the immediately preceding clause (iii), the TMP Vice President-Tax determines
that the HHGI Group shall claim all subsequent Tax deductions attributable to the exercise of options to purchase TMP stock which are held by employees or former employees of the HHGI Group,
(i) the Returns of the TMP Group and the HHGI Group filed after such determination shall reflect such determination, (ii) not later than 3 days prior to the due date of any such
Return, HHGI shall notify the TMP Vice President-Tax of the amount of Tax deductions it intends to claim on such Return with respect to such options or other compensation related Tax
deductions, and (iii) the HHGI Group shall pay to the TMP Group an amount equal to the actual benefit received by the HHGI Group in respect of such deductions. For purposes of the immediately
preceding clause (i), the TMP Vice President—Tax will have the right to determine the amount of such Tax deductions that will be claimed by the HHGI Group on any such Return. For
purposes of each of the two immediately preceding clauses (iii), the actual benefit shall be considered equal to the excess of the amount of Tax that would have been payable to a Taxing Authority (or
of the Tax refund that would have been receivable) by the HHGI Group in the absence of such deduction over the amount of Tax actually payable to a Taxing Authority (or of the Tax refund actually
received) by the HHGI Group. Payment of the amount referred to in the first clause (iii) of this Section 3(g) shall be made within 30 days of the receipt by any member of the HHGI
Group of any refund, credit or other offset attributable thereto from the relevant Taxing Authority. Payment of the amount referred to in the second clause (iii) of this section 3(g)
shall be made not later than 3 days after the due date of the estimated Tax payment immediately following when any member of the HHGI Group becomes entitled to any refund, credit or other
offset attributable to such deduction. HHGI agrees to act as TMP's pay agent for purposes of administering and accounting for TMP stock options held by employees or former employees of the HHGI Group.
In addition, upon the exercise of any options to purchase stock of TMP which are held by employees or former employees of the HHGI Group, the HHGI Group (as agent for the TMP Group, where applicable)
shall prepare and file all applicable Returns, withhold and remit any required withholding under federal, state, local or foreign income Tax law, and pay the applicable tax liability under the Federal
Insurance Contributions Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, any state employment Tax law or any equivalent or similar foreign statute in connection with such an event. To the extent a Taxing
Authority determines that the TMP Group is liable for withholding Taxes or Taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, any state employment Tax law or any
equivalent or similar foreign statute in connection with the exercise of such
an option, the HHGI Group shall pay to the TMP Group an amount equal to the Tax paid by the TMP Group as a result of such Tax liability within 30 days of demand thereof. 

        4.    CERTAIN
REPRESENTATIONS AND COVENANTS. 

        (a)    HHGI
Representations.    HHGI and each member of the HHGI Group represent that as of the date hereof, and covenants that on the Spin-off Date,
there is no plan or intention (i) to liquidate, merge or consolidate HHGI or any member of the HHGI Group with any other Person subsequent to the Spin-off Date, (ii) to sell
or otherwise dispose of any asset, or cease business operations in any Executive Search Business or eResourcing Business of HHGI, or any member of the HHGI Group, subsequent to the
Spin-off Date, in a manner that would result in any increased 

9

 

Tax liability or reduction of any Tax Asset of the TMP Group or any member thereof or which would not be in the ordinary course of business, (iii) to take any action inconsistent with the
information and representations furnished to any Taxing Authority, legal counsel or accounting firm in connection with the request for a ruling or comparable pronouncement by a Taxing Authority, or
with the delivery of an opinion by such counsel or accounting firm, with respect to the Restructuring, regardless of whether such information or representations were included in the ruling or
pronouncement issued by the Taxing Authority or the opinion delivered by such counsel or accounting firm, (iv) to take any action that contravenes any existing gain recognition agreement or
other agreement with a Taxing Authority to which any member of the HHGI Group or the TMP Group is a party (v) to repurchase stock of HHGI in a manner contrary to the requirements of Revenue
Procedure 96-30 or in a manner contrary to the representations furnished to any Taxing Authority, legal counsel or accounting firm in connection with the request for a ruling or comparable
pronouncement by a Taxing Authority, or with the delivery of an opinion by such counsel or accounting firm, with respect to the Restructuring, or (vi) to enter into any negotiations,
agreements, or arrangements with respect to transactions or events (including stock issuances, pursuant to the exercise of options or otherwise, option grants, capital contributions, or acquisitions,
but not including the Spin-off) that may cause the Spin-off to be treated as part of a plan pursuant to which one or more persons acquire directly or indirectly HHGI stock
representing a "50-percent or greater interest" within the meaning of Section 355(d)(4) of the Code. 

        (b)    HHGI
Covenants.    HHGI covenants to TMP that, without the prior written consent of the TMP Vice President-Tax, 

        (i)    during
the two-year period following the Spin-off Date, neither HHGI nor any member of the HHGI Group will liquidate, merge or consolidate with
any other Person, 

        (ii)    during
the two-year period following the Spin-off Date neither HHGI nor any member of the HHGI Group will sell, exchange, distribute or
otherwise dispose of its assets or cease business operations in any Executive Search Business or eResourcing Business in a manner that would result in any increased Tax liability or reduction of any
Tax Asset of the TMP Group or any member thereof or which would not be in the ordinary course of business, 

        (iii)    HHGI
will not take any action that contravenes any existing gain recognition agreement or other agreement with a Taxing Authority to which any member of the HHGI Group
or the TMP Group is a party, 

        (iv)    on
or after the Spin-off Date, HHGI will not, nor will it permit any member of the HHGI Group to, make or change any accounting method, amend any Return or
take any Tax position on any Return, take any other action, omit to take any action or enter into any transaction that results in any increased Tax liability or reduction of any Tax Asset of the TMP
Group or any member thereof in respect of any Pre-Spin-off Period, 

        (v)    HHGI
will not, nor will it permit any member of the HHGI Group to, take any action inconsistent with the information and representations furnished to any Taxing
Authority, legal counsel or accounting firm in connection with a request for a ruling or comparable pronouncement by a Taxing Authority or with the delivery of an opinion by such counsel or accounting
firm, with respect to the Restructuring, regardless of whether such information or representations were included in the ruling or pronouncement issued by such Taxing Authority or the opinion delivered
by such counsel or accounting firm, 

