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Exhibit 10.1

Equifax / IBM Confidential


AGREEMENT

FOR

OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES

This Agreement is entered into as of July 1, 2003 (the "Effective Date"), between

1.
International Business Machines Corporation, a New York corporation ("IBM"),

AND

2.
Equifax Inc., a Georgia corporation ("Equifax").

This Agreement supersedes and replaces certain existing agreements between Equifax (or its Affiliates) and IBM (or its Affiliates), which are listed in Schedule M (Existing IBM-Equifax Agreements Superseded By This Agreement).

        The Parties agree to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement (which are those set forth in the main body of this Agreement, and the various Schedules, Exhibits, Attachments, Appendices and Supplements attached to and referenced in this Agreement) and in each Statement of Work executed by the Parties referencing this Agreement.

        The Commencement Date of the Services under this Agreement will be August 7, 2003. This Agreement is subject to ratification by the Equifax Board of Directors at its meeting to be held August 6, 2003. If such ratification does not occur, this Agreement shall be void ab initio and of no further force or effect.

Signed for and on behalf of IBM:

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION    

Signature:

 

/s/ Arthur G. Gopfert

 

 
   
   

Title:

 

/s/ Global Senior Project Executive (July 31, 2003)

 

 
   
   

Signed for and on behalf of Equifax:

 

 

EQUIFAX INC.

 

 

Signature:

 

/s/ Owen V. Flynn

 

 
   
   

Title:

 

/s/ Chief Technology Officer (July 31, 2003)

 

 
   
   

Equifax / IBM Confidential


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
   
  Page

1.

 

PURPOSE/STRUCTURE/TERM OF AGREEMENT

 

1

 

 

1.1

 

Purpose of Agreement

 

1

 

 

1.2

 

Structure of Agreement

 

2

 

 

1.3

 

Term of Agreement

 

3

 

 

1.4

 

Extension of Services

 

3

2.

 

DEFINITIONS

 

4

 

 

2.1

 

Certain Definitions

 

4

 

 

2.2

 

Other Terms

 

13

3.

 

THE SERVICES

 

13

 

 

3.1

 

Obligation to Provide Services

 

13

 

 

3.2

 

Performance

 

14

 

 

3.3

 

Disaster Recovery Services

 

14

 

 

3.4

 

Audits

 

15

 

 

3.5

 

IBM Cooperation with Authorized User Examinations

 

16

 

 

3.6

 

Facilities

 

16

 

 

3.7

 

Security

 

17

 

 

3.8

 

Technology Refresh

 

17

 

 

3.9

 

Machines And Third Party Service Agreements

 

17

 

 

3.10

 

Equifax Owned Software — Existing

 

19

 

 

3.11

 

Third Party Provider Software — Existing

 

19

 

 

3.12

 

New Software Added During the Term

 

19

 

 

3.13

 

Changes to the Software

 

20

 

 

3.14

 

Terms of Acquisition by IBM of Third Party Provider Software

 

21

 

 

3.15

 

Affiliates

 

21

 

 

3.16

 

Viruses

 

21

4.

 

WARRANTIES/REPRESENTATIONS/COVENANTS

 

22

 

 

4.1

 

Work Standards

 

22

 

 

4.2

 

Non-infringement

 

22
             

i



 

 

4.3

 

Disabling Code

 

22

 

 

4.4

 

Authorization and Enforceability

 

22

 

 

4.5

 

Maintenance

 

23

 

 

4.6

 

Efficiency and Cost Effectiveness

 

23

 

 

4.7

 

Software Ownership or Use

 

23

 

 

4.8

 

Inducements

 

23

 

 

4.9

 

Disclaimer

 

23

 

 

4.10

 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

 

25

 

 

4.11

 

Year 2000 Warranty

 

26

 

 

4.12

 

Covenant of Cooperation and Good Faith

 

26

5.

 

TRANSFER, TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION

 

26

 

 

5.1

 

Transition/Transformation Plans

 

26

 

 

5.3

 

Resources and Facilities

 

27

6.

 

GOVERNANCE

 

28

 

 

6.1

 

Relationship and Contract Governance Model

 

28

 

 

6.2

 

Meetings

 

29

 

 

6.3

 

Procedures Manual.

 

29

 

 

6.4

 

Change Management Process

 

30

7.

 

IBM Personnel

 

30

 

 

7.1

 

Global Project Executive

 

30

 

 

7.2

 

Replacement of Personnel

 

30

 

 

7.3

 

Key IBM Personnel Positions

 

31

 

 

7.4

 

Retention of Experienced Personnel

 

32

8.

 

RELATIONSHIP PROTOCOLS

 

32

 

 

8.1

 

Annual Updating of Schedules to this Agreement

 

32

 

 

8.2

 

Required Consents

 

33

 

 

8.3

 

Appointment as Attorney In Fact

 

34

 

 

8.4

 

Conflicts of Interests

 

35

 

 

8.5

 

Alternate Providers

 

35

 

 

8.6

 

Use of Subcontractors

 

36
             

ii



 

 

8.7

 

Equifax Approvals and Notification

 

37

9.

 

CHARGES

 

37

10.

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

 

37

 

 

10.1

 

Ownership of Materials

 

38

 

 

10.2

 

Obligations Regarding Materials

 

39

 

 

10.3

 

Authorized Users

 

39

11.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY/DATA SECURITY

 

39

 

 

11.1

 

Confidential Information

 

39

 

 

11.2

 

Obligations

 

40

 

 

11.3

 

Exclusions

 

41

 

 

11.4

 

Loss of Company Information

 

41

 

 

11.5

 

Limitation

 

42

 

 

11.6

 

Equifax Data

 

42

 

 

11.7

 

Data Privacy

 

42

12.

