UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): August 7, 2017

 


 

Venator Materials PLC

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

England and Wales

 

001-38176

 

98-1373159

(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

Titanium House, Hanzard Drive, Wynyard Park,
Stockton-On-Tees, TS22 5FD, United Kingdom

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

(Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: +44 (0) 1740 608 001

 

Not applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o             Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o             Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o             Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

 

Emerging growth company   o

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   o

 

 

 



 

Item 1.01.                 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On August 8, 2017, Venator Materials PLC (“Venator”), formerly a wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman Corporation (“Huntsman”), completed its initial public offering of 26,105,000 ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, which includes 3,405,000 ordinary shares issued upon the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares, at a public offering price of $20.00 per share (the “IPO”). All of such ordinary shares were sold by Huntsman and Venator did not receive any proceeds from the offering. Venator’s ordinary shares began trading on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “VNTR” on August 3, 2017. Following the IPO, Huntsman owns approximately 75% of Venator’s outstanding ordinary shares.

 

The material terms of the IPO are described in the prospectus, dated August 2, 2017, filed by Venator with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on August 4, 2017, which forms a part of Venator’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-217753).

 

In connection with the IPO and the related separation (the “Separation”) of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business now owned by Venator (the “Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business”) from Huntsman’s other businesses, Venator and Huntsman entered into certain agreements that govern various interim and ongoing relationships between the parties, each of which is summarized below. The following descriptions of each of the agreements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of each agreement, each of which is attached as an Exhibit to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated in this Item 1.01 by reference. Unless the context herein otherwise requires, references to Huntsman include, as applicable, subsidiaries of Huntsman other than Venator and its subsidiaries.

 

Separation Agreement

 

On August 7, 2017, Venator entered into a separation agreement (the “Separation Agreement”) with Huntsman to facilitate the Separation. Generally, the Separation Agreement includes the agreements of Huntsman and Venator on the steps taken to complete the Separation, including the assets and rights transferred, liabilities assumed or retained, contracts assigned and related matters. As a result of the Separation, Venator owns all of the assets primarily related to the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business, including the assets reflected on the Venator balance sheet as of March 31, 2017, other than assets disposed of after such date. Venator is responsible for all liabilities, including environmental liabilities, to the extent relating to the operation or ownership of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business (including liabilities related to discontinued businesses that were part of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business prior to being discontinued) or any of the assets allocated to Venator in the Separation, as well as all liabilities arising out of, relating to or resulting from certain financing arrangements entered into in connection with the IPO, or reflected as liabilities on Venator’s balance sheet as of March 31, 2017, subject to the discharge of any such liabilities after March 31, 2017. Huntsman retained all other assets and liabilities relating to its other businesses, including assets and liabilities related to discontinued businesses (other than those businesses that were a part of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business prior to being discontinued).

 

The Separation Agreement requires Huntsman and Venator to endeavor to obtain consents, approvals and amendments required to novate or assign the assets and liabilities pursuant to the Separation Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable. Generally, if the transfer of any assets or liabilities requires a consent that was not obtained before consummation of the IPO, or if any assets or liabilities are erroneously transferred or if any assets or liabilities are erroneously not transferred, each party will hold the relevant assets or liabilities for the intended party’s use and benefit (at the intended party’s expense) until they can be transferred to the intended party.

 

The Separation Agreement also:

 

·                   governs the treatment of all aspects relating to indemnification (other than for tax matters) and insurance,  and generally provides for cross-indemnities principally designed to place financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of Venator’s business with Venator and financial responsibility for the obligations and liabilities of the remaining Huntsman business with Huntsman;

 

·                   provides that Venator will have the benefit of the property and business interruption insurance proceeds related to covered repair costs or covered lost profits incurred following the IPO related to the January 2017 fire at Venator’s titanium dioxide manufacturing facility in Pori, Finland;

 

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·                   provides that Huntsman will retain all rights to claims in the suit against the legacy owner and certain former executives of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (“Rockwood”), primarily related to the failure of new technology that Huntsman acquired in the Rockwood acquisition;

 

·                   includes certain covenants, including, for so long as Huntsman is required to consolidate Venator’s results of operations and financial position or to account for its investment in Venator under the equity method of accounting,  covenants by Venator regarding disclosure of information about Venator’s financial controls to Huntsman and delivery of quarterly and annual financial information to Huntsman and, for so long as Huntsman holds in excess of 50% of Venator’s outstanding ordinary shares, the requirement that Venator obtain Huntsman’s consent to incur indebtedness;

 

·                   provides for an allocation of out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with the Separation, including in connection with the IPO; and

 

·                   contains provisions relating to, among other matters, confidentiality and the exchange of information, the use and preservation of books and records, preservation of legal privileges, and the resolution and arbitration of disputes arising under the Separation Agreement and the ancillary agreements thereto.

 

Transition Services Agreement

 

On August 7, 2017, Venator entered into a transition services agreement (the “Transition Services Agreement”) with Huntsman, pursuant to which Huntsman will, for a limited time following the completion of the IPO, provide Venator with certain services and functions that the parties have historically shared, including administrative, payroll, human resources, data processing, environmental, health and safety, financial audit support, financial transaction support, marketing support, information technology systems and various other corporate and support services. The services to be provided cover all necessary services that were provided by Huntsman to Venator prior to the effective date of the Transition Services Agreement. Huntsman may also provide Venator with additional services that Venator and Huntsman may identify from time to time in the future. While the services provided by Huntsman will support Venator’s businesses, Venator retains the right to control and direct all of its operations.

 

In general, the services began following the IPO and cover a period not expected to exceed 24 months. Venator may terminate individual services provided by Huntsman under the Transition Services Agreement early, as it becomes able to operate its businesses without such services.

 

Huntsman agreed to perform the services with the same general degree of care, at the same general level and at the same general degree of accuracy and responsiveness, as when performed within Huntsman’s organization prior to the Separation. If any of the services do not meet this standard, Huntsman will use commercially reasonable efforts to re-perform any deficient services as soon as reasonably practicable, at no additional cost to Venator. Venator and Huntsman have agreed to cooperate in connection with the performance of the services and Huntsman has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts, at Venator’s expense, to obtain any third-party consents required for the performance of the services.

 

The services will be provided by Huntsman without representation or warranty of any kind. Huntsman will have no liability with respect to its furnishing of the services, except to the extent occasioned by its willful misconduct.

 

As part of the Transition Services Agreement, Venator will also be providing limited services to Huntsman for a transition period. These services were previously provided by Venator’s businesses to Huntsman and will be provided on the same basis as the services provided by Huntsman to Venator under the Transition Services Agreement.

 

Tax Matters Agreement

 

On August 7, 2017, Venator entered into a tax matters agreement (the “Tax Matters Agreement”) with Huntsman, which governs the respective rights, responsibilities, and obligations of Huntsman and Venator with respect to tax liabilities and benefits, tax attributes, the preparation and filing of tax returns, the control of audits and other tax proceedings, and other matters regarding taxes.

 

In general, pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement:

 

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·                   Venator is responsible for any taxes due with respect to tax returns that include only Venator and/or its subsidiaries. Huntsman is responsible for any taxes due with respect to tax returns that include only Huntsman and/or its subsidiaries (excluding Venator and its subsidiaries). Venator is responsible for, and indemnifies Huntsman for, taxes attributable to the operations of Venator’s businesses prior to the internal reorganization and the IPO reflected on a tax return filed by Huntsman.

 

·                   Venator and Huntsman agreed to cooperate in the preparation of tax returns, refund claims and conduct tax audits concerning matters covered by the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

·                   Venator and Huntsman were assigned responsibilities for administrative matters, such as the filing of tax returns, payment of taxes due, retention of records and conduct of audits, examinations, and similar proceedings. Huntsman generally controls tax returns that include both its businesses and Venator’s businesses and any disputes relating to such tax returns.

 

·                   Huntsman is responsible for any sales, use, transfer, registration, documentary, stamp or similar taxes applicable to, or resulting from, the internal reorganization or the sale of Venator’s ordinary shares in connection with the IPO.

 

In addition, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, Huntsman will recognize gain as a result of the internal restructuring if, and to the extent, the fair market value of the assets associated with Venator’s U.S. business exceeds the basis of such assets for U.S. federal income tax purposes at the time of the internal restructuring. To the extent any such gain is recognized, the basis of the assets associated with Venator’s U.S. business will be increased. Pursuant to the Tax Matters Agreement, Venator will be required to pay to Huntsman in the future any actual U.S. federal income savings Venator recognizes in tax years following the IPO through December 31, 2028, as a result of any such basis increase. It is currently estimated (based on the value of Venator’s U.S. business derived from the IPO price of Venator’s ordinary shares) that the aggregate future payments required to be made pursuant to this provision of the Tax Matters Agreement is expected to be approximately $83 million (based on current tax rates). Venator will benefit from any increased tax basis in its assets over periods ranging from 5 to 15 years. The actual amount of any gain recognized and any corresponding basis increase will not be known until the tax return for the year that includes the internal reorganization in connection with the Separation is complete. Moreover, any subsequent adjustment asserted by U.S. tax authorities could increase the amount of gain recognized and any corresponding basis increase, and could result in a higher liability for Venator under the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

Employee Matters Agreement

 

On August 7, 2017, Venator entered into an employee matters agreement (the “Employee Matters Agreement”)  with Huntsman that governs Huntsman’s and Venator’s compensation and employee benefit obligations with respect to the current and former employees of each company, and generally allocates liabilities and responsibilities relating to employee compensation and benefit plans and programs between the parties. The Employee Matters Agreement generally provides for the following:

 

·                   the transfer of all employees who, following the IPO, will work for the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business (“transferred employees”) to Venator or one of its subsidiaries;

 

·                   the retention by Huntsman of all employee and benefit plan-related liabilities and obligations not relating to current or former employees of the Titanium Dioxide and Performance Additives business;

 

·                   the establishment by Venator and its subsidiaries of new employee benefit plans for purposes of providing benefits to transferred employees;

 

·                   the cessation of active participation by transferred employees under all benefit plans sponsored by Huntsman;

 

·                   the conversion or adjustment of Huntsman equity and equity-based awards held by transferred employees;

 

·                   that the IPO is not intended to constitute a “change in control” or similar transaction under Huntsman or Venator’s benefit and compensation plans;

 

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·                   the crediting of transferred employees for their service with Huntsman for purposes of determining eligibility, vesting and benefit levels under Venator’s benefit plans; and

 

·                   general cooperation and sharing of information between Venator and Huntsman on matters relating to the transfers of employees and employee benefit plan-related liabilities and obligations.

 

In addition, the Employee Matters Agreement sets forth the treatment of outstanding Huntsman equity compensation awards in connection with the IPO.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

 

On August 8, 2017, Venator entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with Huntsman, pursuant to which Venator agreed to register the sale of Venator’s ordinary shares owned by Huntsman under certain circumstances.

 

Demand Rights

 

At any time after the expiration of the 180-day lock-up period following the IPO, and during such period if the underwriters of the IPO grant a release or waiver, and subject to the limitations set forth below, Huntsman (or its permitted transferees) have the right to require Venator, by written notice, to prepare and file a registration statement registering the offer and sale of a certain number of the Venator ordinary shares they respectively own. Generally, Venator is required to provide notice of any such request by Huntsman (or its permitted transferees) to certain other holders of Venator’s ordinary shares who may, in certain circumstances, participate in the registration. Subject to certain exceptions, Venator will not be obligated to effect an underwritten offering within 90 days after the closing of any underwritten offering of ordinary shares. Further, Venator is not obligated to effect more than a total of eight demand registrations.

 

Venator will also not be obligated to effect any demand registration in which the anticipated aggregate offering price for Venator’s ordinary shares included in such offering is less than $25 million. Once Venator is eligible to effect a registration on Form S-3, any such demand registration may be for a shelf registration statement. Venator will be required to use reasonable best efforts to maintain the effectiveness of any such registration statement until the earlier of (a) 180 days (or five years in the case of a shelf registration statement) after the effective date thereof or (b) the date on which all ordinary shares covered by such registration statement have been sold (subject to certain extensions).

 

In addition, Huntsman (or its permitted transferees) have the right to require Venator, subject to certain limitations, to effect a distribution of any or all of the ordinary shares they respectively own by means of an underwritten offering.

 

Piggyback Rights

 

Subject to certain exceptions, if at any time Venator proposes to register an offering of ordinary shares or conduct an underwritten offering, whether or not for its own account, then Venator must notify Huntsman (or its permitted transferees) of such proposal to allow them to include a specified number of the Venator ordinary shares they own in the registration statement or the underwritten offering, as applicable.

 

Conditions and Limitations; Expenses

 

The registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement are subject to certain conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters of the IPO to limit the number of Venator ordinary shares to be included in a registration statement and Venator’s right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under certain circumstances. Venator will generally pay all registration and offering expenses of Huntsman, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, in connection with Venator’s obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement, regardless of whether a registration statement is filed or becomes effective.

 

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Item 2.03.                 Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

 

On August 8, 2017, in connection with the IPO and the Separation, Venator entered into new financing arrangements and incurred new debt, including borrowings of $375 million under a new senior secured term loan facility with a maturity of seven years (the “term loan facility”). In addition to the term loan facility, Venator entered into a $300 million asset-based revolving lending facility with a maturity of five years (the “ABL facility” and, together with the term loan facility, the “senior credit facilities”). As previously disclosed, on July 14, 2017, in connection with the IPO and the Separation, Venator Finance S.à r.l. and Venator Materials LLC (the “issuers”), each a wholly-owned subsidiary of Venator, issued $375,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 5.75% of Senior Notes due 2025 (the “notes offering”). Promptly following consummation of the Separation, the proceeds of the notes offering were released from escrow and Venator used the net proceeds of the notes offering and borrowings under the term loan facility to repay intercompany debt owed to Huntsman and to pay related fees and expenses.

 

Senior Credit Facilities

 

Interest Rates and Fees

 

Borrowings under the term loan facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at Venator’s option, either (a) a London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) determined by reference to the costs of funds for Eurodollar deposits for the interest period relevant to such borrowing, adjusted for certain additional costs subject to an interest rate floor of 1.00% per annum or (b) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (i) the rate of interest per annum determined from time to time by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as its prime rate in effect at its principal office in New York City, (ii) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% per annum and (iii) the one-month adjusted LIBOR plus 1.00% per annum, in each case plus an applicable margin to be agreed upon.

 

Borrowings under the ABL facility bear interest at a variable rate equal to an applicable margin based on the applicable quarterly average excess availability under the ABL facility plus either a LIBOR or a base rate. Thereafter, the applicable margin percentage will be calculated and established once every three calendar months and will vary from 150 to 200 basis points for LIBOR loans depending on the quarterly average excess availability under the ABL facility for the immediately preceding three-month period.

 

Amortization and Prepayments

 

The term loan facility requires scheduled quarterly amortization payments on the term loan in an amount equal to 0.25% of the original principal amount of the term loan, commencing on the first full fiscal quarter ending after the closing date of the term loan facility, with the balance paid at maturity. In addition, the term loan facility requires Venator to prepay outstanding term loan borrowings, subject to certain exceptions, with:

 

·                   50% of excess cash flow (which percentage will be reduced to 25% and 0% if the total net leverage ratio is less than or equal to the ratios set forth in the definitive documentation for the term loan facility), subject to customary exceptions;

 

·                   100% of the net cash proceeds of all non-ordinary course asset sales, other dispositions of property or certain casualty events, in each case subject to certain exceptions and reinvestment rights; and

 

·                   100% of the net cash proceeds of any issuance or incurrence of debt, other than proceeds from debt permitted under the term loan facility.

 

Venator may voluntarily repay outstanding loans under the term loan facility at any time, without prepayment premium or penalty, except in connection with a repricing event in respect of the term loan as described below, subject to customary “breakage” costs with respect to LIBOR loans.

 

6



 

Any refinancing of the term loan facility through the issuance of debt or a repricing amendment that results in a repricing event that lowers the existing yield at any time during the first six months after the closing date of the term loan facility will require payment of a 1.00% prepayment premium or fee, as applicable.

 

The ABL facility requires mandatory prepayment in the event that outstanding borrowings under such facility exceed availability as calculated under the borrowing base and upon the occurrence and continuation of a cash dominion event.

 

Collateral and Guarantors

 

Subject to customary exceptions, all obligations under the senior credit facilities are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior secured basis by Venator and each existing and subsequently acquired or organized direct or indirect material wholly-owned restricted subsidiary of Venator. The obligations of the loan parties are to be secured by a pledge of Venator’s capital stock directly held by Venator and any domestic loan parties and substantially all of Venator’s assets and those of each subsidiary guarantor, including capital stock of the subsidiary guarantors and 65% of the capital stock of the first-tier foreign subsidiaries that are not subsidiary guarantors, in each case subject to certain exceptions. Lien priority as between the term loan facility and the ABL facility with respect to the collateral is governed by an intercreditor agreement.

 

Restrictive Covenants and Other Matters

 

The senior credit facilities contain certain customary affirmative covenants. The negative covenants in the senior credit facilities include, among others, limitations (none of which are absolute) on Venator’s ability to: incur additional debt or issue certain preferred shares, create liens on certain assets, make certain loans or investments (including acquisitions), pay dividends on or make distributions in respect of Venator’s ordinary shares or make other restricted payments, consolidate, merge, sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of Venator’s assets, sell assets, enter into certain transactions with Venator’s affiliates, restrict dividends from Venator’s subsidiaries or restrict liens on assets of Venator’s subsidiaries and modify the terms of certain debt or organizational agreements.

 

In addition, if excess availability under the ABL facility is less than a certain amount or less than a certain percentage of the aggregate available commitments under the facility, the ABL facility will require compliance with a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio.

 

The senior credit facilities contain certain customary events of default, including relating to a change of control. If an event of default occurs, the lenders under the senior credit facilities will be entitled to take various actions, including the acceleration of amounts due under the senior credit facilities and all actions permitted to be taken by a secured creditor in respect of the collateral securing the senior credit facilities.

 

Indenture Governing the Notes

 

On July 14, 2017, the issuers entered into an indenture (the “indenture”), by and among the issuers and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (the “trustee”), in connection with the issuance of the notes.  The notes were sold pursuant to a purchase agreement by and among the issuers and the initial purchasers party thereto and were funded into escrow pursuant to an escrow agreement dated July 14, 2017, by and among the issuers and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as escrow agent.

 

The notes are general unsecured senior obligations of the issuers and are guaranteed on a general unsecured senior basis by Venator and certain of Venator’s subsidiaries (collectively, the “guarantors”).  The notes were issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

The indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of Venator and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things, incur additional indebtedness secured by any principal properties, incur indebtedness of non-guarantor subsidiaries, enter into sale and leaseback transactions with respect to any principal properties and consolidate or merge with or into any other person or lease, sell or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets.

 

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The notes bear interest at the rate of 5.75% per year payable semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2018. The notes will mature on July 15, 2025. The issuers may redeem the notes in whole or in part at any time prior to July 15, 2020 at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a “make-whole” premium and accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The notes will be redeemable in whole or in part at any time on or after July 15, 2020 at the redemption prices in the indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date. In addition, at any time prior to July 15, 2020, the issuers may redeem up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes with an amount not greater than the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings or contributions to Venator’s equity at 105.75% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date.  Upon the occurrence of certain change of control events (other than the IPO), holders of the notes will have the right to require that the issuers purchase all or a portion of such holder’s notes in cash at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase.

 

Promptly following consummation of the Separation, the proceeds of the notes offering were released from escrow pursuant to the terms of the escrow agreement and Venator and the other guarantors entered into a supplemental indenture to the indenture pursuant to which each of those entities agreed to unconditionally guarantee all of the issuers’ obligations under the notes and the indentures subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein.

 

The foregoing does not constitute a complete summary of the terms of the indenture or supplemental indenture.  The description of the terms of the indenture and the supplemental indenture are each qualified in their entirety by reference to such agreements, which are filed herewith as Exhibits 10.7 and 10.8, respectively.

 

Item 9.01.                 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1*

 

Separation Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman Corporation.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Transition Services Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman International LLC.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Tax Matters Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman Corporation.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Employee Matters Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman Corporation.

 

 

 

10.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC, Huntsman International LLC and Huntsman (Holdings) Netherlands B.V.

 

 

 

10.5

 

ABL Facility Agreement, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC, the borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent.

 

 

 

10.6

 

Term Loan Agreement, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC, Venator Finance S.À.R.L. and Venator Materials LLC, as borrowers, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent.

 

 

 

10.7

 

Indenture, dated July 14, 2017, by and among Venator Finance S.a r. l., Venator Materials LLC and Wilmington Trust, National Association, and incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Huntsman Corporation 8-K filed on July 18, 2017.

 

 

 

10.8

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Finance S.a r. l., Venator Materials LLC, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association.

 


* The schedules to the Separation Agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Venator agrees to furnish a copy of any schedule omitted from the Separation Agreement to the SEC upon request.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

Venator Materials PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ Stolle

 

Name:

Russ Stolle

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

 

Date: August 11, 2017

 

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

2.1*

 

Separation Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman Corporation.

 

 

 

10.1

 

Transition Services Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman International LLC.

 

 

 

10.2

 

Tax Matters Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman Corporation.

 

 

 

10.3

 

Employee Matters Agreement, dated August 7, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC and Huntsman Corporation.

 

 

 

10.4

 

Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC, Huntsman International LLC and Huntsman (Holdings) Netherlands B.V.

 

 

 

10.5

 

ABL Facility Agreement, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC, the borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent.

 

 

 

10.6

 

Term Loan Agreement, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Materials PLC, Venator Finance S.À.R.L. and Venator Materials LLC, as borrowers, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative and collateral agent.

 

 

 

10.7

 

Indenture, dated July 14, 2017, by and among Venator Finance S.a r. l., Venator Materials LLC and Wilmington Trust, National Association, and incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Huntsman Corporation 8-K filed on July 18, 2017.

 

 

 

10.8

 

Supplemental Indenture, dated August 8, 2017, by and among Venator Finance S.a r. l., Venator Materials LLC, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association.

 


* The schedules to the Separation Agreement have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. Venator agrees to furnish a copy of any schedule omitted from the Separation Agreement to the SEC upon request.

 

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Exhibit 2.1

 

Execution Version

 

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION

 

AND

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

DATED AS OF AUGUST 7, 2017

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

 

Article I Definitions

 

1

 

 

 

 

Article II The Separation

 

15

 

 

 

 

2.1

Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities

 

15

 

 

 

 

2.2

Venator Assets

 

18

 

 

 

 

2.3

Venator Liabilities

 

19

 

 

 

 

2.4

Approvals and Notifications

 

21

 

 

 

 

2.5

Novation of Venator Liabilities

 

24

 

 

 

 

2.6

Novation of Huntsman Liabilities

 

25

 

 

 

 

2.7

Termination of Agreements

 

25

 

 

 

 

2.8

Treatment of Shared Contracts

 

26

 

 

 

 

2.9

Bank Accounts; Cash Balances

 

27

 

 

 

 

2.10

Other Ancillary Agreements

 

28

 

 

 

 

2.11

Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties

 

28

 

 

 

 

2.12

Venator Debt Financing

 

29

 

 

 

 

Article III The IPO AND ACTIONS PENDING THE IPO

 

29

 

 

 

 

3.1

The IPO

 

29

 

 

 

 

3.2

Equity-Based Benefits

 

30

 

 

 

 

Article IV Dispute Resolution

 

30

 

 

 

 

4.1

General Provisions

 

30

 

 

 

 

4.2

Consideration by Senior Executives

 

31

 

 

 

 

4.3

Arbitration

 

31

 

 

 

 

4.4

Confidentiality

 

32

 

 

 

 

4.5

Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue

 

33

 

 

 

 

Article V Mutual Releases; Indemnification

 

33

 

 

 

 

5.1

Regardless of Fault

 

33

 

 

 

 

5.2

Intention of Parties

 

33

 

 

 

 

5.3

Release of Pre-Closing Claims

 

33

 

 

 

 

5.4

Indemnification by Venator

 

37

 

 

 

 

5.5

Indemnification by Huntsman

 

38

 

 

 

 

5.6

Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds

 

38

 

 

 

 

5.7

Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims

 

39

 

i



 

5.8

Additional Matters

 

42

 

 

 

 

5.9

Remedies Cumulative

 

42

 

 

 

 

5.10

Survival of Indemnities

 

42

 

 

 

 

5.11

Guarantees, Letters of Credit and other Obligations

 

43

 

 

 

 

5.12

No Impact on Third Parties

 

44

 

 

 

 

5.13

No Cross-Claims or Third-Party Claims

 

44

 

 

 

 

5.14

Severability

 

44

 

 

 

 

5.15

Change of Control

 

44

 

 

 

 

Article VI Insurance Matters

 

44

 

 

 

 

6.1

Insurance Matters

 

44

 

 

 

 

Article VII Exchange of Information; Confidentiality

 

48

 

 

 

 

7.1

Agreement for Exchange of Information

 

48

 

 

 

 

7.2

Ownership of Information

 

48

 

 

 

 

7.3

Reimbursement for Providing Information

 

48

 

 

 

 

7.4

Record Retention

 

48

 

 

 

 

7.5

Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information

 

49

 

 

 

 

7.6

Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation

 

49

 

 

 

 

7.7

Confidentiality

 

50

 

 

 

 

7.8

Protective Arrangements

 

52

 

 

 

 

7.9

Personal Information

 

52

 

 

 

 

Article VIII Further Assurances and Additional Covenants

 

52

 

 

 

 

8.1

Further Assurances

 

52

 

 

 

 

8.2

Performance

 

53

 

 

 

 

8.3

Huntsman Guarantees

 

54

 

 

 

 

8.4

Third-Party Agreements

 

54

 

 

 

 

8.5

Huntsman Names and Marks

 

54

 

 

 

 

8.6

Conflicts with and between Ancillary Agreements

 

55

 

 

 

 

8.7

No Actions Related to Certain Technical Information and Copyrightable Works

 

55

 

 

 

 

8.8

Attorney Client Privilege

 

56

 

 

 

 

Article IX Financial and Related Covenants

 

56

 

 

 

 

9.1

Disclosure and Financial Controls

 

56

 

 

 

 

9.2

Auditors and Audits; Annual Statements and Accounting

 

63

 

 

 

 

9.3

Other Covenants

 

65

 

 

 

 

9.4

Covenants Regarding the Incurrence of Indebtedness

 

66

 

ii



 

9.5

Applicability of Rights in the Event of an Acquisition of Venator

 

66

 

 

 

 

9.6

Transfer of Huntsman’s Rights

 

67

 

 

 

 

9.7

Huntsman Policies and Procedures

 

67

 

 

 

 

Article X Miscellaneous

 

67

 

 

 

 

10.1

Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power

 

67

 

 

 

 

10.2

Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

 

68

 

 

 

 

10.3

Assignability

 

69

 

 

 

 

10.4

Third-Party Beneficiaries

 

69

 

 

 

 

10.5

Notices

 

69

 

 

 

 

10.6

Severability

 

69

 

 

 

 

10.7

Force Majeure

 

70

 

 

 

 

10.8

Publicity

 

70

 

 

 

 

10.9

Expenses

 

70

 

 

 

 

10.10

Payments

 

70

 

 

 

 

10.11

Headings

 

71

 

 

 

 

10.12

Survival of Covenants

 

71

 

 

 

 

10.13

Waivers of Default

 

71

 

 

 

 

10.14

Specific Performance

 

71

 

 

 

 

10.15

Termination; Amendments

 

71

 

 

 

 

10.16

Interpretation

 

72

 

 

 

 

10.17

Limitations of Liability

 

72

 

iii



 

SCHEDULES

 

2.2(a)(ii)(B)

Equity Interests in Huntsman Affiliates and Subsidiaries Constituting Venator Assets

2.7(b)(ii)

Continuing Huntsman — Venator Agreements

2.8(a)

Shared Contracts

5.11(a)

Venator Contracts with Huntsman Group Guarantor or Obligor

6.1(d)

Insurance Matters

9.7

Huntsman Policies and Procedures

10.9

Expenses

 

iv



 

SEPARATION AGREEMENT

 

This SEPARATION AGREEMENT , dated August 7, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”), is by and between Huntsman Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Huntsman ”), and Venator Materials PLC, a public limited company incorporated and registered under the laws of England and Wales with company number 10747130 and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Huntsman (“ Venator ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Article I .

 

R   E   C   I   T   A   L   S

 

The board of directors of Huntsman (the “ Huntsman Board ”) has determined that it is in the best interests of Huntsman and the Huntsman shareholders to separate the Venator Business from the other businesses conducted by Huntsman and its Subsidiaries.

 

In furtherance of the foregoing, Huntsman and its applicable Subsidiaries transferred the Venator Assets to Venator and certain entities that would become Subsidiaries of Venator (any such Subsidiaries, the “ Venator Designees ”), and Venator and the Venator Designees assumed or retained, as applicable, the Venator Liabilities in each case as more fully described in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (the “ Contribution ”).

 

Huntsman or one or more of its Subsidiaries will make an offer and sale to the public of Venator Ordinary Shares, which will take place pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC (the “ IPO ”).

 

After the IPO, Huntsman may (i) affect a disposition of Venator Ordinary Shares it owns pursuant to one or more public or private offerings or transactions (“ Dispositions ”), or (ii) continue to hold its interest in Venator Ordinary Shares.

 

It is appropriate and desirable to set forth the principal corporate transactions required to effect the Separation (to the extent not previously completed prior to the date hereof), and the Venator Debt Financing, IPO and certain other agreements that, subject to the conflict provisions set forth in Section 8.6 of this Agreement, will govern certain matters relating to the Separation and the Venator Debt Financing, IPO and the relationship of Huntsman, Venator and their respective Subsidiaries, following the IPO.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
Definitions

 

For the purpose of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(a) .

 



 

Action ” means any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, arbitration, inquiry, subpoena, proceeding or investigation of any nature (whether criminal, civil, legislative, administrative, regulatory, prosecutorial or otherwise) by or before any federal, state, local, foreign or international Governmental Authority or any arbitration or mediation tribunal.

 

Affiliate ” means, when used with respect to a specified Person, a Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such specified Person. For the purpose of this definition, “control” (including with correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), when used with respect to any specified Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or other interests, by contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment, undertaking or otherwise. From and after the Effective Date, (a) no member of the Venator Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the Huntsman Group and (b) no member of the Huntsman Group shall be deemed to be an Affiliate of any member of the Venator Group.

 

Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Ancillary Agreements ” means the Employee Matters Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement, the Transition Services Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement and the Transfer Documents.

 

Annual Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(e) .

 

Applicable Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2 .

 

Approvals or Notifications ” means any consents, waivers, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, notices, registrations or reports to be submitted to, or other filings to be made with, any Third Party, including any Governmental Authority.

 

Assets ” means, with respect to any Person, the assets, properties, claims and rights (including goodwill) of such Person, wherever located (including in the possession of vendors or other Third Parties or elsewhere), of every kind, character and description, whether real, personal or mixed, tangible, intangible or contingent, in each case, whether or not recorded or reflected or required to be recorded or reflected on the books and records or financial statements of such Person, including the following:

 

(a)                                  all Records;

 

(b)                                  all apparatus, IT Equipment, fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, office equipment, automobiles, trucks, vessels, motor vehicles and other transportation equipment, structures, materials and other tangible personal property;

 

(c)                                   all inventories of materials, parts, raw materials, components, supplies, works-in-process and finished goods and products;

 

2



 

(d)                                  all interests in real property of whatever nature, including buildings, fixtures and easements, whether as owner, mortgagee or holder of a Security Interest in real property, lessor, sublessor, lessee, sublessee or otherwise, including interests in and rights with respect to all leases, subleases, licenses, easements, rights-of-way or other similar surface interests;

 

(e)                                   (i) all interests in any capital stock or other equity interests of any Subsidiary, Affiliate or any other Person, (ii) all bonds, notes, debentures or other securities issued by any Subsidiary, Affiliate or any other Person, (iii) all loans, advances or other extensions of credit or capital contributions to any Subsidiary, Affiliate or any other Person, and (iv) all other investments in securities of any Person;

 

(f)                                    all license agreements, leases of personal property, open purchase orders for raw materials, supplies, parts or services and other contracts, agreements or commitments;

 

(g)                                   all letters of credit;

 

(h)                                  all written (including in electronic form) or oral technical information, data, specifications, research and development information, engineering drawings and specifications, operating and maintenance manuals;

 

(i)                                      all Intellectual Property;

 

(j)                                     all Software;

 

(k)                                  all cost information, sales and pricing data, customer prospect lists, supplier records, customer and supplier lists, customer and vendor data, correspondence and lists, product data and literature, artwork, design, formulations and specifications, quality records and reports and other books, records, studies, surveys, reports, plans and documents;

 

(l)                                      all prepaid expenses, trade accounts and other accounts and notes receivable;

 

(m)                              all rights under contracts or agreements, all claims or rights against any Person arising from the ownership of any Asset described in clauses ( a ) through (l) and (n) through (p) hereof, including, to the extent transferrable, all rights against Third Parties with respect to indemnification, and all rights in connection with any bids or offers and all claims, choses in action or similar rights, whether accrued or contingent;

 

(n)                                  all licenses, permits, approvals and authorizations which have been issued by any Governmental Authority;

 

(o)                                  all cash or cash equivalents, bank accounts, lock boxes and other deposit arrangements; and

 

3



 

(p)                                  all interest rate, currency, commodity or other swap, collar, cap or other hedging or similar agreements or arrangements.