        (vi)    HHGI
will for a minimum of two years following the date of such distribution, continue the active conduct of the historic business relied upon to satisfy the
requirements of Section 355(b) of the Code, 

10

 

        (vii)    HHGI
will not repurchase stock of HHGI in a manner contrary to the requirements of Revenue Procedure 96-30 or in a manner contrary to the representations
furnished to any Taxing Authority, legal counsel or accounting firm in connection with the request for a ruling or comparable pronouncement by a Taxing Authority, or with the delivery of an opinion by
such counsel or accounting firm, with respect to the Restructuring, 

        (viii)    during
the applicable period provided in Section 355(e)(2)(B) of the Code with respect to the Spin-off, HHGI will not enter into any transaction or
make any change in equity structure (including stock issuances, pursuant to the exercise of options, option grants or otherwise, capital contributions, or acquisitions, but not including the
Spin-off) that may cause the Spin-off to be treated as part of a plan pursuant to which one or more persons acquire directly or indirectly HHGI stock representing a
"50-percent or greater interest" within the meaning of Section 355(d)(4) of the Code, 

        (ix)    HHGI
will file federal consolidated returns with its subsidiaries for the Tax period immediately after the Spin-off Date. 

        (c)    TMP
Representations. 

        (i)    TMP
represents as of the date hereof that on the date of the Spin-off, there is no plan or intention to take any action inconsistent with the information and
representations furnished to the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the request for rulings under Section 355 and 368(a)(1)(D) of the Code. 

        (ii)    Except
as otherwise disclosed in public documents, TMP and the members of the TMP Group represent as of the date hereof that on the Spin-off date, neither
TMP or the TMP Group is aware of any present plan or intention by the current shareholders of TMP to sell, exchange, transfer by gift, or otherwise dispose of any of their stock in, or securities of,
TMP. 

        5.    INDEMNITIES. 

        (a)    HHGI
Indemnity.    HHGI and each member of the HHGI Group will jointly and severally indemnify TMP and the members of the TMP Group that were members of a
Consolidated Group that included such HHGI Affiliate against and hold them harmless from: 

        (i)    any
Tax Liability of the HHGI Group; 

        (ii)    any
liability or damage resulting from a breach by HHGI or any member of the HHGI Group of any representation or covenant made by HHGI herein; 

        (iii)    any
Tax Liability attributable to the Restructuring that is attributable to any action of HHGI or any member of the HHGI Group, without regard to whether the TMP Vice
President-Tax or any other TMP officer has consented to such action, including, but not limited to, any Taxes attributable to the failure of the Spin-off to qualify under
Section 355 of the Code or attributable to the application of Sections 355(e) or 355(f) of the Code with respect to such Spin-off if (x) for any reason a member or members of
the HHGI Group or a shareholder of such member or members is responsible for the Spin-off's failure to qualify under Section 355 or (y) the stock of HHGI is acquired by one
or more persons, whether directly or indirectly, such that Section 355(e) causes such stock not to be treated as "qualified property" for purposes of Section 361(c)(2); 

        (iv)    any
Tax Liability resulting from the recapture, pursuant to Section 904(f) of the Code, of an overall foreign loss for a Pre-Spin-off
Period to the extent that the TMP Vice President-Tax determines that such
loss is attributable to operations of the Executive Search Business and/or eResourcing Business in a Pre-Spin-off Period; 

11

 

        (v)    any
Tax Liability resulting from the recapture, pursuant to Section 367(a)(3)(C) of the Code, of a branch loss for a Pre-Spin-off Period
to the extent that the TMP Vice President-Tax determines that such loss is attributable to operations of the Executive Search Business and/or eResourcing Business in a
Pre-Spin-off Period; 

        (vi)    any
increase in any Tax Liability, or any reduction of any Tax Asset, of any member of the TMP Group resulting from a Final Determination of a Taxing Authority relating
to the pricing of services provided by a member of the TMP Group to a member of the HHGI Group; and 

        (vii)    all
liabilities, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable expenses of investigation and attorneys' fees and expenses), losses, damages, assessments,
settlements or judgments arising out of or incident to the imposition, assessment or assertion of any Tax liability or damage described in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) (v) or
(vi) including those incurred in the contest in good faith in appropriate proceedings relating to the imposition, assessment or assertion of any such Tax, liability or damage. 

        (b)    TMP
Indemnity.    TMP and each member of the TMP Group will jointly and severally indemnify HHGI and the members of the HHGI Group that were members of a
Consolidated Group that included such TMP Affiliate against and hold them harmless from: 

        (i)    any
Tax Liability of the TMP Group, other than any such liability described in Section 5(a); 

        (ii)    any
Tax Liability resulting from the Restructuring, other than any such liabilities described in Section 5(a); 

        (iii)    any
liability or damage resulting from a breach by TMP or any member of the TMP Group of any representation or covenant made by TMP herein; 

        (iv)    any
increase in any Tax Liability, or any reduction of any Tax Asset, of any member of the HHGI Group resulting from a Final Determination of a Taxing Authority
relating to the pricing of services provided by a member of the HHGI Group to a member of the TMP Group; and 

        (iv)    all
liabilities, costs, expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable expenses of investigation and attorneys' fees and expenses), losses, damages, assessments,
settlements or judgments arising out of or incident to the imposition, assessment or assertion of any Tax liability or damage described in (i), (ii), or (iii), or (iv) including those incurred
in the contest in good faith in appropriate proceedings relating to the imposition, assessment or assertion of any such Tax, liability or damage. 

If
a member of the TMP Group ceases to be an Affiliate of any member of the TMP Group as a result of a sale of its stock to a third party (whether or not treated as a sale or exchange of stock for Tax
purposes), such member of the TMP Group shall be released from its obligations under this Agreement upon such sale and neither TMP nor any member of the TMP Group shall have any obligation to
indemnify HHGI or any member of the HHGI Group under Section 5(b) for any liability or damage attributable to actions taken by such Affiliate after such sale. 