 

TERMINATION

 

43

 

 

12.1

 

Termination By Equifax

 

43

 

 

12.2

 

Termination by IBM

 

44

 

 

12.3

 

Services Transfer Assistance

 

44

 

 

12.4

 

Equitable Remedies

 

45

 

 

12.5

 

Other Rights Upon Termination

 

45

 

 

12.6

 

Effect of Termination/Survival of Selected Provisions

 

47

 

 

12.7

 

Savings Clause

 

47

13.

 

LIABILITY

 

47

 

 

13.1

 

Liability Caps

 

47

 

 

13.2

 

*

 

48

 

 

13.3

 

Direct Damages and Cover Charges

 

48

 

 

13.4

 

Dependencies

 

48

 

 

13.5

 

Remedies

 

48

*
Omitted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act").

iii


14.   INDEMNITIES   49

 

 

14.1

 

Indemnity by IBM

 

49

 

 

14.2

 

Indemnity by Equifax

 

50

 

 

14.3

 

Employment Actions

 

52

 

 

14.4

 

Exclusive Remedy

 

52

 

 

14.5

 

Infringement

 

52

 

 

14.6

 

Indemnification Procedures

 

52

 

 

14.7

 

Limitation

 

53

15.

 

INSURANCE AND RISK OF LOSS

 

53

 

 

15.1

 

IBM Insurance

 

53

 

 

15.2

 

Risk of Property Loss

 

54

 

 

15.3

 

Mutual Waiver of Subrogation

 

54

16.

 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

55

 

 

16.1

 

Dispute Resolution Procedures

 

55

 

 

16.2

 

Continued Performance

 

56

17.

 

GENERAL

 

56

 

 

17.1

 

Relationship of Parties

 

56

 

 

17.2

 

Entire Agreement, Updates, Amendments and Modifications

 

57

 

 

17.3

 

Force Majeure

 

57

 

 

17.4

 

Waiver

 

58

 

 

17.5

 

Severability

 

58

 

 

17.6

 

Counterparts

 

58

 

 

17.7

 

Governing Law

 

58

 

 

17.8

 

Binding Nature and Assignment

 

59

 

 

17.9

 

Notices

 

59

 

 

17.10

 

No Third Party Beneficiaries

 

60

 

 

17.11

 

Other Documents

 

60

 

 

17.12

 

Consents and Approvals

 

60

 

 

17.13

 

Headings

 

60

 

 

17.14

 

Remarketing

 

60

 

 

17.15

 

Commencement of Actions

 

61
             

iv



 

 

17.16

 

IBM Logo Products Warranties

 

61

 

 

17.17

 

Local Enabling Agreements

 

61

v


ATTACHMENTS**

Form of Local Enabling Agreement

Schedule

  Title


A

 

Services

B

 

Service Levels

C

 

Charges

D

 

Human Resources

E

 

Equipment

F

 

Software

G

 

Third Party Agreements

H

 

Facilities

I

 

Transition/Transformation

J

 

IT Management Process Improvement Program

K

 

Operational Reports

L

 

Governance

M

 

Existing IBM-Equifax Agreements Superseded By The Agreement

N

 

Projects

O

 

Services Transfer Assistance

P

 

Data Protection

Q

 

Country-Specific Regulatory and Legal Requirements

R

 

Listed Subcontractors

S

 

Disaster Recovery Services

T

 

Security Procedures

**
Copies of the above attachments will be provided to the Commission upon request.

vi


       Equifax / IBM Confidential

1.     PURPOSE/STRUCTURE/TERM OF AGREEMENT

(i)    Realigning of the scope of IBM's services with Equifax Group's business needs;

(ii)    Providing world class service delivery based on industry best practices and standards, specifically aimed at improving information technology productivity and reliability, and speed to market of new products;

(iii)    Achieving significant cost savings, beginning in 2003, and continuing from year to year, enabling resources to be redirected from maintaining legacy systems to new growth initiatives, including the development of new products;

(iv)    Providing pricing structures that give Equifax Group better visibility into and control over its total life-cycle spending for information technology systems and platforms;

(v)    A commitment by IBM to maintaining the technological currency of the information technology systems and resources used to perform the Services;

(vi)    Providing market competitive pricing throughout the Term of this Agreement;

(vii)    Establishing a global relationship and Agreement governance structure that shall facilitate the use of consistent approaches and processes across all the countries in which Equifax Group operates;

(viii)    Achieving seamless service across the U.S., Canada and Europe that leverages IBM competency centers;

1



(ix)    Establishing a single, integrated delivery model across geographies that minimizes the number touch-points between IBM and Equifax Group and eliminates the need for Equifax Group to function as an integrator;

(x)    Delivering a solution that places risk on the Party in the best position to manage and control the risk;

(xi)    Providing value-added strategic thought, vision and leadership from IBM;

(xii)    Providing an opportunity to transition the Services back to the Equifax Group or to another service provider from IBM with minimal disruption;

(xiii)    Delivering a solution that will enable IBM to be successful;

(xiv)    Securing favorable rates for current and additional resource consumption and for reductions in resource consumption and increasing flexibility regarding resources chargeable and available to the Equifax Group and committed by IBM to the Equifax Group;

(xv)    Enhancing the current functionality of the Equifax Group's processes, systems and service levels covered under this Agreement;

(xvi)    Proactively defining and proposing cost-effective solutions to improve the efficiency and functionality of the information management systems operations of the Equifax Group in support of the Equifax Business;

(xvii)    Ensuring the efficiency, stability and security of existing and future processes, systems and service levels; and

(xviii)    Evolving the support services, processes, systems and service levels to meet the dynamic requirements of the Equifax Group and Equifax Business.