 

Assumed Actions ” means those Actions that are primarily related to the Venator Business, other than Actions related to or forming the basis of the Rockwood Claims.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than Saturday or Sunday on which the banks are not required or permitted to close in Houston, Texas, New York, New York or London, England.

 

cash ” means cash, cash equivalents, bank deposits and marketable securities, whether denominated in U.S. dollars or otherwise.

 

Confidential Information ” means all non-public, confidential or proprietary Information to the extent concerning a Party, its Group and/or its Subsidiaries or with respect to Venator, the Venator Business, any Venator Assets or any Venator Liabilities or with respect to Huntsman, the Huntsman Business, any Huntsman Assets or any Huntsman Liabilities, including any such Information that was acquired by any Party after the Effective Date pursuant to Article VII or otherwise in accordance with this Agreement, or that was provided to a Party by a third party in confidence, including (a) any and all technical information relating to the design, operation, testing, test results, development, and manufacture of any Party’s product (including product specifications and documentations; engineering, design, and manufacturing drawings, diagrams, and illustrations; formulations and material specifications; laboratory studies and benchmark tests; quality assurance policies procedures and specifications; evaluation and/validation studies; assembly code, software, firmware, programming data, databases, and all information referred to in the same); product costs, margins and pricing; as well as product marketing studies and strategies; all other know-how, methodology, procedures, techniques and trade secrets related to research, engineering, development and manufacturing; (b) information, documents and materials relating to the Party’s financial condition, management and other business conditions, prospects, plans, procedures, infrastructure, security, information technology procedures and systems, and other business or operational affairs; (c) pending unpublished patent applications and trade secrets; and (d) any other data or documentation resident, existing or otherwise provided in a database or in a storage medium, permanent or temporary, intended for confidential, proprietary and/or privileged use by a Party; except for any Information that is (i) in the public domain or known to the public through no fault of the receiving Party or its Subsidiaries, (ii) lawfully acquired after the Effective Date by such Party or its Subsidiaries from other sources not known to be subject to confidentiality obligations with respect to such Information or (iii) independently developed by the receiving Party after the Effective Date without reference to any Confidential Information.  As used herein, by example and without limitation, Confidential Information shall mean any information of a Party intended or marked as confidential, proprietary and/or privileged.

 

Contribution ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Controller ” means the Person which, alone or jointly with others, determines the purposes and means of the processing of Personal Data.

 

4



 

Credit Rating ” means on any date, the rating that has been most recently announced by any Rating Agency for any class of senior, unsecured, non-convertible long-term debt of a Person.

 

Debt Repayment ” means the repayment of outstanding intercompany indebtedness owed to Huntsman and its Affiliates by Venator or members of its Group with the net proceeds from the sale of the Rule 144A / Capital Markets Securities and borrowings made under the Term Loan Facility.

 

Disposition ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Disposition Date ” means the date that Huntsman and its Affiliates cease to hold in excess of 50% of the outstanding Venator Ordinary Shares.

 

Dispute ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.1(a) .

 

Effective Date ” means 12:01 a.m., Central Time, on August 8, 2017.

 

Employee Matters Agreement ” means the Employee Matters Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date between Huntsman and Venator.

 

Environmental Law ” means all Laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or safety or the environment, including Laws relating to the exposure to, or Release, threatened Release or the presence of Hazardous Materials, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials and all Laws with regard to recordkeeping, notification, disclosure and reporting requirements respecting Hazardous Materials, and all laws relating to endangered or threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants and the management or use of natural resources.

 

Environmental Liabilities ” means all Liabilities, environmental response costs (including all removal, remediation or cleanup costs, investigatory costs, monitoring costs, and response costs with respect to Hazardous Materials), damages (including natural resources damages, property damages, personal injury damages), costs of compliance (including with any product take back requirements, or with any settlement, judgment or other determination of Liability and indemnity, contribution or similar obligations), court costs, attorneys’ fees, and all other Liabilities, costs, expenses, interest, fines, penalties or monetary sanctions relating to, arising out of or resulting from any order, notice of responsibility, directive, injunction, judgment or similar act (including settlements) by any Governmental Authority to the extent arising out of non-compliance with or any violation of, or obligation under, any Environmental Laws, or pursuant to any demand, action, claim, dispute, suit, countersuit, settlement, arbitration, formal inquiry, subpoena, investigation, proceeding or other legal determination of liability by a Governmental Authority or any other Person with respect to Hazardous Materials (including any exposure to Hazardous Materials), Environmental Law or contract or agreement relating to environmental, health or safety matters.

 

Equity Underwriting Agreement ” means the underwriting agreement dated as of August 2, 2017, among Venator, certain Huntsman Subsidiaries named therein and the underwriters in the IPO named therein.

 

5



 

Exchange Act ” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Financial Statements ” means the Annual Financial Statements and the Quarterly Financial Statements collectively.

 

GAAP ” means United Stated generally accepted accounting principles.

 

Governmental Approvals ” means any notices, reports or other filings to be made, or any consents, registrations, approvals, permits or authorizations to be obtained from, any Governmental Authority.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any nation or government, any state, municipality or other political subdivision thereof, and any entity, body, agency, commission, department, board, bureau, court, tribunal or other instrumentality, whether federal, state, local, domestic, foreign or multinational, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory, administrative or other similar functions of, or pertaining to, government and any executive official thereof.

 

Group ” means either the Venator Group or the Huntsman Group, as the context requires.

 

Hazardous Materials ” means (a) any substances defined, listed, classified or regulated as “hazardous substances,” “hazardous wastes,” “hazardous materials,” “extremely hazardous wastes,” “restricted hazardous wastes,” “toxic substances,” “toxic pollutants,” “contaminants,” “pollutants,” “wastes,” “radioactive materials,” “petroleum,” “oils” or designations of similar import under any Environmental Law, or (b) any other chemical, material or substance that is regulated or for which liability can be imposed under any Environmental Law.

 

Huntsman ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Huntsman Accounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

 

Huntsman Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b) .

 

Huntsman Board ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Huntsman Business ” means the business of Huntsman and its Subsidiaries as conducted at any point in time, other than the Venator Business.

 

Huntsman Contracts ” means any contracts, agreements and instruments to which Huntsman or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which it or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective Assets is bound, whether or not in writing, in each case immediately prior to the Effective Date that is contemplated to be retained by Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

Huntsman Group ” means Huntsman or its successor in interest as contemplated by the proposed merger with a subsidiary of Clariant AG, (a) each Subsidiary of Huntsman immediately after the Effective Date, (b) each Affiliate of Huntsman controlled by Huntsman immediately

 

6



 

after the Effective Date and (c) each other entity that becomes a Subsidiary of Huntsman at any time following the Effective Date for so long as such entity is a Subsidiary of Huntsman; provided  that, from and after the Effective Date, each member of the Venator Group will be deemed not to be a member of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman Guarantees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.3 .

 

Huntsman Indemnitees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.4 .

 

Huntsman Intellectual Property ” means (a) the Huntsman Names and Marks, and (b) all other Intellectual Property that, as of the Effective Date, is owned or licensed by any member of either Group, other than the Venator Intellectual Property.

 

Huntsman Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b) .

 

Huntsman Names and Marks ” means (a) the Trademarks of Huntsman or any of its Affiliates using or containing “Huntsman,” “Huntsman Corporation” or “HUN,” either alone or in combination with other words or elements, together with all variations and acronyms thereof, and all trademarks, design marks, service marks, Internet domain names, trade names, trade dress, company names and other identifiers of source or goodwill containing or incorporated with any of the foregoing, including the Huntsman corporate logo, (b) all Trademarks registered by a member of the Huntsman Group prior to the Effective Date and not used or held for use exclusively in the Venator Business as of the Effective Date, (c) all Trademarks registered by a member of the Venator Group prior to the Effective Date and not used or held for use exclusively in the Venator Business as of the Effective Date, and (d) Trademarks confusingly similar to or embodying any of the foregoing either alone or in combination with other words or elements, together with the goodwill associated with any of the foregoing.

 

Huntsman Public Filings ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(l) .

 

Huntsman Software ” means all Software that, as of the Effective Date, is owned by any member of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman Third Party Claim ” shall mean any claim or commencement of any Action by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) other than a member of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman Transfer Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) .

 

Huntsman Transferee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.6 .

 

IFRS ” means International Financial Reporting Standards.

 

Income Taxes ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

Indemnifying Party ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a) .

 

Indemnitee ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a) .

 

7



 

Indemnity Payment ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a) .

 

Information ” means information, whether or not patentable or copyrightable, in written, oral, electronic or other tangible or intangible forms, stored in any medium, including studies, reports, records, books, contracts, instruments, surveys, discoveries, ideas, concepts, know-how, techniques, designs, specifications, drawings, blueprints, diagrams, models, prototypes, samples, flow charts, data, computer data, disks, diskettes, tapes, computer programs or other software, marketing plans, customer names, memos, and other technical, financial, employee or business information or data.

 

Initial Notice ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 .

 

Insurance Proceeds ” means those monies:

 

(a)                                  received by an insured from an insurance carrier; or

 

(b)                                  paid by an insurance carrier on behalf of the insured;

 

in any such case net of any applicable premium adjustments (including reserves and retrospectively rated premium adjustments) and net of any costs or expenses incurred in the collection thereof and excluding fronted insurance policies, deductibles, self-insured retentions and any similar concept that does not accomplish a real risk transfer to a third-party insurer; provided however , with respect to a captive insurance arrangement, Insurance Proceeds shall only include net amounts received by the captive insurer in respect of any reinsurance arrangement with respect to the insurance issued by such captive insurer.

 

Intellectual Property ” means any and all proprietary and intellectual property rights whether arising under the Laws of the United States or of any other foreign or multinational jurisdiction or provided by international treaties or convention, including: (a) patents, patent applications, statutory invention registrations and utility models, including reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations in part, substitutions, renewals, extensions and reexaminations of any of the foregoing, (b) trademarks, service marks, design marks, trade names, service names, trade dress, logos, Internet domain names, uniform resource locaters, and other source or business identifiers, including all goodwill associated with any of the foregoing and any and all common law rights in and to any of the foregoing, registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, and all reissues, extensions and renewals of any of the foregoing (collectively, “ Trademarks ”), (c) copyrights, moral rights, mask work rights, database rights, other rights in works of authorship, and all registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing, and (d) trade secrets, know how, and rights in confidential and proprietary information, including invention disclosures, formulations, concepts, compilations of information, methods, techniques, procedures, and processes, whether or not patentable.

 

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

IPO Registration Statement ” means the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-217723) filed under the Securities Act, relating to the initial public offering of Venator Ordinary Shares.

 

8



 

IT Equipment ” means all computers, servers, printers, computer hardware, wired or mobile telephones, on-site process control and automation systems, telecommunication assets, and other information technology-related equipment.

 

Law ” means any national, supranational, federal, state, provincial, local or similar law (including common law), statute, code, order, ordinance, rule, regulation, treaty (including any income tax treaty), license, permit, authorization, approval, consent, decree, injunction, binding judicial or administrative interpretation or other requirement, in each case, enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a Governmental Authority.

 

LHO ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.7(i) .

 

Liabilities ” means any and all debts, guarantees, assurances, commitments, liabilities (including Environmental Liabilities), responsibilities, Losses, remediation, deficiencies, reimbursement obligations or fees in respect of letters of credit, damages, fines, penalties, settlements, sanctions, costs, expenses, interest and obligations, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, matured or unmatured, accrued or not accrued, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, foreseen or unforeseen, known or unknown, reserved or unreserved, or determined or determinable, including those arising under any Law, claim (including any Third-Party Claim), demand, Action, or order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or award entered by or with any Governmental Authority or arbitration tribunal, and those arising under any contract, agreement, obligation, indenture, instrument, lease, promise, arrangement, release, warranty, commitment or undertaking, or any fines, damages or equitable relief that is imposed, in each case, including all costs and expenses relating thereto.

 

Losses ” means actual losses (including any diminution in value), costs, damages, penalties and expenses (including legal and accounting fees and expenses and costs of investigation and litigation), whether or not involving a Third-Party Claim.

 

Minimum Credit Rating ” shall mean a rating of at least (a) B+ by Standard & Poor’s Financial Services LLC or (b) B1 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc..

 

NYSE ” means the New York Stock Exchange.

 

Parties ” means Venator and Huntsman.

 

Person ” means an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

 

Personal Data ” means (i) personal data as defined by Directive 95/46/EC and any subsequent applicable Laws, including Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (also known as the “General Data Protection Regulation”), (ii) personal identifying information as defined by Texas Bus. & Comm. Code Ann. § 521.053, or (iii) similar terms as defined under applicable Law.

 

9



 

Pigments and Additives Business ” means collectively the titanium dioxide business and the performance additives business of Huntsman, each as described in the IPO Registration Statement.

 

Prime Rate ” means the rate which JPMorgan Chase Bank (or any successor thereto or other major money center commercial bank agreed to by the Parties) announces from time to time as its prime lending rate, as in effect from time to time at its principal office in New York City.

 

Privilege ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

 

Processing ” means any operation or set of operations which is performed on Personal Data or on sets of Personal Data, whether or not by automated means, such as collection, recording, organization, structuring, storage, adaptation or alteration, retrieval, consultation, use, disclosure by transmission, dissemination or otherwise making available, alignment or combination, restriction, erasure or destruction.

 

Quarterly Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(d) .

 

Rating Agency ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc..

 

Records ” means all corporate, operational, accounting and other books and records, files, data, correspondence, studies, surveys, reports, customer lists, supplier lists, sales materials, engineering data and reports, health, environmental and safety information and records, Third Party licenses, accounting and financial records, promotional materials, operational records, technical records, accounting files, tax records (other than income tax), and contract files (including copies of all contracts, all files regarding the contracts and related files).

 

Registration Rights Agreement ” means the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date between Huntsman, one of its Subsidiaries and Venator.

 

Release ” means any depositing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, placing, emitting, discarding, abandoning, emptying, discharging, migrating, injecting, escaping, leaching, seeping, dumping, or disposing of Hazardous Materials into the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata).

 

Representatives ” means, with respect to any Person, any of such Person’s directors, officers, employees, agents, managers, consultants, advisors, accountants, attorneys or other representatives.

 

Response ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2 .

 

Restructuring ” means the transactions required to separate the Venator Business from the Huntsman Group.

 

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Retained Copyrightable Works means the unregistered works of authorship not owned by any member of the Venator Group on the Effective Date but which were in the possession of any Venator Group Employees on or before the Effective Date

 

Retained Technical Information means the Confidential Information not owned by any member of the Venator Group on the Effective Date but which were in the possession of any Venator Group Employees on or before the Effective Date.

 

Revolving Credit Facility means that certain $300 million asset based revolving lending facility dated as of the Effective Date between Venator and certain of its Subsidiaries and the banks named therein.

 

Rockwood Claims ” means the claims asserted by Huntsman International LLC in that certain action styled Huntsman International LLC v. Albemarle Corporation, Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., Rockwood Holdings, Inc., Seifollah “Seifi” Ghasemi, Andrew M. Ross, Thomas J. Riordan, and Michael W. Valente filed in the Supreme Court of New York.

 

Rule 144A / Capital Markets Securities means the 5 ¾ % senior notes due 2025 issued by Venator Materials LLC (f/k/a Venator Materials Corporation) and Venator Finance S.á r.l .

 

SEC ” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Securities Act ” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Security Interest ” means any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge, claim, option, right to acquire, voting or other restriction, right-of-way, covenant, condition, easement, encroachment, restriction on transfer, or other encumbrance of any nature whatsoever.

 

Separation ” means the transactions set forth in Article II .

 

Shared Contract ” shall mean any Schedule 2.8 Contract and any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding that has been assigned in part to any Group pursuant to a Transfer Document.

 

Software ” means any and all (a) computer programs, including the tangible media on which it is recorded (in any form), and any and all software implementation of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code, object code, human readable form or other form, together with all translations, adaptations, modifications, derivations, combinations or derivative works thereof, (b) databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (c) descriptions, flow charts and other work products used to design, plan, organize and develop any of the foregoing, screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons, and (d) documentation, including user manuals and other training documentation, relating to any of the foregoing.

 

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Subsidiary ” or “ subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Person, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

 

Supplies ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 8.5(a) .

 

Tax Matters Agreement ” means the Tax Matters Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date between Huntsman and Venator.

 

Tax Return ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

Taxes ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Tax Matters Agreement.

 

Term Loan Facility means that certain senior secured loan facility dated as of the Effective Date between Venator, certain of its Subsidiaries and the banks named therein providing for borrowing of up to $375 million of senior secured term notes .

 

Third-Party ” shall mean any Person (including any Governmental Authority) other than (a) Venator, (b) each Subsidiary of Venator immediately after the Effective Date, (c) each Affiliate of Venator controlled by Venator immediately after the Effective Date, (d) Huntsman, (e) each Subsidiary of Huntsman immediately after the Effective Date, (f) each Affiliate of Huntsman controlled by Huntsman immediately after the Effective Date and (g) any successor to any such Person referenced to in clauses (a) through (f) .

 

Third-Party Claim ” shall mean a Venator Third Party Claim or a Huntsman Third Party Claim.

 

Trademarks ” shall have the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property.

 

Transfer Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c) .

 

Transferred Copyrightable Works means the unregistered works of authorship owned by any member of the Venator Group on the Effective Date but which were in the possession of any employees of the Huntsman Group on or before the Effective Date.

 

Transferred Entities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a)(ii) .

 

Transferred Technical Information means the Confidential Information owned by any member of the Venator Group on the Effective Date but which were in the possession of any employees of the Huntsman Group on or before the Effective Date.

 

Transition Services Agreement ” means the Transition Services Agreement, dated as of the Effective Date hereof, between Huntsman International LLC and Venator.

 

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Unknown Claims ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(g) .

 

Unreleased Huntsman Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(b) .

 

Unreleased Venator Liability ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(b) .

 

Venator ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

Venator Accounts ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) .

 

Venator Articles of Association ” means the Amended and Restated Articles of Association of Venator, adopted by special resolution on August 1, 2017.

 

Venator Assets ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a) .

 

Venator Auditors ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) .

 

Venator Balance Sheet ” means the unaudited combined balance sheet of the Venator Group, including the notes thereto, as of March 31, 2017.

 

Venator Business ” means (a) the business and operations that comprise the Pigments and Additives Business and (b) without limiting the foregoing clause (a) and except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any other terminated, divested or discontinued businesses, Assets or operations that were of such a nature that they would be a part of the Pigments and Additives Business had they not been terminated, divested or discontinued.

 

Venator Contracts ” means the following contracts, agreements and instruments to which Huntsman or any of its Affiliates is a party or by which it or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective Assets is bound, whether or not in writing, in each case immediately prior to the Effective Date (except for any such contract or agreement that is a Huntsman Contract):

 

(a)                                  Any lease, sublease, easement, right of way or any similar agreement granting occupancy rights, in each case relating primarily to the Venator Business;

 

(b)                                  Any contract that relates to futures, swaps, collars, puts, calls, floors, caps, options or otherwise is intended to reduce or eliminate the fluctuations in the prices of commodities, in each case that relates primarily to the Venator Business;

 

(c)                                   Any customer, distribution, supply or vendor contract, or any joint venture or license agreement, in each case, that relates primarily to the Venator Business;

 

(d)                                  Any contract or agreement relating primarily to the acquisition or distribution of any Venator Assets; and

 

(e)                                   Any other contract that relates primarily to the Venator Business.

 

Venator Covered Group ” means those individuals of Venator who were serving as directors or officers of Huntsman or any of its Subsidiaries at or prior to the Effective Date.

 

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Venator Debt Financing ” means the sale by Venator of the Rule 144A / Capital Markets Securities and borrowings made under the Term Loan Facility and the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

Venator Debt Obligation ” means all Indebtedness of Venator or any member of the Venator Group, including without limitation Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Venator Debt Financing.

 

Venator Designees ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

Venator Group ” means Venator, each Transferred Entity, and (a) each Subsidiary of Venator immediately after the Effective Date, (b) each Affiliate of Venator controlled by Venator immediately after the Effective Date and (c) each other entity that becomes a Subsidiary of Venator at any time following the Effective Date for so long as such entity is a Subsidiary of Venator.

 

Venator Group Employee ” shall have the meaning set forth in the Employee Matters Agreement.

 

Venator Indemnitees ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.5 .

 

Venator Intellectual Property ” means the patents, Trademarks, registered Internet domain names, copyright registrations, and applications for the foregoing that are owned exclusively by or licensed exclusively to any member of the Venator Group at or prior to the Effective Date, excluding any such Intellectual Property that has been assigned by any member of the Venator Group to any member of the Huntsman Group prior to the Effective Date.

 

Venator Liabilities ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a) .

 

Venator Ordinary Shares ” means the ordinary shares, nominal value $0.001 per share, of Venator.

 

Venator Public Documents ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(h) .

 

Venator Software ” means all Software that, as of the Effective Date, is owned by any member of the Venator Group.

 

Venator Third Party Claim ” shall mean any claim or commencement of any Action by any Person (including any Governmental Authority) other than a member of the Venator Group.

 

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ARTICLE II
THE SEPARATION

 

2.1                                Transfer of Assets and Assumption of Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Prior to the consummation of the IPO, the Parties shall cause, or shall have caused, the Restructuring to be completed except those that are intended to be completed after the Effective Date. Subject to Section 2.1(d) and (e) , on or before the Effective Date:

 

(i)                                      Huntsman or its applicable Subsidiaries contributed, assigned, transferred and conveyed to Venator, or the applicable Venator Designees, and Venator or such Venator Designees accepted from Huntsman and its applicable Subsidiaries, all of Huntsman’s and such Subsidiaries’ respective direct or indirect right, title and interest in and to all of the Venator Assets (it being understood that if any Venator Asset shall be held by a Transferred Entity or a wholly owned Subsidiary of a Transferred Entity, such Venator Asset will be indirectly owned by Venator as a result of the transfer of the equity interests in such Transferred Entity);

 

(ii)                                   Venator and the applicable Venator Designees accepted, assumed from Huntsman and its applicable Subsidiaries and agreed faithfully to perform, pay, discharge and fulfill the Venator Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms, regardless of when or where such Venator Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Date, regardless of where or against whom such Venator Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any Venator Liabilities arising out of claims made by the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, stockholders, managers, Subsidiaries or Affiliates of either Group against any member of either Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud, misrepresentation or any other cause by any member of either Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or managers;

 

(iii)                                Huntsman caused its applicable Subsidiaries or Venator to assign, transfer and convey to certain of its other Subsidiaries, which accepted from such applicable Huntsman Subsidiaries or Venator, such applicable Subsidiaries’ respective right, title and interest in and to any Huntsman Assets specified by Huntsman to be so assigned, transferred and conveyed; and

 

(iv)                               Huntsman and certain of its Subsidiaries accepted and assumed from certain of its other Subsidiaries and agreed faithfully to perform, pay, discharge and fulfill the Huntsman Liabilities of such other Subsidiaries, regardless of when or where such Huntsman Liabilities arose or arise, or whether the facts on which they are based occurred prior to or subsequent to the Effective Date, regardless of where or against whom such Huntsman Liabilities are asserted or determined (including any such Huntsman Liabilities arising out of claims made by the respective directors, officers, employees, agents, stockholders, managers, Subsidiaries or Affiliates of either Group against any member of either Group) or whether asserted or determined prior to the date

 

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hereof, and regardless of whether arising from or alleged to arise from negligence, recklessness, violation of Law, fraud, misrepresentation or any other cause by any member of either Group, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or managers.

 

Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (A) and except for where the assignment, transfer or conveyance of any Venator Assets from Huntsman to Venator or an applicable Venator Designee would be a violation of applicable Law, or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Contribution or the IPO that have not been obtained or made by the Effective Date, to the extent that any Venator Assets have not been assigned, transferred or conveyed by Huntsman to Venator or an applicable Venator Designee in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(i) as of immediately prior to the Effective Date, then from and after the Effective Date, Huntsman hereby assigns and Venator accepts such assignment of Huntsman’s right, title and interest in such Venator Assets and (B) and except for where the assignment, transfer or conveyance of any Huntsman Assets from its Subsidiaries or Venator to Huntsman would be a violation of applicable Law, or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Contribution or the IPO that have not been obtained or made by the Effective Date, to the extent that any Huntsman Assets have not been assigned, transferred or conveyed by its Subsidiaries or Venator to Huntsman or an applicable Huntsman Group member in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(iii) as of immediately prior to the Effective Date, then from and after the Effective Date, its Subsidiaries or Venator shall and hereby do assign and Huntsman shall and hereby does accept such assignment of the Subsidiaries’ or Venator’s right, title and interest in such Huntsman Assets.

 

Except as otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, (A) and except for where the assumption by Venator of any Venator Liabilities would be a violation of applicable Law, or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Contribution or the IPO that have not been obtained or made by the Effective Date, to the extent that any Venator Liabilities have not been accepted and assumed by Venator or an applicable Venator Designee in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(ii) as of immediately prior to the Effective Date, then from and after the Effective Date, Venator shall and hereby does, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all such Venator Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms and (B) except for where the assumption by Huntsman of any Huntsman Liabilities would be a violation of applicable Law, or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Contribution or the IPO that have not been obtained or made by the Effective Date, to the extent that any Huntsman Liabilities have not been accepted and assumed by Huntsman or an applicable Huntsman Group member in accordance with Section 2.1(a)(iv) as of immediately prior to the Effective Date, then from and after the Effective Date, Huntsman shall and hereby does, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, pay, discharge and fulfill all such Huntsman Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms.

 

(b)                                  In furtherance of the assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Venator Assets and the assumption of the Venator Liabilities in accordance with Sections 2.1(a)(i) , 2.1(a)(ii) and 2.1(d) , on, before and/or as of the date that such Venator Assets are assigned, transferred or conveyed or such Venator Liabilities are assumed, (i) Huntsman shall execute and deliver, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, quitclaim deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts and other instruments of transfer,

 

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conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of Huntsman’s and its Subsidiaries’ (other than Venator and its Subsidiaries) right, title and interest in and to the Venator Assets to Venator and the Venator Designees, and (ii) Venator shall execute and deliver, and shall cause the Venator Designees to execute and deliver, such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the Venator Liabilities. All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.1(b) (whether executed on or after the date hereof or prior to the date hereof in contemplation of the Contribution) shall be referred to collectively herein as the “ Huntsman Transfer Documents.

 

(c)                                   In furtherance of the assignment, transfer and conveyance of Huntsman Assets and the assumption of Huntsman Liabilities set forth in Sections 2.1(a)(iii) , 2.1(a)(iv) and 2.1(e) , on, before and/or as of the date that such Venator Assets are assigned, transferred or conveyed or such Venator Liabilities are assumed: (i) Venator shall execute and deliver, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, such bills of sale, quitclaim deeds, stock powers, certificates of title, assignments of contracts (including partial assignments) and other instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment as and to the extent necessary to evidence the transfer, conveyance and assignment of all of Venator’s and its Subsidiaries’ right, title and interest in and to the Huntsman Assets to Huntsman and its Subsidiaries, and (ii) Huntsman shall execute and deliver, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to execute and deliver, such assumptions of contracts and other instruments of assumption as and to the extent necessary to evidence the valid and effective assumption of the Huntsman Liabilities. All of the foregoing documents contemplated by this Section 2.1(c) (whether executed on or after the date hereof or prior to the date hereof in contemplation of the Contribution) shall be referred to collectively herein as the “ Venator Transfer Documents ” and, together with the Huntsman Transfer Documents, the “ Transfer Documents .”

 

(d)                                  To the extent any Venator Asset is not transferred, assigned or delivered to or retained by, or any Venator Liability is not assumed by or retained by, a member of the Venator Group at the Effective Date or is owned or held by a member of the Huntsman Group after the Effective Date, from and after the Effective Date, any such Venator Asset or Venator Liability shall be held by such member of the Huntsman Group for the use, benefit and/or burden of the member of the Venator Group entitled thereto (at the expense and for the account of the member of the Venator Group entitled thereto) in accordance with Section 2.4(e) , and, subject to Section 2.4(b) :

 

(i)                                      Huntsman shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, as soon as reasonably practicable, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Venator or its Subsidiaries designated by Venator, and Venator or such Subsidiaries shall accept from Huntsman and its applicable Subsidiaries, all of Huntsman’s and such Subsidiaries’ respective right, title and interest in and to such Venator Assets in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement; and

 

(ii)                                   Venator and its Subsidiaries designated by Venator shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all such Venator Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms.

 

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(e)                                   To the extent any Huntsman Asset is not transferred, assigned or delivered to or retained by, or any Huntsman Liability is not assumed by or retained by, a member of the Huntsman Group at the Effective Date or is owned or held by a member of the Venator Group after the Effective Date, from and after the Effective Date, any such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability shall be held by such member of the Venator Group for the use, benefit and/or burden of the member of the Huntsman Group entitled thereto (at the expense and for the account of the member of the Huntsman Group entitled thereto) in accordance with Section 2.4(f) , and, subject to Section 2.4(c) :

 

(i)                                      Venator shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, as soon as reasonably practicable, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Huntsman or its Subsidiaries designated by Huntsman, and Huntsman or such Subsidiaries shall accept from Venator and its applicable Subsidiaries, all of Venator’s and such Subsidiaries’ respective right, title and interest in and to such Huntsman Assets in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement; and

 

(ii)                                   Huntsman and its Subsidiaries designated by Huntsman shall, as soon as reasonably practicable, accept, assume and agree faithfully to perform, discharge and fulfill all such Huntsman Liabilities in accordance with their respective terms.

 

(f)                                    Venator hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the Huntsman Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the Venator Assets to any member of the Venator Group.

 

(g)                                   Huntsman hereby waives compliance by each and every member of the Venator Group with the requirements and provisions of any “bulk-sale” or “bulk-transfer” Laws of any jurisdiction that may otherwise be applicable with respect to the transfer or sale of any or all of the Huntsman Assets to any member of the Huntsman Group.

 

2.2                                Venator Assets .

 

(a)                                  For purposes of this Agreement, “ Venator Assets ” means (without duplication):

 

(i)                                      all Assets that are provided pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be transferred to Venator or any other member of the Venator Group;

 

(ii)                                   (A) all Venator Contracts, (B) all issued and outstanding equity interests held by Huntsman or its Subsidiaries in any Person that have been or shall be contributed to, or otherwise transferred, conveyed, or assigned to, the Venator Group or entities that shall be members of the Venator Group as of the Effective Date, as listed on Schedule 2.2(a)(ii)(B) (the “ Transferred Entities ”);

 

(iii)                                all Assets reflected as assets of Venator or its Subsidiaries on the Venator Balance Sheet, subject to any dispositions of such Assets subsequent to the date of the Venator Balance Sheet;

 

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(iv)                               all Venator Intellectual Property and Venator Software;

 

(v)                                  all permits, waivers, authorizations and similar approvals issued under or pursuant to any Environmental Laws used or held for use by Huntsman or any of its Subsidiaries primarily in the Venator Business;

 

(vi)                               any Shared Contracts (but only to the extent assigned to a member of the Venator Group pursuant to Section 2.8(a) or a Transfer Document); and

 

(vii)                            any and all Assets owned and used or held for use immediately prior to the Effective Date by Huntsman or any of its Subsidiaries primarily in the Venator Business, including (a) any account or trade receivables, inventory, property, plant and equipment, prepaid expenses, whether or not reflected as assets of Venator or its Subsidiaries on the Venator Balance Sheet and (b) all claims and the actual amount of unspent insurance proceeds from insurers relating to the fire at the Pori, Finland facility.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Venator Assets shall not, in any event, include the Huntsman Assets referred to in Sections 2.2(b)(i) , (ii) , (iii) and (iv) . All rights of the Venator Group in respect of Huntsman insurance policies are set forth in Article VI and shall not be included in the Venator Assets.