        (c)    Discharge
of Indemnity.    HHGI, TMP and the members of the HHGI Group and TMP Group, respectively, shall discharge their obligations under Sections 5(a) and
5(b) hereof, respectively, by paying the relevant amount within 30 days of demand thereof. The TMP Group shall be entitled to make such a demand at any time after a member of the TMP Group
makes a payment or deposit in respect of a Tax for which any member of the HHGI Group has an obligation under Section 5(a). The HHGI Group shall be entitled to make such a demand at any time
after a Final Determination of an obligation of any member of the TMP Group under 

12

 

Section 5(b). Any such demand shall include a statement showing the amount due under Section 5(a) or 5(b), as the case may be. Calculation mechanics relating to items described in
Section 5(a)(i) and 5(b)(i) are set forth in Section 2(c). Notwithstanding the foregoing, if either HHGI, TMP or any member of the HHGI Group or TMP Group disputes in good
faith the fact or the amount of its obligation under Section 5(a) or Section 5(b), then no payment of the amount in dispute shall be required until any such good faith dispute is
resolved in accordance with Section 16 hereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any amount not paid within 30 days of demand thereof shall bear interest as provided in Section 9. 

        (d)    Tax
Benefits.    If an indemnification obligation of any member of the TMP Group or any member of the HHGI Group, as the case may be, under this
Section 5 arises in respect of an adjustment that makes allowable any deduction, amortization, exclusion from income or other allowance (a "Tax Benefit") which would not, but for such
adjustment, be allowable, then any payment by any member of the TMP Group or any member of the HHGI Group, respectively, pursuant to this Section 5 shall be an amount equal to (x) the
amount otherwise due but for this subsection (d), minus (y) the present value of the product of the Tax Benefit multiplied (i) by the maximum applicable federal, foreign or state, as the
case may be, corporate tax rate in effect at the time such Tax Benefit becomes allowable to a member of the HHGI Group or a member of the TMP Group (as the case may be) or (ii) in the case of a
credit, by 100 percent. The present value of such product shall be determined by discounting such product from the time the Tax Benefit becomes allowable at a rate equal to Prime. 

        (e)    For
purposes of this Section 5, in the case of Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis and are payable for a Tax period that includes (but does not end on) the
Spin-off Date, the portion of such Tax related to the portion of such Tax period ending on the Spin-off Date shall (x) in the case of any Taxes other than Taxes based
upon or related to income, sales, gross receipts, or wages, be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire Tax period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in
the Tax period ending on the Spin-off Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire Tax period, and (y) in the case of any Tax based upon or related to
income, sales, gross receipts, or wages, be deemed equal to the amount which would be payable if the relevant Tax period ended on the Spin-off Date. 

        6.    PERFORMANCE.    TMP
agrees and acknowledges that TMP shall be responsible for the performance of the obligations of each member of the TMP Group hereunder
applicable to such member. HHGI agrees and acknowledges that HHGI shall be responsible for the performance by each member of the HHGI Group of the obligations hereunder applicable to such member. 

        7.    COMMUNICATION
AND COOPERATION. 

        (a)    Consult
and Cooperate.    HHGI and TMP shall consult and cooperate (and shall cause each member of the HHGI Group or the TMP Group, respectively, to cooperate)
fully at such time and to the extent reasonably requested by the other party in connection with all matters subject to this Agreement. Such cooperation shall include, without limitation: 

        (i)    the
retention and provision on reasonable request of any and all information including all books, records, documentation or other information pertaining to Tax matters
relating to the TMP Group and the HHGI Group, any necessary explanations of information, and access to personnel, until one year after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitation (giving
effect to any extension, waiver, or mitigation thereof); 

        (ii)    the
execution of any document that may be necessary or helpful in connection with any required Return or in connection with any audit, proceeding, suit or action; and 

13

 

        (iii)    the
use of the parties' best efforts to obtain any documentation from a governmental authority or a third party that may be necessary or helpful in connection with the
foregoing. 

        (b)    Provide
Information.    TMP and HHGI shall keep each other fully informed with respect to any material development relating to the matters subject to this
Agreement. 

        (c)    Tax
Attribute Matters.    TMP and HHGI shall promptly advise each other with respect to any proposed Tax adjustments relating to a Consolidated Group, which
are the subject of an audit or investigation, or are the subject of any proceeding or litigation, and which may affect any Tax liability or any Tax attribute of TMP, HHGI, the TMP Group, the HHGI
Group or any member of the HHGI Group or the TMP Group (including, but not limited to, basis in an asset or the amount of earnings and profits). 

        8.    AUDITS
AND CONTEST. 

        (a)    Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, TMP shall have full control over all matters relating to any Return or any Tax Proceeding relating to any Tax
matters of at least one member of the TMP Group or any Tax liability resulting from the Restructuring. HHGI may, at its own expense, participate in any such Tax Proceeding. TMP Vice
President—Tax shall have absolute discretion with respect to any decisions to be made, or the nature of any action to be taken, with respect to any matter described in the preceding
sentence. 

        (b)    The
indemnified party agrees to give notice to the Indemnitor of the assertion of any claim, or the commencement of any suit, action or proceeding in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder within 30 days of such assertion or commencement, or such earlier time that would allow the Indemnitor to timely respond to such claim, suit, action or
proceeding. 

        (c)    With
respect to Returns relating to Taxes solely attributable to the HHGI Group, HHGI and the members of the HHGI Group shall have full control over all matters relating
to any Tax Proceeding in connection therewith. HHGI and the members of the HHGI Group shall have absolute discretion with respect to any decisions to be made, or the nature of any action to be taken,
with respect to any matter described in the preceding sentence. 

        9.    PAYMENTS.    All
payments to be made hereunder shall be made in immediately available funds. Except as otherwise provided, all payments required to be made
pursuant to this Agreement will be due 30 days after the receipt of notice of such payment or, where no notice is required, 30 days after the fixing of liability or the resolution of a
dispute. Payments shall be deemed made when received. All payments shall be increased to reflect any tax liability of the payee such that the payee receives the After-Tax Amount of any
such payment. Any payment that is not made by the TMP Group when due shall bear interest at LIBOR plus 25 basis points as quoted from time to time, for each day until paid. Any payment that is not
made by the HHGI Group when due shall bear interest at LIBOR plus 25 basis points, as quoted from time to time, for each day until paid. If, pursuant to a Final Determination, any amount paid by TMP
or the members of the TMP Group, pursuant to this Agreement results in any increased HHGI Tax liability or reduction of any Tax Asset of TMP or any member of the TMP Group, relating to a HHGI Tax
Liability, then HHGI, shall indemnify TMP or the TMP Group and hold it harmless from any interest or penalty attributable to such increased Tax liability or the reduction of such Tax Asset and shall
pay to TMP or the TMP Group, in addition to amounts otherwise owed, the After-Tax Amount. With respect to any payment required to be made
under this Agreement, TMP Vice President—Tax has the right to designate, by written notice to HHGI, which member of the HHGI Group or the TMP Group, as the case may be, will make or
receive such payment and in which currency such payment will be made. In addition, the remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which
may otherwise be available to any party at law or in equity. 