2


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

3


2.     DEFINITIONS

        In this Agreement, the following terms will have the following meanings:

  1998 Agreement   Means that certain Master Agreement for Operations Support Services, dated January 1, 1998, as amended, between IBM and Equifax.

 

Action

 

has the meaning given in Section 17.7.

 

*

 

 

 

Affiliates

 

means, with respect to a Party, any entity at any time Controlling, Controlled by or under common Control with such Party.

 

Agreement

 

means this Agreement for Operations Support Services, including all of the various Schedules, Exhibits, Attachments, Appendices and Supplements attached to and referenced herein and any Statements of Work issued under and referencing this Agreement.

 

*

 

 

 

Applications Software

 

means those programs and programming, including all supporting documentation and media, that perform specific user related data processing, data management and telecommunications tasks, including updates, enhancements, modifications, releases and Derivative Works thereof. Applications Software as of the Execution Date is listed in Schedule F (Software).

 

Applications Software —Equifax

 

means the Applications Software provided by or through Equifax as of the Execution Date, as listed on Schedule F (Software) under such heading, or during the Term of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.4. If additional Applications Software is provided by or through Equifax during the Term or if previously provided Applications Software is removed, Schedule F (Software) will be amended to reflect the addition or removal of such Applications Software in accordance with Sections 8.1 and 17.2.

 

Applications Software —IBM

 

means the Applications Software provided by or through IBM as of the Execution Date, as listed on Schedule F (Software) under such heading, or during the Term of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.4. If additional Applications Software is provided by or through IBM during the Term or if previously provided Applications Software is removed, Schedule F (Software) will be amended to reflect the addition or removal of such Applications Software in accordance with Sections 8.1 and 17.2.


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.
       

4



 

Authorized User

 

means a person or entity (which shall be either an Affiliate or a customer of Equifax or an entity in which an Equifax Group member is a joint venturer, partner, member or equity owner) authorized to use the Services, including without limitation the System, by Equifax.

 

Baseline(s)

 

has the meaning given in Schedule C.

 

Cable or Cabling

 

means the wires or cables that interconnect Machines and/or connect a Machine to a facility connection.

 

Change of Control

 

means the transfer of the Control of a Party, or a sale of substantially all of the assets of a Party, from the persons or persons who hold such Control on the Execution Date to another person or persons, but shall not include a transfer of the Control of a Party to an Affiliate of such Party.

 

Claim

 

has the meaning given in Section 14.6(a).

 

Code

 

has the meaning given in Article 10.

 

Commencement Date

 

means the date(s) on which IBM's becomes responsible for performance the Services, which date may be different from one Country Location to another.

 

Commercially Reasonable Efforts

 

Whether or not capitalized, means taking such steps and performing in such a manner as a well managed company would undertake where such company was acting in a determined, prudent and reasonable manner to achieve a particular desired result for its own benefit.

 

Company Information

 

has the meaning given in Section 11.1.

 

Confidential Information

 

has the meaning given in Section 11.1.

 

Contract Change

 

means any change(s) to any of the documents comprising this Agreement, which shall be carried out as provided in Sections 17.2 and 8.1.

 

Contract Year

 

means any consecutive twelve (12) month period commencing on the Execution Date or any anniversary thereof during the Term.

 

Control, Controlling, or Controlled

 

means possessing, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of an entity through contractual right or ownership of greater than fifty (50%) percent of the voting securities of such entity.

 

Country Location

 

has the meaning given in Schedule C (Charges).

 

Data Center

 

means the data centers from which the Services are provided located in the Facilities listed in Schedule H (Facilities).

 

Derivative Work

 

means a work based on one or more pre-existing works, including without limitation, a condensation, transformation, expansion or adaptation, which would constitute a copyright infringement if prepared without authorization of the owner of the copyright of such pre-existing work.

 

Develop

 

has the meaning given in Article 10.

 

Direct Damages

 

has the meaning given in Section 13.3.

 

Direct Damages Caps

 

has the meaning given in Section 13.1(b).
       

5



 

Disabling Code

 

means Code which is designed for the purpose and has the effect of disabling or otherwise shutting down one or more software programs or systems and/or hardware or hardware systems.

 

Disaster Recovery

 

means the cross-functional Service Tower that is composed of the Disaster Recovery Services as specified in Schedule S for the environment that spans both the Operations and Network Service Towers.

 

Disaster Recovery Services

 

means the Disaster Recovery Services described in Schedule A (Services) and/or Schedule S (Disaster Recovery Services).

 

Effective Date

 

means the date set forth on the initial page of this Agreement.

 

Elements of the Services

 

has the meaning given in Section 17.14.

 

EMU Matters

 

means the failure of any product or service to correctly process or properly exchange monetary data in euro denominations accurately.

 

Equifax

 

Means one or more members of the Equifax Group, as the context requires, unless it is clear from the context that the term "Equifax" is instead intended to mean Equifax Inc. in that particular instance.

 

Equifax Business

 

means the businesses engaged in by the Equifax Group.

 

Equifax Code

 

means Code Developed by IBM and/or its subcontractors independently or jointly with the Equifax Group and/or their contractors, as part of the Services. Equifax Code shall not include any IBM Derivative Code.