 

(b)                                  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Huntsman Assets ” means (without duplication):

 

(i)                                      any and all other Assets that are provided pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Assets to be retained by Huntsman or any other member of the Huntsman Group;

 

(ii)                                   any cash withdrawn from Venator Accounts in accordance with Sections 2.9(c) , (d) or (e) ;

 

(iii)                                all Huntsman Intellectual Property and Huntsman Software;

 

(iv)                               any Shared Contracts (other than Venator Assets to the extent assigned to a member of the Venator Group pursuant to Section 2.8(a) or a Transfer Document);

 

(v)                                  the Rockwood Claims; and

 

(vi)                               any and all Assets of any members of the Huntsman Group that are not Venator Assets pursuant to Section 2.2(a) .

 

2.3                                Venator Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Venator Liabilities ” means (without duplication):

 

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(i)                                      all Liabilities, including any Environmental Liabilities to the extent relating to:

 

(A)                                the operation or ownership of the Venator Business, as conducted at any time prior to, on or after the Effective Date (including any Liabilities related to property or operations formerly owned or operated by Huntsman or any of its Subsidiaries and related primarily to the Venator Business), including any Liability relating to, arising out of or resulting from (1) any strict liability under or violation of Environmental Law at any Venator Assets; (2) a Release of Hazardous Materials to, on or under any Venator Assets (including Releases that migrate from Venator Assets to, on or under other properties); or (3) any Liabilities related to Hazardous Materials generated, transported from or disposed of by the Venator Business, including any act or failure to act by any Person, whether or not such act or failure to act is or was within such Person’s authority; or

 

(B)                                any Venator Assets, including any Venator Contracts, Shared Contracts (to the extent related to the Venator Business) and any real property and leasehold interests;

 

in any such case, whether arising before, on or after the Effective Date;

 

(ii)                                   all Liabilities that are expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be assumed by Venator or any member of the Venator Group including the Assumed Actions, and all agreements, obligations and Liabilities of any member of the Venator Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements;

 

(iii)                                all Liabilities (including costs and expenses) relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Venator Debt Financing;

 

(iv)                               all Liabilities reflected as liabilities or obligations of Venator or its Subsidiaries on the Venator Balance Sheet, subject to any discharge of such Liabilities subsequent to the date of the Venator Balance Sheet; and

 

(v)                                  all Liabilities arising out of claims made by the respective directors, officers, stockholders, employees, agents, managers, Subsidiaries or Affiliates of either Group against any member of either Group relating to, arising out of or resulting from the Venator Business or the other activities or Liabilities referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above, inclusive.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Venator Liabilities shall not include (i) any and all other Liabilities that are stated in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement as Liabilities to be retained or assumed by Huntsman or any other member of the Huntsman Group and (ii) all agreements and obligations of any member of the Huntsman Group under this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.

 

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(b)                                  For the purposes of this Agreement, “ Huntsman Liabilities ” means (without duplication): all Liabilities of Huntsman and its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Date other than Venator Liabilities.

 

2.4                                Approvals and Notifications .

 

(a)                                  To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any Venator Asset, the assumption of any Venator Liability, the Contribution or the IPO requires any Approvals or Notifications, the Parties will endeavor to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications as soon as reasonably practicable; provided however , that, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including in Section 2.4(j) ) or any of the Ancillary Agreements or as otherwise agreed between Huntsman and Venator), neither Huntsman nor Venator shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Person in order to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that the transfer or assignment of any Huntsman Asset, the assumption of any Huntsman Liability, the Contribution or the IPO requires any Approvals or Notifications, the Parties will endeavor to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications as soon as reasonably practicable; provided however , that, except to the extent expressly provided in this Agreement (including in Section 2.4(j) ) or any of the Ancillary Agreements or as otherwise agreed between Huntsman and Venator), neither Huntsman nor Venator shall be obligated to contribute capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Person in order to obtain or make such Approvals or Notifications.

 

(c)                                   If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the Venator Group of any Venator Assets or assumption by the Venator Group of any Venator Liabilities would be a violation of applicable Law, or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Contribution or the IPO that have not been obtained or made by the Effective Date, then, unless the Parties shall otherwise mutually determine, the transfer or assignment to the Venator Group of such Venator Assets or the assumption by the Venator Group of such Venator Liabilities, as the case may be, shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Approvals or Notifications have been obtained or made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Venator Assets or Venator Liabilities shall continue to constitute Venator Assets and Venator Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  If and to the extent that the valid, complete and perfected transfer or assignment to the Huntsman Group of any Huntsman Assets or assumption by the Huntsman Group of any Huntsman Liabilities would be a violation of applicable Law, or require any Approvals or Notifications in connection with the Contribution or the IPO that have not been obtained or made by the Effective Date, then, unless the Parties shall otherwise mutually determine, the transfer or assignment to the Huntsman Group of such Huntsman Assets or the assumption by the Huntsman Group of such Huntsman Liabilities, as the case may be, shall be automatically deemed deferred and any such purported transfer, assignment or assumption shall

 

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be null and void until such time as all legal impediments are removed or such Approvals or Notifications have been obtained or made. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any such Huntsman Assets or Huntsman Liabilities shall continue to constitute Huntsman Assets and Huntsman Liabilities for all other purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   If any transfer or assignment of any Venator Asset or any assumption of any Venator Liability intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is not consummated on or prior to the Effective Date, whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(c) or for any other reason, then, insofar as reasonably possible, the member of the Huntsman Group retaining such Venator Asset or such Venator Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Venator Asset or Venator Liability, as the case may be, for the use, benefit and/or burden of the member of the Venator Group entitled thereto (at the expense and for the account of the member of the Venator Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the Huntsman Group retaining such Venator Asset or such Venator Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Venator Asset or Venator Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the Venator Group to whom such Venator Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Venator Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the Venator Group in a substantially similar position as if such Venator Asset or Venator Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Venator Asset or Venator Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Venator Asset or Venator Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Date to the Venator Group.

 

(f)                                    If any transfer or assignment of any Huntsman Asset or any assumption of any Huntsman Liability intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is not consummated on or prior to the Effective Date, whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(d) or for any other reason, then, insofar as reasonably possible, the member of the Venator Group retaining such Huntsman Asset or such Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, for the use, benefit and/or burden of the member of the Huntsman Group entitled thereto (at the expense and for the account of the member of the Huntsman Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the Venator Group retaining such Huntsman Asset or such Huntsman Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability with reasonable care in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the Huntsman Group to whom such Huntsman Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the Huntsman Group in a substantially similar position as if such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability had been transferred, assigned or assumed as contemplated hereby and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Date to the Huntsman Group.

 

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(g)                                   If the transfer or assignment of any Huntsman Asset or the assumption of any Huntsman Liability not intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is consummated on or prior to the Effective Date, then, insofar as reasonably possible, the member of the Venator Group holding or owning such Huntsman Asset or such Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, for the use, benefit and/or burden of the member of the Huntsman Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the Huntsman Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the Venator Group retaining such Huntsman Asset or such Huntsman Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the Huntsman Group to whom such Huntsman Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the Huntsman Group in a substantially similar position as if such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability had not been so transferred, assigned or assumed and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Date to the Huntsman Group.

 

(h)                                  If the transfer or assignment of any Venator Asset or the assumption of any Venator Liability not intended to be transferred, assigned or assumed hereunder, as the case may be, is consummated on or prior to the Effective Date, then, insofar as reasonably possible, the member of the Huntsman Group holding or owning such Venator Asset or such Venator Liability, as the case may be, shall thereafter hold such Venator Asset or Venator Liability, as the case may be, for the use, benefit and/or burden of the member of the Venator Group entitled thereto (at the expense of the member of the Venator Group entitled thereto). In addition, the member of the Huntsman Group retaining such Venator Asset or such Venator Liability shall, insofar as reasonably possible and to the extent permitted by applicable Law, treat such Venator Asset or Venator Liability in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice and take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by the member of the Venator Group to whom such Venator Asset is to be transferred or assigned, or which will assume such Venator Liability, as the case may be, in order to place such member of the Venator Group in a substantially similar position as if such Venator Asset or Venator Liability had not been so transferred, assigned or assumed and so that all the benefits and burdens relating to such Venator Asset or Venator Liability, as the case may be, including use, risk of loss, potential for gain, and dominion, control and command over such Venator Asset or Venator Liability, as the case may be, and all costs and expenses related thereto, shall inure from and after the Effective Date to the Venator Group.

 

(i)                                      If and when the Approvals or Notifications, the absence of which caused the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Venator Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Venator Liability pursuant to Section 2.4(c) or the deferral of transfer or assignment of any Huntsman Asset or the deferral of assumption of any Huntsman Liability pursuant to Section 2.4(d) , are obtained or made, and, if and when any other legal impediments for the transfer or assignment of any Venator Asset or the assumption of any Venator Liability or for the transfer or assignment of any Huntsman Asset or the assumption of any Huntsman Liability,

 

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have been removed, the transfer or assignment of the applicable Venator Asset or the assumption of the applicable Venator Liability or the transfer or assignment of the applicable Huntsman Asset or the assumption of the applicable Huntsman Liability, as the case may be, shall be effected in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and/or the applicable Ancillary Agreement.

 

(j)                                     Except as otherwise agreed between Huntsman and Venator, (i) any member of the Huntsman Group holding, owning or retaining a Venator Asset or Venator Liability (whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(c) or for any other reason), and (ii) any member of the Venator Group holding, owning or retaining an Huntsman Asset or Huntsman Liability due to a transfer or assignment to, or assumption by, such member of the Venator Group (whether as a result of the provisions of Section 2.4(d) or for any other reason), shall not be obligated, in order to effect the transfer of such Asset or Liability to the Group member entitled thereto, to expend any money unless the necessary funds are advanced (or otherwise made available) by the Group member entitled thereto, other than reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, attorneys’ fees and recording or similar fees, all of which shall be promptly reimbursed by the Group member entitled to such Asset or Liability.

 

2.5                                Novation of Venator Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Each of Huntsman and Venator, at the request of the other, shall endeavor, if reasonably practicable, to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, if reasonably practicable, any consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all obligations under agreements, leases, licenses and other obligations or Liabilities of any nature whatsoever that constitute Venator Liabilities, or to obtain in writing the unconditional release of all parties to such arrangements other than any member of the Venator Group, so that, in any such case, the members of the Venator Group will be solely responsible for the Venator Liabilities; provided however , that neither Huntsman nor Venator shall be obligated to contribute any capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Third Party from whom any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release is requested, except, in each case, to the extent required to support or replace any Venator Group pension obligations, or to replace any pre-existing letters of credit or guarantees provided by any member of the Huntsman Group.

 

(b)                                  If Huntsman or Venator is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release and the applicable member of the Huntsman Group continues to be bound by such agreement, lease, license or other obligation or Liability (each, an “ Unreleased Venator Liability ”), Venator shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such member of the Huntsman Group, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the Huntsman Group that constitute Unreleased Venator Liabilities from and after the Effective Date and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance, or discharge prior to any demand for such payment, performance, or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the Huntsman Group. If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased Venator Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Huntsman shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and Venator or

 

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the applicable Venator Group member shall assume, such Unreleased Venator Liabilities without exchange of further consideration.

 

2.6                                Novation of Huntsman Liabilities .

 

(a)                                  Each of Huntsman and Venator, at the request of the other, shall endeavor, if reasonably practicable, to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, if reasonably practicable, any consent, substitution, approval or amendment required to novate or assign all obligations under agreements, leases, licenses and other obligations or Liabilities of any nature whatsoever that constitute Huntsman Liabilities, or to obtain in writing the unconditional release of all parties to such arrangements other than any member of the Huntsman Group, so that, in any such case, the members of the Huntsman Group will be solely responsible for such Huntsman Liabilities; provided however , that neither Huntsman nor Venator shall be obligated to contribute any capital or pay any consideration in any form (including providing any letter of credit, guaranty or other financial accommodation) to any Third Party from whom any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release is requested.

 

(b)                                  If Huntsman or Venator is unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release and the applicable member of the Venator Group continues to be bound by such agreement, lease, license or other obligation or Liability (each, an “ Unreleased Huntsman Liability ”), Huntsman shall, to the extent not prohibited by Law, as indemnitor, guarantor, agent or subcontractor for such member of the Venator Group, as the case may be, (i) pay, perform and discharge fully all the obligations or other Liabilities of such member of the Venator Group that constitute Unreleased Huntsman Liabilities from and after the Effective Date and (ii) use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect such payment, performance, or discharge prior to any demand for such payment, performance, or discharge is permitted to be made by the obligee thereunder on any member of the Venator Group. If and when any such consent, substitution, approval, amendment or release shall be obtained or the Unreleased Huntsman Liabilities shall otherwise become assignable or able to be novated, Venator shall promptly assign, or cause to be assigned, and Huntsman or the applicable Huntsman Group member shall assume, such Unreleased Huntsman Liabilities without exchange of further consideration.

 

2.7                                Termination of Agreements .

 

(a)                                  Except as set forth in Section 2.7(b) , in furtherance of the releases and other provisions of this Agreement, Venator and each member of the Venator Group, on the one hand, and Huntsman and each member of the Huntsman Group, on the other hand, hereby terminate any and all agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings, whether or not in writing, between or among Venator and/or any member of the Venator Group and/or any entity that shall be a member of the Venator Group as of the Effective Date, on the one hand, and Huntsman and/or any member of the Huntsman Group (other than entities that shall be members of the Venator Group as of the Effective Date), on the other hand, effective as of the Effective Date. No such terminated agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding (including any provision thereof which purports to survive termination) shall be of any further force or effect after the Effective Date. Each Party shall, at the reasonable request of the other Party, take, or cause to be taken, such other actions as may be necessary to effect the foregoing.

 

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(b)                                  The provisions of Section 2.7(a) shall not apply to any of the following agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings (or to any of the provisions thereof): (i) this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements (and each other agreement or instrument expressly contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to be entered into by any of the Parties or any of the members of their respective Groups); (ii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings listed or described on Schedule 2.7(b)(ii) ; (iii) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any Person other than the Parties and the members of their respective Groups is a Party (it being understood that to the extent that the rights and obligations of the Parties and the members of their respective Groups under any such agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings constitute Venator Assets or Venator Liabilities, they shall be assigned pursuant to Section 2.1 ); (iv) any agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings to which any member of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group, other than Huntsman, Venator or a wholly owned Subsidiary of Huntsman or Venator, as the case may be, is a Party (it being understood that directors’ qualifying shares or similar interests will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned); (v) any Shared Contracts; and (vi) any other agreements, arrangements, commitments or understandings that this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement expressly states will survive the Effective Date.

 

2.8                                Treatment of Shared Contracts .

 

(a)                                  Without limiting the generality of the obligations set forth in Section 2.1 , unless the Parties otherwise agree or the benefits of any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding described in this Section 2.8 are expressly conveyed to the applicable party pursuant to an Ancillary Agreement, any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding that is listed on Schedule 2.8(a) shall be assigned in part to the applicable member(s) of the applicable Group, if so assignable, or appropriately amended prior to, on or after the Effective Date, so that each Party or the members of its respective Group shall, as of the Effective Date, be entitled to the rights and benefits, and shall assume the related portion of any Liabilities, inuring to its respective businesses, in each case, in accordance with the allocation of benefits and burdens set forth on Schedule 2.8(a) (each, a “ Schedule 2.8 Contract ”); provided however , that, (i) in no event shall any member of any Group be required to assign (or amend) any Schedule 2.8 Contract in its entirety or to assign a portion of any Schedule 2.8 Contract which is not assignable (or cannot be amended) by its terms (including any terms imposing consents or conditions on an assignment where such consents or conditions have not been obtained or fulfilled) and (ii) if any Schedule 2.8 Contract cannot be so partially assigned by its terms or otherwise, or cannot be amended or if such assignment or amendment would impair the benefit the parties thereto derive from such Schedule 2.8 Contract, then the Parties shall, and shall cause each of their respective Subsidiaries to, take such other reasonable and permissible actions (including by providing prompt notice to the other Party with respect to any relevant claim of Liability or other relevant matters arising in connection with a Schedule 2.8 Contract so as to allow such other Party the ability to exercise any applicable rights under such Schedule 2.8 Contract) to cause a member of the Venator Group or the Huntsman Group, as the case may be, to receive the rights and benefits of that portion of each Schedule 2.8 Contract that relates to the Venator Business or the businesses retained by Huntsman, as the case may be (in each case, to the extent so related), as if such Schedule 2.8 Contract had been assigned to (or amended to allow) a member of the applicable Group pursuant to this Section 2.8 , and to bear the

 

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burden of the corresponding Liabilities (including any Liabilities that may arise by reason of such arrangement), as if such Liabilities had been assumed by a member of the applicable Group pursuant to this Section 2.8 .

 

(b)                                  Each of Huntsman and Venator shall, and shall cause the members of its Group to, (i) treat for all Tax purposes the portion of each Shared Contract inuring to its respective businesses as Assets owned by, and/or Liabilities of, as applicable, such Party, or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, not later than the Effective Date; and (ii) neither report nor take any Tax position (on a Tax Return or otherwise) inconsistent with such treatment (unless required by applicable Law).

 

(c)                                   Nothing in this Section 2.8 shall require any member of any Group to make any material payment (except to the extent advanced, assumed or agreed in advance to be reimbursed by any member of the other Group), incur any material obligation or grant any material concession for the benefit of any member of any other Group in order to effect any transaction contemplated by this Section 2.8 ; provided, however, that the requirement to provide financial support in the form of a parent company guarantee, letter of credit or other similar form of support in accordance with this Agreement shall not be considered the incurrence of a material obligation.

 

2.9                                Bank Accounts; Cash Balances .

 

(a)                                  Huntsman and Venator each agrees to take, or cause the respective members of their respective Groups to take, at the Effective Date (or such earlier time as Huntsman and Venator may agree), all actions necessary to amend all contracts or agreements governing each bank and brokerage account owned by Venator or any other member of the Venator Group (collectively, the “ Venator Accounts ”) so that such Venator Accounts, if currently linked (whether by automatic withdrawal, automatic deposit or any other authorization to transfer funds from or to, hereinafter “linked”) to any bank or brokerage account owned by Huntsman or any other member of the Huntsman Group (collectively, the “ Huntsman Accounts ”), are de-linked from the Huntsman Accounts.

 

(b)                                  Huntsman and Venator each agrees to take, or cause the respective members of their respective Groups to take, at the Effective Date (or such earlier time as Huntsman and Venator may agree), all actions necessary to amend all agreements governing the Huntsman Accounts so that such Huntsman Accounts, if currently linked to a Venator Account, are de-linked from the Venator Accounts.

 

(c)                                   It is intended that, following consummation of the actions contemplated by Sections 2.9(a) and 2.9(b) , there will be in place a cash management process pursuant to which the Venator Accounts will be managed and funds collected will be transferred into one or more accounts maintained by Venator or its designee; provided  that, on the Effective Date, the net accumulated funds in Venator Accounts will be a Huntsman Asset and will thereafter be transferred to one or more accounts managed by Huntsman, at the direction and discretion of Huntsman to the extent not used to repay intercompany notes.

 

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(d)                                  With respect to any outstanding payments initiated by Huntsman, Venator, or any of their respective Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Date, such outstanding payments shall be honored following the Separation by the Person or Group owning the account from which the payment was initiated.

 

(e)                                   As between Huntsman and Venator (and the members of their respective Groups) all payments made and reimbursements received after the Effective Date by either Party (or member of its Group) that relate to a business, Asset or Liability of the other Party (or member of its Group), shall be held by such Party for the use and benefit of the Party entitled thereto (at the expense of the Party entitled thereto). Each Party shall maintain an accounting of any such payments and reimbursements, and the Parties shall have a monthly reconciliation, whereby all such payments made and reimbursements received by each Party are calculated and the net amount owed to Huntsman or Venator shall be paid over where possible with right of set-off. If at any time the net amount owed to either Party exceeds $10,000,000, an interim payment of such net amount owed shall be made to the Party entitled thereto within five (5) Business Days of such amount exceeding $10,000,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither Huntsman nor Venator shall act as collection agent for the other Party, nor shall either Party act as surety or endorser with respect to non-sufficient funds checks, or funds to be returned in a bankruptcy or fraudulent conveyance action.

 

2.10                         Other Ancillary Agreements . Effective as of the date hereof, each of Huntsman and Venator will execute and deliver all Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party (other than the Transfer Documents, which will be executed on or prior to the Effective Date to the extent not previously executed prior to the date hereof).

 

2.11                         Disclaimer of Representations and Warranties . EACH OF HUNTSMAN (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE HUNTSMAN GROUP) AND VENATOR (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE VENATOR GROUP) UNDERSTANDS AND AGREES THAT, EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, NO PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR ANY OTHER AGREEMENT OR DOCUMENT CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT, ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT OR OTHERWISE, IS REPRESENTING OR WARRANTING IN ANY WAY AS TO THE ASSETS, BUSINESSES OR LIABILITIES TRANSFERRED, ASSUMED OR RETAINED AS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY, AS TO ANY CONSENTS OR APPROVALS REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, AS TO THE VALUE OR FREEDOM FROM ANY SECURITY INTERESTS OF, OR ANY OTHER MATTER CONCERNING, ANY ASSETS OF SUCH PARTY, OR AS TO THE ABSENCE OF ANY DEFENSES OR RIGHT OF SET-OFF OR FREEDOM FROM COUNTERCLAIM WITH RESPECT TO ANY CLAIM OR OTHER ASSET, INCLUDING ANY ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, OF ANY PARTY, OR AS TO THE LEGAL SUFFICIENCY OF ANY ASSIGNMENT, DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT DELIVERED HEREUNDER TO CONVEY TITLE TO ANY ASSET OR THING OF VALUE UPON THE EXECUTION, DELIVERY AND FILING HEREOF OR THEREOF, AND IN ENTERING INTO THIS AGREEMENT, EACH OF HUNTSMAN (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE HUNTSMAN GROUP) AND VENATOR (ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH MEMBER OF THE VENATOR GROUP) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS NOT RELYING ON ANY SUCH REPRESENTATION OR

 

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WARRANTY. EXCEPT AS MAY EXPRESSLY BE SET FORTH HEREIN OR IN ANY ANCILLARY AGREEMENT, ALL SUCH ASSETS ARE BEING TRANSFERRED ON AN “AS IS,” “WHERE IS” BASIS (AND, IN THE CASE OF ANY REAL PROPERTY, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE AGREED BY HUNTSMAN, BY MEANS OF A QUITCLAIM OR SIMILAR FORM DEED OR CONVEYANCE) AND THE RESPECTIVE TRANSFEREES SHALL BEAR THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL RISKS THAT (I) ANY CONVEYANCE WILL PROVE TO BE INSUFFICIENT TO VEST IN THE TRANSFEREE GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE, FREE AND CLEAR OF ANY SECURITY INTEREST, AND (II) ANY NECESSARY APPROVALS OR NOTIFICATIONS ARE NOT OBTAINED OR THAT ANY REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS, INCLUDING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, OR JUDGMENTS ARE NOT COMPLIED WITH. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY IN THIS AGREEMENT, HUNTSMAN MAKES NO REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY REGARDING ANY MATTER OR CIRCUMSTANCE RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS, THE RELEASE OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT OR THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH, SAFETY, NATURAL RESOURCES OR THE ENVIRONMENT, OR ANY OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION OF THE VENATOR ASSETS.

 

2.12                         Venator Debt Financing . Prior to the Effective Date (to the extent not previously effected prior to the date hereof), Venator shall enter into the Venator Debt Financing, on such terms and conditions as agreed by Huntsman (including the amount that shall be borrowed pursuant to the Venator Debt Financing, any escrow arrangement to pre-fund the Venator Debt Financing and the interest rates for such borrowings). Huntsman and Venator shall participate in the preparation of all materials and presentations as may be reasonably necessary to secure funding pursuant to the Venator Debt Financing, including rating agency presentations necessary to obtain the requisite ratings needed to secure the financing under any of the Venator Debt Financing.  The Parties agree that Venator, and not Huntsman, shall be responsible for all third party costs and expenses incurred by, and for reimbursement of, such costs and expenses to, any member of the Huntsman Group related to or associated with the Venator Debt Financing.  Venator shall apply all net proceeds received from the sale of the Rule 144A / Capital Markets Securities and borrowings made under the Term Loan Facility to fund the Debt Repayment.

 

ARTICLE III
THE IPO AND ACTIONS PENDING THE IPO

 

3.1                                The IPO . Venator shall cooperate with, and take all actions reasonably requested by, Huntsman in connection with the IPO.  In furtherance thereof, to the extent not undertaken and completed prior to the execution of this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  Venator shall file the IPO Registration Statement, and such amendments or supplements thereto, as may be necessary in order to cause the same to become and remain effective as required by the Equity Underwriting Agreement, the SEC and applicable Law, including federal, state or foreign securities Laws.  Venator shall also cooperate in preparing, filing with the SEC and causing to become effective a registration statement registering the Venator Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act, and any registration statements or amendments thereof that are required to reflect the establishment of, or amendments to, any

 

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employee benefit and other plans necessary or appropriate in connection with the IPO or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

(b)                                  Venator shall enter into the Equity Underwriting Agreement, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Huntsman and shall comply with its obligations thereunder.

 

(c)                                   Venator shall use its commercially reasonably efforts to take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate under state securities and blue sky laws of the United States (and any comparable Laws under any foreign jurisdictions) in connection with the IPO.

 

(d)                                  Venator shall participate in the preparation of materials and presentations as Huntsman and the Equity Underwriters shall deem necessary or desirable in connection with the IPO.

 

(e)                                   Venator will cooperate in all respects with Huntsman and the Equity Underwriters in connection with the pricing of the Venator Ordinary Shares to be sold in the IPO and the timing of the IPO and will, at such party’s request, promptly take any and all actions necessary or desirable to consummate the IPO as contemplated by the IPO Registration Statement and the Equity Underwriting Agreement.

 

(f)                                    Venator shall prepare, file and use its commercially reasonable efforts to seek to make effective an application for listing of the Venator Ordinary Shares sold in the IPO on the New York Stock Exchange.

 

3.2                                Equity-Based Benefits . Prior to the Effective Date, Huntsman and Venator shall take all actions as may be necessary to approve the stock-based employee benefit plans of Venator (and the grants of adjusted awards over Huntsman stock by Huntsman and of awards over Venator stock by Venator) in order to satisfy the requirement of Rule 16b-3 under the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the NYSE.

 

ARTICLE IV
DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

4.1                                General Provisions .

 

(a)                                  Any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or relating in any way to this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements (except as otherwise set forth in any such Ancillary Agreements), including the validity, interpretation, breach or termination thereof, or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby on or prior to the Effective Date), or the commercial or economic relationship of the Parties hereto, whether contractual, tort or otherwise (a “ Dispute ”), shall be resolved in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article IV , which shall be the sole and exclusive procedures for the resolution of any such Dispute unless otherwise specified in the applicable Ancillary Agreement or in this Article IV .

 

(b)                                  Commencing with a request contemplated by Section 4.2 , all communications between the Parties or their representatives to attempt to resolve any Dispute shall be deemed to have been delivered in furtherance of a Dispute settlement and shall be

 

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exempt from disclosure and production, and shall not be introduced into evidence for any reason (whether as an admission or otherwise) before any arbitrator or court.

 

(c)                                   The specific procedures set forth in this Article IV , including the time limits referenced herein, may be modified by agreement of both of the Parties in writing.

 

(d)                                  All applicable statutes of limitations and defenses based upon the passage of time shall be tolled while the procedures specified in Section 4.2 are pending. The Parties will take any necessary or appropriate action required to effectuate such tolling.

 

4.2                                Consideration by Senior Executives . If a Dispute is not resolved in the normal course of business at the operational level, the Parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve the Dispute by negotiation between executives. Either Party may initiate the executive negotiation process by providing a written notice to the other (the “ Initial Notice ”). Within fifteen (15) days after delivery of the Initial Notice, the receiving Party shall submit to the other a written response (the “ Response ”). The Initial Notice and the Response shall include (a) a statement of the Dispute and of each Party’s respective position and (b) the name and title of the executive who will represent that Party and of any other person who will accompany the executive. The Parties agree that such executives shall have full and complete authority to resolve any Disputes submitted pursuant to this Section 4.2 . Such executives will meet in person or by teleconference or video conference within thirty (30) days of the date of the Initial Notice to seek a resolution of the Dispute. If the executives are unable to agree to a format for such meeting, the meeting shall be convened by teleconference.

 

4.3                                Arbitration .

 

(a)                                  Any Dispute that is not resolved by negotiation or if the meeting between the executives is not held as provided in Section 4.2 within forty-five (45) days from the delivery of the Initial Notice shall at the request of either Party be submitted to binding arbitration administered in accordance with the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect (the “ AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules ”) except as modified by this Section 4.3 , and (except as set forth in Section 4.3(b) ) shall not be submitted to or filed with any other court, arbitrator or tribunal. The Parties acknowledge that this Agreement contemplates a transaction involving interstate commerce.

 

(b)                                  Without waiving its rights to any remedy under this Agreement and without first complying with the provisions of Section 4.2 , either Party may seek injunctive relief (including specific performance) before (i) any Texas federal or state court located in Harris County, Texas or Montgomery County, Texas, (ii) an emergency arbitrator, as provided for under Section 4.3(c)(2) or (iii) the arbitrator appointed pursuant to Section 4.3(c)(1) .

 

(c)                                   Unless otherwise agreed by Huntsman and Venator, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rights, (1) any Dispute to be decided in arbitration hereunder shall be decided by a single arbitrator agreed to by the Parties within fourteen (14) days after the arbitration is initiated, and if the Parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, a single arbitrator will be appointed pursuant to Rule R-12 of the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules (Appointment from National Roster); (2) if a Party seeks emergency relief in

 

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arbitration before an arbitrator is selected pursuant to Section 4.3(c)(1) , a single emergency arbitrator shall be agreed to the Parties within one day after the application for emergency relief is filed, and if the Parties cannot agree on an emergency arbitrator, one will be appointed pursuant to pursuant to Rule R-38(c) of the AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules (Emergency Measures of Protection). The emergency arbitrator shall be replaced by an arbitrator selected in accordance with Section 4.3(c)(1) after the emergency arbitrator has entered an order on the application for emergency relief

 

(d)                                  The place of arbitration (including an emergency arbitration filed in accordance with Section 4.3(b) ) shall be held, and the award shall be rendered in, Houston, Texas. All depositions, mediations, non-telephonic hearings, and other ancillary proceedings shall be held in Houston, Texas unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing.  The final hearing(s) in such arbitration shall take place within fourteen (14) months of the date of appointment of the arbitrator, unless the Parties agree otherwise in writing.

 

(e)                                   The arbitrator will have the right to award, on an interim basis, or include in the final award, any relief which it deems proper in the circumstances, including money damages (with interest on unpaid amounts from the due date), injunctive relief (including specific performance) and attorneys’ fees and costs; provided  that the arbitrator will not award any relief not specifically requested by the Parties and, in any event, will not award damages inconsistent with Section 10.17 herein. Upon appointment of the arbitrator following any grant of preliminary injunctive relief by a special arbitrator or court pursuant to Section 4.3 , the tribunal may affirm or disaffirm that relief, and the Parties will take such measures that are necessary to execute the arbitrator’s decision.

 

(f)                                    The agreement to arbitrate Disputes set forth in this Section 4.3 will continue in full force and effect subsequent to, and notwithstanding the completion, expiration or termination of, this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Any award of the arbitrators shall state reasons and shall be conclusive and binding upon the Parties. Judgment on any award rendered by the arbitrators (or, subject to this Section 4.3, a court) may be entered in and enforced by any court having jurisdiction thereof, and the Parties consent to personal jurisdiction in any state or federal court in Harris County, Texas or Montgomery County, Texas to seek enforcement of any such award.