14

 

        10.    NOTICES.    All
notices and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including facsimile or similar writing) and shall be deemed given
when received addressed as follows: 

        If
to TMP or the TMP Group, to: 

Patrick
Harrington

Vice President—Tax TMP Worldwide, Inc.

622 Third Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile: (917) 256-8526 

If
to HHGI or the HHGI Group, to: 

Hudson
Highland Group, Inc.

622 Third Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Facsimile: (917) 256-8403

Attention: Jon F. Chait 

At
such time that HHGI hires a Vice President of Taxes, notices to HHGI or the HHGI Group shall be given to the Vice President of Taxes, or such successor position or title. 

        11.    COSTS
AND EXPENSES. 

        (i)    Except
as expressly set forth in this Agreement, each party shall bear its own costs and expenses incurred pursuant to this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement,
costs and expenses shall include,
but not be limited to, reasonable attorney fees, accountant fees and other related professional fees and disbursements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the HHGI Group will
be responsible for its allocable portion, as determined by the TMP Vice President—Tax, of (i) all costs and expenses attributable to filing any Return that reflects the income,
assets or operations of the HHGI Group and (ii) all costs and expenses incurred by TMP in complying with the provisions of Section 7 of this Agreement. 

        (ii)    With
respect to all Tax Proceedings, costs shall be allocated in good faith by the TMP Vice President—Tax. Each party hereto shall be liable for its
allocable portion of such costs as provided in Section 5. 

        12.    EFFECTIVENESS;
TERMINATION AND SURVIVAL.    This Agreement shall become effective upon the closing of the Spin-off. All rights and obligations
arising hereunder with respect to a Pre-Spin-off Tax Period shall survive until they are fully effectuated or performed and, provided, further, that notwithstanding anything in
this Agreement to the contrary, this Agreement shall remain in effect and its provisions shall survive for one year after the full period of all applicable statutes of limitation or applicable foreign
equivalent (giving effect to any extension, waiver or mitigation thereof) and, with respect to any claim hereunder initiated prior to the end of such period, until such claim has been satisfied or
otherwise resolved. 

        13.    SECTION
HEADINGS.    The captions herein are included for convenience of reference only and shall be ignored in the construction or interpretation hereof. 

        14.    ENTIRE
AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. 

        (a)    Entire
Agreement.    This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersedes all
prior agreements, understandings and negotiations, both written and oral, between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof. 

15

 

        (b)    Amendments
and Waivers.    Any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, and only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and signed, in the
case of an amendment, by TMP and HHGI, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective. No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. The
rights and remedies herein provided shall be cumulative and not exclusive of any rights or remedies provided by law. 

        15.    GOVERNING
LAW AND INTERPRETATION.    This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving effect
to laws and principles relating to conflicts of law. 

        16.    DISPUTE
RESOLUTION.    If the parties hereto are unable to resolve any disagreement or dispute relating to this Agreement, including but not limited to whether
a transaction is part of the Restructuring and whether a Tax liability is a TMP Tax Liability or a HHGI Tax Liability, such dispute shall be resolved in good faith by the TMP Vice
President—Tax. 

        17.    COUNTERPARTS.    This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same Agreement. 

        18.    ASSIGNMENTS;
THIRD PARTY BENEFICIARIES.    Except as provided below, this Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure only to the benefit of the parties
hereto and their respective successors and assigns, by merger, acquisition of assets or otherwise (including but not limited to any successor of a party hereto succeeding to the Tax attributes of such
party under applicable law). This Agreement is not intended to benefit any person other than the parties hereto and such successors and assigns, and no such other person shall be a third party
beneficiary hereof. If, during the period beginning on the Spin-off Date and ending upon the expiration of the survival period set forth in Section 12, any corporation becomes an
Affiliate of any member of the HHGI Group, such Affiliate shall be bound by the terms of this Agreement and HHGI shall provide evidence to TMP of such Affiliate's agreement to be bound by the terms of
this Agreement. 

        19.    SEVERABILITY.    If
any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any party or circumstances shall be determined by any court of
competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable to any extent, the remainder of this Agreement or such provision or the application of such provision to such party or circumstances,
other than those determined to be so invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall remain in full force and effect to the fullest extent permitted by law and shall not be affected by such determination,
unless such a construction would be unreasonable. 

        20.    SETOFF.    If,
at the time HHGI is required to make any payment to TMP under this Agreement, TMP owes HHGI any amount under this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement (as such term is defined in the Distribution Agreement), then such amounts shall be offset and the excess shall be paid by the party liable for such excess. Similarly, if at the time TMP is
required to make any payment to HHGI under this Agreement, HHGI owes TMP any amount under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (as such term is defined in the Distribution Agreement), then such
amounts shall be offset and the excess shall be paid by the party liable for such excess. 

        21.    FURTHER
ASSURANCES.    In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, TMP and HHGI shall use reasonable efforts to take, or
cause to be taken, all actions, and
to do, or cause to be done, all things, reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws, regulations and agreements or otherwise to consummate and make effective their obligations
under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, using its reasonable efforts to obtain any consents and approvals and to make any filings and applications necessary or desirable in order to carry
out 

16

 

their obligations under this Agreement; provided that no party hereto shall be obligated to pay any consideration therefor (except for filing fees and other similar charges) to any third party from
whom such consents or approvals are requested or to take any action or omit to take any action if the taking of or the omission to take such action would be unreasonably burdensome to the party, its
Group or its Group's business. 

        22.    AUTHORIZATION,
ETC.    Each of the parties hereto hereby represents and warrants that it has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this
Agreement, that this Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of such party, that this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of each such
party, and that the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by such party does not contravene or conflict with any provision or law or of its charter or bylaws or any agreement,
instrument or order binding on such party. 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed and delivered this Agreement as of the day and year first written above. 