 

Equifax Data

 

means all information, whether or not Confidential Information, entered in Software or Machines by or on behalf of Equifax and information derived from such information, including as stored in or processed through the Machines or Software.

 

Equifax Direct Damages Cap

 

has the meaning given in Section 13.1(b).

 

Equifax Derivative Code

 

means Code Developed by IBM and/or its subcontractors independently or jointly with the Equifax Group and/or their contractors, as part of the Services, which constitutes Derivative Work of software for which the copyright is owned by the Equifax Group and/or their contractors.

 

Equifax Group

 

means individually and collectively Equifax and its existing and future Affiliates that are using and/or receiving any portion of the Services.

 

Equifax Owned Software

 

means Software that is owned by Equifax.
       

6



 

Equifax Provided Hardware

 

means the computer equipment peripheral devices, storage media, Cabling, connectors, the Data Network, the LAN, telephone equipment and other equipment (however described) provided from time to time by the Equifax Group for use by IBM to perform and deliver the Services and fulfill its obligations under this Agreement. The Equifax Provided Hardware as of the Execution Date is listed on and/or referred to in Schedule E (Machines). If additional Equifax Provided Hardware is added or previously provided Equifax Hardware is removed during the Term of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.4, Schedule E (Machines) shall be updated pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 17.2 to reflect the then-current Equifax Provided Hardware.

 

Equifax Provided Office Furnishings

 

means the desks, chairs, filing cabinets, office cube partitions and other office furniture (however described) provided from time to time by the Equifax Group for use by IBM to perform and deliver the Services and fulfill its obligations under this Agreement. The Equifax Provided Office Furnishings as of the Execution Date are listed on and/or referred to in Schedule E (Machines). If additional Equifax Provided Hardware is added or previously provided Equifax Hardware is removed during the Term of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.4, Schedule E (Machines) shall be updated pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 17.2 to reflect the then-current Equifax Provided Office Furnishings.

 

Equifax Retained Function

 

means any Process-Element intersection in the Scope Models in Schedule A (Services) in which Equifax is designated as the Actor or for which IBM is not designated as the Actor.

 

Equifax Software

 

means Applications Software-Equifax and Systems Software-Equifax.

 

Equifax Works

 

means literary works of authorship (other than Code) Developed by IBM and/or its subcontractors independently or jointly with the Equifax Group and/or its contractors under this Agreement, specifically for the Equifax Group or the Equifax Business or specifically for the purpose of providing the Services, including without limitation user manuals, charts, graphs and other written documentation, and machine-readable text and files, but shall not include any Derivative Works of any works in which the copyright is owned by IBM, its Affiliates or subcontractors.

 

Euro-Ready

 

means that a product or service, when used in accordance with its associated documentation and used properly in accordance with its specifications, will correctly process monetary data in the euro denomination and will perform in accordance with the euro currency formatting conventions including the euro sign assuming that all other products (i.e. hardware, software, firmware, etc.) that are used with this product are also Euro-Ready.

 

Execution Date

 

means the date this Agreement is signed by both Parties.

 

Extension Period

 

has the meaning given in Section 1.4.

 

Facilities

 

means the facilities listed in Schedule H (Facilities).

 

Force Majeure Event

 

has the meaning given in Section 17.3(a).
       

7



 

IBM

 

Means any or all of International Business Machines Corporation and its Affiliates, as the context requires, unless it is clear from the context that the term "IBM" is instead intended to mean International Business Machines Corporation in that particular instance.

 

IBM Code

 

means Code Developed by IBM personnel at IBM's expense and not as part of the Services, but used to provide the Services, which code does not constitute a Derivative Work of any software owned by the Equifax Group, IBM, or their respective Affiliates or contractors or subcontractors. IBM Code shall not include any Equifax Derivative Code.

 

IBM Derivative Code

 

means Code Developed under this Agreement, which constitutes Derivative Works of software for which the copyright is owned by IBM, its Affiliates or its subcontractors.

 

IBM Direct Damages Cap

 

has the meaning given in Section 13.1(a)(i).

 

IBM Euro-Ready

 

means that an IBM Logo product, when used in accordance with its associated documentation and used properly in accordance with its specifications, will correctly process monetary data in the euro denomination and will perform in accordance with the euro currency formatting conventions including the euro sign assuming that all other products (i.e. hardware, software, firmware, etc.) that are used with this product are Euro-Ready. IBM hardware products that are IBM Euro-Ready may or may not have an engraved Euro sign key on their keyboards.

 

IBM Indemnitees

 

has the meaning given in Section 14.2.

 

IBM Interfaces

 

means Code and/or literary works of authorship created at IBM's expense, by IBM personnel and/or its contractors and not as part of the Services, but used to provide the Services, and interface or describe and instruct regarding the interface, between and among Applications Software and the Systems Software, which does not constitute a Derivative Work of any software or literary works of authorship owned by the Equifax Group, IBM, or their respective Affiliates or contractors, including without limitation, user manuals, charts, graphs and other written documentation, and machine-readable text and files.

 

IBM Logo Products

 

has the meaning given in Section 4.11.

 

IBM Machines

 

means the computer equipment, peripheral devices, storage media, cabling, connectors, extenders and other equipment (however described) including without limitation, modems, routers and termination boxes for the Network located in the Facilities and other Equifax Group Sites, including without limitation Data Center and at the Network Locations, provided by or through and used from time to time by IBM to perform and deliver the Services and fulfill its obligations under this Agreement. The IBM Machines as of the Execution Date are listed on Schedule E (Machines), which schedule shall be updated pursuant to Section 8.1 during the Term to reflect the then current IBM Machines.