 

(h)                                  Each Party shall bear its own fees, costs and expenses, including any AAA filing fee, and shall bear an equal share of the administrative costs and expenses of the arbitration, including the fees, costs and expenses of the arbitrator, provided , that the arbitrator (or, subject to this Section 4.3, a court) shall award the prevailing Party its reasonable fees and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), including such reasonable fees and expenses for any Disputes relating to the Parties’ rights and obligations for indemnification under this Agreement.

 

4.4                                Confidentiality . The Parties agree that any arbitration hereunder shall be kept confidential, and that the existence of the proceeding and all of its elements (including any pleadings, briefs or other documents submitted or exchanged, any testimony or other oral submissions, and any awards) shall be deemed confidential, and shall not be disclosed beyond the arbitrator, the Parties, their counsel, and any Person necessary to the conduct of the

 

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proceeding, except as and to the extent required by law and to defend or pursue any legal right. In the event any Party makes application to any court in connection with this Section 4.4 (including any proceedings to enforce an award or relief), that party shall take all steps reasonably within its power to cause such application, and any exhibits (including copies of any award or decisions of the arbitrator) to be filed under seal, shall oppose any challenge by any third party to such sealing, and shall give the other Party immediate notice of such challenge

 

4.5                                Consent to Jurisdiction and Venue .  EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (A) UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENTS TO AND ACCEPTS HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY TEXAS AS THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES FOR ALL COURT AND ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS ARTICLE IV AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT OR AWARD RENDERED THEREBY; (B) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION SUCH PARTY MAY NOW HAVE OR HEREAFTER HAS AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THAT SUCH LOCATION IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM; AND (C) AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT OR AWARD IN A DISPUTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

 

ARTICLE V
MUTUAL RELEASES; INDEMNIFICATION

 

5.1                                Regardless of Fault . IN THIS ARTICLE V , THE PHRASE “REGARDLESS OF FAULT” MEANS WITH RESPECT TO ANY INDEMNITY OR RELEASE PROVISION THAT THE INDEMNITY OR RELEASE IS BEING GIVEN WITHOUT REGARD TO THE FAULT OF THE PARTY BEING INDEMNIFIED OR RELEASED AND THAT THE INDEMNITY OR RELEASE WILL BE ENFORCEABLE EVEN IF THE LIABILITY BEING INDEMNIFIED OR RELEASED AGAINST WAS CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE (OF ANY DEGREE OR CHARACTER), STRICT LIABILITY, BREACH OF DUTY OR ANY OTHER FAULT ON THE PART OF THE PARTY OR PERSON BEING INDEMNIFIED OR RELEASED.

 

5.2                                Intention of Parties . IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE PARTIES THAT THE INDEMNITIES AND RELEASES IN THIS ARTICLE V COMPLY WITH BOTH THE EXPRESS NEGLIGENCE DOCTRINE AND THE CLEAR AND CONSPICUOUS RULE AND THAT WHEREVER “REGARDLESS OF FAULT” APPEARS IN THIS ARTICLE V , THE DEFINITION SET OUT IN SECTION 5.1 IS INCORPORATED AS THOUGH FULLY SET OUT THEREIN.

 

5.3                                Release of Pre-Closing Claims .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in Section 5.3(c) and Section 5.5 , effective as of the Effective Date, Venator does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Venator Group, their respective Affiliates (other than any member of the Huntsman Group), successors and assigns, and to the extent permitted by Law all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Date have been directors, officers, agents, managers, or employees of any member of the Venator Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever

 

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discharge REGARDLESS OF FAULT Huntsman and the members of the Huntsman Group, their respective controlled Affiliates (other than any member of the Venator Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Date have been stockholders, directors, officers, agents, managers or employees of any member of the Huntsman Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all Liabilities whatsoever, whether at law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any contract or agreement, by operation of Law or otherwise, including from fraud, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Effective Date, including in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the IPO and any other transactions contemplated under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; provided however , with respect to stockholders, directors, officers, agents, managers, or employees of any member of the Huntsman Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, such remise, release and discharge shall not apply to the extent any such person or party is grossly negligent or has acted in bad faith or has engaged in willful misconduct.

 

(b)                                  Except as provided in Section 5.3(c) and Section 5.4 , effective as of the Effective Date, Huntsman does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Huntsman Group, their respective Affiliates (other than any member of the Venator Group), successors and assigns, and to the extent permitted by Law all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Date have been directors, officers, agents, managers, or employees of any member of the Huntsman Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), remise, release and forever discharge REGARDLESS OF FAULT Venator, and the members of the Venator Group, their respective controlled Affiliates (other than any member of the Huntsman Group), successors and assigns, and all Persons who at any time prior to the Effective Date have been stockholders, directors, officers, agents, managers, or employees of any member of the Venator Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, from any and all Liabilities whatsoever, whether at law or in equity (including any right of contribution), whether arising under any contract or agreement, by operation of Law or otherwise, including from fraud, existing or arising from any acts or events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur or any conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Effective Date, including in connection with the transactions and all other activities to implement the Separation and the IPO and any other transactions contemplated under this Agreement or under any Ancillary Agreement; provided however , with respect to stockholders, directors, officers, agents, managers, or employees of any member of the Venator Group (in each case, in their respective capacities as such), and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, such remise, release and discharge shall not apply to the extent any such person or party is grossly negligent or has acted in bad faith or has engaged in willful misconduct.

 

(c)                                   Nothing contained in Section 5.3(a) or (b) shall impair any right of any Person to enforce this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or any agreements specified in Section 2.7(b) of this Agreement or the applicable Schedules thereto. Nothing contained in Section 5.3(a) or (b) shall release any Person from:

 

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(i)                                      any Liability provided in or resulting from any agreement among any members of the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group that is specified in Section 2.7(b) of this Agreement or the applicable Schedules thereto as not to terminate as of the Effective Date, or any other Liability specified in such Section 2.7(b) as not to terminate as of the Effective Date;

 

(ii)                                   any Liability, contingent or otherwise, assumed, retained, transferred, assigned or allocated to the Group of which such Person is a member in accordance with, or any other Liability of any member of any Group under, this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement;

 

(iii)                                any Liability for the agreed upon purchase price or fee due arising out of the sale, lease, construction or receipt of goods, property or services purchased, obtained or used in the ordinary course of business by a member of one Group from a member of the other Group prior to the Effective Date;

 

(iv)                               any Liability that the Parties may have with respect to indemnification or contribution pursuant to this Agreement for claims brought against the Parties by Third Parties, which Liability shall be governed by the provisions of this Article V and Article VI and, if applicable, the other appropriate provisions of this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements; or

 

(v)                                  any Liability the release of which would result in the release of any Person other than a Person released pursuant to this Section 5.3 ; provided however , that the Parties agree not to bring or allow their respective Subsidiaries to bring suit or other Action against the other Party or any of their respective past, present or future directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing, with respect to any such Liability.

 

In addition, nothing contained in Section 5.3(a) shall release Huntsman from honoring its obligations in effect immediately prior to the Effective Date to indemnify any director, officer or employee of a member of the Venator Group who was a director, officer or employee of a member of the Huntsman Group on or prior to the Effective Date, to the extent such director, officer or employee is or becomes a named defendant in any Action covered by such indemnity obligations; it being understood that, if the underlying obligation giving rise to such Action is a Venator Liability, Venator shall indemnify Huntsman for such Liability (including Huntsman’s costs to indemnify the director, officer or employee) in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Article V .

 

(d)                                  Venator will not make, and will not permit any member of the Venator Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification, against Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 5.3(a) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 5.3(a) . Huntsman will not make, and will not permit any member of the Huntsman Group to make, any claim or demand, or commence any Action asserting any claim or demand, including any claim of contribution or any indemnification,

 

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against Venator or any member of the Venator Group, or any other Person released pursuant to Section 5.3(b) , with respect to any Liabilities released pursuant to Section 5.3(b) .

 

(e)                                   It is the intent of each of Huntsman and Venator, by virtue of the provisions of this Section 5.3 , to provide for a full and complete release and discharge REGARDLESS OF FAULT of all Liabilities existing or arising from all acts and events occurring or failing to occur or alleged to have occurred or to have failed to occur and all conditions existing or alleged to have existed on or before the Effective Date, between or among Venator or any member of the Venator Group, on the one hand, and Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group, on the other hand (including any contractual agreements or arrangements existing or alleged to exist between or among any such members on or before the Effective Date, including any representations or warranties or indemnities made or alleged to have been made on or before the Effective Date, by any member of the Venator Group or the Huntsman Group), except as expressly set forth in Section 5.3(c) . At any time, at the request of the other Party, each Party shall cause each member of its respective Group to execute and deliver releases reflecting the provisions hereof.

 

(f)                                    Any breach of the provisions of this Section 5.3 by either Huntsman or Venator shall entitle the other Party to recover reasonable fees and expenses of counsel in connection with such breach or any Dispute resulting from such breach.

 

(g)                                   The releases contemplated by this Section 5.3 extend to claims that the releasing persons do not know or suspect to exist in its favor at the time of the release, which if known, might have affected the decision to enter into the Agreement (“ Unknown Claims ”).  The releasing persons shall be deemed to waive, and shall waive and relinquish to the fullest extent permitted by law any and all provisions, rights and benefits conferred by any Law that governs or limits a person’s release of Unknown Claims.  The releasing persons acknowledge that they may discover facts in addition to or different from those that they now know or believe to be true with respect to the subject matter of these releases, but that it is the releasing persons’ intention to fully, finally and forever release any and all claims released hereby known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, which now exist, or heretofore existed, or may hereafter exist, and without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such additional or different facts.  This shall include a waiver of any rights afforded to the releasing persons pursuant to Section 1542 of the California Civil Code (or any similar, comparable or equivalent provision of the law of the United States or any other state or territory); Section 1542 provides:

 

A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR.

 

(h)                                  The inclusion of Unknown Claims in the releases contemplated by this Section 5.3 was separately bargained for, constitutes separate consideration for, and was a key element of the Agreement and was relied upon by the Parties in entering into the Agreement.

 

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5.4                                Indemnification by Venator . Subject to Section 5.6 , Venator shall REGARDLESS OF FAULT indemnify, defend and hold harmless Huntsman, each member of the Huntsman Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Huntsman Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the Huntsman Indemnitees arising out of or resulting from:

 

(a)                                  any Huntsman Third Party Claim to the extent arising out of or resulting from any of the following items:

 

(i)                                      the failure of Venator or any other member of the Venator Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Venator Liabilities or Venator Contracts in accordance with its respective terms, whether prior to or after the Effective Date;

 

(ii)                                   the Venator Business, any Venator Liabilities or any Venator Contracts;

 

(iii)                                any representation or warranty (including any warranty of title) from or made by the Huntsman Group contained in any deed, agreement or other document constituting or relating to the Venator Assets or the Venator Business, including any conveyancing instrument whereby any of the Venator assets were conveyed, assigned or transferred to a member of the Venator Group (whether in connection with the Separation or a transaction not related to the Separation);

 

(iv)                               the Assumed Actions;

 

(v)                                  any Action relating to the Venator Business from which Venator is unable to cause an Huntsman Group party to be removed pursuant to Section 5.8(d) , but only to the extent relating to the Venator Business;

 

(vi)                               any use by any member of the Venator Group or any Person that becomes an Affiliate of a member of the Venator Group after the Effective Date of the Huntsman Names and Marks;

 

(vii)                            any guarantee, indemnification obligation, letter of credit reimbursement obligations, surety, bond or other credit support agreement, arrangement, commitment or understanding for the benefit of Venator or its Subsidiaries by Huntsman or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Venator or its Subsidiaries) that survives following the Effective Date; and

 

(viii)                         any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, with respect to all information contained in the IPO Registration Statement or any disclosure document with respect to the IPO or any offering memorandum or other marketing materials prepared in connection with the Venator Debt Financing or otherwise, other than any such statement or omission therein based on information furnished by Huntsman solely in respect of the

 

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Huntsman Group (it being understood that, with respect to the IPO Registration Statement or disclosure documents, the only such information furnished by Huntsman is the information set forth in the section titled “The Separation—Reasons for Separation from Huntsman”); and

 

(b)                                  any breach by Venator or any member of the Venator Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.

 

5.5                                Indemnification by Huntsman . Subject to Section 5.6 , Huntsman shall REGARDLESS OF FAULT indemnify, defend and hold harmless Venator, each member of the Venator Group and each of their respective past, present and future directors, officers and employees, and each of the heirs, executors, successors and assigns of any of the foregoing (collectively, the “ Venator Indemnitees ”), from and against any and all Liabilities of the Venator Indemnitees arising out of or resulting from:

 

(a)                                  any Venator Third Party Claim to the extent arising out of or resulting from any of the following items:

 

(i)                                      the failure of Huntsman or any other member of the Huntsman Group or any other Person to pay, perform or otherwise promptly discharge any Huntsman Liabilities, whether prior to or after the Effective Date;

 

(ii)                                   the Huntsman Business, any Huntsman Liabilities or any Huntsman Contracts;

 

(iii)                                any representation or warranty (including any warranty of title) from or made by the Venator Group contained in any deed, agreement or other document constituting or relating to the Huntsman Assets or the Huntsman Business, including any conveyancing instrument whereby any of the Huntsman assets were conveyed, assigned or transferred to a member of the Huntsman Group (whether in connection with the Separation or a transaction not related to the Separation);

 

(iv)                               any Action relating to the Huntsman Business from which Huntsman is unable to cause a Venator Group party to be removed pursuant to Section 5.8(d)  (but only to the extent relating to the Huntsman Business);

 

(v)                                  the Rockwood Claims; and

 

(b)                                  any breach by Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.

 

5.6                                Indemnification Obligations Net of Insurance Proceeds .

 

(a)                                  The Parties intend that any Liability subject to indemnification or reimbursement pursuant to this Article V or Article VI will be net of Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of the Liability. Accordingly, the amount which any Party (an “ Indemnifying Party ”) has paid to or on behalf of any person or entity entitled to indemnification hereunder (an “ Indemnitee ”) will be reduced by any Insurance Proceeds

 

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theretofore actually recovered by or on behalf of the Indemnitee in respect of the related Liability. If an Indemnitee receives a payment (an “ Indemnity Payment ”) required by this Agreement from an Indemnifying Party in respect of any Liability and subsequently receives Insurance Proceeds, then the Indemnitee will pay to the Indemnifying Party an amount equal to the excess of the Indemnity Payment received and any costs or expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in recovering such payment over the amount of the Indemnity Payment that would have been due if the Insurance Proceeds had been received, realized or recovered before the Indemnity Payment was made.

 

(i)                                      Notwithstanding anything in Section 5.6(a) , the initial obligation of the Indemnifying Party shall be to indemnify fully the Indemnitee, without regard to whether there may or may not be available Insurance Proceeds.

 

(ii)                                   Once the Indemnifying Party has indemnified the Indemnitee, or agreed to the reasonable satisfaction of the Indemnitee to indemnify the Indemnitee without reservation or exception, for a liability as to which the Indemnitee may have insurance coverage, then upon the request of the Indemnifying party, the Indemnitee shall pursue recovery of Insurance Proceeds under the Indemnitee’s insurance policies, including making claims and filing suits if necessary. Such insurance recovery efforts shall be at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party, but shall be under the final control of the Indemnitee. Specifically, the Indemnitee shall retain and direct counsel, control litigation and make final decisions on all matters, including settlement or any other form of claim resolution relating to such insurance recovery effort, except that Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any insurance claim without the consent of the Indemnifying Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed

 

(b)                                  An insurer who would otherwise be obligated to pay any claim shall not be relieved of the responsibility therefor, or have any subrogation rights with respect thereto, as a consequence of the indemnification rights under this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The Parties intend that any indemnification or reimbursement payment in respect of a Liability pursuant to this Article V or Article VI shall be increased as necessary to ensure that, after all required Taxes on the indemnification or reimbursement payment are paid (including Taxes applicable to any increases in the indemnity payment under this Section 5.6(c) ), the indemnified or reimbursed Person receives the amount it would have received if the indemnity payment was not taxable.

 

(d)                                  For all claims as to which indemnification is provided under Section 5.4 or 5.5 other than Third-Party Claims (as to which Section 5.7 shall apply), the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnitee for the enforcement of the indemnity obligations shall be borne by the Indemnifying Party.

 

5.7                                Procedures for Indemnification of Third Party Claims .

 

(a)                                  If an Indemnitee shall receive written notice of a Third Party Claim with respect to which an Indemnifying Party may be obligated to provide indemnification to such Indemnitee pursuant to Section 5.4 or 5.5 , or any other Section of this Agreement or any other

 

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Ancillary Agreement, such Indemnitee shall give such Indemnifying Party written notice thereof within fourteen (14) days of such written notice. Any such notice shall describe the Third-Party Claim in reasonable detail and include copies of all notices and documents (including court papers) received by the Indemnitee relating to the Third-Party Claim. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the failure of an Indemnitee to provide notice in accordance with this Section 5.7(a)  shall not relieve an Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations under this Agreement, except to the extent to which the Indemnifying Party shall demonstrate that it was materially prejudiced by the Indemnitee’s failure to provide notice in accordance with this Section 5.7(a) .

 

(b)                                  An Indemnifying Party may elect to defend (and, unless the Indemnifying Party has specified any reservations or exceptions, to seek to settle or compromise), at such Indemnifying Party’s own expense and by such Indemnifying Party’s own counsel, any Third-Party Claim; provided , however , that an Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to elect to defend any Third Party Claim that potentially includes Liabilities for which the Indemnitee will not be indemnified hereunder unless either the Indemnitee consents to the Indemnifying Party assuming such defense or the Indemnifying Party agrees to assume such defense and indemnify without reservation or exception. Within thirty (30) days after the receipt of notice from an Indemnitee in accordance with Section 5.7(a)  (or sooner, if the nature of such Third-Party Claim so requires), the Indemnifying Party shall notify the Indemnitee of its election whether the Indemnifying Party will assume responsibility for defending such Third-Party Claim, which election shall specify any reservations or exceptions if the Indemnitee has consented to the Indemnifying Party assuming the defense notwithstanding such reservations or exceptions. After notice from an Indemnifying Party to an Indemnitee of its election to assume the defense of a Third-Party Claim, such Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel and to participate in (but not control) the defense, compromise, or settlement thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be the expense of such Indemnitee except as set forth in the next sentence.

 

(c)                                   If the Indemnifying Party has elected (and is permitted hereunder) to assume the defense of the Third-Party Claim but has specified, and continues to assert, any reservations or exceptions in such notice, then, in any such case, the reasonable fees and expenses of one separate counsel for all Indemnitees shall be the expense of such Indemnitees, but shall be promptly reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party. If the Indemnifying Party has elected to assume the defense of the Third Party Claim but has specified, and continues to assert, any reservations or exceptions in such notice, then the Indemnifying Party must obtain the consent of the Indemnitee prior to any settlement or compromise.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding an election by an Indemnifying Party to defend a Third-Party Claim pursuant to Section 5.7(b) , the Indemnitee may, upon notice to the Indemnifying Party, elect to take over the defense of such Third-Party Claim if (i) in its exercise of reasonable business judgment, the Indemnitee determines that the Indemnifying Party is not defending such Third-Party Claim in good faith, (ii) the Credit Rating of the Indemnifying Party is or falls below the Minimum Credit Rating as determined by both the Rating Agencies, (iii) the Indemnitee determines in its exercise of reasonable business judgment that there exists a compelling business reason for such Indemnitee to defend such Third-Party Claim (other than as contemplated by the foregoing clause (i) ), (iv) the Indemnifying Party makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, has filed against it or files a petition in bankruptcy or

 

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insolvency or is declared bankrupt or insolvent or declares that it is bankrupt or insolvent, or (v) when Huntsman is the Indemnitee, there has occurred a change of control of Venator since the Effective Date.

 

(e)                                   If an Indemnifying Party elects not to assume responsibility for defending a Third-Party Claim, or fails to notify an Indemnitee of its election as provided in Section 5.7(b) , or if an Indemnitee takes over the defense of a Third-Party Claim as provided in Section 5.7(d) , the Indemnifying Party shall bear, and reimburse promptly, all of the Indemnitee’s reasonable costs and expenses incurred in defending such Third-Party Claim.

 

(f)                                    If, pursuant to Section 5.7(d)  or for any other reason, the Indemnifying Party is not defending a Third-Party Claim for which indemnification is provided under this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right, at its own expense, to monitor reasonably the defense of such Third-Party Claim; provided , that such monitoring activity shall not interfere in any material respect with the conduct of such defense.

 

(g)                                   If an Indemnifying Party has failed to assume the defense of the Third-Party Claim in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or an Indemnitee takes over the defense of a Third-Party Claim as provided in Section 5.7(d)(i) , an Indemnitee may settle or compromise the Third-Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnifying Party. If an Indemnitee takes over the defense of a Third-Party Claim as provided in Section 5.7(d)(ii)-(v) , such Indemnitee may not settle or compromise any Third-Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnifying Party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

 

(h)                                  In the case of a Third-Party Claim, no Indemnifying Party shall consent to entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement of the Third-Party Claim without the consent of the Indemnitee if the effect thereof is to permit any injunction, declaratory judgment, regulatory penalty or other non-monetary relief to be entered, directly or indirectly against any Indemnitee.

 

(i)                                      Venator or Huntsman, as applicable, shall prepare and circulate a legal hold order (“ LHO ”) covering relevant categories of documents as promptly as practical following receipt of any notice pursuant to Section 5.7(a)  and shall promptly notify the other Party after such LHO has been circulated. Huntsman or Venator, as applicable, shall prepare and circulate a LHO covering documents in the possession, custody or control of the members of its Group with respect to any Action so notified to the other Party.

 

(j)                                     The provisions of this Section 5.7 (other than this Section 5.7(j) ) and the provisions of Section 5.8 shall not apply to Taxes (Taxes being governed by the Tax Matters Agreement).

 

(k)                                  All Assumed Actions have been tendered by Huntsman to Venator and are deemed to be formally accepted by Venator upon the execution of this Agreement without reservation or exception and Venator has elected to defend all such actions subject to the other provisions of this Section 5.7 .

 

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5.8                                Additional Matters .

 

(a)                                  Indemnification payments in respect of any Liabilities for which an Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Article V shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnitee as such Liabilities are incurred upon demand by the Indemnitee, including reasonably satisfactory documentation setting forth the basis for the amount of such indemnification payment, including documentation with respect to calculations made and consideration of any Insurance Proceeds that actually reduce the amount of such Liabilities; provided , however , that if requested by the Indemnitee, in the case of any Third Party Claims for which the Indemnifying Party is liable under the terms of this Agreement, the Indemnifying Party will pay the amounts due to such Third Party as a result of any settlement of such Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 5.7 directly to the Third Party as opposed to reimbursing the Indemnitee for the amounts paid in any such settlement.

 

(b)                                  Any claim on account of a Liability that does not result from a Third-Party Claim shall be asserted by written notice given by the Indemnitee to the Indemnifying Party. Such Indemnifying Party shall have a period of thirty (30) days after the receipt of such notice within which to respond thereto. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30)-day period, such Indemnifying Party shall be deemed to have refused to accept responsibility to make payment. If such Indemnifying Party does not respond within such thirty (30)-day period or rejects such claim in whole or in part, such Indemnitee shall be free to pursue such remedies as may be available to such Party as contemplated by this Agreement and the other Ancillary Agreements.

 

(c)                                   In the event of payment by or on behalf of any Indemnifying Party to any Indemnitee in connection with any Third-Party Claim, such Indemnifying Party shall be subrogated to and shall stand in the place of such Indemnitee as to any events or circumstances in respect of which such Indemnitee may have any right, defense or claim relating to such Third-Party Claim against any claimant or plaintiff asserting such Third-Party Claim or against any other Person. Such Indemnitee shall cooperate with such Indemnifying Party in a reasonable manner, and at the cost and expense of such Indemnifying Party, in prosecuting any subrogated right, defense or claim.

 

(d)                                  In the event of an Action for which indemnification is sought pursuant to Section 5.4 or 5.5 and in which the Indemnifying Party is not a named defendant, if either the Indemnitee or Indemnifying Party shall so request, the Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to substitute the Indemnifying Party for the named defendant.

 

5.9                                Remedies Cumulative . The remedies provided in this Article V shall be cumulative and, subject to this Article V , shall not preclude assertion by any Indemnitee of any other rights or the seeking of any and all other remedies against any Indemnifying Party expressly provided in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement; provided , however , if a Party has recovered any Liabilities from the other Party pursuant to any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or otherwise, it shall not be entitled to recover the same Liabilities pursuant to any other provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

5.10                         Survival of Indemnities . The rights and obligations of each of Huntsman and Venator and their respective Indemnitees under this Article V shall survive the merger or consolidation of a Party, the sale or other transfer by any Party of any Assets or businesses or the

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assignment by it of any Liabilities or the change in form or change in control of any Party. THE INDEMNITY AGREEMENTS CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE V SHALL REMAIN OPERATIVE AND IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT, REGARDLESS OF (I) ANY INVESTIGATION MADE BY OR ON BEHALF OF ANY INDEMNITEE AND (II) THE KNOWLEDGE BY THE INDEMNITEE OF LIABILITIES FOR WHICH IT MIGHT BE ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION HEREUNDER.

 

5.11                         Guarantees, Letters of Credit and other Obligations . In furtherance of, and not in limitation of, the obligations set forth in Sections 2.6 and 8.3 hereof:

 

(a)                                  On or prior to the Effective Date, as soon as practicable thereafter and in no event later than 30 days after the Effective Date with respect to any letter of credit or bank guarantee and nine months for any other guarantee or other obligation, Venator shall (with the reasonable cooperation of the applicable member(s) of the Huntsman Group) use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any member(s) of the Huntsman Group removed as guarantor of or obligor for any Venator Liability, including in respect of those guarantees, letters of credit and other obligations set forth on Schedule 5.11(a) .

 

(b)                                  On or prior to the Effective Date, as soon as practicable thereafter and in no event later than 30 days after the Effective Date with respect to any letter of credit or bank guarantee and nine months for any other guarantee or other obligation, to the extent required to obtain a release from a guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation of any member of the Huntsman Group, Venator shall execute a substitute document substantially in the form of any such existing guarantee or letter of credit, as applicable, or such other form as is agreed to by the relevant parties to such guarantee agreement, letter of credit or other obligation, provided that Venator shall not be required to make or agree to any representations, covenants or other terms or provisions in an existing guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation to the extent (i) Venator would not be reasonably able to comply therewith or (ii) Venator would reasonably be expected to be in breach thereof.

 

(c)                                   If the Parties are unable to obtain, or to cause to be obtained, any such required removal as set forth in clauses (a)  and (b)  of this Section 5.11 , (i) Venator shall REGARDLESS OF FAULT indemnify, defend and hold harmless each of the Huntsman Indemnitees for any Liability arising from or relating to such guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation, as applicable, and shall, as agent or subcontractor for the applicable Huntsman Group guarantor or obligor, pay, perform and discharge fully all of the obligations or other Liabilities of such guarantor or obligor thereunder, and (ii) Huntsman may charge a fee to Venator (in addition to passing along any fees Huntsman is charged by any third party) for the continued provision of such guarantee, letter of credit or other obligation in such amounts as would be customary in an arms-length transaction with a third party, and (iii) Venator shall not, and shall cause the other members of the Venator Group not to, agree to renew or extend the term of, increase any obligations under, or transfer to a Third Party, any loan, guarantee, letter of credit, lease, contract or other obligation for which a member of the Huntsman Group is or may be liable unless all obligations of the members of the Huntsman Group with respect thereto are thereupon terminated by documentation satisfactory in form and substance to Huntsman in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

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5.12                         No Impact on Third Parties . For the avoidance of doubt, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement, the indemnifications provided for in this Article V are made only for purposes of allocating responsibility for Liabilities between the Huntsman Group, on the one hand, and the Venator Group, on the other hand, and are not intended to, and shall not, affect any obligations to, or give rise to any rights of, any Third Parties.

 

5.13                         No Cross-Claims or Third-Party Claims . Each of Venator and Huntsman agrees that it shall not, and shall not permit any of its respective Subsidiaries or controlled Affiliates to, in connection with any Third-Party Claim, assert as a counterclaim or third-party claim against any member of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group, respectively, any claim (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise) that arises out of or relates to this Agreement, any breach or alleged breach hereof, the transactions contemplated hereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby on or prior to the date hereof), or the construction, interpretation, enforceability or validity hereof, which in each such case shall be asserted only as contemplated by Article V .

 

5.14                         Severability . If any indemnification provided for in this Article V is determined by any arbitrator or arbitrator with authority to make such determination under Article V or by a Texas federal or state court to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the Liability shall be apportioned between the Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party as determined in a separate proceeding in accordance with Article V .

 

5.15                         Change of Control . If any Third Party or “group” (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) acquires beneficial ownership, including by way of merger, consolidation or other business combination, of fifty percent (50%) or more of the assets or voting equity of Venator, Venator shall take all necessary action so that such Third Party or group shall become a guarantor of the obligations of Venator under this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

ARTICLE VI
INSURANCE MATTERS

 

6.1                                Insurance Matters .

 

(a)                                  Huntsman and Venator agree to cooperate in good faith to arrange insurance coverage for Venator to be effective no later than the Effective Date. In no event shall Huntsman, any other member of the Huntsman Group or any Huntsman Indemnitee have Liability or obligation whatsoever to any member of the Venator Group if any insurance policy or other contract or policy of insurance shall be terminated or otherwise cease to be in effect for any reason, shall be unavailable or inadequate to cover any Liability of any member of the Venator Group for any reason whatsoever or shall not be renewed or extended beyond the current expiration date.  From and after the Effective Date, other than as provided in Sections 6.1(c)  and 6.1(d) , neither Venator nor any member of the Venator Group shall have any rights to or under any of Huntsman’s or its Affiliates’ insurance policies.

 

(b)                                  At the Effective Date, Venator shall have in effect all insurance programs required to comply with Venator’s contractual obligations and such other insurance policies as

 

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reasonably necessary, and, following the Effective Date, Venator shall maintain such insurance programs and policies with insurers which comply with the minimum financial credit rating standards set by the major global insurance brokers.

 

(c)

 

(i)                                      Until the sixth anniversary of the Effective Date, Huntsman shall maintain directors and officers liability insurance policies and fiduciary liability insurance policies (collectively, “D&O Insurance Policies”) for officers and directors of the Venator Group (in their capacity as a member of the Huntsman Group) who prior to the Effective Date served as officers or directors of the Huntsman Group that is no less favorable than the coverage provided for the Huntsman Group. Huntsman and Venator acknowledge that, as of immediately prior to the Effective Date, Huntsman intends to take such action as it may deem necessary or desirable to terminate and cease coverage under any D&O Insurance Policy issued to it or any officer or director of a member of the Venator Group by any insurance carrier effective immediately prior to the Effective Date for all claims related to actions by such persons in their capacity as officers or directors of any member of the Venator Group.

 

(ii)                                   On and after the Effective Date, to the extent that any claims have been duly reported before such date under the D&O Insurance Policies maintained by members of the Huntsman Group, Huntsman shall not, and shall cause the members of the Huntsman Group not to, take any action that would limit the coverage of the individuals who acted as directors or officers of Venator (or members of the Venator Group) prior to the Effective Date under any D&O Insurance Policies maintained by the members of the Huntsman Group.

 

(iii)                                On and after the Effective Date, Venator shall maintain in effect for each past or present director of Venator or any of its subsidiaries, for a period of at least six years after the Effective Date, D&O Insurance Policies containing terms and conditions (but with coverage limits as Venator shall have in place at the Effective Date shall be agreed upon by Huntsman) which are, in the aggregate, no less advantageous to the insured, as the current D&O Insurance Policies of Huntsman with respect to claims arising from acts or omissions that occurred on or prior to the Effective Date. Huntsman shall provide, and shall cause other members of the Huntsman Group to provide, such cooperation as is reasonably requested by Venator in order for Venator to have in effect on and after the Effective Date such new D&O Insurance Policies as Venator deems appropriate with respect to claims reported on or after the Effective Date.