	 	 	TMP on its own behalf and on behalf of the

members of the TMP Group.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	
 Name:

Title:
	 	 	 	 
	

 	
 	

HHGI on its own behalf and on behalf of the

members of the HHGI Group.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	
 Name:

Title:

17

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Exhibit 10.3

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TAX SEPARATION AGREEMENTQuickLinks
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Exhibit 10.4    
  

 
 

LOAN AGREEMENT    
  

        LOAN AGREEMENT, dated as of March    , 2003, between HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation having its principal office at 622
Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017 (the "Borrower"), and TMP WORLDWIDE INC., a Delaware corporation having its principal office at 622 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017 (the "Lender"). 

        R
E C I T A L S: 

        The
Borrower desires the Lender, and the Lender is willing, subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement and in the "Financing Agreements" (as hereinafter
defined), to make cash advances to the Borrower from the date hereof through the Maturity Date (as hereinafter defined) in the aggregate principal sum not in excess of $15,000,000 at any one time
outstanding, which advances shall be due and payable in full on the Maturity Date. 

        NOW,
THEREFORE, IT IS AGREED: 

SECTION
1.    DEFINITIONS AND ACCOUNTING TERMS.

        1.1    Defined Terms.    As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless the
context otherwise requires: 

        "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with, such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by"
and "under common control with") when used with respect to any specified Person, shall mean the power to direct or cause the direction of the actions, management or policies of such Person, directly
or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise and whether or not such power is actually exercised. 

        "Agreement" shall mean this Loan Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms. 

        "Availability" shall mean $15,000,000. 

        "Business Day" shall mean any day other than (i) a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York, New York
are authorized or required to close under the laws of the State of New York, and (ii) when used with respect to any LIBOR Loan, such definition shall also exclude any day on which commercial
banks in London are not open for dealing in Dollar deposits in the London Interbank Market. 

        "Default Rate" shall mean the Prime Rate plus 4.0%. 

        "Dollars" and the symbol "$" shall mean lawful currency of the United States of America. 

        "Financing Agreements" shall mean the following agreements and instruments (as such agreements and instruments may be hereafter amended,
modified or supplemented in accordance with their respective terms): (i) the Note and (ii) any other supplementary agreements or instruments now or hereafter delivered to the Lender by
the Borrower in connection with the Loans, including without limitation, the Security Agreement. 

        "GAAP" shall mean U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis. 

        "Loans" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof. 

        "Maturity Date" shall mean the date that is the earlier of (i) six months from the date hereof or (ii) the date on which the
Borrower or any combination of the Borrower's Subsidiaries closes on 

 

a credit agreement or credit agreements with a third party or third parties which provides for a total borrowing capacity with such third party or third parties of $15,000,000 or more. 

        "Note" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 hereof. 

        "Obligations" shall mean all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of the Borrower to the Lender under this Agreement and the
Financing Agreements, whether now existing or hereafter created, direct or indirect, due or not, including, without limitation, all obligations, liabilities and indebtedness of the Borrower with
respect to the Loans and all fees, costs, expenses and indemnity obligations hereunder or thereunder. 

        "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, joint venture, firm, corporation, trust, or other business or legal entity. 

        "Prime Rate" shall mean the rate of interest announced from time to time by Citibank, NA in New York City as its prime rate of interest. 

        "Security Agreement" shall mean that certain security agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Borrower, its Subsidiaries
and the Lender. 

        "Subsidiary" shall mean a corporation, partnership or other entity of which shares of stock or other ownership interests having ordinary
voting power (other than stock or such other ownership interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the board of directors or other managers of
such corporation, partnership or other entity are at the time owned, or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, or both, by the
Borrower. 

SECTION
2.    FINANCING.

        2.1    Loans.

        2.1.1    Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Borrower's request the Lender shall make cash advances (each a "Loan" and collectively the
"Loans") to the Borrower at any time and from time to time from the date hereof to, but not including, the Maturity Date. Following the Maturity Date, the Borrower shall have no right to request any
Loans. 

        2.1.2    The
Borrower may repay any Loans on any Business Day provided each repayment shall be in the minimum principal sum of $250,000 or in integral multiples of $250,000 in
excess thereof. The Borrower shall be entitled to borrow or re-borrow Loans on any Business Day provided that each of the Loans shall be in the minimum principal sum of $250,000 or in
integral multiplies of $250,000 in excess thereof. 

        2.1.3    Concurrently
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Borrower shall evidence its obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Loans by
executing and delivering to the Lender a promissory note in the principal sum of $15,000,000 in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A (the "Note"). 

        2.1.4    The
Borrower shall give the Lender notice of each proposed borrowing of Loans, not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day of such
proposed borrowing. The notice of borrowing shall be given by telephone to Jim Fawcett at (212) 351-7146 and in writing whereby each such borrowing notice shall specify
(i) the date of such borrowing (which shall be a Business Day), (ii) the amount thereof (which shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement), and (iii) shall
otherwise be in the form of Exhibit B hereto (the "Borrowing Notice"). Each Borrowing Notice shall be effective upon receipt and shall irrevocably commit the Borrower to borrow in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement. The Borrower shall give the Lender notice of each repayment not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day of 

2

 

such proposed repayment by telephone to Jim Fawcett at (212) 351-7146 and by email to and specifying the repayment amount thereof (which shall be in accordance with the provisions
of this Agreement). All repayments shall be made in immediately available Dollars transferred for good value on the notified repayment date to the following Lender bank account or to such other
account as the Lender may specify from time to time in writing: Fifth Third Bank, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45263, ABA Number: 042000314, Account Name: TMP Worldwide Inc.,
Account Number: 99939084. 

        2.1.5    In
no event shall the aggregate principal balance of the Loans at any time outstanding exceed Availability. If, at any time, the aggregate principal balance of the
Loans then outstanding shall exceed Availability, the Borrower shall immediately make a prepayment on the Loans in an amount equal to such excess. 

        2.2    Term Out of Principal.    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, the principal sum of the
Loans outstanding on the Maturity Date shall be paid in one installment on the Maturity Date. 

        2.3    Interest Rate and Other Charges.    

        2.3.1    Prime Rate.    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Section 2.3, the Borrower shall pay
interest to the Lender on the outstanding and unpaid principal amount of the Loans at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate. 