 

IBM Software

 

means the Applications Software—IBM and Systems Software—IBM.
       

8



 

IBM Year 2000 Compliance or Compliant

 

means that the product will, subject to the provisions of Section 4.9(b)), when used in accordance with its associated documentation, (i) accurately process and handle date data (including but not limited to, calculating, comparing and sequencing, to the extent that the product's specifications provide for such processing or handling of date data) within, from, into and between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and the years 1999 and 2000, including leap year calculations, to the extent that all other products used in combination with such product properly exchange date data with it, and (ii) will properly exchange date data with other IBM Logo Products that are IBM Year 2000 Compliant, provided that such IBM Logo Products are specified by IBM to operate together as part of a system.

 

IBM Works

 

means literary works of authorship (other than Code) Developed at IBM's expense, by IBM personnel and/or its contractors and not specifically for the Equifax Group or the Equifax Business or not specifically for the purpose of providing the Services, but used to provide the Services, including without limitation user manuals, charts, graphs and other written documentation and machine-readable text and files, but shall not include any Derivative Works of any works in which the copyright is owned by Equifax or its Affiliates or subcontractors.

 

Indemnified Party

 

has the meaning given in Section 14.4.

 

Indemnifying Party

 

has the meaning given in Section 14.5(a).

 

Indemnitee

 

has the meaning given in Section 14.1.

 

Key IBM Personnel Positions

 

means those personnel furnished by IBM to perform the Services who occupy positions designated as Key IBM Personnel Positions in Schedule D (Human Resources) or pursuant to Section 7.3.

 

Knowledge Retention Personnel

 

Has the meaning given in Section 7.4(a).

 

Listed Subcontractors

 

has the meaning given in Section 8.6(a).

 

Local Enabling Agreements

 

has the meaning given in Section 17.17.

 

Losses

 

means all losses, liabilities, damages, penalties and claims (including taxes and all related interest and penalties incurred directly with respect thereto), and all related costs, expenses and other charges *.

 

Machines

 

Means the IBM Machines and Equifax Provided Hardware.

 

Maintenance Release

 

Means those Software fixes and updates provided by the Software vendors as part of normal maintenance service for the Software for which there is no charge by such vendors in addition to periodic maintenance charges, if any.

 

Materials

 

Means the Equifax Code, the Equifax Derivative Code, the Equifax Works, the IBM Code, the IBM Derivative Code, the IBM Works and the IBM Interfaces.


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.
       

9



 

MicroLan

 

means desktop support. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms "MicroLan," and "Desktop" are used interchangeably in this Agreement.

 

Network

 

means the Service Tower that is composed of the Voice and Data (i.e., WAN, LAN and MAN) Platforms, as such Platforms are defined in Schedule C.

 

New Services

 

has the meaning given in Section 10.1 of Schedule C (Charges).

 

Notice

 

has the meaning given in Section 16.1(b).

 

Operations

 

means the Service Tower that is composed of the Mainframe, Mid-Range, Parallel Systems, MicroLan and Service Desk Platforms, as such Platforms are defined in Schedule C.

 

Parties

 

means IBM and Equifax.

 

Party

 

means IBM or Equifax.

 

Platform

 

is a term used in certain circumstances under this Agreement to subdivide the Services comprising a Service Tower (i.e., Operations, Network or Disaster Recovery) into sub-groups/clusters of Services.

 

Project

 

has the meaning given in Schedule N (Projects).

 

Project Executive

 

has the meaning given in Section 7.1.

 

Required Consents

 

means any consents or approvals required to be obtained (a) to allow IBM, its Affiliates and its approved subcontractors to assume financial and/or support, operational, management and administrative responsibility for the Equifax Software, the Equifax Provided Hardware and the Equifax Provided Office Furnishings in connection with the Services; (b) for the licensing, transfer and/or grant of the right to the Equifax Group, as permitted by each license, to use the IBM Software and IBM Machines as contemplated by this Agreement; and (c) for the Equifax Group and IBM, its Affiliates and its approved subcontractors to have access to and use of the space, equipment, software and/or third party services provided under the Third Party Agreements in connection with the Services as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Resource Unit ("RU")

 

Has the meaning given in Schedule C (Charges).

 

Service Level Credits

 

has the meaning set forth in Schedule B (Service Levels).

 

Service Employees

 

has the meaning given in Section 12.5(g).

 

Service Levels

 

means the standards of performance to be met or exceeded by IBM in providing the Services. The Service Levels are set forth in Schedule B (Service Levels).

 

Service Tower

 

is a term used in certain circumstances under this Agreement to subdivide the Services into three high-level groups of Services: Operations, Network and Disaster Recovery.
       

10



 

Services

 

means all functions, responsibilities, tasks and activities: (a) described in this Agreement that are to be performed by IBM under this Agreement; or (b) that are directly related to information technology services and were performed for the Equifax Group in the immediately preceding twelve (12) months before the Execution Date by the Transferred Employees or by Equifax Group employees whose functions are assumed by IBM or displaced under this Agreement; or (c) that were performed or required to be performed by IBM and/or its Affiliates and subcontractors for the Equifax Group in the immediately preceding twelve (12) months prior to the Execution Date under the 1998 Agreement or any of the other agreements identified in Schedule M as being superseded by this Agreement; or (d) that were performed in the immediately preceding twelve (12) months before the Execution Date by assets conveyed or made available to IBM or displaced as a result of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that references in this definition to the 1998 Agreement and other agreements identified in Schedule M are for purposes of defining the scope of the Services under this Agreement—such references are not intended to incorporate by reference into this Agreement any legal terms and conditions of such agreements, all of which are superseded by this Agreement.