 

(d)                                  (i)                                      Following the Effective Date, except with respect to the insurance matters identified on Schedule 6.1(d) , whose treatment shall be as set forth on such Schedule or as otherwise provided in this Section 6.1(d) , with respect to any losses, damages and liabilities incurred by any member of the Venator Group prior to or in respect of the period prior to the Effective Date, Huntsman will provide Venator with access to, and Venator may, upon 10 days’ prior written notice to Huntsman, make claims under Huntsman’s insurance policies in place at the Effective Date and Huntsman’s historical policies of insurance, but solely to the extent that such policies provided coverage for any of the members of the Venator Group prior to the IPO.

 

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Huntsman will reasonably cooperate with Venator, any member of the Venator Group, and/or any of their present or former employees, officers, or directors in order to afford access for such parties to any insurance policies issued to Huntsman under which any such parties are insureds. The foregoing shall not apply to fronted policies to the extent not reinsured and/or to any other policies to the extent that they do not accomplish an actual risk transfer. It is understood that the coverage available to Venator, any member of the Venator Group, and/or any of their present or former employees, officers, or directors shall be subject to the terms and conditions of such insurance policies, including any limits on coverage or scope, any deductibles and other fees and expenses, and shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(A)                                Venator shall provide Huntsman with a written report sixty (60) days prior to any such third-party insurance policy’s renewal date, as advised by Huntsman, identifying any claims made by Venator for which notice has previously been provided to insurers of Huntsman;

 

(B)                                Venator and its Affiliates shall indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse Huntsman and its Affiliates for any deductibles, self-insured retention, fees and expenses incurred by Huntsman or its Affiliates to the extent resulting from any such access to, or any claims made by Venator or any of its Affiliates under, any insurance provided pursuant to this Section 6.1(d) , including any indemnity payments, settlements, judgments, legal fees and allocated claims expenses and claim handling fees, whether such claims are made by Venator, its employees or Third Parties; and

 

(C)                                Venator shall exclusively bear (and neither Huntsman nor its Affiliates shall have any obligation to repay or reimburse Venator or its Affiliates for) and shall be liable for all uninsured, uncovered, unavailable or uncollectible amounts of all such claims made by Venator or any of its Affiliates under the policies as provided for in this Section 6.1(d) .

 

(ii)                                   If an insurance policy aggregate is exhausted, or believed likely to be exhausted, due to noticed claims, the Venator Group, on the one hand, and the Huntsman Group, on the other hand, shall be responsible for their pro rata portion of the reinstatement premium, based upon the losses of such Group submitted to Huntsman’s insurance carrier(s) (including any submissions prior to the Effective Date). To the extent that the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group is allocated more than its pro rata portion of such premium due to the timing of losses submitted to Huntsman’s insurance carrier(s), the other Party shall promptly pay the first Party an amount so that each Group has been properly allocated its pro rata portion of the reinstatement premium. Huntsman can decide not to reinstate the policy aggregate and each Group then will bear all of its own future costs.

 

(iii)                                If any member of the Huntsman Group incurs any losses, damages or Liability prior to the Effective Date under Venator’s third-party insurance policies and captive insurance policies (to the extent such captive insurance policies have been reinsured), the same process pursuant to this Section 6.1(d)  shall apply, substituting “Huntsman” for “Venator” and “Venator” for “Huntsman.”

 

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(e)                                   All payments and reimbursements by Venator pursuant to this Section 6.1 will be made within sixty (60) days after Venator’s receipt of an invoice therefor from Huntsman. If Huntsman incurs costs to enforce Venator’s obligations herein, Venator agrees to indemnify Huntsman for such enforcement costs, including attorneys’ fees.

 

(f)                                    All payments and reimbursements by Huntsman pursuant to this Section 6.1 will be made within sixty (60) days after Huntsman’s receipt of an invoice therefor from Venator. If Venator incurs costs to enforce Huntsman’s obligations herein, Huntsman agrees to indemnify Venator for such enforcement costs, including attorneys’ fees.

 

(g)                                   Except to the extent that Venator, any member of the Venator Group, and/or any of their present or former employees, officers or directors is an insured thereunder, Huntsman shall retain the exclusive right to control its insurance policies and programs. With the sole exception of the rights of Venator, members of the Venator Group, and/or any of their present or former employees, officers, or directors to settle claims as to which they are insureds, for monetary amounts payable to them or on their behalf, Huntsman shall have the exclusive right to exhaust, settle, release, commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve disputes with respect to any of its insurance policies and programs and to amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs, notwithstanding whether any such policies or programs apply to any Venator Liabilities and/or claims Venator has made or could make in the future, and no member of the Venator Group shall, without the prior written consent of Huntsman, erode, exhaust, settle, release, commute, buy-back or otherwise resolve disputes with Huntsman’s insurers with respect to any of Huntsman’s insurance policies and programs, or amend, modify or waive any rights under any such insurance policies and programs. Venator shall cooperate with Huntsman and share such information at Venator’s cost as is reasonably necessary in order to permit Huntsman to manage and conduct its insurance matters as it deems appropriate. Neither Huntsman nor any of its Affiliates shall have any obligation to secure extended reporting for any claims under any of Huntsman’s or its Affiliates’ liability policies for any acts or omissions by any member of the Venator Group incurred prior to the Effective Date.

 

(h)                                  This Agreement shall not be considered as an attempted assignment of any policy of insurance or as a contract of insurance and shall not be construed to waive any right or remedy of any member of the Huntsman Group in respect of any insurance policy or any other contract or policy of insurance.

 

(i)                                      Venator does hereby, for itself and each other member of the Venator Group, agree that no member of the Huntsman Group shall have any Liability whatsoever as a result of the insurance policies and practices of Huntsman and its Affiliates as in effect at any time, including as a result of the level or scope of any such insurance, the creditworthiness of any insurance carrier, the terms and conditions of any policy, or the adequacy or timeliness of any notice to any insurance carrier with respect to any claim or potential claim or otherwise.

 

(j)                                     The Parties acknowledge that to the extent there are losses or premium adjustments under the Parties’ tripartite insurance agreements, such losses or adjustments will be governed by such tripartite insurance agreements.

 

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ARTICLE VII
EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION; CONFIDENTIALITY

 

7.1                                Agreement for Exchange of Information . Subject to Section 7.7 and any other applicable confidentiality obligations, each of Huntsman and Venator, on behalf of its respective Group, agrees to provide, or cause to be provided, to the other Group, at any time before or after the Effective Date, as soon as reasonably practicable after written request therefor, access to any Information in the possession or under the control of such respective Group that can be retrieved without unreasonable disruption to its business which the requesting Party reasonably needs (a) to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing, record retention or other requirements imposed on the requesting Party (including under applicable securities or tax Laws) by a Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the requesting Party or any stock exchange rule, (b) for use in any other judicial, regulatory, administrative, tax or other proceeding or in order to satisfy audit, accounting, claims, regulatory, litigation, tax or other similar requirements, in each case other than claims or allegations that one Party has against the other, or (c) subject to the foregoing clause (b) , to comply with its obligations under this Agreement or any other Ancillary Agreement; provided , however , that, in the event that any Party determines that any such provision of Information could be commercially detrimental, violate any Law or agreement, or waive any privilege otherwise available under applicable Law, including the attorney-client privilege, work product, joint defense, common interest or other applicable privilege (each, a “ Privilege ”) the Parties shall take all reasonable measures to permit the compliance with such obligations in a manner that avoids any such harm or consequence, and shall only provide that portion of the Information that is requested by the requesting agency.

 

7.2                                Ownership of Information . Any Information owned by one Group that is provided to a requesting Party pursuant to Section 7.1 or 7.6 shall be deemed to remain the property of the providing Party. Unless specifically set forth herein, nothing contained in this Agreement shall be construed as granting or conferring any right, title or interest whether by license or otherwise in any such Information.

 

7.3                                Reimbursement for Providing Information . Except as otherwise contemplated by any Ancillary Agreement, the Party requesting Information agrees to reimburse the other Party for the reasonable costs, if any, of creating, gathering, copying or providing access to such Information. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided elsewhere in this Agreement or in any other agreement between the Parties, such costs shall be computed in accordance with the providing Party’s standard methodology and procedures.

 

7.4                                Record Retention . Except as otherwise provided in any Ancillary Agreement, with regard to any Information, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, at such parties sole cost and expense, to retain, until the latest of, as applicable, (i) the date on which such Information is no longer required to be retained pursuant to Huntsman’s applicable record retention policy as in effect immediately prior to the IPO, including, without limitation, pursuant to any LHO issued by Huntsman or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the IPO (ii) the concluding date of any period as may be required by any applicable Law, (iii) the concluding date of any period during which such information relates to a pending or threatened Action which is known to the members of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group, as applicable, in possession of such Information at the time any retention obligation with regard to such Information would otherwise

 

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expire, and (iv) the concluding date of any period during which the destruction of such Information could interfere with a pending or threatened investigation by a Governmental Entity which is known to the members of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group, as applicable, in possession of such Information at the time any retention obligation with regard to such Information would otherwise expire; provided that with respect to any pending or threatened Action arising after the IPO, clause (iii)  of this sentence applies only to the extent that whichever member of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group, as applicable, is in possession of such Information has been notified in writing pursuant to a LHO by the other Party of the relevant pending or threatened Action.  The parties hereto agree that upon written request from the other that certain Information relating to the Venator Business, the Huntsman Business or the transactions contemplated hereby be retained in connection with an Action, the Parties will use reasonable efforts to preserve and not to destroy or dispose of such Information without the consent of the requesting party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Section 6.7(c) of the Tax Matters Agreement shall govern the retention of Tax Records (as defined in the Tax Matters Agreement).

 

7.5                                Other Agreements Providing for Exchange of Information . The rights and obligations granted under this Article VII are subject to any specific limitations, qualifications or additional provisions on the sharing, exchange, retention or confidential treatment of Information set forth in this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the Venator Articles of Association.

 

7.6                                Production of Witnesses; Records; Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  After the Effective Date, except in the case of an adversarial Action by one Party or a member of such Party’s Group against another Party or a member of such Party’s Group, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to make available to the other Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, managers, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any Records or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, managers, other personnel and agents) or Records or other documents may reasonably be requested in connection with any Action (including the Rockwood Claims) in which the requesting Party may from time to time be involved, regardless of whether such Action is a matter with respect to which indemnification may be sought hereunder. The requesting Party shall bear all costs and expenses in connection therewith.

 

(b)                                  If an Indemnifying Party chooses to defend or to seek to compromise or settle any Third-Party Claim pursuant to its rights under this Agreement, the other Party shall make available to such Indemnifying Party, upon written request, the former, current and future directors, officers, employees, managers, other personnel and agents of the members of its respective Group as witnesses and any Records (unless the provision of any Record would result in the waiver of any applicable Privilege) or other documents within its control or which it otherwise has the ability to make available, to the extent that any such person (giving consideration to business demands of such directors, officers, employees, managers, other personnel and agents) or Records or other documents may reasonably be required in connection with such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be, and shall otherwise cooperate in such defense, settlement or compromise, or such prosecution, evaluation or pursuit, as the case may be.

 

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(c)                                   Without limiting the foregoing, the Parties shall, and shall cause each member of its respective Group to, cooperate and consult with each other to the extent reasonably necessary with respect to any Third Party Claims (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any proceedings with a Governmental Authority, whether in connection with Huntsman’s proposed business combination with Clariant Ltd. or otherwise).

 

(d)                                  Without limiting any provision of this Section 7.6 , each of the Parties agrees to cooperate, and to cause each member of its respective Group to cooperate, with each other in the defense of any infringement or similar claim with respect any Intellectual Property and shall not claim to acknowledge, or permit any member of its respective Group to claim to acknowledge, the validity or infringing use of any Intellectual Property of a Third Party in a manner that would hamper or undermine the defense of such infringement or similar claim.

 

(e)                                   The obligation of the Parties to provide witnesses pursuant to this Section 7.6 is intended to be interpreted in a manner so as to facilitate cooperation and shall include the obligation to provide as witnesses inventors, employees and other officers without regard to whether the witness or the employer of the witness could assert a possible business conflict (subject to the exception set forth in the first sentence of Section 7.6(a) ).

 

7.7                                Confidentiality .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding any termination of this Agreement, and except as otherwise provided in the Ancillary Agreements, subject to Section 7.8 , each of Huntsman and Venator, on behalf of itself and each Person in its respective Group, shall hold, and shall cause their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors to hold, in strict confidence and not to disclose or release or, except as otherwise permitted by this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the Venator Articles of Association, use, without the prior written consent of the Party to whom the Confidential Information relates (which may be withheld in such Party’s sole and absolute discretion, except where disclosure is required by applicable Law), any and all Confidential Information concerning or belonging to the other Party or its Affiliates; provided that each Party may disclose, or may permit disclosure of, Confidential Information (i) to its respective auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers and other appropriate consultants and advisors who have a need to know such Information or auditing and other non-commercial purposes and are informed of the obligation to hold such Information confidential and in respect of whose failure to comply with such obligations, the applicable Party will be responsible, (ii) if any Party or any of its respective Subsidiaries is required or compelled to disclose any such Confidential Information by judicial or administrative process or by other requirements of Law or stock exchange rule or is advised by outside counsel in connection with a proceeding brought by a Governmental Entity that it is advisable to do so, (iii) as required in connection with any legal or other proceeding by one Party against any other Party or in respect of claims by one Party against the other Party brought in a proceeding, (iv) as necessary in order to permit a Party to prepare and disclose its financial statements in connection with any regulatory filings or Tax Returns, (v) as necessary for a Party to enforce its rights or perform its obligations under this Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement, (vi) to Governmental Entities in accordance with applicable procurement regulations and contract requirements and (vii) to other Persons in connection with their evaluation of, and negotiating and consummating, a potential transaction, to the extent reasonably necessary in connection therewith, provided an appropriate and

 

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customary confidentiality agreement has been entered into with such other Persons receiving such Confidential Information.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that any demand or request for disclosure of Confidential Information is made by a Third Party pursuant to clause (ii), (iii), (v) or (vi) above, each Party, as applicable, shall promptly notify (to the extent permissible by Law) the Party to whom the Confidential Information relates of the existence of such request, demand or disclosure requirement and shall provide such affected Party a reasonable opportunity to seek an appropriate protective order or other remedy, which such Party will cooperate in obtaining to the extent reasonably practicable.  In the event that such appropriate protective order or other remedy is not obtained, the Party which faces the disclosure requirement shall furnish only that portion of the Confidential Information that is required to be disclosed and shall take commercially reasonable steps to ensure that confidential treatment is a accorded such Confidential Information.

 

(b)                                  Each Party acknowledges that it and the other members of its Group may have in its or their possession Confidential Information of third parties that was received under confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements with such third party while such Party and/or members of its Group were part of the Huntsman Group.  Each Party shall comply, and shall cause the other members of its Group to comply, and shall cause its and their respective officers, employees, agents, consultants and advisors (or potential buyers) to comply, with all terms and conditions of any such third-party agreements entered into prior to the Effective Date, with respect to any Confidential Information of third parties to which it or any other member of its Group has had access.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, (i) the Parties shall be deemed to have satisfied their obligations hereunder with respect to Confidential Information if they exercise at least the same degree of care that applies to Huntsman’s confidential and proprietary information pursuant to policies in effect as of the Effective Date and (ii) confidentiality obligations provided for in any Contract between each Party or its Subsidiaries and their respective employees shall remain in full force and effect.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, Confidential Information of any Party in the possession of and used by any other Party as of the Effective Date may continue to be used by such Party in possession of the Confidential Information in and only in the operation of the Venator Business (in the case of the Venator Group) or the Huntsman Business (in the case of the Huntsman Group).

 

(d)                                  The parties agree that irreparable damage may occur in the event that the provisions of this Section 7.7 were not performed in accordance with their specific terms.  Accordingly, it is hereby agreed that the Parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any court having jurisdiction, this being in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.

 

(e)                                   For the avoidance of doubt and notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 7.7 , (i) the disclosure and sharing of Privileged Information shall be governed solely by Section 7.9 , and (ii) Information that is subject to any confidentiality provision or other disclosure restriction in any Ancillary Agreement shall be governed by the terms of such Ancillary Agreement.

 

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7.8                                Protective Arrangements .

 

(a)                                  If Venator or any member of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any Information pursuant to applicable Law or receives any demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide Information of Huntsman (or any member of the Huntsman Group) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, Venator shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Huntsman prior to disclosing or providing such Information and shall cooperate at the expense of Huntsman in seeking any reasonable protective arrangements requested by Huntsman. Subject to the foregoing, the Person that received such request may thereafter disclose or provide Information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority, and such Person shall provide, to the extent legally permissible, upon request a copy of the Information disclosed.

 

(b)                                  If Huntsman or any member of its Group either determines on the advice of its counsel that it is required to disclose any Information pursuant to applicable Law or receives any demand under lawful process or from any Governmental Authority to disclose or provide Information of Venator (or any member of the Venator Group) that is subject to the confidentiality provisions hereof, Huntsman shall use commercially reasonable efforts to notify Venator prior to disclosing or providing such Information and shall cooperate at the expense of Venator in seeking any reasonable protective arrangements requested by Venator. Subject to the foregoing, the Person that received such request may thereafter disclose or provide Information to the extent required by such Law (as so advised by counsel) or by lawful process or such Governmental Authority, and such Person shall provide, to the extent legally permissible, upon request a copy of the Information disclosed.

 

7.9                                P ersonal Information . Each Party shall (i) comply with all applicable data protection laws with respect to its transfer or Processing of Personal Data; (ii) have in place appropriate technical, administrative, and physical measures to protect Personal Data in its possession from unauthorized access or use; (iii) Process all Personal Data for which the other Party is the Controller only in accordance with the other Party’s written instructions; and (iv) to the extent it becomes aware, promptly notify the other Party of any unauthorized access or use of, or complaints received regarding, Personal Data for which the other Party is the Controller.  All transfers from Venator to Huntsman of Personal Data collected from residents of the European Economic Area shall occur only (a) pursuant to a written agreement containing model clauses approved by the applicable Data Protection Authority or (b) for so long as Huntsman maintains certification under the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield.

 

ARTICLE VIII
FURTHER ASSURANCES AND ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

 

8.1                                Further Assurances .

 

(a)                                  In addition to the actions specifically provided for elsewhere in this Agreement, each of the Parties shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, prior to, on and after the Effective Date, 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

 

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agreements, to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting the foregoing, prior to, on and after the Effective Date, each Party hereto shall cooperate with the other Party, and without any further consideration, but at the expense of the requesting Party, to execute and deliver, or use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause to be executed and delivered, all instruments, including instruments of conveyance, assignment and transfer, and to make all filings with, and to obtain all consents, approvals or authorizations of, any Governmental Authority or any other Person under any permit, license, agreement, indenture or other instrument (including any Third Party consents or Governmental Approvals), and to take all such other actions as such Party may reasonably be requested to take by any other Party hereto from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, in order to effectuate the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements and the transfers of the Venator Assets and the assignment and assumption of the Venator Liabilities and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.

 

(c)                                   On or prior to the Effective Date, Huntsman and Venator in their respective capacities as direct and indirect stockholders of their respective Subsidiaries, shall each ratify any actions which are reasonably necessary or desirable to be taken by any Subsidiary of Huntsman or Venator, as the case may be, to effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements.

 

(d)                                  Huntsman and Venator, and each of the members of their respective Groups, waive (and agree not to assert against any of the others) any claim or demand that any of them may have against any of the others for any Liabilities or other claims relating to or arising out of: (i) the failure of Venator or any member of the Venator Group, on the one hand, or of Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group, on the other hand, to provide any notification or disclosure required under any state Environmental Law in connection with the Separation or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Agreements, including the transfer by any member of any Group to any member of the other Group of ownership or operational control of any Assets not previously owned or operated by such transferee; or (ii) any inadequate, incorrect or incomplete notification or disclosure under any such state Environmental Law by the applicable transferor. To the extent any Liability to any Governmental Authority or any Third Party arises out of any action or inaction described in clause (i)  or (ii)  above, the transferee of the applicable Asset hereby assumes and agrees to pay any such Liability.

 

8.2                                Performance . Huntsman will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the Huntsman Group. Venator will cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement to be performed by any member of the Venator Group. Each Party (including its permitted successors and assigns) further agrees that it will (a) give timely notice of the terms, conditions and continuing obligations contained in this Section 8.2 to all of the other members of its Group, and (b) cause all of the other members of its Group not to take any action or fail to take any such action

 

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inconsistent with such Party’s obligations under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

8.3                                Huntsman Guarantees . Venator acknowledges that in the course of conduct of the Venator Business, Huntsman and members of the Huntsman Group may have entered into various arrangements in which guarantees, bonds, letters of credit or similar arrangements were issued or arranged by Huntsman or members of the Huntsman Group to support or facilitate the Venator Business. Any such arrangements entered into by Huntsman and its Affiliates are, to the extent related to the Venator Business, hereinafter referred to as the “ Huntsman Guarantees. ” Except as otherwise agreed by Huntsman and Venator, Venator agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or provide replacement guarantees, bonds, letters of credit or similar arrangements, which will be in effect at the Effective Date, and obtain the release of Huntsman and members of the Huntsman Group from any Huntsman Guarantees or pay such additional fees to Huntsman and members of the Huntsman Group in accordance with Section 5.11 . On a quarterly basis and upon any specific request by Huntsman, Venator shall provide Huntsman a listing of outstanding Huntsman Guarantees and the then current status with respect to the replacement or cancellation of such Huntsman Guarantees and other relevant information with respect thereto that Huntsman reasonably requests.

 

8.4                                Third-Party Agreements . Venator agrees that it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain or provide replacement agreements with Third Parties for agreements between such Third Parties and Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group that are Venator Contracts and cannot be assigned to Venator.

 

8.5                                Huntsman Names and Marks .

 

(a)                                  Venator agrees that, after the Effective Date, no member of the Venator Group nor any Person that becomes an Affiliate of a member of the Venator Group after the Effective Date, shall have any rights in and to the Huntsman Names and Marks, and (except as expressly set forth in this Section 8.5 ) will not, at any time after the Effective Date, market, promote, advertise or offer for sale any products, goods or services utilizing any of the Huntsman Names and Marks.  Venator agrees that (i) if the Venator Assets include any signage or facility bearing the Huntsman Names and Marks in a manner that is visible to consumers or the general public, Venator shall remove and replace the Huntsman Names and Marks on such signage or facility within two hundred seventy (270) days after the Effective Date, (ii) if the Venator Assets include any vehicles that bear any of the Huntsman Names and Marks and are visible to consumers or the general public, Venator shall remove and replace such Huntsman Names and Marks within two hundred seventy (270) days after the Effective Date, and (iii) if any of the other Venator Assets, including any promotional materials or printed forms, bear any of the Huntsman Names and Marks, Venator shall, prior to distributing, selling or otherwise making use of such Venator Assets for consumers or the general public, remove, delete or render illegible the Huntsman Names and Marks as they may appear on such Venator Assets. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for a period of two hundred seventy (270) days after the Effective Date, Venator may distribute and display marketing, promotional and advertising materials including business cards, stationery, packaging materials, displays, signs, promotional materials and other similar materials that include one or more of the Huntsman Names and Marks (collectively, “ Supplies ”), provided such Supplies are used solely in connection with the

 

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promotion, marketing, advertising and sale of the Venator Business’ products of the type sold, and in a manner consistent with that used, prior to the Effective Date.

 

(b)                                  Venator agrees to cause each member of the Venator Group whose name includes any of the Huntsman Names and Marks, promptly following the Effective Date, and in any event within two hundred seventy (270) days after the Effective Date, change its name such that its name does not include any of the Huntsman Names and Marks.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided in this Section 8.5 , Venator may use the Huntsman Names and Marks (i) on internal office supplies or signage not visible to consumers or the general public, provided that such supplies or signage are replaced promptly in the ordinary course of business, (ii) in a neutral, non-trademark manner to describe the historical relationship of the Venator Group and the Huntsman Group, or (iii) to the extent required by Law in legal or business documents already in existence on the Effective Date.

 

8.6                                Conflicts with and between Ancillary Agreements . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement:

 

(a)                                  in the case of any conflict between this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (other than the Tax Matters Agreement) and the Tax Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Tax Matters Agreement, the Tax Matters Agreement shall prevail;

 

(b)                                  except as set forth in Section 8.6(a)  or 8.6(b) , in the case of any conflict between this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (other than the Employee Matters Agreement) and the Employee Matters Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Employee Matters Agreement, the Employee Matters Agreement shall prevail;

 

(c)                                   except as set forth in Section 8.6(a) , 8.6(b)  or 8.6(c)  in the case of any conflict between this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (other than the Registration Rights Agreement) and the Registration Rights Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by the Registration Rights Agreement, the Registration Rights Agreement shall prevail; and

 

(d)                                  except as set forth in Section 8.6(a) , 8.6(b)  or 8.6(c) , or 8.6(d) , in the case of any conflict between this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement in relation to any matters addressed by this Agreement, this Agreement shall prevail.

 

8.7                                No Actions Related to Certain Technical Information and Copyrightable Works .

 

(a)                                  Huntsman, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their respective successors and assigns, hereby covenants: (i) not to sue or proceed in any manner, whether legal, equitable, administrative, or otherwise against; (ii) not to solicit others to institute any such actions or proceedings; and (iii) not to consent to be a complainant in any criminal action or proceeding against, Venator or its Affiliates relating to or arising out of the use and exploitation by Venator and its Affiliates of any Retained Technical Information or Retained Copyrightable Works in the field of the Venator Business, including the disclosure of such Retained Technical Information in the ordinary course of business and including reproducing, distributing, preparing derivative works of, and publicly performing, displaying and digitally transmitting Retained Copyrightable Works.

 

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(b)                                  Venator, on behalf of itself and its Affiliates and its and their respective successors and assigns, hereby covenants: (i) not to sue or proceed in any manner, whether legal, equitable, administrative, or otherwise against; (ii) not to solicit others to institute any such actions or proceedings; and (iii) not to consent to be a complainant in any criminal action or proceeding against, Huntsman or its Affiliates relating to or arising out of the use and exploitation by Huntsman and its Affiliates of any Transferred Technical Information or Transferred Copyrightable Works in any field other than the Venator Business, including the disclosure of such Transferred Technical Information in the ordinary course of business and including reproducing, distributing, preparing derivative works of, and publicly performing, displaying and digitally transmitting Transferred Copyrightable Works.

 

8.8                                Attorney Client Privilege . Venator agrees that, in the event of any Dispute or other litigation, dispute, controversy or claim between Huntsman or a member of the Huntsman Group, on the one hand, and Venator or a member of the Venator Group, on the other hand, Venator will not, and will cause the members of its Group not to, seek any waiver of any applicable Privilege with respect to any oral or written communications relating to advice given prior to the Effective Date by counsel to Huntsman or any Person that was a Subsidiary of Huntsman prior to the Effective Date, regardless of any argument that such advice may have affected the interests of both Parties. Moreover, Venator will, and will cause the members of its Group to, honor any such applicable Privilege between Huntsman and the members of its Group and its or their counsel, and will not assert that Huntsman or a member of its Group has waived, relinquished or otherwise lost such Privilege. For the avoidance of doubt, in the event of any litigation, dispute, controversy or claim between Huntsman or a member of its Group, on the one hand, and a Third Party other than a member of the Venator Group, on the other hand, Huntsman shall retain the right to assert any applicable Privilege with respect to any communications relating to advice given prior to the Effective Date by counsel to Huntsman or any Person that was a Subsidiary of Huntsman prior to the Effective Date (it being understood, for the avoidance of doubt, that nothing in this Section 8.8 shall prevent Venator from asserting any applicable Privilege with respect to the matters discussed herein in the event such Privilege is not waived by Huntsman).

 

ARTICLE IX
FINANCIAL AND RELATED COVENANTS

 

9.1                                Disclosure and Financial Controls .  Venator agrees that, for so long as and only for such periods Huntsman is required to (x) consolidate the results of operations and financial position of Venator and any other members of the Venator Group or (y) account for its investment in Venator under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements):

 

(a)                                  Disclosure of Financial Controls . Venator will, and will cause each other member of Venator Group to, maintain, as of and after the Effective Date, disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15; Venator will cause each of its principal executive and principal financial officers to sign and deliver certifications to Venator’s periodic reports and will include the certifications in Venator’s periodic reports, as and when required pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14 and Item 601 of Regulation S-K; Venator will cause its management to evaluate Venator’s disclosure

 

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controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (including any change in internal control over financial reporting) as and when required pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-15; Venator will disclose in its periodic reports filed with the SEC information concerning Venator management’s responsibilities for and evaluation of Venator’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting (including, without limitation, the annual management report and attestation report of Venator’s independent auditors relating to internal control over financial reporting) as and when required under Items 307 and 308 of Regulation S-K and other applicable SEC rules; and, without limiting the general application of the foregoing, Venator will, and will cause each other member of the Venator Group to, maintain as of and after the Effective Date internal systems and procedures that will provide reasonable assurance that (A) the Financial Statements are reliable and timely prepared in accordance with GAAP and applicable Law, (B) all transactions of members of the Venator Group are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Financial Statements, (C) the receipts and expenditures of members of the Venator Group are authorized at the appropriate level within Venator, and (D) unauthorized use or disposition of the assets of any member of the Venator Group that could have a material effect on the Financial Statements is prevented or detected in a timely manner.

 

(b)                                  Fiscal Year . Venator will, and will cause each member of the Venator Group organized in the U.S. to maintain a fiscal year that commences and ends on the same calendar days as Huntsman’s fiscal year commences and ends, and to maintain monthly accounting periods that commence and end on the same calendar days as Huntsman’s monthly accounting periods commence and end. Venator will, and will cause each member of the Venator Group organized outside the U.S. to maintain a fiscal year that commences and ends on the same calendar days as the fiscal year of the members of the corresponding Huntsman Group organized outside the U.S. commences and ends, and to maintain monthly accounting periods that commence and end on the same calendar days as the monthly accounting periods of members of the corresponding Huntsman Group organized outside the U.S. commence and end, except in each case for certain members of the Venator Group that are organized in Germany with different fiscal years and monthly accounting periods from the members of the corresponding Huntsman Group as of the Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   Monthly and Quarterly Financial Information . On a monthly basis, Venator will deliver to Huntsman an income statement and balance sheet for such period in such format and detail as Huntsman may reasonably request.  On a quarterly basis, Venator will deliver to Huntsman an income statement and balance sheet and supplemental data related to cash flows and other necessary disclosures for such period in such format and detail as Huntsman may reasonably request. Venator will be responsible for reviewing its results and data and for informing Huntsman promptly of any post-closing adjustments that come to its attention. Venator must provide final sign-off of its results, using Huntsman materiality, no later than seven (7) Business Days after the quarterly close period end for the draft income statement and no later than seven (7) Business Days after the annual close period end for the draft balance sheet, cash flows and supplemental data. A certification will be provided by the Controller and Chief Financial Officer and President of Venator pertaining to the quarter financials and internal controls no later than three (3) Business Days prior to Huntsman’s filing of its quarterly financial statements (the “ Huntsman Quarterly Statements ”) with the SEC.