        2.3.2    Calculation of Interest; Payment.    Interest on the Loans shall be calculated on the basis of the actual
number of days elapsed in a 360-day year. Interest shall be due and payable monthly in arrears on the 15th day of each month, however, if the 15th day of the
month is not a Business Day interest shall be due on the immediately following Business Day. By way of example interest for the period May 1, 2003 through and including May 31, 2003
shall be payable on June 16, 2003. Interest payments shall be made in immediately available Dollars transferred to the following Lender bank account or to such other account as the Lender may
specify from time to time in writing: Fifth Third Bank, 38 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45263, ABA Number: 042000314, Account Name: TMP Worldwide Inc., Account Number: 99939084. 

        2.3.3    Overdue Payments.    If any payment of principal (whether due at maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise),
interest or other fees or charges payable by the Borrower hereunder or under any of the Financing Agreements shall not be paid when due, the Borrower shall pay interest on the overdue payment for the
period for which overdue, on demand, at the Default Rate, but in no event in excess of the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. 

SECTION
3.    CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.

        3.1    Conditions to Making the Initial Loan.    The obligation of the Lender to make the initial Loan is subject to
the conditions precedent that: 

        3.1.1    Financing Agreements.    The Borrower shall have executed and delivered to the Lender this Agreement and the
other the Financing Agreements to be executed by it, and all other agreements, instruments and documents required or contemplated by this Agreement and the Financing Agreements. 

        3.1.2    Evidence of Borrower Corporate Actions.    The Lender shall have received copies of all corporate action
taken by the Borrower to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Financing Agreements to be executed by it. All of the foregoing documents shall be certified by the Borrower's Secretary in a Secretary's Certificate dated as of even date herewith. 

3

 

        3.1.3    Cash on Hand.    The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall, on a consolidated basis, as shown on a consolidated
balance sheet prepared by Borrower and certified by the Borrower's Chief Financial Officer (or functional equivalent) to be in accordance with GAAP as of the month end immediately prior to the month
in which the Borrower has requested a Loan have cash and cash equivalents of no more than $10 million. 

        3.2    Additional Preconditions.    As of the date of the making of any of the Loans to the Borrower, as a condition
to the making of any such Loans: 

        3.2.1    Representations and Warranties.    All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or
otherwise made to the Borrower pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Financing Agreements shall be true, complete and correct in all material respects. 

        3.2.2    Event of Default.    There shall exist no Event of Default (or any event which with the giving of notice or
the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default). 

        3.2.3    Cash on Hand.    The Borrower and its Subsidiaries shall, on a consolidated basis, as shown on a consolidated
balance sheet prepared by Borrower and certified by the Borrower's Chief Financial Officer (or functional equivalent) to be in accordance with GAAP as of the month end immediately prior to the month
in which the Borrower has requested a Loan have cash and cash equivalents of no more than $10 million. 

SECTION
4.    REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

        In
order to induce the Lender to enter into this Agreement and to make the Loans hereunder, the Borrower represents and warrants to the Lender as follows: 

        4.1    Organization.

        The
Borrower and each Subsidiary is a duly organized and validly existing corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation with perpetual corporate
existence and has all requisite right, power and authority and all necessary licenses and permits to own and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as now conducted and as
presently proposed to be conducted. The Borrower and each Subsidiary has qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each state or other jurisdiction where the nature of its business
or the ownership or use of its property requires such qualification, except such jurisdictions, if any, in which the failure to be so qualified will not have a material and adverse effect on either
the conduct of its business or the ownership of its properties. 

        4.2    Authorization.

        The
Borrower has all requisite legal right, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the Financing Agreements executed by it and
all other instruments and documents delivered by it pursuant hereto and thereto. The Borrower has taken or caused to be taken all necessary action to authorize the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement, the Financing Agreements executed by it and any other related agreements, instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered by the Borrower pursuant hereto and thereto. This
Agreement, the Financing Agreements executed by the Borrower and all related agreements, instruments or documents delivered or to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto constitute and will constitute
legal, valid and binding obligations of the Borrower, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and to the exercise of judicial discretion in accordance with general principles of equity. 

        4.3    No Conflicts.    Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Financing Agreements, or any of the
instruments and documents delivered or to be delivered pursuant hereto or 

4

 

thereto, by the Borrower, nor the consummation of the transactions herein or therein contemplated, nor compliance with the provisions hereof or thereof, will violate any law, statute or regulation,
or any order, writ or decree of any court or governmental instrumentality, or will conflict with, or result in the breach of, or constitute a default in any respect under, any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, agreement or other instrument to which the Borrower is a party, or by which any of its properties may be bound or affected, or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any of its properties (except as contemplated hereunder or under the Financing Agreements) or will violate any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or
By-Laws of the Borrower, each as amended to date. 

SECTION
5.    AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS.

        The
Borrower covenants and agrees that, until all of the Obligations are paid and satisfied in full, it shall comply, or cause compliance with, the following covenants: 

        5.1    Notification to Lender.    The Borrower shall promptly notify the Lender of (i) any Event of Default
hereunder, (ii) any event, condition or act which with the giving of notice or the passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default hereunder, (iii) any material litigation
or proceedings that are instituted or threatened (to the knowledge of the Borrower) against the Borrower or any Subsidiary or any of their respective assets, and (iv) each and every default by
the Borrower or any Subsidiary under any obligation for borrowed money which would permit the holder of such obligation to accelerate its maturity, including the names and addresses of the holders of
such obligation and the amount thereof, in each case describing the nature thereof and the action the Borrower proposes to take with respect thereto. 

        5.2    Further Assurances.    The Borrower shall duly execute and deliver, or will cause to be duly executed and
delivered, such further instruments and documents, and will do or use its best efforts to cause to be done such further acts as may be necessary or proper in the Lender's opinion to effectuate the
provisions or purposes of this Agreement and the Financing Agreements. 

SECTION
6.    EVENTS OF DEFAULT/REMEDIES.

        6.1    Events of Default.    The occurrence of any one or more of the following events shall constitute an "Event of
Default": 

        6.1.1    The
Borrower shall fail to pay the principal of, or interest on, the Note, or any other fee or charge payable under this Agreement or under any Financing Agreement, as
and when due and payable. 

        6.1.2    If
a default shall be made by the Borrower in the performance or observance of, or shall occur under, any covenant, agreement or provision contained in this Agreement
(other than as described in Section 6.1.1 above) or any other agreement between the Lender and the Borrower; or if this Agreement or any Financing Agreements shall terminate, be terminable or
be terminated or become void or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever without the prior written consent of the Lender. 