 

Services Transfer Assistance

 

has the meaning given in Section 12.5.

 

Software

 

means IBM Software and Equifax Software.

 

Span Elements

 

has the meaning provided in Schedule A (Services).

 

Statement of Work

 

has the meaning given in Schedule N (Projects).

 

System

 

means the Machines, Software and Network covered under this Agreement and the operating environment therefor.

 

Systems Software

 

means those programs and programming (including all supporting documentation and media) that perform tasks related to the functioning of the data processing, and telecommunication equipment which is used to operate the Applications Software or otherwise to support the provision of the Services by or through IBM under this Agreement, whether or not licensed to IBM. Systems Software may include but is not limited to, database creation and management software, application development tools, operating systems, software utilities, data security software, data network software, communications monitors and data base managers. Systems Software as of the Execution Date is listed in Schedule F (Software), which schedule shall be updated pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 17.2 during the Term to reflect the then current Systems Software. In Schedule A (Services), Systems Software is subdivided into and includes two groups of Software identified as "Platform Software" and "Infrastructure Software."
       

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Systems Software —Equifax

 

means the Systems Software and general purpose software such as the database creation and management software, utility software and applications development tools software provided by or through Equifax on the Execution Date, as listed in Schedule F (Software) under such heading, or during the Term of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.4. If additional Systems Software is provided by or through Equifax during the Term or if previously provided Systems Software is removed, Schedule F (Software) will be amended to reflect the addition or removal of such Systems Software in accordance with Sections 8.1 and 17.2

 

Systems Software—IBM

 

means the Systems Software provided by or through IBM on the Execution Date, as listed in Schedule F (Software) under such heading, or during the Term of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.4. If additional Systems Software is provided by or through IBM during the Term or if previously provided Systems Software is removed, Schedule F (Software) will be amended to reflect the addition or removal of such Systems Software in accordance with Sections 8.1 and 17.2

 

Term

 

has the meaning given in Section 1.3 and any extension and renewal term described in this Agreement.

 

Termination Charges

 

means the charges designated as such that are set forth in Exhibit C-8.

 

Third Party Agreements

 

means those contractual, leasing and licensing arrangements to which one or more members of the Equifax Group is a party and pursuant to which a member of the Equifax Group receives any third party products, software and/or services that IBM will need to access or use in providing the Services and for which IBM is assuming financial, management and/or administrative responsibility under this Agreement. Third Party Agreements in effect as of the Execution Date are listed on Schedule G (Third Party Agreements), which schedule shall be updated pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 17.2 during the Term to reflect the then-current Third Party Agreements.

 

Third Party Provider

 

means a business or entity other than a member of the Equifax Group or IBM and its Affiliates that provides products, software and/or services under a Third Party Agreement, in support of the provision of the Services by IBM.

 

Third Party Service Agreements

 

means those Third Party Agreements, excluding leases and license agreements, pursuant to which a member of the Equifax Group receives third party services that IBM will need to access or use in providing the Services and for which IBM is assuming financial, management and/or administrative responsibility under this Agreement. Third Party Services Agreements in effect as of the Execution Date are listed on Schedule G (Third Party Agreements), which schedule shall be updated pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 17.2 during the Term to reflect the then-current Third Party Service Agreements.

 

Transferred Employees

 

has the meaning given in Section 5.2.

 

Trade Secrets

 

has the meaning given in Section 11.1.

 

Transition Cover Costs

 

has the meaning given in Section 13.3(b).
       

12



 

Transition Personnel

 

has the meaning given in Section 5.1(e).

 

Transformation/ Transformation Plan

 

has the meaning given in Section 5.1(a).

 

Use

 

means, in the context of Software, to use, copy, maintain, modify, enhance, distribute or create Derivative Works as permitted under the license for such Software.

 

Version

 

means those Software updates that generally add function to the existing Software and may be provided by the Software vendors at a fee over and above the standard periodic software maintenance costs.

 

Virus or Viruses

 

means computer instructions that are intended, designed and have the effect of adversely affecting the specified operation, security or integrity of a computing, telecommunications or other digital operating or processing system or environment.

 

Wind-Down Expenses

 

means the net amount, after IBM takes commercially reasonable action to mitigate the amount thereof, that will reimburse IBM for the actual reasonable costs for severance, relocation and unbillable time that IBM incurs in the placement on other customer accounts or severance of IBM personnel primarily employed to provide the Services; provided, however, Equifax shall have the right to mitigate such costs by hiring such IBM personnel.

3.     THE SERVICES

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14


15


16


17


(i)    IBM is not acquiring any existing non-personnel assets of Equifax Group as of the Commencement Date.

(ii)    Subject to Section 3.9(a) and except as otherwise provided in the Financial Responsibilities Matrix set forth as Exhibit C-14 (Financial Responsibilities Matrix) of Schedule C (Charges), IBM shall acquire and shall be financially responsible for new Machines — including modifications, upgrades, enhancements, additions and replacements of existing Machines in IBM's name — as necessary or appropriate to provide the Services. Such Machines shall be acquired in the name of IBM except as set forth in Section 3.9(b)(iii) and subject to modifications, upgrades and enhancements of leased Machines being treated in accordance with the governing lease.