 

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(d)                                  Quarterly Financial Statements . As soon as practicable, and in any event no later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the date on which Huntsman has notified Venator that Huntsman intends to file a quarterly report on Form 10-Q or other document containing quarterly financial statements with the SEC, Venator will deliver to Huntsman (A) any financial and other information and data with respect to the Venator Group and its business, properties, financial position, results of operations and prospects as is reasonably requested by Huntsman in connection with the preparation of Huntsman’s financial statements and quarterly report on Form 10-Q. As soon as practicable, and in any event no later than seven (7) Business Days prior to the date on which Venator is required to file an quarterly report on Form 10-Q or other document containing its quarterly financial statements with the SEC, Venator will deliver to Huntsman (A) drafts of the consolidated financial statements of the Venator Group (and notes thereto) for such periods and for the period from the beginning of the current fiscal year to the end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form for each such fiscal quarter of Venator the consolidated figures (and notes thereto) for the corresponding quarter and periods of the previous fiscal years and all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X and GAAP, (B) a discussion and analysis by management of the Venator Group’s financial condition and results of operations for such fiscal period, including, without limitation, an explanation of any material period-to-period change and any off-balance sheet transactions, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with Item 303(b) of Regulation S-K and (C) a completed Huntsman quarterly Accounting Policies and Procedures Questionnaire in the form required of Huntsman Subsidiaries; provided, however, that Venator will deliver such information at such earlier time upon Huntsman’s written request with thirty (30) days’ notice resulting from Huntsman’s determination to accelerate the timing of the filing of its financial statements with the SEC.; provided, however, that Venator will deliver such information at such earlier time upon Huntsman’s written request with thirty (30) days’ notice resulting from Huntsman’s determination to accelerate the timing of the filing of its financial statements with the SEC. The information set forth in (A), (B) and (C) above is referred to in this Agreement as the “ Quarterly Financial Statements .” Venator will deliver to Huntsman all revisions to such drafts as soon as any such revisions are prepared or made. No later than seven (7) Business Days prior to the date Venator publicly files the Quarterly Financial Statements with the SEC or otherwise makes such Quarterly Financial Statements publicly available, Venator will deliver to Huntsman the final form of its quarterly report on Form 10-Q and certifications thereof by the principal executive and financial officers of Venator in substantially the forms required under SEC rules for periodic reports and in form and substance satisfactory to Huntsman; provided, however, that Venator may continue to revise such Quarterly Financial Statements prior to the filing thereof in order to make corrections and non-substantive changes which corrections and changes will be delivered by Venator to Huntsman as soon as practicable, and in any event within one (1) day of making any such corrections or changes; provided, further, that Huntsman and Venator financial representatives will actively consult with each other regarding any changes (whether or not substantive) which Venator may consider making to its Quarterly Financial Statements and related disclosures during the five (5) Business Days immediately prior to any anticipated filing with the SEC. In addition to the foregoing, no Quarterly Financial Statement or any other document which refers, or contains information not previously publicly disclosed with respect to the ownership of Venator by Huntsman or the Transactions will be filed with the SEC or otherwise made public by any Venator Group member without the prior written consent of Huntsman. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.1(d) , Venator will not file

 

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its Quarterly Financial Statements with the SEC prior to the time that Huntsman files the Huntsman Quarterly Statements with the SEC unless otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

(e)                                   Annual Financial Statements . On an annual basis, Venator will deliver to Huntsman an income statement and balance sheet and supplemental data related to cash flows and other necessary disclosures for such period in such format and detail as Huntsman may request. Venator will be responsible for reviewing its results and data and for informing Huntsman immediately of any post-closing adjustments in excess of $10 million pre-tax that come to its attention and of any adjustments below $10 million within one (1) day of its awareness. Venator must provide final sign-off of its results, using Huntsman materiality, no later than seven (7) Business Days after the annual close period end for the income statement and no later than seven (7) Business Days after the annual close period end for the balance sheet, cash flows and supplemental data. A certification will be provided by the Controller and Chief Financial Officer and President of Venator pertaining to the financials and internal controls no later than three (3) Business Days prior to Huntsman’s filing of its audited annual financial statements (the “ Huntsman Annual Statements ”) with the SEC. As soon as practicable, and in any event no later than fifteen (15) Business Days prior to the date on which Huntsman has notified Venator that Huntsman intends to file its annual report on Form 10-K or other document containing annual financial statements with the SEC, Venator will deliver to Huntsman (A) any financial and other information and data with respect to the Venator Group and its business, properties, financial position, results of operations and prospects as is reasonably requested by Huntsman in connection with the preparation of Huntsman’s financial statements and annual report on Form 10-K. As soon as practicable, and in any event no later than five (5) Business Days prior to the date on which Venator is required to file an annual report on Form 10-K or other document containing its Annual Financial Statements (as defined below) with the SEC, Venator will deliver to Huntsman (A) drafts of the consolidated financial statements of the Venator Group (and notes thereto) for such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the consolidated figures (and notes thereto) for the previous fiscal years and all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with Regulation S-X and GAAP and (B) a discussion and analysis by management of the Venator Group’s financial condition and results of operations for such year, including, without limitation, an explanation of any material period-to-period change and any off-balance sheet transactions, all in reasonable detail and prepared in accordance with Items 303(a) and 305 of Regulation S-K; provided, however, that Venator will deliver such information at such earlier time upon Huntsman’s written request with thirty (30) days’ notice resulting from Huntsman’s determination to accelerate the timing of the filing of its financial statements with the SEC. The information set forth in (A) and (B) above is referred to in this Agreement as the “ Annual Financial Statements .” Venator will deliver to Huntsman all revisions to such drafts as soon as any such revisions are prepared or made. No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the date Venator publicly files the Annual Financial Statements with the SEC or otherwise makes such Annual Financial Statements publicly available, Venator will deliver to Huntsman the final form of its annual report on Form 10-K and certifications thereof by the principal executive and financial officers of Venator in substantially the forms required under SEC rules for periodic reports and in form and substance satisfactory to Huntsman; provided, however, that Venator may continue to revise such Annual Financial Statements prior to the filing thereof in order to make corrections and non-substantive changes which corrections and changes will be delivered by Venator to Huntsman as soon as practicable, and in any event within one (1) day of making any such corrections or changes; provided, further, that Huntsman

 

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and Venator financial representatives will actively consult with each other regarding any changes (whether or not substantive) which Venator may consider making to its Annual Financial Statements and related disclosures during the five (5) Business Days immediately prior to any anticipated filing with the SEC. In addition to the foregoing, no Annual Financial Statement or any other document which refers, or contains information not previously publicly disclosed with respect to the ownership of Venator by Huntsman or the Transactions will be filed with the SEC or otherwise made public by any Venator Group member without the prior written consent of Huntsman. Beginning with the 2017 fiscal year, Venator will use its reasonable best efforts to deliver to Huntsman, no later than three (3) Business Days prior to the date on which Huntsman has notified Venator that Huntsman intends to file the Huntsman Annual Statements with the SEC, the final form of the Annual Financial Statements accompanied by an opinion thereon by Venator’s independent certified public accountants. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.1(e) , Venator will not file its Annual Financial Statements with the SEC prior to the time that Huntsman files the Huntsman Annual Statements with the SEC unless otherwise required by applicable Law.

 

(f)                                    Affiliate Financial Statements . Venator will deliver to Huntsman all quarterly financial statements and annual financial statements of each Venator Affiliate which is itself required to file financial statements with the SEC or otherwise make such financial statements publicly available, with such financial statements to be provided in the same manner and detail and on the same time schedule as Quarterly Financial Statements and Annual Financial Statements required to be delivered to Huntsman pursuant to this Section 9.1 .

 

(g)                                   Conformance with Huntsman Financial Presentation . All information provided by any Venator Group member to Huntsman or filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 9.1(c)  through (f)  inclusive will be consistent in terms of format and detail and otherwise with Huntsman’s policies with respect to the application of GAAP and, if applicable, IFRS and practices in effect on the Effective Date with respect to the provision of such financial information by such Venator Group member to Huntsman (and, where appropriate, as presently presented in financial reports to the Huntsman Board), with such changes therein as may be requested by Huntsman from time to time consistent with changes in such accounting principles and practices. Venator will report its financial information to Huntsman using GAAP consistent with Huntsman’s accounting policies.  To the extent that Huntsman is also required to report its financial statements under IFRS post its merger with Clariant Ltd., Venator will also report its financial statements to Huntsman under IFRS consistent with HuntsmanClariant accounting policies, for which Huntsman and Venator will review the provisions of this Article IX and reasonably agree to appropriate modifications.

 

(h)                                  Venator Reports Generally . Venator shall, and shall cause each Venator Group member that files information with the SEC, to deliver to Huntsman: (A) substantially final drafts, as soon as the same are prepared, of (x) all reports, notices and proxy and information statements to be sent or made available by such Venator Group member to its respective security holders, (y) all regular, periodic and other reports to be filed or furnished under Sections 13, 14 and 15 of the Exchange Act (including reports on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and annual reports to shareholders), and (z) all registration statements and prospectuses to be filed by such Venator Group member with the SEC or any securities exchange pursuant to the listed company manual (or similar requirements) of such exchange (collectively, the documents

 

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identified in clauses (x), (y) and (z) are referred to in this Agreement as “ Venator Public Documents ”), and (B) as soon as practicable, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days (other than with respect to Form 8-Ks) prior to the earliest of the dates the same are printed, sent or filed, current drafts of all such Venator Public Documents and, with respect to Form 8-Ks, as soon as practicable, but in no event later than three (3) Business Days prior to the earliest of the dates the same are printed, sent or filed in the case of planned Form 8-Ks and as soon as practicable, but in no event less than 2 hours in the case of unplanned Form 8-Ks; provided, however, that Venator may continue to revise such Venator Public Documents prior to the filing thereof in order to make corrections and non-substantive changes which corrections and changes will be delivered by Venator to Huntsman as soon as practicable, and in any event within one (1) day of making any such corrections or changes; provided, further, that Huntsman and Venator financial representatives will actively consult with each other regarding any changes (whether or not substantive) which Venator may consider making to any of its Venator Public Documents and related disclosures prior to any anticipated filing with the SEC, with particular focus on any changes which would have an effect upon Huntsman’s financial statements or related disclosures. In addition to the foregoing, no Venator Public Document or any other document which refers, or contains information not previously publicly disclosed with respect to the ownership of Venator by Huntsman or the Transactions will be filed with the SEC or otherwise made public by any Venator Group member without the prior written consent of Huntsman.

 

(i)                                      Budgets and Financial Projections . Venator will, as promptly as practicable, deliver to Huntsman copies of all annual budgets and financial projections (consistent in terms of format and detail mutually agreed upon by the Parties) relating to Venator on a consolidated basis and will provide Huntsman an opportunity to meet with management of Venator to discuss such budgets and projections.

 

(j)                                     Other Information . With reasonable promptness, Venator will deliver to Huntsman such additional financial and other information and data with respect to the Venator Group and their business, properties, financial positions, results of operations and prospects as from time to time may be reasonably requested by Huntsman.

 

(k)                                  Press Releases and Similar Information . Venator and Huntsman will consult with each other as to the timing of their annual and quarterly earnings releases and any interim financial guidance for a current or future period and will give each other the opportunity to review the information therein relating to the Venator Group and to comment thereon. Huntsman and Venator will make reasonable efforts to issue their respective annual and quarterly earnings releases at approximately the same time on the same date. Huntsman and Venator shall coordinate the timing of their respective earnings release conference calls such that Venator shall be permitted to hold such calls prior to those of Huntsman. No later than one (1) day prior to the time and date that a party intends to publish its regular annual or quarterly earnings release or any financial guidance for a current or future period, such party will deliver to the other party copies of substantially final drafts of all related press releases and other statements to be made available by any member of that party’s Group to the public concerning any matters that could be reasonably likely to have a material financial impact on the earnings, results of operations, financial condition or prospects of any Venator Group member. In addition, prior to the issuance of any such press release or public statement that meets the criteria set forth in the preceding two sentences, the issuing party will consult with the other party regarding any

 

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changes (other than typographical or other similar minor changes) to such substantially final drafts. Immediately following the issuance thereof, the issuing party will deliver to the other party copies of final drafts of all press releases and other public statements. Prior to the Effective Date, Venator shall consult with Huntsman prior to issuing any press releases or otherwise making public statements with respect to the Transactions or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby and prior to making any filings with any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.

 

(l)                                      Cooperation on Huntsman Filings . Venator will cooperate fully, and cause Venator Auditors to cooperate fully, with Huntsman to the extent requested by Huntsman in the preparation of Huntsman’s public earnings or other press releases, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, annual reports to shareholders, annual reports on Form 10-K, any current reports on Form 8-K and any other proxy, information and registration statements, reports, notices, prospectuses and any other filings made by Huntsman with the SEC, any national securities exchange or otherwise made publicly available (collectively, the “ Huntsman Public Filings ”). Venator agrees to provide to Huntsman all information that Huntsman reasonably requests in connection with any Huntsman Public Filings or that, in the judgment of Huntsman’s Legal Department, is required to be disclosed or incorporated by reference therein under any Law, rule or regulation. Venator will provide such information in a timely manner on the dates requested by Huntsman (which may be earlier than the dates on which Venator otherwise would be required hereunder to have such information available) to enable Huntsman to prepare, print and release all Huntsman Public Filings on such dates as Huntsman will determine but in no event later than as required by applicable Law. Venator will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Venator Auditors to consent to any reference to them as experts in any Huntsman Public Filings required under any Law, rule or regulation. If and to the extent requested by Huntsman, Venator will diligently and promptly review all drafts of such Huntsman Public Filings and prepare in a diligent and timely fashion any portion of such Huntsman Public Filing pertaining to Venator. Prior to any printing or public release of any Huntsman Public Filing, an appropriate executive officer of Venator will, if requested by Huntsman, certify that the information relating to any Venator Group member or the Venator Business in such Huntsman Public Filing is accurate, true, complete and correct in all material respects. Unless required by Law, rule or regulation, Venator will not publicly release any financial or other information which conflicts with the information with respect to any Venator Group member or the Venator Business that is included in any Huntsman Public Filing without Huntsman’s prior written consent. Prior to the release or filing thereof, Huntsman will provide Venator with a draft of any portion of a Huntsman Public Filing containing information relating to the Venator Group and will give Venator an opportunity to review such information and comment thereon; provided that Huntsman will determine in its sole and absolute discretion the final form and content of all Huntsman Public Filings.

 

(m)                              Termination .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.1 , the obligations under Section 9.1 shall terminate once the financial statements for the last period during which Huntsman is required to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of Venator and any other members of the Venator Group or to account for its investment in Venator under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements) have been made public.

 

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9.2                                Auditors and Audits; Annual Statements and Accounting . Venator agrees that for so long as and only for such periods as Huntsman is required to (x) consolidate the results of operations and financial position of Venator and any other members of the Venator Group or (y) account for its investment in Venator under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements) (an “ Applicable Period ”); provided that Venator’s obligations pursuant to Section 9.1(e)  and (f)  shall continue beyond an Applicable Period to the extent any amendments to, or restatements or modifications of, Huntsman Public Filings are necessary with respect to any such Applicable Period:

 

(a)                                  Selection of Venator Auditors . Unless required by Law, Venator will not select a different accounting firm than Deloitte (or its affiliate accounting firms) (unless so directed by Huntsman in accordance with a change by Huntsman in its accounting firm) to serve as its (and Venator Affiliates’) independent certified public accountants (“ Venator Auditors ”) without Huntsman’s prior written consent (which will not be unreasonably withheld); provided , however , that, to the extent any such Venator Affiliates are currently using a different accounting firm to serve as their independent certified public accountants, such Venator Affiliates may continue to use such accounting firm provided such accounting firm is reasonably satisfactory to Huntsman.

 

(b)                                  Audit Timing . Venator will use its reasonable best efforts to enable Venator Auditors to complete their audit such that they will date their opinion on the Annual Financial Statements on the same date that Huntsman’s independent certified public accountants (“ Huntsman Auditors ”) date their opinion on the Huntsman Annual Statements, and to enable Huntsman to meet its timetable for the printing, filing and public dissemination of the Huntsman Annual Statements, all in accordance with Section 9.1(a)  hereof and as required by applicable Law.

 

(c)                                   Quarterly Review . Venator will use its reasonable best efforts to enable Huntsman Auditors to complete their quarterly review procedures on the Quarterly Financial Statements on the same date that Huntsman Auditors complete their quarterly review procedures on Huntsman’s quarterly financial statements.

 

(d)                                  Information Needed by Huntsman . Venator will provide to Huntsman on a timely basis all information that Huntsman reasonably requires to meet its schedule for the preparation, printing, filing, and public dissemination of the Huntsman Annual Statements in accordance with Section 9.1(a)  hereof and as required by applicable Law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Venator will provide all required financial information with respect to the Venator Group to Venator Auditors in a sufficient and reasonable time and in sufficient detail to permit Venator Auditors to take all steps and perform all reviews necessary to provide sufficient assistance to Huntsman Auditors with respect to information to be included or contained in the Huntsman Annual Statements.

 

(e)                                   Access to Venator Auditors . Venator will authorize Venator Auditors to make available to Huntsman Auditors both the personnel who performed, or are performing, the annual audit and quarterly reviews of Venator and work papers related to the annual audit and quarterly reviews of Venator, in all cases within a reasonable time prior to Venator Auditors’ opinion date, so that Huntsman Auditors are able to perform the procedures they consider

 

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necessary to take responsibility for the work of Venator Auditors as it relates to Huntsman Auditors’ report on Huntsman’s statements, all within sufficient time to enable Huntsman to meet its timetable for the printing, filing and public dissemination of the Huntsman Annual Statements.

 

(f)                                    Access to Records . If Huntsman determines in good faith that there may be some inaccuracy in a Venator Group member’s financial statements or deficiency or inadequacy in a Venator Group member’s internal accounting controls or operations that could materially impact Huntsman’s financial statements or a breach of Section 9.3(c)  at Huntsman’s request, Venator will provide Huntsman’s internal auditors with access to the Venator Group’s books and records so that Huntsman may conduct reasonable audits relating to the financial statements provided by Venator under this Agreement as well as to the internal accounting controls and operations of the Venator Group.

 

(g)                                   Notice of Changes . Subject to Section 9.1(g) , Venator will give Huntsman as much prior notice as reasonably practicable of any proposed determination of, or any significant changes in, Venator’s accounting estimates or accounting principles from those in effect on the Effective Date. Venator will consult with Huntsman and, if requested by Huntsman, Venator will consult with Huntsman Auditors with respect thereto. Venator will not make any such determination or changes without Huntsman’s prior written consent if such a determination or a change would be sufficiently material to be required to be disclosed in Venator’s or Huntsman’s financial statements as filed with the SEC or otherwise publicly disclosed therein.

 

(h)                                  Accounting Changes Requested by Huntsman . Notwithstanding clause (g) above, Venator will make any changes in its accounting estimates or accounting principles that are requested by Huntsman in order for Venator’s accounting practices and principles to be consistent with those of Huntsman. To the extent that Huntsman is also required to report its financial statements under IFRS post its merger with Clariant Ltd., Venator will also report its financial statements to Huntsman under IFRS consistent with HuntsmanClariant accounting policies.

 

(i)                                      Special Reports of Deficiencies or Violations . Venator will report in reasonable detail to Huntsman the following events or circumstances promptly after any executive officer of Venator or any member of the Venator Board becomes aware of such matter: (A) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect Venator’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Venator’s internal control over financial reporting; (C) any illegal act within the meaning of Section 10A(b) and (f) of the Exchange Act; and (D) any report of a material violation of Law that an attorney representing any Venator Group member has formally made to any officers or directors of Venator pursuant to the SEC’s attorney conduct rules (17 C.F.R. Part 205).

 

(j)                                     Termination .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.2 , the obligations under Section 9.2 shall terminate once the financial statements for the last period during which Huntsman is required to consolidate the results of operations and financial position of Venator and any other members of the Venator Group or to account for its investment in

 

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Venator under the equity method of accounting (determined in accordance with GAAP and consistent with SEC reporting requirements) have been made public.

 

9.3                                Other Covenants . In addition to the other covenants contained in this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements, Venator hereby covenants and agrees that, for so long as Huntsman beneficially owns at least a majority of the total voting power of all classes of then outstanding Venator Voting Stock:

 

(a)                                  Venator will not, without the prior written consent of Huntsman (which Huntsman may withhold in its sole and absolute discretion), take, or cause to be taken, directly or indirectly, any action, including making or failing to make any election under the Law of any state, which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of restricting or limiting the ability of Huntsman to freely sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of Venator Ordinary Shares or would restrict or limit the rights of any transferee of Huntsman as a holder of Venator Ordinary Shares. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Venator will not, without the prior written consent of Huntsman (which Huntsman may withhold in its sole and absolute discretion), (i) adopt or thereafter amend, supplement, restate, modify or alter any stockholder rights plan in any manner that would result in (A) an increase in the ownership of Venator Ordinary Shares by Huntsman causing the rights thereunder to detach or become exercisable and/or (B) Huntsman and its transferees not being entitled to the same rights thereunder as other holders of Venator Ordinary Shares or (ii) take any action, or take any action to recommend to its stockholders any action, which would among other things, limit the legal rights of, or deny any benefit to, Huntsman as a Venator stockholder either (A) solely as a result of the amount of Venator Ordinary Shares owned by Huntsman or (B) in a manner not applicable to the Venator stockholders generally.

 

(b)                                  To the extent that Huntsman is a party to any Contracts that provide that certain actions or inactions of Huntsman Affiliates (which for purposes of such Contract include any member of the Venator Group) may result in Huntsman being in breach of or in default under such Contracts and Huntsman has advised Venator of the existence, and has furnished Venator with copies, of such Contracts (or the relevant portions thereof), Venator will not take or fail to take, as applicable, and Venator will cause the other members of the Venator Group not to take or fail to take, as applicable, any actions that reasonably could result in Huntsman being in breach of or in default under any such Contract. The parties acknowledge and agree that from time to time Huntsman may in good faith (and not solely with the intention of imposing restrictions on Venator pursuant to this covenant) enter into additional Contracts or amendments to existing Contracts that provide that certain actions or inactions of Huntsman Subsidiaries or Affiliates (including, for purposes of this Section 9.3(b) , members of the Venator Group) may result in Huntsman being in breach of or in default under such Contracts. In such event, provided Huntsman has notified Venator of such additional Contracts or amendments to existing Contracts, Venator will not thereafter take or fail to take, as applicable, and Venator will cause the other members of the Venator Group not to take or fail to take, as applicable, any actions that reasonably could result in Huntsman being in breach of or in default under any such additional Contracts or amendments to existing Contracts. Huntsman acknowledges and agrees that Venator will not be deemed in breach of this Section 9.3(b)  to the extent that, prior to being notified by Huntsman of an additional Contract or an amendment to an existing Contract pursuant to this Section 9.3(b) , a Venator Group member already has taken or failed to take one or more actions

 

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that would otherwise constitute a breach of this Section 9.3(b)  had such action(s) or inaction(s) occurred after such notification; provided that Venator does not, after notification by Huntsman, take any further action or fail to take any action that contributes further to such breach or default. Venator agrees that any Information provided to it pursuant to this Section 9.3(b)  will constitute Information that is subject to Venator’s obligations under Article VII .

 

(c)           For so long as the Huntsman Group beneficially owns Venator Ordinary Shares representing a majority of the total voting power with respect to the election of directors of all of the outstanding shares of the Venator Voting Stock and, for the duration of the Transition Services Agreement (but only to the extent that the Services provided by Huntsman under the Transition Services Agreement relate to making payments on Venator’s behalf, maintenance of books and records, or otherwise present, in Huntsman’s reasonable judgment, a potential risk to Huntsman under any applicable anticorruption Law):

 

(i)            Venator will, and will cause each other member of the Venator Group to, not take any action directly or indirectly to offer or pay, or authorize the offer or payment of, any money or anything of value in order to improperly or corruptly seek to influence any Government Official or any other person in order to gain an improper advantage, and has not accepted, and will not accept in the future such payment;

 

(ii)           Venator will, and will cause each other member of the Venator Group to, implement, maintain and enforce a compliance and ethics program in substance and form and effectiveness reasonably equivalent to Huntsman’s compliance and ethics program, designed to prevent and detect violations of applicable anti-corruption Laws throughout its operations (including Subsidiaries) and the operations of its contractors and sub-contractors; and

 

(iii)          Venator will, and will cause each other member of the Venator Group to, implement, maintain and enforce, a system of adequate internal accounting controls designed to ensure the making and keeping of fair and accurate books, records and accounts.

 

9.4          Covenants Regarding the Incurrence of Indebtedness .

 

(a)           Venator covenants and agrees that after the consummation of the IPO and through the Disposition Date, Venator will not, and Venator will not permit any other member of the Venator Group to, without Huntsman’s prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld), directly or indirectly, incur any Venator Debt Obligations other than pursuant to Venator Debt Financing.

 

(b)           In order to implement this Section 9.4 , Venator will notify Huntsman in writing as promptly as practicable following the time it or any other member of the Venator Group determines it wishes to incur Venator Debt Obligations for which Huntsman’s consent is required.

 

9.5          Applicability of Rights in the Event of an Acquisition of Venator . In the event Venator merges into, consolidates, sells substantially all of its assets to or otherwise becomes an Affiliate of a Person (other than Huntsman), pursuant to a transaction or series of related

 

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transactions in which Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group receives equity securities of such Person (or of any Affiliate of such Person) in exchange for Venator Ordinary Shares held by Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group, all of the rights of Huntsman set forth in this Article IX shall continue in full force and effect and shall apply to the Person the equity securities of which are received by Huntsman pursuant to such transaction or series of related transactions (it being understood that all other provisions of this Agreement will apply to Venator notwithstanding this Section 9.5 ). Venator agrees that, without the consent of Huntsman, it will not enter into any Contract which will have the effect set forth in the first clause of the preceding sentence, unless such Person agrees to be bound by the foregoing provision.

 

9.6          Transfer of Huntsman’s Rights . Huntsman may transfer all or any portion of its rights under this Article IX to a transferee of any Venator Ordinary Shares from any member of the Huntsman Group (a “ Huntsman Transferee ”) beneficially owning at least 10% of the voting power of all of the outstanding shares of Venator Ordinary Shares. Huntsman shall give written notice to Venator of its transfer of rights under this Section 9.6 no later than thirty (30) days after Huntsman enters into a binding agreement for such transfer of rights. Such notice shall state the name and address of the Huntsman Transferee and identify the amount of Venator Ordinary Shares transferred and the scope of rights being transferred under this Section 9.6 .  In connection with any such transfer, the term “Huntsman” as used in this Article IX shall, where appropriate to give effect to the assignment of rights and obligations hereunder to such Huntsman Transferee, be deemed to refer to such Huntsman Transferee. Huntsman and any Huntsman Transferee may exercise the rights under this Article IX in such priority, as among themselves, as they shall agree upon among themselves, and Venator shall observe any such agreement of which it shall have notice as provided above.

 

9.7          Huntsman Policies and Procedures . Unless required to do otherwise by applicable Law, for so long as the Huntsman Group beneficially owns Venator Ordinary Shares representing a majority of the total voting power of all of the outstanding Venator Ordinary Shares and, as applicable, for the duration of the Transition Services Agreement, Venator will consistently implement and maintain Huntsman’s business practices and standards in accordance with the Huntsman policies and procedures listed on Schedule 9.7 , each of which Huntsman may amend or supplement from time to time in its sole discretion. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Venator may apply materiality thresholds that are lower than those contained in any such Huntsman policy and procedure and may fulfill its obligations under this Section 9.7 by enacting and complying with substantially equivalent policies and procedures as agreed by Huntsman (such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld).

 

ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

 

10.1        Counterparts; Entire Agreement; Corporate Power .

 

(a)           This Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the Parties and delivered to the other Party.

 

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(b)           This Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements contain the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, supersede all previous agreements, negotiations, discussions, writings, understandings, commitments and conversations with respect to such subject matter and there are no agreements or understandings between the Parties other than those set forth or referred to herein or therein.

 

(c)           Huntsman represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the Huntsman Group, and Venator represents on behalf of itself and each other member of the Venator Group, as follows:

 

(i)            each such Person has the requisite corporate or other power and authority and has taken all corporate or other action necessary in order to execute, deliver and perform each of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby; and

 

(ii)           this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which it is a party has been duly executed and delivered by it and constitutes a valid and binding agreement of it enforceable in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(d)           Each Party acknowledges that it and each other Party may execute certain of the Ancillary Agreements by facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature. Each Party expressly adopts and confirms each such facsimile, stamp or mechanical signature made in its respective name as if it were a manual signature, agrees that it will not assert that any such signature is not adequate to bind such Party to the same extent as if it were signed manually and agrees that at the reasonable request of any other Party hereto at any time it will as promptly as reasonably practicable cause each such Ancillary Agreement to be manually executed (any such execution to be as of the date of the initial date thereof).

 

(e)           Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, neither Huntsman nor Venator shall be required to take or omit to take any act that would violate its fiduciary duties to any minority stockholders of any non-wholly owned Subsidiary of Huntsman or Venator, as the case may be (it being understood that directors’ qualifying shares or similar interests will be disregarded for purposes of determining whether a Subsidiary is wholly owned).

 

10.2        Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury .

 

(a)           This Agreement and, unless expressly provided therein, each Ancillary Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or thereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein and therein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of any choice of laws principles, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

(b)           THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE AND FOREGO ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

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10.3        Assignability . Except as set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and thereto, respectively, and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided , however , that no party hereto or thereto may assign its respective rights or delegate its respective obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement without the express prior written consent of the other parties hereto or thereto.

 

10.4        Third-Party Beneficiaries . Except for the indemnification rights granted under Article V or any Ancillary Agreement to any Huntsman Indemnitee or Venator Indemnitee in their respective capacities as such, and for the release in Section 5.3 of any Person as provided therein, (a) the provisions of this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties and are not intended to confer upon any Person except the Parties any rights or remedies hereunder or thereunder, and (b) there are no third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and neither this Agreement nor any Ancillary Agreement shall provide any Third Party with any remedy, claim, liability, reimbursement, claim of action or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

10.5        Notices . All notices, requests, claims, demands or other communications under this Agreement and, to the extent, applicable and unless otherwise provided therein, under each of the Ancillary Agreements shall be in writing and shall be given or made (and shall be deemed to have been duly given or made upon receipt) by delivery in person, by overnight courier service, or by facsimile or electronic transmission with receipt confirmed (followed by delivery of an original via overnight courier service), to the respective Parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 10.5 ):

 

If to Huntsman, to:

 

Huntsman Corporation

 

 

10003 Woodloch Forest Drive

 

 

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

 

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

 

 

If to Venator, to:

 

Venator Materials PLC

 

 

10001 Woodloch Forest Drive

 

 

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

 

 

Attention: General Counsel

 

Any Party may, by notice to the other Party, change the address and contact person to which any such notices are to be given.

 

10.6        Severability . If any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.

 

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10.7        Force Majeure . No Party shall be deemed in default of this Agreement to the extent that any delay or failure in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, other than a delay or failure to make a payment, results from any cause beyond its control and without its fault or negligence, such as acts of God, acts of civil or military authority, embargoes, epidemics, war, riots, insurrections, fires, explosions, earthquakes, floods, unusually severe weather conditions, labor problems or unavailability of parts, or, in the case of computer systems, any failure in electrical or air conditioning equipment. In the event of any such excused delay, the time for performance shall be extended for a period equal to the time lost by reason of the delay.

 

10.8        Publicity . Prior to the IPO, Venator shall not, without the consent of Huntsman, issue any press releases or otherwise make public statements with respect to the Separation, the IPO or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

10.9        Expenses . Except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including Sections 2.12 and 8.1(b)  and Schedule 10.9 ) or in any Ancillary Agreement, all fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, execution, delivery and implementation of this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, and with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, the IPO, the Contribution and the Disposition will be the responsibility of the Party paying or incurring such fees, costs or expenses.

 

10.10      Payments .

 

(a)           Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount to be paid or reimbursed by a Party (and/or a member of such Party’s Group), on the one hand, to the other Party (and/or a member of such Party’s Group), on the other hand, under this Agreement shall be paid or reimbursed hereunder within sixty (60) days after presentation or a written demand therefor and setting forth, or accompanied by, reasonable documentation or other reasonable explanation supporting such amount.

 

(b)           Except as expressly provided to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, any amount not paid when due pursuant to this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (and any amounts billed or otherwise invoiced or demanded and properly payable that are not paid within sixty (60) days of such bill, invoice or other demand) shall accrue interest at a rate per annum equal to the Prime Rate plus 2% but in no event higher than the highest rate permitted by applicable Law.

 

(c)           Without the consent of the party receiving any payment under this Agreement specifying otherwise, all payments to be made under this Agreement shall be made in U.S. Dollars. In the event that any indemnification payment required to be made hereunder or under any Ancillary Agreement may be denominated in a currency other than U.S. Dollars, the amount of such payment shall be converted into U.S. Dollars by using the exchange rate published on Bloomberg at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time or in the Wall Street Journal on such date if not so published on Bloomberg, on the day before the date on which notice of the claim is given to the Indemnifying Party.

 

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10.11      Headings . The article, section and paragraph headings contained in this Agreement and in the Ancillary Agreements are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement.

 

10.12      Survival of Covenants . Except as expressly set forth in any Ancillary Agreement, the covenants, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement, and liability for the breach of any obligations contained herein or therein, shall survive the Separation and shall remain in full force and effect.