        6.2    Remedies.    (a) Upon the occurrence of any one or more of such Events of Default, the Lender may, at
its option, without presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor or notice of protest or any other notice, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrower, declare the Loans to be due
and payable together with interest at the Default Rate. The Lender shall have all of the rights and remedies set forth in this Agreement and the Financing Agreements, and in any instrument or document
referred to herein or therein, and under any other applicable law relating to this Agreement or the Financing Agreements. At any time during the existence of an Event of Default, Lender will also have
the immediate right to enforce and realize upon a collateral security granted 

5

 

under any Financing Agreements in any manner or order that Lender deems expedient without regard to any equitable principles of marshalling or otherwise. 

        (b)    Other
Remedies. In addition to the rights and remedies expressly granted in the Financing Agreements, Lender also will have all other legal and equitable rights and
remedies granted by or available under all applicable law, and all rights and remedies will be cumulative in nature. 

SECTION
7.    MISCELLANEOUS. 

        7.1    Survival of Agreement.    All agreements, representations and warranties contained herein or made in writing by
the parties hereto in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Financing Agreements and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein or therein regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Lender. 

        7.2    No Waiver; Cumulative Remedies.    No failure to exercise, and no delay in exercising on the part of the
Lender, any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or under any of the Financing Agreements or other documents referred to herein or therein shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any
single or partial exercise of any right, power or privilege hereunder or thereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power and privilege. The rights
and remedies of the Lender hereunder and under the Financing Agreements and under any other present and future agreements between the Lender and the Borrower are cumulative and not exclusive of any
rights or remedies provided by law, or under any of said Financing Agreements or agreements and all such rights and remedies may be exercised successively or concurrently. 

        7.3    Notices and Deliveries.

        7.3.1    Manner of Delivery.    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, all notices, communications
and materials to be given or delivered pursuant to this Agreement or any of the Financing Agreements shall be given or delivered in writing (which shall include telex and telecopy transmissions). 

        7.3.2    Addresses.    All notices, communications and materials to be given or delivered pursuant to this Agreement
or any of the Financing Agreements shall be given or delivered at the following respective
addresses and telex, telecopier and telephone numbers and to the attention of the following individuals or departments: 

(i)    if
to the Borrower, to it at: 

622
Third Avenue

New York, New York, 10017

Telecopier No.: 917-256-8403

Attention: Jon Chait 

(ii)    if
to the Lender, to it at: 

622
Third Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Telecopier No.: 917-256-8526

Attention: Myron Olesnyckyj, General Counsel 

or
at such other address or telecopier number or to the attention of such other individual or department as the party to which such information pertains may hereafter specify for the purpose in a
notice to the other specifically captioned "Notice of Change of Address". 

6

 

        7.3.3    Effectiveness.    Each notice and communication and any material to be given or delivered pursuant to this
Agreement or any of the Financing Agreements shall be deemed so given or delivered (i) if sent by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, on the third Business
Day after such notice, communication or material, addressed as above provided, is delivered to a United States post office and a receipt therefor is issued thereby, (ii) if sent by any other
means of physical delivery, when such notice, communication or material is delivered to the appropriate address as above provided, and (iii) if sent by telecopier, when such notice,
communication or material is transmitted to the appropriate telecopier number as above provided and is received at such number, provided however, that in each of the foregoing cases notices of change
of address or telecopier number shall not be deemed given until received. 

        7.4    Amendments and Waivers.    Neither this Agreement, nor any of the Financing Agreements or any other instrument
or document referred to herein or therein may be changed, waived, discharged or
terminated orally, except by an instrument in writing signed by the party against whom enforcement of the change, waiver, discharge or termination is sought. 

        7.5    Applicable Law.    This Agreement and the Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or
therein and the obligations of the parties hereunder or thereunder are being executed and delivered in New York, New York and shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York applied to agreements entered into and performed therein. 

        7.6    Successors.    This Agreement, the Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the parties and their respective heirs, successors and assigns, except that the Borrower may not assign its rights under this
Agreement, the Financing Agreements and any other document referred to herein or therein without the prior written consent of the Lender. 

        7.7    Partial Invalidity.    If any provision of this Agreement or the Financing Agreements is held to be invalid or
unenforceable, such invalidity or unenforceability shall not invalidate this Agreement or the Financing Agreements as a whole but this Agreement or the particular Financing Agreement, as the case may
be, shall be construed as though it did not contain the particular provision or provisions held to be invalid or unenforceable and the rights and obligations of the parties shall be construed and
enforced only to such extent as shall be permitted by law. 

        7.8    Headings and Word Meanings.    The headings used herein are for convenience only and do not constitute matters
to be considered in interpreting this Agreement. The words "herein," "hereinabove," "hereof," and "hereunder," when used anywhere in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not merely
to a subdivision in which such words appear, unless the context otherwise requires. The singular shall include the plural, the masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter and the
disjunctive shall include the conjunctive, and vice versa, unless the context otherwise requires. 

        7.9    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL.    THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION IN ANY COURT WITH
RESPECT TO, IN CONNECTION WITH, OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, THE FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR ANY AGREEMENT, INSTRUMENT OR DOCUMENT DELIVERED PURSUANT HERETO OR THERETO, OR THE VALIDITY, PROTECTION,
INTERPRETATION, ADMINISTRATION, COLLECTION OR ENFORCEMENT HEREOF OR THEREOF, OR ANY OTHER CLAIM OR DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER. 

        7.10    JURISDICTION; SERVICE OF PROCESS.    THE BORROWER HEREBY IRREVOCABLY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK FOR THE COUNTY OF NEW YORK, AND THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN CONNECTION WITH 

7

 

ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE FINANCING AGREEMENTS OR ANY AGREEMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED PURSUANT HERETO OR THERETO. IN ANY SUCH LITIGATION,
BORROWER WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF ANY SUMMONS, COMPLAINT OR OTHER PROCESS AND AGREES THAT THE SERVICE THEREOF MAY BE MADE BY CERTIFIED MAIL DIRECTED TO IT AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH HEREIN, OR
DESIGNATED IN WRITING PURSUANT TO, THIS AGREEMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PERMITTED BY THE RULES OF EITHER OF SAID COURTS. 