(iii)    With respect to Machine acquisitions for which Equifax is financially responsible as provided in the Financial Responsibilities Matrix set forth as Exhibit C-14 (Financial Responsibilities Matrix) of Schedule C (Charges), the Machines shall either be acquired by Equifax and made available to IBM for installation and operation or, alternatively, at Equifax's election, such Machines shall be purchased by IBM, at the applicable vendor's (third party or IBM) published list price at which such product may be purchased by the general public, plus a mark-up of five (5%) percent, in the name of Equifax unless Equifax expressly designates otherwise. With respect to Machines acquired in the name of Equifax pursuant to this Section 3.9(b)(iii), Equifax grants to IBM, during the Term, and (subject to Section 3.9(a) if such Machine is leased) solely to the extent necessary for performing the Services, the rights of use of such Machines that Equifax has with respect to such Machines.

(i)    In the case of any Third Party Agreement listed in Schedule G (Third Party Agreements) for which IBM is designated as having 'Legal' responsibility, such agreement shall either be assigned to IBM or, alternatively, IBM shall assume legal responsibility for such agreement and have the same responsibility for managing such agreement as if it were an IBM subcontract. The determination as to which Third Party Service Agreements shall be shall be assigned to IBM will be made on a country-by-country basis. In either case, IBM shall comply with the duties imposed on Equifax by such Third Party Agreements.

(ii)    In the case of any other Third Party Agreements listed in Schedule G (i.e., those for which Equifax is designated as having 'Legal' responsibility), subject to Section 8.2, Equifax grants to IBM, during the Term, and solely to the extent necessary for performing the Services, the rights of use of the services covered by such Third Party Service Agreements that Equifax has with respect to such Third Party Service Agreements. IBM shall comply with the duties imposed on Equifax by such Third Party Service Agreements.

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19


20


21


4.     WARRANTIES/REPRESENTATIONS/COVENANTS

*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

22


(i)    IBM is not providing Equifax with any EMU assessment, conversion or testing services under this Agreement. IBM will not be responsible for the assessment of Equifax's current systems or for taking any appropriate actions to migrate them to Euro-Ready systems. However, nothing in this Section 4.9(c)(i) shall relieve IBM of its obligations under Section 4.9(c)(ii).

23


(ii)    The Parties shall have the duties, obligations and responsibilities with respect to EMU Matters as set forth in the following chart for "Equifax Products" (comprised of the categories of assets listed in the chart below); "IBM Logo Products" provided by IBM under this Agreement and used to provide the Services; "IBM Third Party Products" (defined to mean third party products owned or licensed by IBM and provided by IBM under this Agreement, in both cases used to provide the Services); and "Equifax Provided Assets" (defined to mean all hardware, software contracts and licenses with respect to which ownership or title is or was transferred by Equifax to any of its Affiliates to IBM or any of its Affiliates prior to the Commencement Date). The Schedules referenced in this Section shall be updated pursuant to Section 8.1.

 
  Maintenance
  Financial
  Management
  SLA Relief
 
  Note 1

  Note 2

  Note 3

  Note 4

  (i)    Equifax Products                
     
"Applications Software —
Equifax" (Schedule F)

 

E

 

E

 

E

 

Yes
     
"Equifax Provided
Hardware" Used by IBM

 

I

 

E

 

I

 

Yes
     
Equifax hardware Not
Used by IBM

 

E

 

E

 

E

 

Yes
     
"Contracts" Used by
IBM (Schedule G)

 

N/A

 

E

 

E

 

Yes
     
Equifax agreements Not
Used by IBM

 

N/A

 

E

 

E

 

Yes
     
"Systems Software —
Equifax" Used by IBM
(Schedule F)

 

I

 

E

 

E

 

Yes
     
Equifax software Not Used by IBM

 

E

 

E

 

E

 

Yes
 
(ii)  IBM Logo Products
       provided by IBM under this
       Agreement and used to
       provide the Services

 

I

 

I

 

I

 

No
 
E = Equifax Responsibility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
I = IBM Responsibility

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(i)    Note 1 — "Maintenance" shall mean maintenance responsibility, including but not limited to applying fixes, corrections and other enhancements (but not financial responsibility for such) and/or using reasonable efforts to cause a third party vendor to perform the foregoing.

(ii)    Note 2 — "Financial" shall mean the financial responsibility for all fees, charges and costs incurred in connection with correcting an EMU Matter, including but not limited to software upgrades, new versions or releases, hardware upgrades or replacements and IBM Project Office support.

24



(iii)    Note 3 — "Management" shall mean responsibility for coordinating EMU Matter corrective actions (but not financial responsibility for such actions).

(iv)    Note 4 — "Service Level Relief" shall mean that IBM then IBM shall not be held responsible for any failure to meet a Service Level if, and only to the extent, such failure is directly attributable to a failure of the items covered by the description in the chart above to be Euro-Ready.

(v)    The IBM Logo Products which are introduced after January 1, 1999 and that are used directly by IBM (and not by IBM subcontractors) and that have a dependency to process monetary data in the euro denomination to provide the Services will be IBM Euro-Ready.

(vi)    For the IBM Third Party Provider Products, to the extent possible, IBM will seek to determine from the third party manufacturers or providers whether such third party products which have a Euro dependency and are designated by such third party manufacturers or providers as Euro-Ready. To the extent that IBM is permitted by law or contract to do so, IBM will pass through any such representations or warranties for IBM Third Party Products to Equifax. Where IBM has obtained information that an IBM Third Party Product is designated as not Euro-Ready, IBM will notify Equifax as soon as reasonably practicable after IBM becomes aware of such fact. Nothing herein shall, however, be construed as a representation or warranty by IBM that IBM Third Party Products are Euro-Ready.