 

10.13      Waivers of Default . Waiver by any Party of any default by the other Party of any provision of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall not be deemed a waiver by the waiving Party of any subsequent or other default, nor shall it prejudice the rights of such Party. No failure or delay by any party in exercising or enforcing any right, power or privilege under this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall a single or partial exercise or enforcement thereof prejudice any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege. Except in accordance with Section 10.15(b) , no action (or inaction) of any Party or their representatives shall waive, limit, or modify any rights, remedies, or recourses that Party may have under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, at law, or in equity.

 

10.14      Specific Performance . Subject to the provisions of Article IV , in the event of any actual or threatened default in, or breach of, any of the terms, conditions and provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the Party or Parties who are, or are to be, thereby aggrieved shall have the right to specific performance and injunctive or other equitable relief in respect of its or their rights under this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement, in addition to any and all other rights and remedies that may be available under this Agreement, any Ancillary Agreement, at law or in equity, and all such rights and remedies shall be cumulative. The Parties agree that the remedies at law for any breach or threatened breach, including monetary damages, are inadequate compensation for any loss (even if available or quantifiable) and waive any defense in any action for specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable relief that a remedy at law would be adequate. The Parties agree that equitable remedies, including specific performance or injunctive relief, shall be granted upon the showing of a breach or threatened breach of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement and without any other showing.  The Parties agree not to raise any objections to the enforceability of this Section 10.14 or any injunction or order of specific performance entered by an arbitrator (or, as authorized by Article IV, court of competent jurisdiction).  Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond or other security with such remedy are waived by each of the Parties.

 

10.15      Termination; Amendments .

 

(a)           This Agreement may be terminated at any time after consummation of the IPO by mutual consent of Huntsman and Venator.  In the event of any termination of this Agreement, no party to this Agreement (or any of its officers, directors, members or managers, shall have any Liability or further obligation to any other Party under this Agreement.

 

(b)           No provisions of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement shall be deemed waived, amended, supplemented or modified by any Party, unless such waiver,

 

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amendment, supplement or modification is in writing and signed by the authorized representative of the Party against whom it is sought to enforce such waiver, amendment, supplement or modification.

 

10.16      Interpretation . In this Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement, (a) words in the singular shall be held to include the plural and vice versa and words of one gender shall be held to include the other genders as the context requires; (b) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “herewith” and words of similar import, and the terms “Agreement” and “Ancillary Agreement” shall, unless otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement or the applicable Ancillary Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules, Exhibits and Appendices hereto and thereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement or such Ancillary Agreement; (c) Article, Section, Exhibit, Schedule and Appendix references are to the Articles, Sections, Exhibits, Schedules and Appendices to this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) unless otherwise specified; (d) the word “including” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement (or the applicable Ancillary Agreement) means “including, without limitation”; (e) the word “or” shall not be exclusive; and (e) unless expressly stated to the contrary in this Agreement or in any Ancillary Agreement, all references to “the date hereof,” “the date of this Agreement,” “hereby” and “hereupon” and words of similar import shall all be references to the date first stated in the preamble to this Agreement, regardless of any amendment or restatement hereof. Nothing contained herein shall be interpreted or construed against the drafter(s) of these agreements. Both Parties had full and fair opportunity to contribute to the drafting of this Agreement.

 

10.17      Limitations of Liability . NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING PROVISO, NEITHER VENATOR OR ITS AFFILIATES, ON THE ONE HAND, NOR HUNTSMAN OR ITS AFFILIATES, ON THE OTHER HAND, SHALL BE LIABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT TO THE OTHER FOR ANY CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, REMOTE, SPECULATIVE, LOSS OF PROFIT OR SIMILAR DAMAGES OF THE OTHER ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY; PROVIDED, THE AFORESAID LIMITATION ON DAMAGES SHALL NOT APPLY TO ANY SUCH DAMAGES THAT ARE OWED PURSUANT TO A THIRD PARTY CLAIM FOR WHICH INDEMNIFICATION IS REQUIRED UNDER ARTICLE V OR ARTICLE VI .

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

 

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sean Douglas

 

Name:

Sean Douglas

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief

 

 

Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Simon Turner

 

Name:

Simon Turner

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

1


Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution Version

 

TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC

 

AND

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

DATED AS OF AUGUST 7 , 2017

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page No.

 

 

 

Article I Definitions

1

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

1

 

 

 

Section 1.2

Interpretation

4

 

 

 

Article II SERVICES

5

 

 

Section 2.1

Services

5

 

 

 

Section 2.2

Additional Services

6

 

 

 

Section 2.3

Service Providers

6

 

 

 

Section 2.4

Cooperation and Service Coordinators

7

 

 

 

Section 2.5

Local Agreements

8

 

 

 

Section 2.6

Service Boundaries and Scope

9

 

 

 

Section 2.7

Standard of Performance; Limitation of Liability

10

 

 

 

Article III Service Charges

13

 

 

Section 3.1

Compensation

13

 

 

 

Article IV Payment

13

 

 

Section 4.1

Payment

13

 

 

 

Section 4.2

Payment Disputes

14

 

 

 

Section 4.3

Quarterly Reconciliation; Objection to Invoiced Amounts

15

 

 

 

Section 4.4

Review of Charges; Error Correction

15

 

 

 

Section 4.5

Taxes

15

 

 

 

Section 4.6

Records

16

 

 

 

Article V Term

 

16

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Term

16

 

 

 

Article VI Discontinuation of Services

16

 

 

Section 6.1

Discontinuation or Termination of Services

16

 

 

 

Section 6.2

Procedures Upon Discontinuation or Termination of Services

17

 

 

 

Article VII Default

17

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Termination for Default

17

 

 

 

Article VIII Waiver, Indemnification and Insurance

18

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Waiver of Consequential Damages

18

 

 

 

Section 8.2

Services Received

18

 

 

 

Section 8.3

Express Negligence

19

 

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Article IX CONFIDENTIALITY

19

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Confidentiality

19

 

 

 

Section 9.2

System Security

19

 

 

 

Article X Force Majeure

20

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Performance Excused

20

 

 

 

Section 10.2

Notice

21

 

 

 

Section 10.3

Cooperation

21

 

 

 

Article XI Other Provisions

21

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Entire Agreement

21

 

 

 

Section 11.2

Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries

21

 

 

 

Section 11.3

Amendment; Waivers

21

 

 

 

Section 11.4

Notices

21

 

 

 

Section 11.5

Counterparts

22

 

 

 

Section 11.6

Severability

22

 

 

 

Section 11.7

Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

22

 

 

 

Section 11.8

Dispute Resolution

22

 

 

 

Section 11.9

Performance; Time of the Essence

23

 

 

 

Section 11.10

Relationship of Parties

23

 

 

 

Section 11.11

Regulations

24

 

 

 

Section 11.12

Assignment of Agreement

24

 

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TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT

 

This TRANSITION SERVICES AGREEMENT , dated August 7, 2017 (this “ Agreement ”), to be effective as of August 1, 2017, is by and between Huntsman International LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Huntsman ”), and Venator Materials PLC, a public limited company incorporated and registered under the laws of England and Wales with company number 10747130 and a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Huntsman (“ Venator ”).  Huntsman and Venator are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “ Party ,” and collectively as the “ Parties.

 

RECITALS

 

A.                                     The board of directors of Huntsman has determined that it is in the best interest of Huntsman and the Huntsman shareholders to separate the Venator Business from the other businesses conducted by Huntsman and its subsidiaries.

 

B.                                     In furtherance of this goal, Huntsman or its Subsidiary will make an offer and sale to the public of Ordinary Shares, which will take place pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the SEC (the “ IPO ”).

 

C.                                     The new company that is formed as part of the IPO is referred to as “Venator”; together with its Affiliates that are the result of the IPO, Venator is referred to as “Venator Group”.

 

D.                                     Huntsman and Venator have entered into a certain separation agreement as of the date hereof (the “ Separation Agreement ”).

 

E.                                      In order to ensure an orderly transition under the Separation Agreement, the Parties agree that it will be advisable for the Huntsman Group to provide to the Venator Group, and for the Venator Group to provide to the Huntsman Group, certain goods and services described herein for a transitional period.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained in this Agreement, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                    Definitions .  Unless otherwise defined in this Agreement, all capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the same meaning as in the Separation Agreement.  The following capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth below:

 

2017 Operating Plan ” means the 2017 budget and operating plan, based on the operating run-rate at the end of 2016 and excluding anticipated cost increases estimated for the operation of Venator Group on a stand-alone basis, as implemented by the Venator Group for purposes of managing and tracking expenditures for 2017.

 



 

Additional Services ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

Accessing Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) .

 

Affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Business Day ” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions located in the State of Texas are authorized or obligated by applicable Law or executive order to close.

 

Direct Costs ” means the sum of (a) an allocated portion of the fully burdened cost (including salary, hourly costs, or overtime costs and benefits) of the Service Provider’s employees who provide the applicable Service, where such allocation is based upon the number of hours each such employee provides Services under this Agreement during the applicable month as reasonably estimated by the Service Provider and previously communicated to and agreed by the Service Recipient, (b) actual out-of-pocket expenses of personnel performing the Services to the extent incurred in connection with providing Services (including travel, accommodations and meal expenses in accordance with the Service Provider’s policies), (c) the actual cost (without markup) of all materials, spare parts, tools, equipment, consumables and supplies of the Service Provider (including freight, taxes or warehouse handling charges) that are associated with provision of the applicable Service (based upon the portion of time and to the extent used in providing such Services if not consumed entirely in providing such Services), (d) other actual out-of-pocket expenses that are incurred in connection with providing the Services, including any third party costs for express mail, long distance charges, facsimile charges, reproduction, postage, license fees and other similar third-party costs, and (e) taxes and all excise fees applicable to the Services or Fees (other than taxes based upon the net income or revenue of the Service Provider).

 

Dispute ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.8 .

 

Exhibits ” means the Exhibits attached hereto.

 

Force Majeure Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1 .

 

Huntsman ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Huntsman Group ” means Huntsman and, to the extent related to the Services to be provided, its Affiliates (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Venator).

 

Initial Services ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .

 

Person ” means an individual, a general or limited partnership, a corporation, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, a limited liability entity, any other entity and any Governmental Authority.

 

Security Regulations ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) .

 

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Separation Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals.

 

Service Coordinator ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b) .

 

Service Provider ” means any member of the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group, as applicable, when it is providing Services to any member of the other Party’s Group.

 

Service Provider Group ” means the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group, as applicable, when it is providing Services to any member of the other Party’s Group.

 

Service Recipient ” means any member of the Venator Group or the Huntsman Group, as applicable, when it is receiving Services from any member of the other Party’s Group.

 

Service Recipient Group ” means the Venator Group or the Huntsman Group, as applicable, when it is receiving Services from any member of the other Party’s Group.

 

Services ” means the Initial Services, the Supplemental Services, and any Additional Services agreed to by the Parties in accordance with Section 2.2 .

 

Signing Date ” means the date that the Separation Agreement was entered into by the parties thereto.

 

Subsidiary ” or “ subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, limited liability company, joint venture or partnership of which such Person (a) beneficially owns, either directly or indirectly, more than fifty percent (50%) of (i) the total combined voting power of all classes of voting securities of such Person, (ii) the total combined equity interests or (iii) the capital or profit interests, in the case of a partnership, or (b) otherwise has the power to vote, either directly or indirectly, sufficient securities to elect a majority of the board of directors or similar governing body.

 

Supplemental Services ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) .

 

Systems ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) .

 

Tax ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5 .

 

Third Party Costs ” means any costs incurred by the Service Provider Group in providing the applicable Service that is paid to a Third Party Provider.

 

Third Party License ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(b) .

 

Third Party Provider ” means a third party that is not an Affiliate of the applicable Service Provider that the applicable Service Provider retains to provide any portion of the Services under this Agreement, including any consultants, agents, contractors or subcontractors.

 

Venator ” means Venator and each of its respective Subsidiaries.

 

Venator Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

3



 

Venator Group ” means Venator and, to the extent related to the Services to be provided, its Affiliates (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, Huntsman or Huntsman’s Subsidiaries).

 

Section 1.2                                    Interpretation .  In this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

 

(a)                                  words used in the singular include the plural and words used in the plural include the singular;

 

(b)                                  if a word or phrase is defined in this Agreement, its other grammatical forms, as used in this Agreement, shall have a corresponding meaning;

 

(c)                                   reference to any gender includes the other gender and the neuter;

 

(d)                                  the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”;

 

(e)                                   the words “shall” and “will” are used interchangeably and have the same meaning;

 

(f)                                    the word “or” shall have the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or”;

 

(g)                                   relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding” and “through” means “through and including”;

 

(h)                                  all references to a specific time of day in this Agreement shall be based upon Central Standard Time or Central Daylight Savings Time, as applicable, on the date in question;

 

(i)                                      whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified;

 

(j)                                     accounting terms used herein shall have the meanings historically ascribed to them by Huntsman and its Subsidiaries, including Venator for this purpose, in its and their internal accounting and financial policies and procedures in effect immediately prior to the date of this Agreement;

 

(k)                                  reference to any article, section, or Exhibit means such article or section of, or such Exhibit to, this Agreement, as the case may be, and references in any section or definition to any clause means such clause of such section or definition;

 

(l)                                      the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular section or other provision of this Agreement;

 

4



 

(m)                              reference to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(n)                                  reference to any Law (including statutes and ordinances) means such Law (including any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect at the time of determining compliance or applicability;

 

(o)                                  references to any Person include such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement; a reference to such Person’s “Affiliates” shall be deemed to mean such Person’s Affiliates following the IPO; and any reference to a third party shall be deemed to mean a Person who is not a Party or an Affiliate of a Party;

 

(p)                                  if there is any conflict between the provisions of the main body of this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto, the provisions of the main body of this Agreement shall control unless stated otherwise in such Exhibit;

 

(q)                                  unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references to dollar amounts herein shall be in respect of lawful currency of the U.S.;

 

(r)                                     the titles to articles and headings of sections contained in this Agreement, in any Exhibit and in the table of contents to this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement; and

 

(s)                                    any portion of this Agreement obligating a Party to take any action or refrain from taking any action, as the case may be, shall mean that such Party shall also be obligated to cause its relevant Affiliates to take such action or refrain from taking such action, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE II
SERVICES

 

Section 2.1                                    Services .

 

(a)                                  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, the Parties agree to provide or to cause to be provided the services set forth in Exhibit A to the applicable member of the Venator Group or Huntsman Group, as applicable (collectively with the Supplemental Services described below, the “ Initial Services ”).

 

(b)                                  If, after the date hereof, either Party determines that the services described in the Exhibits do not fully or accurately reflect all the necessary services that were provided to the Venator Business by Huntsman, or were provided by the Venator Business to the Huntsman Group prior to the transaction or transactions that are the subject of the Separation Agreement and such services are not provided by any other agreement between any member of the Huntsman Group and any member of the Venator Group, then upon request by the Venator Group or Huntsman Group, as applicable, the other Party agrees to provide or cause their

 

5



 

Affiliates to provide such services (the “ Supplemental Services ”) at charges that are consistent with the charges for similar services hereunder.

 

(c)                                   The Parties agree and acknowledge that the right to receive any Services (or portions thereof) may be assigned, allocated and/or contributed, in whole or in part, to any Affiliate(s) of a relevant Party.  To the extent so assigned, allocated and/or contributed, the relevant Affiliate shall be deemed the Service Recipient with respect to the relevant portion of such Services.

 

Section 2.2                                    Additional Services .  The Service Recipient may request additional transitional Services (the “ Additional Services ”) in addition to the Initial Services and the Supplemental Services from the Service Provider by providing written notice.  The Service Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to accommodate such request; it being understood, however, that the Service Provider shall not be required to provide any Additional Services if the Parties are unable to reach agreement on the terms thereof.  Upon the mutual written agreement as to the nature, cost, duration and scope of such Additional Services, the Parties shall supplement in writing the Exhibits hereto to include such Additional Services.  A Service Provider’s obligations with respect to providing any such Additional Services shall become effective only upon a new Exhibit or an amendment to an existing Exhibit being duly executed by the Parties as provided in the preceding sentence.

 

Section 2.3                                    Service Providers .

 

(a)                                  Subject to Section 2.3(b) , the Service Provider shall have the right (i) to provide the Services either directly and/or through its Affiliates and their respective employees, agents, contractors or Third Party Providers designated by any of them and (ii) to select the particular personnel and working hours of such personnel in providing the Services; provided that any provision of services through contractors or Third Party Providers shall not relieve the Service Provider of its obligations under this Agreement and shall not affect the service charges for such Services or materially decrease the quality or level of the Services provided to the Service Recipient.

 

(b)                                  The Service Provider may determine, in its reasonable discretion, which of its or its Affiliates’ employees, agents, contractors or third parties will provide the applicable Services; provided that the Service Provider shall consult with the Service Recipient and take into consideration any reasonable requests of the Service Recipient in making such determinations.  Without limiting the above and the provisions of Section 2.6(a) , the Service Provider shall take into consideration the following in making its determination in this regard:

 

(i)                                      The Service Provider shall consult in good faith with the Service Recipient regarding the proposed hiring of any Third Party Provider that has not previously been involved in the activities relating to such Service prior to the IPO; provided that, in the event that the Service Provider intends to subcontract a material portion of any of the Services set forth in one or more of the Exhibits hereto where such subcontracting is inconsistent with the practice applied by the Service Provider generally from time to time within its own organization, the Service Provider shall give notice to the Service Recipient of its intent to subcontract any portion of the Services and the Service Recipient shall have 20 days (or such lesser period set forth in the

 

6



 

notice as may be practicable in the event of exigent circumstances) to determine, in its sole discretion, whether to permit such subcontracting or whether to cancel such Service in accordance with Article VI hereof.  If the Service Recipient opts to cancel a Service pursuant to the proviso of the immediately preceding sentence, it shall not be liable to the Service Provider pursuant to Section 6.1 for any costs or expenses the Service Provider or any member of the Service Provider Group remains obligated to pay to the third-party subcontractor identified in the notice provided by the Service Provider as described above.  The Service Provider shall not be required to give notice of its intent to subcontract Services to any Third Party Provider currently providing such Services to the Service Recipient, nor shall the Service Recipient have any right to cancel any Service subcontracted to any such listed party without paying for any termination fees caused by such termination ( provided that this sentence shall not prevent the Service Recipient from cancelling any Service pursuant to Section 6.1 ), and the Parties agree that any such Third Party Providers are capable of providing a quality or level of Services comparable to that provided by the Service Provider.

 

(ii)                                   Except as provided on any Exhibit, the Service Provider shall take into consideration any reasonable requests of the Service Recipient with regard to attempting to maintain as much continuity of personnel or representatives that provide any of the applicable Services as is reasonably practicable; provided that the Service Provider will retain the right to determine which personnel or representatives will provide the Services in its reasonable discretion taking into consideration any of its competing needs and requirements for its businesses.  Each Service Provider shall be solely responsible for the payment of all benefits and any other direct and indirect compensation for such Service Provider personnel assigned to perform Services for it under this Agreement, as well as such personnel’s worker’s compensation insurance, employment taxes, and other employer liabilities relating to such personnel as required by Law.

 

(c)                                   Unless expressly provided otherwise in this Agreement, although the Service Provider will direct the performance of its employees and contractors and will consult and advise with the Service Recipient regarding the performance of the Services in accordance with this Agreement, the Service Recipient will be responsible for decision-making on behalf of any member of the Service Recipient Group.  Furthermore, nothing in this Agreement shall provide the Service Provider, or its employees and contractors that are performing the Services, the right directly or indirectly to control or direct the operations of the Service Recipient Group.  Such employees and contractors shall not be required to report to management of any member of the Service Recipient Group nor be deemed to be under the management or direction of any member of the Service Recipient Group.  The Service Recipient acknowledges and agrees that, except as may be expressly set forth herein as a Service (including any Additional Services provided in accordance with Section 2.2 ) or otherwise expressly set forth in the Separation Agreement or an Ancillary Agreement, no member of the Service Provider Group shall be obligated to provide, or cause to be provided, any service or goods to any member of the Service Recipient Group.

 

Section 2.4                                    Cooperation and Service Coordinators .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the confidentiality provisions set forth in Article IX , during the term of this Agreement and for so long as any Services are being provided to the Service Recipient Group under this Agreement, the Service Recipient will provide the Service Provider and its

 

7



 

authorized representatives reasonable access, during regular business hours and upon reasonable notice, to the Service Recipient Group and their employees, representatives, facilities and books and records, as the Service Provider and its representatives may reasonably require in order to perform such Services.

 

(b)                                  Each Party shall select in writing a representative to act as the primary contact with respect to the provision of the Services and the resolution of disputes under this Agreement (each such person, a “ Service Coordinator ”).  The initial Service Coordinators shall be Sean Douglas, for Huntsman, and Rob Portsmouth, for Venator.  The Service Coordinators shall meet as expeditiously as possible to resolve any dispute arising hereunder; and any dispute that is not resolved by the Service Coordinators within 45 days shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution procedures set forth in Section 11.8 of this Agreement.  Each Party may treat an act of a Service Coordinator of the other Party which is consistent with the provisions of this Agreement as being authorized by such other Party without inquiring behind such act or ascertaining whether such Service Coordinator had authority to so act; provided , however , that no such Service Coordinator shall have authority to amend this Agreement.  Each Party shall advise each other promptly (in any case within no more than three Business Days) in writing of any change in their respective Service Coordinators, setting forth the name of the replacement, and stating that the replacement Service Coordinator is authorized to act for such Party in accordance with this Section 2.4(b) .  In addition, the Parties may select service coordinators for individual Services, which shall be set forth in the applicable Exhibit for such Services.

 

(c)                                   In addition to the Service Coordinators described above, each Party will nominate its representatives for the Services provided under each Exhibit (each a “ Service Representative ”), which representatives shall act as the principal contact person with respect to all issues relating to the provision of such particular Services.  The Service Representatives for such Services shall hold regular review meetings by telephone or in person, at times to be mutually agreed, to discuss any issues relating to any Service for which they are a Service Representative (“ Review Meetings ”).  In the Review Meetings, such Service Representatives shall be responsible for discussing any problems identified with the provision of the relevant Services and, to the extent changes in the provision of the Services are agreed upon by the Parties, for the implementation of such changes.  Any unresolved issues should be referred to the Service Coordinators for resolution.

 

(d)                                  The Service Provider will devote such time and personnel as is reasonably necessary to carry out its obligations under this Agreement.  The Service Provider and the Service Recipient shall cooperate with one another and provide such further assistance as the other Party may reasonably request in connection with the provision of Services hereunder.

 

Section 2.5                                    Local Agreements .

 

(a)                                  With respect to any Services that are delivered in a particular country, the Service Provider and the Service Recipient may cause their respective Affiliates located in such country to enter into one or more local services agreements (each a “ Local Agreement ”), for the purpose of memorializing the implementation of this Agreement in that country, to address Services delivered locally in that country and payments for such Services.  Unless and to the extent an individual Local Agreement expressly provides otherwise, each Local Agreement shall

 

8



 

incorporate by reference the terms and conditions of this Agreement and shall not be construed as altering or superseding the rights and obligations of the Parties under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Each Party shall be fully responsible and liable for all obligations of its Affiliates under each Local Agreement, in each case to the same extent as if such failure to perform or comply was committed by such Party.

 

(c)                                   The Service Coordinators (and/or their respective designees(s)) shall remain responsible for the administration of this Agreement and the individual Local Agreements on behalf of each Party respectively.  No changes to any Local Agreement shall be made without the knowledge of each Service Coordinator and the agreement of the local Affiliate(s) who are parties to the Local Agreement in a written amendment to the Local Agreement.

 

(d)                                  Each Party shall have the right to enforce this Agreement (including the terms of all Local Agreements) on behalf of each of its Affiliates that has entered into a Local Agreement, and to assert all rights and exercise and receive the benefits of all remedies (including damages) of each such Affiliate, to the same extent as if such Party were a direct party to the Local Agreement, subject to the limitations of liability applicable under this Agreement.

 

Section 2.6                                    Service Boundaries and Scope .

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in an Exhibit for a specific Service: (i) the Service Provider shall be required to provide, or cause to be provided, the Services only at the locations such Services are being provided by any member of the Service Provider Group for any member of the Service Recipient Group immediately prior to the IPO; provided , however , that, to the extent any such Service is to be provided by an employee of the Service Provider who works in the corporate headquarters of the Service Provider, such Service shall, to the extent feasible, only be provided by such employee from the corporate headquarters of the Service Provider; and (ii) the Services shall be available only for purposes of conducting the business of the Service Recipient Group substantially in the manner it was conducted immediately prior to the IPO.

 

(b)                                  Except as provided in an Exhibit for a specific Service, in providing, or causing to be provided, the Services, the Service Provider shall not be obligated to: (i) maintain the employment of any specific employee or hire additional employees or Third Party Providers; (ii) purchase, lease or license any additional equipment (including computer equipment, furniture, furnishings, fixtures, machinery, vehicles, tools and other tangible personal property), software or other assets, rights or properties; (iii) make modifications to its existing systems or software; (iv) provide any member of the Service Recipient Group with access to any systems or software other than those to which it has authorized access immediately prior to the IPO; (v) pay any costs related to the transfer or conversion of data of any member of the Service Recipient Group and (vi) unless otherwise provided on the Exhibit applicable to a particular Service, devote the efforts of any particular personnel providing the Services exclusively for the benefit of the Service Recipient, recognizing that such personnel may engage in other activities the Service Provider considers appropriate.

 

(c)                                   The Service Recipient acknowledges (on its own behalf and on behalf of the other members of the Service Recipient Group) that the employees of the Service Provider or any

 

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other members of the Service Provider Group who may be assisting in the provision of Services hereunder are at-will employees and, as such, may terminate or be terminated from employment with the Service Provider or any of the other members of the Service Provider Group providing Services hereunder at any time for any reason (it being understood that, except as specifically provided in an Exhibit to this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude or in any way effect the any right of a Service Provider to terminate any of its employees, including those who may be assisting in the provisions of Services hereunder, whether such employee is or was employed at-will or otherwise).

 

(d)                                  For the avoidance of doubt and except as may hereafter be designated as Additional Services in accordance with Section 2.2 , the Services do not include any services required for or that may result from any business acquisitions, divestitures, start-ups or terminations by the Service Recipient Group occurring following the IPO.  To the extent that the Service Recipient desires the Service Provider to provide any services in connection with any such acquisitions, divestitures, start-ups or terminations, the Service Recipient shall follow the procedures for requesting Additional Services pursuant to Section 2.2 .

 

(e)                                   Subject to Sections 2.2 , 2.6 and 2.7 , the Parties acknowledge the transitional nature of the Services and that the Service Provider may make changes from time to time in the manner of performing the Services, provided that such changes do not materially decrease the quality or level of the Services provided to the Service Recipient.

 

Section 2.7                                    Standard of Performance; Limitation of Liability .

 

(a)                                  Unless otherwise provided to the contrary in an Exhibit, the Services to be provided hereunder shall be performed with the same general degree of care, at the same general level and at the same general degree of accuracy and responsiveness, as when performed within the Huntsman organization prior to the IPO.  It is understood and agreed that the Service Provider and the members of the Service Provider Group are not professional providers of the types of services included in the Services and that the Service Provider personnel performing Services have other responsibilities and will not be dedicated full-time to performing Services hereunder.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Service Provider and members of the Service Provider Group shall not be required to perform Services hereunder or take any actions relating thereto that conflict with or violate any applicable Law, contract, license, authorization, certification or permit or the Service Provider’s Code of Business Conduct or other governance policies, as they may be amended from time to time.  Without limiting the above, the provision of the Services may require consents, waivers, or approvals from certain third parties under permits, licenses and agreements to which the Service Provider or one of its Affiliates is a party (a “ Third Party License ”) to enable the Service Provider to provide the Services.  The Service Provider shall promptly notify the Service Recipient in writing, setting forth in reasonable detail any specific impairment in its ability to provide any Services by reason of the limitations described in this Section 2.7(b) .  The Parties will use commercially reasonable efforts to develop a resolution that enables the Service Provider to continue the provision of the Services, including obtaining any required consents, waivers or approvals of a Third Party License, with the costs of obtaining such consents, waivers or approvals being the responsibility

 

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of the Service Recipient.  If no commercially reasonable resolution is available within 60 days of receipt of notice from the Service Provider of such impairment, either Party may immediately terminate the affected Service as provided in Article VI hereof.  To the extent permitted by any applicable contracts of the Service Recipient, the Service Recipient hereby grants to the Service Provider performing Services under this Agreement a limited, nontransferable license, without the right to sublicense (except to an Affiliate of the Service Provider or a sub-contractor who is providing Services on the Service Provider’s behalf, solely to the extent necessary for such Affiliate or sub-contractor to provide the Services), for the term of this Agreement to use the intellectual property owned by the Service Recipient solely to the extent necessary for the Service Provider to perform its obligations hereunder.

 

(c)                                   Subject to Section 2.7(h) , in the event the Service Provider or any member of the Service Provider Group fails to provide, or cause to be provided, the Services in accordance with the standard of service set forth in Section 2.7(a) , then at the Service Recipient’s request, the Service Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to re-perform such Services as soon as reasonably practicable, with the same degree of care used in correcting a failure of a similar service for itself, at no additional cost to the Service Recipient.  The foregoing sets forth the sole and exclusive remedy of the Service Recipient with respect to the performance of Services by the Service Provider and the Service Provider’s liabilities under this Section 2.7(c)  are subject to the liability cap set forth in Section 2.7(h) ; provided , that in the event the Service Provider defaults in the manner described in clause (b) of Section 7.1 , the Service Recipient shall have the further rights set forth in Article VII .

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, except to the extent caused by a Service Provider and to the extent such Service Provider is otherwise liable under this Agreement, the Service Provider shall not be liable to the Service Recipient for any breach of any agreement by a Third Party Provider; provided that the Service Provider shall use commercially reasonable efforts to enforce the terms of such agreements.

 

(e)                                   The Parties agree that, should a third party require the Parties or their respective Affiliates to be other than severally liable to such third party in respect of a Third Party License, the Parties will cooperate with one another in good faith to reach an agreement setting forth the indemnification obligations of the Parties to each other with respect to such liability.

 

(f)                                    The Parties recognize that some of the Services will be provided by the Service Provider in conjunction with the employees of the Service Recipient Group.  To the extent that the Service Recipient Group does not make those employees available to provide the Services in conjunction with the Service Provider, then the Service Provider shall be relieved of its obligations to provide such Services to the extent that such services were dependent on the availability of such employees of the Service Recipient Group.

 

(g)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Parties recognize that some of the Services will be provided by the Service Provider utilizing one or more individuals who have unique knowledge or skills related to a particular Service that is provided only to the Service Recipient.  To the extent that the Service Provider believes that such individuals may leave its employment prior to the completion of the relevant Services, or that such individuals may require retention bonuses or similar incentives to stay through the

 

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completion of the relevant services, the Service Provider will so advise the Service Recipient; and Service Provider agrees to take such reasonable actions as may be requested by the Service Recipient to retain such individuals, including paying such retention bonuses or incentives as the Service Recipient may reasonably request and for which the Service Recipient agrees to reimburse the Service Provider.  In the event that any such individual cannot be retained by the Service Provider to provide the relevant services hereunder, the Service Provider will use its reasonable efforts to mitigate the impact of such loss; and to the extent that such service cannot be reasonably continued by the Service Provider, the Service Provider shall be relieved of its obligation to provide such Services and the Service Provider will reduce the applicable charges to reflect such reduction in Services.