        7.11    Indemnity.    The Borrower hereby agree to defend, indemnify, and hold the Lender harmless from and against
any and all claims, damages, investigations, judgments, penalties, costs and expenses (including attorney fees and court costs now or hereafter arising from the aforesaid enforcement of this clause)
arising directly or indirectly from the activities of the Borrower, and each Subsidiary, their respective predecessors in interest, or third parties with whom either has a contractual relationship,
their respective use of proceeds of the Loans, or arising directly or indirectly from the violation of any environmental protection, health, or safety law, whether such claims are asserted by any
governmental agency or any other Person. This indemnity shall survive termination of this Agreement. 

        7.12    Marshalling; Recourse to Security; Payments Set Aside.    The Lender shall not be under any obligation to
marshal any assets in favor of the Borrower or any other party or against or in payment of any or all of the Obligations of the Borrower to the Lender hereunder or under the Financing Agreements or
otherwise. Recourse to security shall not be required at any time. To the extent that the Borrower makes a payment or payments to the Lender, or the Lender exercises its rights of set-off,
and such payment or payments or the proceeds of such set-off or any part thereof are subsequently invalidated, declared to be fraudulent or preferential, set aside and/or required to be
repaid to a trustee, receiver or any other party under any bankruptcy law, state or federal law, common law or equitable cause, then, to the extent of such recovery, the obligation or part thereof
originally intended to be satisfied, and all liens, rights and remedies therefor, shall be revived and continued in full force and effect as if such payment had not been made or such
set-off had not occurred. 

        7.13    Set-off.    In addition to any rights and remedies of the Lender now or hereafter provided by law,
the Lender shall have the right, without prior notice to the Borrower, any such notice being expressly waived by the Borrower to the extent permitted by applicable law, on the occurrence and during
the continuation of any Event of Default to set off and apply against any Obligation, whether matured or immature, of the Borrower any amount owing from the Lender to the Borrower, at or at any time
after the happening of any such Event of Default, and such right of set-off may be exercised by the Lender against the Borrower or against any trustee in bankruptcy,
debtor-in-possession, assignee for the benefit or creditors, receiver, or execution, judgment or attachment creditor of any of them, notwithstanding the fact that such right of
set-off shall not have been exercised by the Lender before the making, filing or issuance, or service on the Lender, of, or of notice of, any such event or proceeding. 

        7.14    Counterparts; Facsimile Signature.    This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original but all of which when taken together shall constitute but one contract, and
shall become effective when copies hereof which, when taken together, bear the signatures of each of the parties hereto shall be delivered to the Lender. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a
signature page to this Agreement by telecopier shall be effective as delivery of a manually executed signature page hereto. 

8

 

        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the day and year first above written. 

	 	 	HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	

	 	 	Name:

Title:
	

 	
 	

TMP WORLDWIDE INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	

	 	 	Name:

Title:

9

  

EXHIBIT A  

  
 

    SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE    
  

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned, HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Borrower"), PROMISES TO PAY to the order of TMP
WORLDWIDE INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Lender") at its office at 622 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10017, or at such other place as may be designated by the holder hereof in writing,
the principal sum of FIFTEEN MILLION ($15,000,000.00) DOLLARS or, if less, the aggregate unpaid principal sum of all Loans made by the Lender to the Borrower from time to time pursuant to a loan
agreement, dated the date hereof, between the Borrower and the Lender (the "Loan Agreement"), in one installment on the earlier of (i) six months from the date hereof or (ii) the date on
which the Borrower or any combination of Borrower's Subsidiaries closes on a credit agreement or credit agreements with a third party or third parties which provides for a total borrowing capacity
with such third party or third parties of $15,000,000 or more. 

        Interest
on the Loans shall be payable at the times provided in the Loan. 

        All
capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Loan Agreement, dated March    , 2003, by and between the
Borrower and the Lender (the "Loan Agreement"). This Note is the Note referred to in, and is entitled to the benefits of, the Loan Agreement and is secured by a security interest in the collateral
described in the Security Agreement delivered in connection with the Loan Agreement. Further, this Note and the holder hereof are entitled to all of the benefits and security provided by or referred
to in the Security Agreement. The Loan Agreement, among other things, contains provisions for acceleration of the maturity of this Note upon the happening of certain stated events that are specified
in the Loan Agreement. 

        The
Borrower hereby waives presentment, demand for payment, notice of protest and all other demands in connection with the delivery, acceptance, performance, default or enforcement of
this Note. 

        This
Note shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without giving effect to its choice of law provisions. No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Note
nor consent to any departure by the Borrower therefrom shall be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by the Lender and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the specific purpose for which given. 

	

 	
 	

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	

	 	 	Name:  Jon F. Chait

Title:    Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Dated:
March    , 2003

New York, New York 

1

  

EXHIBIT B  

  
 

    NOTICE OF BORROWING    
  

                    , 2003 

TMP
WORLDWIDE INC.

622 Third Avenue, 38th Floor

New York, New York 10017

Attention: Jim Fawcett

Facsimile: (917) 256-8506/8501 

1.      (a)    HUDSON
HIGHLAND GROUP, INC. (the "Company") pursuant to the Loan Agreement dated as of March [    ], 2003, hereby requests TMP
Worldwide Inc. ("TMP") to make a Loan on the following terms: 

	Principal Amount of Loan:	 	$	 
	

Date of Loan:	
 	
 	

 

	(b)
	The
Company requests TMP to apply the proceeds of the Loan as follows: 

	Transfer to financial	 	 	 
	Institution and account shown below:	 	 	 
	Financial Institution:	 	 	 
	Account No.:	 	 	 
	Total (same as principal

Amount of the Loan):	 	$	 
	Total Loans Outstanding (after making

of the above requested loan):	 	$	 

	2.
	Capitalized
terms used in this Notice shall have the meanings set forth in the Loan Agreement.

	3.
	The
Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to the Lender that all conditions precedent to the making of a Loan under the Loan Agreement have been satisfied. 

	
 	
 	

HUDSON HIGHLAND GROUP, INC.
	

 	
 	

By:	

 
	 	 	 	

	 	 	Name:

Title:

1

QuickLinks

Exhibit 10.4

LOAN AGREEMENT

SECURED PROMISSORY NOTE

NOTICE OF BORROWING

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