(vii)    Notwithstanding that the IBM Third Party Products are considered to be Euro-Ready, IBM does not represent or warrant uninterrupted or error free operation of the Services.

(viii)    For the IBM Logo Products, IBM will determine whether such IBM Logo Products which have a Euro dependency, are designated as IBM Euro-Ready. Where IBM has determined that an IBM Logo Product is designated as not IBM Euro-Ready, IBM will notify Equifax as soon as reasonably practicable after IBM becomes aware of such fact.

(ix)    Notwithstanding that the IBM Logo Products are considered to be IBM Euro-Ready, IBM does not represent or warrant uninterrupted or error free operation of the Services.

25


5.     TRANSFER, TRANSITION AND TRANSFORMATION

(i)    perform the transition and transformation tasks as specified in Schedule I (Transition/Transformation) and Schedule J (IT Management Process Improvement Program), respectively; and

(ii)    maintain the Services with minimal disruption to Equifax's business operations in each country;

26


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

27


6.     GOVERNANCE

28


29


7.     IBM Personnel

30


31


8.     RELATIONSHIP PROTOCOLS

32


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

33


34


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

35


36


9.     CHARGES

10.   INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

37


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

38


11.   CONFIDENTIALITY/DATA SECURITY

39


40


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

41


42


12.   TERMINATION

*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

43


44


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

45


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

46


13.   LIABILITY

(i)    to Direct Damages incurred by Equifax and its Affiliates equal to the charges paid by Equifax for the Services in the affected country during the * immediately prior to the first event which is the subject of the first claim or if * have not elapsed in the term of this Agreement at the time of the first such event, the estimated charges to Equifax for the Services in the affected country set forth in Schedule C (Charges) during the first * of the Term ("IBM Direct Damages Cap"); and

(ii)    in the event Equifax claims Direct Damages for event(s) which are the subject matter of claim(s) or cause(s) of action which are the basis for and result in Equifax's termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.1(a) for cause or Section 12.1(e) for Bankruptcy, and the * operates to preclude Equifax's recovery of *, then * shall be entitled to recover an *, not to exceed * of *, which amount shall be applied only toward *.

*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

47


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

48


14.   INDEMNITIES

*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

49


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

50


*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

51


52


15.   INSURANCE AND RISK OF LOSS

*    Information deleted pursuant to Rule 24b-2 of the Exchange Act.

53


54


16.   DISPUTE RESOLUTION

(i)    Upon the written request of either Party, a dispute shall be submitted to the Global Governance Team for resolution.

(ii)    The Global Governance Team shall meet as often as necessary to gather and furnish to each Party all non-privileged information with respect to the matter in issue which is appropriate and germane in connection with its resolution.

(iii)    The Global Governance Team shall discuss the problem and negotiate in good faith in an effort to resolve the dispute without the necessity of any formal proceeding relating thereto.

(iv)    During the course of such negotiation, all reasonable requests made by one Party to the other for non-privileged information reasonably related to this Agreement, will be honored in order that each Party may be fully advised of the other Party's position.

(v)    The specific format for such discussions will be left to the discretion of the Global Governance Team, but may include the preparation of agreed upon statements of fact or written statements of position furnished by each Party to the other Party.

55


(i)    the designated representatives concluding in good faith that amicable resolution through continued negotiation of the matter in issue does not appear likely; or

(ii)    one hundred twenty (120) days after the Notice; or

(iii)    thirty (30) days before the statute of limitations governing any cause of action relating to such dispute would expire.

17.   GENERAL

56


(i)    Equifax may procure such Services from an alternate source. Provided Equifax has not terminated this Agreement to Section 17.3(c)(iii) and Equifax continues to make payment to IBM under this Agreement and Equifax exerts reasonable efforts to mitigate amounts payable to the alternate source, IBM will directly and timely pay the alternate source the full amount charged by such alternate source for the

57


provision of such Services to Equifax until such time as IBM restores the Services and meets the Service Levels but in no event for more than one hundred eighty (180) days; and/or

(ii)    Equifax may terminate any portion of this Agreement so affected and the charges payable hereunder shall be equitably adjusted to reflect those terminated Services; and/or

(iii)    Until such time as IBM has restored the Services, Equifax may terminate this Agreement as of a date specified by Equifax in a written notice of termination to IBM, and Equifax will pay all charges due and payable through the termination date. If Equifax elects such termination, Equifax shall only pay on account of such termination IBM's Wind Down Expenses for a period not to exceed one hundred twenty (120) days and shall acquire from IBM, at a cost equal to IBM's then-current net book value, and hardware or software primarily dedicated to performing Services for Equifax that cannot be redeployed by IBM using Commercially Reasonable Efforts.

58


In the case of IBM:

  In the case of Equifax:

Global Project Executive
1505 Windward Concourse
Alpharetta, Georgia 30005
Facsimile: 770-663-9701
  Global Program Manager
1525 Windward Concourse
Alpharetta, Georgia 30005
Facsimile: 770-740-7952

with a copy to:

 

with a copy to:

IBM Global Services General Counsel
Route 100
Somers, New York 10569
Facsimile: 914-766-8440

 

Equifax Chief Legal Officer
1600 Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Facsimile: 404-885-8682

 

 

and to:

 

 

AVP — Technology Contract Management
Equifax Inc.
1525 Windward Concourse 30005
Alpharetta, Georgia
Fax: 770-740-7213

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(main body of Agreement ends here)

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