 

(h)                                  EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 2.7 , NO REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES OR GUARANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF NON-INFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR CONFORMITY TO ANY REPRESENTATION OR DESCRIPTION), ARE MADE BY ANY SERVICE PROVIDER PROVIDING SERVICES UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ALL SUCH REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES ARE HEREBY WAIVED AND DISCLAIMED.  EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION 2.7 , ANY SERVICE RECIPIENT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT (ON ITS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF EACH OTHER MEMBER OF THE SERVICE RECIPIENT GROUP) HEREBY EXPRESSLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT SUCH SERVICE RECIPIENT OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE RECIPIENT GROUP MAY OTHERWISE HAVE FOR ANY LOSSES, TO ENFORCE SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE OR TO PURSUE ANY OTHER REMEDY AVAILABLE IN CONTRACT, AT LAW OR IN EQUITY IN THE EVENT OF ANY NON-PERFORMANCE, INADEQUATE PERFORMANCE, FAULTY PERFORMANCE OR OTHER FAILURE OR BREACH BY SERVICE PROVIDER OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP UNDER OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT OR ACTIVE OR PASSIVE) OF SERVICE PROVIDER OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP OR ANY THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER AND WHETHER DAMAGES ARE ASSERTED IN CONTRACT OR TORT, UNDER FEDERAL, STATE OR NON U.S.  LAWS OR OTHER STATUTE OR OTHERWISE; PROVIDED , HOWEVER , THAT THE FOREGOING WAIVER SHALL NOT EXTEND TO COVER, AND SERVICE PROVIDER SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR, AND SHALL DEFEND AND INDEMNIFY SERVICE RECIPIENT GROUP FROM AND AGAINST, SUCH LOSSES CAUSED BY THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF SERVICE PROVIDER OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS AGREEMENT TO THE CONTRARY, IN NO EVENT SHALL THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP BE LIABLE TO THE SERVICE RECIPIENT GROUP WITH RESPECT TO CLAIMS ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT FOR AMOUNTS IN THE AGGREGATE EXCEEDING THE AGGREGATE SERVICE CHARGES PAID HEREUNDER BY THE SERVICE RECIPIENT GROUP.

 

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ARTICLE III
SERVICE CHARGES

 

Section 3.1                                    Compensation .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the specific terms of this Agreement, the compensation to be received by the Service Provider for each Service provided hereunder will be the fees set forth in Exhibit A or as otherwise set forth on Exhibit A , subject to any escalation provided for in this Agreement.  In consideration for the provision of a Service, each member of the Service Recipient Group receiving such Service shall pay to the Service Provider or, at the election of the Service Provider, the member of the Service Provider Group providing such Service, the applicable fee for such Service as set forth in the attached Exhibits.  Each Party understands and agrees that the Fees are the sole consideration for any provision of the Services hereunder and are exclusive of applicable taxes, duties and other similar fees.

 

(b)                                  If Huntsman Group incurs any reasonable out-of-pocket expenses (including any incremental license fees incurred by Huntsman Group in connection with performance of the Services and any travel expenses incurred at the request or with the consent of Venator Group) or remits funds to a third party on behalf of Venator Group, in either case in connection with the rendering of Services, then Huntsman Group shall include such amount on its monthly invoice to Venator Group, with reasonable supporting documentation, and Venator Group shall reimburse that amount to Huntsman Group as part of its next monthly payment.

 

(c)                                   Huntsman represents, warrants and covenants that it has not changed the allocation of costs to the Venator Group for the Services for the period from the Signing Date through the IPO.  Huntsman acknowledges that the allocation of costs, including internal costs and Third Party Costs, to the Venator Group for the Services is consistent with the allocation methodology implemented effective January 1, 2017, and does not exceed the monthly allocation amount allocated in accordance with the 2017 Operating Plan.

 

ARTICLE IV
PAYMENT

 

Section 4.1                                    Payment .

 

(a)                                  The Service Provider shall deliver to the Service Recipient, on a monthly basis, an invoice for the Fees associated with the Services provided by the Service Provider for the previous month (the “ Monthly Invoice ”), which Monthly Invoice shall provide a description of the Services provided and the corresponding Fees.  Any Fees based on the Service Provider’s Direct Cost will be estimated by the Service Provider, and the Service Recipient shall pay such estimated amounts when due.  All estimates of Direct Costs are subject to the reconciliation process set forth in Section 4.3 below.

 

(b)                                  With respect to any Service that is terminated during a month, the Fees related to that Service will be prorated on a daily basis to reflect the reduction in Services provided as of the termination date of the terminated Service(s).

 

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(c)                                   The Service Recipient shall pay to the Service Provider the amount set forth on each Monthly Invoice within twenty (20) days of its receipt of the same.

 

(d)                                  Each invoice shall be directed to the Service Recipient’s Service Coordinator or such other person designated in writing from time to time by such Service Coordinator.  The invoice shall set forth in reasonable detail the Services rendered and the invoice amount for the Services rendered for the period covered by such invoice.  All timely payments under this Agreement shall be made without early payment discount.  Any preexisting obligation to make payment for Services provided hereunder shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

 

(e)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above, the Service Provider shall have the option to forward the invoices of any Third Party Provider that are approved by the Service Recipient or are otherwise payable under an Exhibit directly to the Service Recipient for its payment to the Third Party Provider, rather than the procedures set forth in Sections 4.1(a) - (d) .  If the Service Provider makes such election, then the Service Recipient shall be responsible to pay the Third Party Provider directly in accordance with the terms of the applicable agreement the Service Provider has with (and the invoice from) the Third Party Provider.

 

(f)                                    For any Services for which the applicable Exhibit provides for billings based upon projected costs to be incurred in the next month or other defined subsequent period, then no later than the tenth day of each month, the Service Provider shall deliver to the Service Recipient a statement (each a “ Estimated Invoice ”) that sets forth:

 

(i)                                      an itemized list of projected costs, fees or other compensation for Services that the Service Provider is entitled to invoice based upon estimates for the following month or other defined subsequent period;

 

(ii)                                   the difference, if any, between the actual amounts owed for such Service in the preceding month (or other applicable period) and the estimated amount paid by the Service Recipient for such period; and

 

(iii)                                the amount due to the Service Provider for the following month (or other defined subsequent period), which amount shall be the amount set forth in (i) above and adjusted for any overpayment or underpayment of the applicable amounts owed for the preceding month (or other applicable period) as set forth in (ii) above.

 

Section 4.2                                    Payment Disputes .  The Service Recipient may object to any amounts for any Service at any time before, at the time of, or after payment is made, provided such objection is made in writing to the Service Provider according to the procedures set forth in Section 4.3 .  The Service Coordinators shall meet as expeditiously as possible to resolve any such dispute.  Any dispute that is not resolved by the Service Coordinators within forty-five (45) days shall be resolved in accordance with the dispute resolution and arbitration procedures set forth in Section 11.8 .  Neither Party (nor any member of its respective Group) shall have a right of set-off against the other Party (or any member of its respective Group) for billed amounts hereunder.  Upon written request, the Service Provider will provide to the Service Recipient reasonable detail and support documentation to permit the Service Recipient to verify the accuracy of an invoice.

 

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Section 4.3                                    Quarterly Reconciliation; Objection to Invoiced Amounts .

 

(a)                                  Each Service Provider shall maintain accurate books and records (including invoices of third parties) related to the Services sufficient to calculate, and allow the Service Recipient to verify, the amounts owed under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  Unless otherwise noted in Exhibit A , the Fees are based upon estimated Direct Costs to be incurred in performing the Services, subject to any escalation provided for in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   Within thirty (30) days after the end of each Calendar Quarter, the Service Provider will prepare and deliver to the Service Recipient a reconciliation of the actual Direct Costs incurred in connection with the provision of the Services compared with the estimated Direct Costs for such Services that were invoiced by the Service Provider for Services in such Calendar Quarter.  The Service Recipient shall have the right to review, and the Service Provider shall provide access to, such books and records to verify the accuracy of any adjustments to the Direct Costs.  Each such review shall be conducted during normal business hours and in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the operations of the Service Provider.

 

(d)                                  If, as a result of any such review, the Service Recipient objects to the Service Provider’s determination of actual Direct Costs, then the Service Recipient must deliver to the Service Provider, within thirty (30) days of its receipt of such reconciliation report, a written objection to such determination specifying the basis for such objection and the Service Recipient’s proposed adjustment with reasonable detail and justification for its proposed adjustment.  If the Service Recipient fails to deliver such written objection to the Service Provider within such 30-day period, then the Service Recipient shall have waived its right to object to such adjustments, and all such adjustments will be final and binding on the Parties.

 

(e)                                   If the Service Recipient duly delivers such written objection to the Service Provider within such 30-day period, then the Project Coordinators shall review the written objections and use good faith efforts to resolve all disagreements.

 

Section 4.4                                    Review of Charges; Error Correction .  From time to time until 120 days following the termination of this Agreement, the Service Recipient shall have the right to review, and the Service Provider shall provide access to, such books and records to verify the accuracy of such amounts, provided that such reviews shall not occur more frequently than once per calendar quarter.  Each such review shall be conducted during normal business hours and in a manner that does not unreasonably interfere with the operations of the Service Provider.  If, as a result of any such review, the Service Recipient determines that it overpaid any amount to the Service Provider, then the Service Recipient may raise an objection pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.2 .  The Service Recipient shall bear the cost and expense of any such review.  The Service Provider shall make adjustments to charges as required to reflect the discovery of errors or omissions in charges.

 

Section 4.5                                    Taxes .  All transfer taxes, excises, fees or other charges (including value added, sales, use or receipts taxes, but not including a tax on or measured by the income, net or gross revenues, business activity or capital of a member of the Service Provider Group), or any

 

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increase therein, now or hereafter imposed directly or indirectly by law upon any fees paid hereunder for Services, which a member of the Service Provider Group is required to pay or incur in connection with the provision of Services hereunder (“ Tax ”), shall be passed on to the Service Recipient as an explicit surcharge and shall be paid by the Service Recipient in addition to any Service fee payment, whether included in the applicable Service fee payment, or added retroactively.  If the Service Recipient submits to the Service Provider a timely and valid resale or other exemption certificate acceptable to the Service Provider and sufficient to support the exemption from Tax, then such Tax will not be added to the Service fee payable pursuant to Article III ; provided , however , that if a member of the Service Provider Group is ever required to pay such Tax, the Service Recipient will promptly reimburse the Service Provider for such Tax, including any interest, penalties and attorney’s fees related thereto.  The Parties will cooperate to minimize the imposition of any Taxes.

 

Section 4.6                                    Records .  The Service Provider shall maintain true and correct records of all receipts, invoices, reports and such other documents relating to the Services hereunder in accordance with its standard accounting practices and procedures, consistently applied.  The Service Provider shall retain such accounting records and make them available to the Service Recipient’s authorized representatives and auditors for a period of not less than 1 (one) year from the closing of each calendar year; provided , however , that the Service Provider may, at its option, transfer such accounting records to the Service Recipient upon termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE V
TERM

 

Section 5.1                                    Term .  Subject Articles VI and VII , the Service Provider Group shall provide the specific Services to the Service Recipient Group pursuant to this Agreement for the time period set forth in the Exhibit relating to the specific Service.  In accordance with the Separation Agreement and Article VI of this Agreement, except as otherwise provided in an Exhibit for a specific Service, the Service Recipient shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide to itself and members of the Service Recipient Group, and to terminate as soon as reasonably practicable, the Services provided to the Service Recipient Group hereunder.  Except as otherwise provided in Exhibit A for a specific Service or group of related Services, all Services provided for hereunder shall terminate two (2) years from the date of this Agreement.  Except as otherwise expressly agreed or unless sooner terminated, this Agreement shall commence upon the IPO and shall continue in full force and effect between the Parties for so long as any Service set forth in any Exhibit hereto is being provided to the Service Recipient or members of the Service Recipient Group and this Agreement shall terminate upon the cessation of all Services provided hereunder; provided that Articles  I,  IV , VIII IX and XI and Section 2.7(h)  will survive the termination of this Agreement and any such termination shall not affect any obligation for the payment of fees for Services rendered prior to termination.

 

ARTICLE VI
DISCONTINUATION OF SERVICES

 

Section 6.1                                    Discontinuation or Termination of Services .  Unless otherwise provided in the relevant Exhibit for a particular Service, at any time after the IPO, the Service Recipient

 

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may, without cause and in accordance with the terms and conditions hereunder and the Separation Agreement, discontinue or terminate any one or more specific Service (or part of a Service) by giving the Service Provider at least 30 days’ prior written notice.  Furthermore, any such discontinuation or termination will affect the amounts payable to the Service Provider under this Agreement in the following manner: (a) to the extent that the charges for the discontinued or terminated Services have been separately identified in the applicable Exhibit, such separately identified charges shall not apply following the actual discontinuation or termination of the provision of those Services; and (b) from month to month, the Service Coordinators shall discuss and mutually agree upon the percentage reduction in Services and a commensurate percentage reduction in the amounts payable by the Service Recipient with respect to any Services which have been partially discontinued or terminated or for which the scope or amount has been narrowed.  The Service Recipient shall be liable to the Service Provider for all costs and expenses the Service Provider or any member of the Service Provider Group remains obligated to pay in connection with any discontinued or terminated Service or Services (including to a Third Party Provider), except in the case of a Service terminated by the Service Recipient pursuant to Section 2.3(b)  or clause (a) of the first sentence of Section 7.1 hereof.  The Parties shall cooperate as reasonably required to effectuate an orderly and systematic transfer to the Service Recipient Group of all of the duties and obligations previously performed by the Service Provider or a member of the Service Provider Group under this Agreement.

 

Section 6.2                                    Procedures Upon Discontinuation or Termination of Services .  Upon the discontinuation or termination of a Service hereunder, this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect with respect to such Service, except as otherwise provided in an Exhibit for a specific Service and except as to obligations accrued prior to the date of discontinuation or termination; provided , however , that Articles  I,  IV , VIII IX and XI and Section 2.7(h)  of this Agreement shall survive such discontinuation or termination.  Each Party and the applicable member(s) of its respective Group shall, within 60 days after discontinuation or termination of a Service, deliver to the other Party and the applicable member(s) of its respective Group originals of all books, records, contracts, receipts for deposits and all other papers, documents or electronic records or data in its possession which pertain exclusively to the business of the other Party and relate to such Service, in such format as the Service Recipient may reasonably request; provided that a Party may retain copies of material provided to the other Party pursuant to this Section 6.2 as it deems necessary or appropriate in connection with its financial reporting obligations or internal control practices and policies.

 

ARTICLE VII
DEFAULT

 

Section 7.1                                    Termination for Default .  In the event (a) of a failure of the Service Recipient to pay for Services in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or (b) any Party shall default, in any material respect, in the due performance or observance by it of any of the other terms, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, then the non-defaulting Party shall have the right, at its sole discretion, to terminate the Service with respect to which the default occurred; provided that the defaulting Party shall have the right to cure such default within 30 days of receipt of the written notice of such default.  The Service Recipient’s right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Article VII and the rights set forth in Section 2.7 shall constitute the Service Recipient’s sole and exclusive rights and remedies for a breach by the

 

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Service Provider hereunder (including any breach caused by an Affiliate of the Service Provider or a Third Party Provider).

 

ARTICLE VIII
WAIVER, INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

Section 8.1                                    Waiver of Consequential Damages .  NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER PARTY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR ANY EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, REMOTE OR SPECULATIVE DAMAGES (INCLUDING IN RESPECT OF LOST PROFITS OR REVENUES), HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY (INCLUDING SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, WHETHER OR NOT SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES; PROVIDED , HOWEVER , THAT THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS SHALL NOT LIMIT EACH PARTY’S INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS FOR LIABILITIES TO THIRD PARTIES AS SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT.

 

Section 8.2                                    Services Received .  The Service Recipient hereby acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)                                  the Services to be provided hereunder are subject to and limited by the provisions of Section 2.7 , Article VII and the other provisions hereof, including the limitation of remedies available to the Service Recipient that restricts available remedies resulting from a Service not provided in accordance with the terms hereof to non-payment and, in certain circumstances, the right to terminate this Agreement;

 

(b)                                  the Services are being provided solely to facilitate the transition of each of Huntsman and Venator as separate companies as a result of the IPO;

 

(c)                                   it is not the intent of the Service Provider and the other members of the Service Provider Group to render, nor of the Service Recipient and the other members of the Service Recipient Group to receive from the Service Provider and the other members of the Service Provider Group, professional advice or opinions, whether with regard to tax, legal, treasury, finance, employment or other business and financial matters, or technical advice, whether with regard to information technology or other matters; the Service Recipient shall not rely on, or construe, any Service rendered by or on behalf of the Service Provider as such professional advice or opinions or technical advice; and the Service Recipient shall seek all third-party professional advice and opinions or technical advice as it may desire or need, and in any event the Service Recipient shall be responsible for and assume all risks associated with the Services, except to the limited extent set forth in Section 2.7 and Article VII ;

 

(d)                                  with respect to any software or documentation within the Services, the Service Recipient shall use such software and documentation internally and for their intended purpose only, shall not distribute, publish, transfer, sublicense or in any manner make such software or documentation available to other organizations or persons, and shall not act as a service bureau or consultant in connection with such software; and

 

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(e)                                   a material inducement to the Service Provider’s agreement to provide the Services is the limitation of liability and the release provided by the Service Recipient in this Agreement.

 

ACCORDINGLY, EXCEPT WITH REGARD TO THE LIMITED REMEDIES EXPRESSLY SET FORTH HEREIN, THE SERVICE RECIPIENT SHALL ASSUME ALL LIABILITY FOR AND SHALL FURTHER RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD THE SERVICE PROVIDER, ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP AND THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND AGENTS (ALL AS INDEMNIFIED PARTIES) FREE AND HARMLESS FROM AND AGAINST ALL LOSSES RESULTING FROM, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP TO ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE RECIPIENT GROUP, HOWSOEVER ARISING AND WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY THE SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT NEGLIGENCE OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER, ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP OR ANY THIRD PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER, OTHER THAN THOSE LOSSES CAUSED BY THE WILLFUL MISCONDUCT OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER OR ANY MEMBER OF THE SERVICE PROVIDER GROUP.

 

Section 8.3                                    Express Negligence .  THE INDEMNITY, RELEASES AND LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY IN THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING ARTICLES II AND VIII ) ARE INTENDED TO BE ENFORCEABLE AGAINST THE PARTIES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EXPRESS TERMS AND SCOPE THEREOF NOTWITHSTANDING ANY EXPRESS NEGLIGENCE RULE OR ANY SIMILAR DIRECTIVE THAT WOULD PROHIBIT OR OTHERWISE LIMIT INDEMNITIES BECAUSE OF THE NEGLIGENCE (WHETHER SOLE, JOINT OR CONCURRENT OR ACTIVE OR PASSIVE) OR OTHER FAULT OR STRICT LIABILITY OF ANY OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES.

 

ARTICLE IX
CONFIDENTIALITY

 

Section 9.1                                    Confidentiality .  The Service Recipient and the Service Provider each acknowledge and agree that the terms of Article VII of the Separation Agreement shall apply to information, documents, plans and other data made available or disclosed by one Party to the other in connection with this Agreement.

 

Section 9.2                                    System Security .

 

(a)                                  If any Party (or its Affiliates, representatives, agents or contractors) is given access to the other Party’s computer systems or software (collectively, the “ Systems ”) in connection with the Services, the Party given access (the “ Accessing Party ”) shall comply with, and shall cause its Affiliates, representatives, agents and contractors who are given access on its behalf to comply with, all of the other Party’s system security policies, procedures and requirements that have been provided to the Accessing Party in advance and in writing (collectively, “ Security Regulations ”), and shall not tamper with, compromise or circumvent any security or audit measures employed by such other Party.  The Accessing Party (or its

 

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Affiliates, representatives, agents or contractors, as applicable) shall access and use only those Systems of the other Party for which it has been granted the right to access and use.

 

(b)                                  Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that only those of its personnel who are specifically authorized to have access to the Systems of the other Party gain such access, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to prevent unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of information contained therein, including notifying its personnel of the restrictions set forth in this Agreement and of the Security Regulations.

 

(c)                                   If, at any time, the Accessing Party (or its Affiliates, representatives, agents or contractors) determines that any of its personnel has sought to circumvent, or has circumvented, the Security Regulations, that any unauthorized Accessing Party personnel has accessed the Systems, or that any of its personnel has engaged in activities that may lead to the unauthorized access, use, destruction, alteration or loss of data, information or software of the other Party, the Accessing Party shall promptly terminate any such person’s access to the Systems and immediately notify the other Party.  In addition, such other Party shall have the right to deny personnel of the Accessing Party (or its Affiliates, representatives, agents or contractors) access to its Systems upon notice to the Accessing Party in the event that the other Party reasonably believes that such personnel have engaged in any of the activities set forth above in this Section 9.2(c)  or otherwise pose a security concern.  The Accessing Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with the other Party in investigating any apparent unauthorized access to such other Party’s Systems.

 

ARTICLE X
FORCE MAJEURE

 

Section 10.1                             Performance Excused .  Continued performance of a Service may be suspended immediately to the extent the fulfillment of such Service is prevented, frustrated, hindered or delayed by any event or condition beyond the reasonable control of the Party suspending such performance (and not involving any willful misconduct of such Party), including acts of God, pandemics, floods, fire, earthquakes, labor or trade disturbances, strikes, war, acts of terrorism, civil commotion, electrical shortages or blackouts, breakdown or injury to computing facilities, compliance in good faith with any Law (whether or not it later proves to be invalid), unavailability of materials or bad weather (a “ Force Majeure Event ”).  Unless the Service Provider Group incurs costs under agreements with its Third Party Providers, the Service Recipient shall not be obligated to pay any amount for Services that it does not receive as a result of a Force Majeure Event (and the Parties shall negotiate reasonably to determine the amount applicable to such Services not received).  In addition to the reduction of any amounts owed by the Service Recipient hereunder, during the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, to the extent the provision of any Service has been disrupted or reduced, during such disruption or reduction, (a) the Service Recipient may replace any such affected Service by providing any such Service for itself or engaging one or more third parties to provide such Service at the expense of the Service Recipient and (b) the Service Provider shall cooperate with, provide such information to and take such other actions as may be reasonably required to assist such third parties to provide such substitute Service.

 

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Section 10.2                             Notice .  The Party claiming suspension due to a Force Majeure Event will give prompt notice to the other of the occurrence of the Force Majeure Event giving rise to the suspension and of its nature and anticipated duration.

 

Section 10.3                             Cooperation .  Upon the occurrence of a Force Majeure Event, the Parties shall cooperate with each other to find alternative means and methods for the provision of the suspended Service.

 

ARTICLE XI
OTHER PROVISIONS

 

Section 11.1                             Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with the documents referenced herein (including the Separation Agreement and any Ancillary Agreement), constitutes the entire agreement and understanding between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written and oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof.  To the extent any provision of this Agreement conflicts with the provisions of the Separation Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement, the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed to control with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

Section 11.2                             Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any other person or entity any rights, benefits or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.3                             Amendment; Waivers .  No change or amendment may be made to this Agreement except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of both of the Parties, which is expressly identified as an amendment and which references the portions of the Agreement which are being changed or amended.  Either Party may, at any time, (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (c) waive compliance by the other with any of the agreements, covenants or conditions contained herein.  Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party to be bound thereby and expressly identified as a waiver or an extension, but not in any other manner.  Subject to Section 11.9 hereof, no failure or delay on the part of either Party in the exercise of any right hereunder shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude other or further exercise thereof or of any other right.

 

Section 11.4                             Notices .  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices, claims, certificates, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given (a) when personally delivered or (b) if mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, on the date the return receipt is executed or the letter is refused by the addressee or its agent or (c) if sent by overnight courier which delivers only upon the signed receipt of the addressee, on the date the receipt acknowledgment is

 

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executed or refused by the addressee or its agent or (d) if sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date confirmation of transmission is received ( provided that a copy of any notice delivered pursuant to this clause (d) shall also be sent pursuant to clause (a), (b) or (c)), addressed to the attention of the addressee’s General Counsel at the address of its principal executive office or to such other address or facsimile number for a Party as it shall have specified by like notice.

 

Section 11.5                             Counterparts .  This Agreement, including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto and the other documents referred to herein, may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 11.6                             Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.

 

Section 11.7                             Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of any choice of laws principles, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

(b)                                  THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE AND FOREGO ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

Section 11.8                             Dispute Resolution .  The procedures set forth in Article IV of the Separation Agreement shall apply to any dispute, controversy or claim (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise) that arises out of or relates to this Agreement, any breach or alleged breach hereof, the transactions contemplated hereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby on or prior to the date hereof), or the construction, interpretation, enforceability, or validity hereof. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (A) UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENTS TO AND ACCEPTS HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS AS THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES FOR ALL COURT AND ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS CONTEMPLATED BY ARTICLE IV OF THE SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT OR AWARD RENDERED THEREBY; (B) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION SUCH PARTY MAY NOW HAVE OR HEREAFTER HAS AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THAT SUCH LOCATION IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM; AND (C) AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT OR AWARD IN A DISPUTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

 

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Section 11.9                             Performance; Time of the Essence .  Each Party shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any Subsidiary or Affiliate of such Party.  TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE in the performance of each Service by the Service Provider Group.

 

Section 11.10                      Relationship of Parties .

 

(a)                                  Subject to the provisions of Section 11.10(b) , in the performance of this Agreement, a Service Provider (and any other member of the Service Provider Group which performs Services hereunder, as well as all Persons performing such Services, including agents, temporary employees and Third Party Providers) will at all times act in its own capacity as an independent contractor, and nothing contained herein may be construed to make a Service Provider (or any other member of the Service Provider Group which performs Services hereunder) an agent, partner, fiduciary or joint venturer of, to or with any member of a Service Recipient Group.  The employees of a Service Provider Group which perform Services under this Agreement (i) will remain personnel of the Service Provider, (ii) will not by reason of the performance of Services under this Agreement become employees of the Service Recipient Group and (iii) will not be entitled to participate in any of the Service Recipient’s employee benefit plans, including pension, 401(k), profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation, medical, health, group, insurance, disability, bonus, vacation pay, severance pay and other similar plans, programs and agreements, whether reduced to writing or not, except to the limited extent (if any) that Service Provider is providing those benefit services to Service Recipient under Exhibit “D” of this Agreement.  Similarly, any employees of a Service Recipient Group that perform Services under this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.7(f) , (A) will remain personnel of the Service Recipient, (B) will not by reason of the performance of Services under this Agreement become employees of the Service Provider Group and (C) will not be entitled to participate in any of the Service Provider’s employee benefit plans, including pension, 401(k), profit sharing, retirement, deferred compensation, medical, health, group, insurance, disability, bonus, vacation pay, severance pay and other similar plans, programs and agreements, whether reduced to writing or not.  Each Party (the “ Indemnifying Party ”) will indemnify and hold harmless the other Party and its Affiliates and their officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and permitted assigns (the “ Indemnified Party ”) from and against all losses, damages, liabilities, deficiencies, actions, judgments, interest, awards, penalties, fines, costs or expenses of whatever kind (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or resulting from any claims asserted by, on behalf of, or in relation to the employees of the Indemnifying Party that such employees are employed by the Indemnified Party or one of its affiliates, including any assertions of contingent worker or co-employment relationships, and including any responsibility or liability to any employee or governmental authority for alleged misclassification of any employment relationship.

 

(b)                                  In all cases where the Service Provider’s (or its Affiliates’) employees (which shall be defined to include, but not be limited to, direct, borrowed, special or statutory employees) are covered by the Louisiana Worker’s Compensation Act, La. R.S. 23:1021 et seq. (the “ Louisiana Exception ”): (i) the Parties agree that all Services performed by the Service Provider and its (or its Affiliates’) employees pursuant to this Agreement are an integral part of and are essential to the ability of the Service Recipient to generate its goods, products and services for purposes of La. R.S. 23:1061(A)(1); (ii) the Service Recipient agrees that it is the

 

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principal or statutory employer of the Service Provider’s (or its Affiliates’) employees who are performing services for the Service Recipient pursuant to this Agreement for purposes of La. R.S. 23:1061(A)(3); and (iii) this provision is included for the sole purpose of establishing a statutory employer relationship to gain the benefits expressed in La. R.S. 23:1031 and La. R.S. 23:1061(A), and it is not intended to create an employer-employee relationship for any other purpose.

 

Section 11.11                      Regulations .  All employees of a Service Provider and the members of the Service Provider Group shall, when on the property of the Service Recipient, conform to the rules and regulations of the Service Recipient concerning safety, health and security which are made known to such employees in advance in writing.

 

Section 11.12                      Assignment of Agreement .  Except as otherwise provided in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 of this Agreement with respect to the assignment of certain rights and obligations to a Party’s Affiliates, this Agreement may not be assigned by either Party, except with the prior written consent of the other Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.  No such assignment shall relieve such assignor of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sean Douglas

 

Name:

Sean Douglas

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Simon Turner

 

Name:

Simon Turner

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 


Exhibit 10.2

 

Execution Version

 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

by and among

 

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION

 

and

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

Dated as of August 7, 2017

 



 

TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

This TAX MATTERS AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of August 7, 2017, by and among Huntsman Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Huntsman ”), and Venator Materials PLC, a public company limited by shares and incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“ Venator ”), and is effective as of the Effective Date.  Each of Huntsman and Venator is sometimes referred to herein as a “ party ” and, collectively, the “ parties.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of Huntsman has determined that it is in the best interests of Huntsman and its shareholders that Venator operate the Pigments Business as a separate publicly-traded entity;

 

WHEREAS, prior to the IPO, Venator was an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman;

 

WHEREAS, prior to and in preparation for the IPO, Huntsman and its subsidiaries completed an internal reorganization through a series of transactions, including taxable and nontaxable asset transfers, dividends, contributions and similar transactions in order to transfer the Pigments Business to Venator (the “ Internal Reorganization ”);

 

WHEREAS, on the Offering Date, ordinary shares of Venator will be sold to the public (the “ IPO ”);

 

WHEREAS, immediately after, and as a result of, the IPO, Venator ceased to be an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Huntsman; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties wish to (a) provide for the payment of Tax Liabilities and entitlement to refunds thereof, (b) allocate responsibility for, and cooperation in, the filing of Tax Returns, and (c) provide for and agree on certain other matters relating to Taxes.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises and undertakings contained herein and in any other document executed in connection with this Agreement, the parties agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS; CERTAIN OPERATING CONVENTIONS

 

1.1                                For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

 

Additional Basis Tax Benefit ” means, with respect to each Post-Offering Taxable Period, the excess, if any, of the Cumulative Adjusted Tax Liability over the Cumulative Actual Tax Liability.

 

Affiliated Group ” means an affiliated group of corporations, within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code, or any similar group of entities as defined under corresponding

 

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provisions of the laws of other jurisdictions, including the common parent corporation and any member of such group.  For the avoidance of doubt, Affiliated Group includes the group relief provisions, and all similar provisions, under the tax law, rules and regulations of the United Kingdom.  Huntsman shall be deemed and treated as if it were, (even where a “parent” is not required) the parent company of the United Kingdom Affiliated Group.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Audit ” means any audit, assessment of Taxes, other examination by any Tax Authority, or proceeding or appeal of a proceeding relating to Taxes, whether administrative or judicial, including proceedings relating to competent authority determinations.

 

Basis Increases ” means any increases in the basis of the assets of the U.S. Pigments Business for U.S. federal income tax purposes resulting from (i) the Internal Reorganization and from payments made pursuant to Section 2.7 and (ii) any immediate deduction resulting from payments made pursuant to Section 2.7 .  For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties acknowledge that this will create an iterative gross-up calculation where a payment by Venator will create additional Basis Increases, which will create an additional payment, which will create additional Basis Increases and so on until the amount reaches a whole one dollar.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Cumulative Actual Tax Liability ” with respect to each taxable year, means the cumulative cash payments for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Venator Group for all taxable years beginning after the Internal Reorganization through the end of such taxable year.  Cumulative Actual Tax Liability shall be calculated within 30 days following the filing of the relevant U.S. income tax returns for the applicable taxable year.  To the extent there are amendments to a relevant income tax return of a Venator Group member or a Final Determination affecting the U.S. federal income Taxes of the Venator Group, such amendment or Final Determination shall be treated as changing the Cumulative Actual Tax Liability for the taxable year during which the amendment or Final Determination occurs.

 

Cumulative Adjusted Tax Liability ” with respect to each taxable year, means the cumulative hypothetical cash payments for U.S. federal income Taxes of the Venator Group for all taxable years beginning after the Internal Reorganization through the end of such taxable year (calculated using the same methods, elections, conventions, U.S. federal income tax rate and similar practices used on the relevant actual federal income tax returns) but without taking into account any Basis Increases.  To the extent there are amendments to a relevant income tax return of a Venator Group member or a Final Determination affecting the U.S. federal income Taxes of the Venator Group, such amendment or Final Determination shall be treated as changing the Cumulative Adjusted Tax Liability for the taxable year during which the amendment or Final Determination occurs.

 

Directly Owned Huntsman Assets ” means any assets associated with the Other Huntsman Businesses that were (i) sold, contributed, or otherwise transferred to Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group as part of the Internal Reorganization and (ii) treated for a

 

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taxable period, or portion thereof, prior to the Internal Reorganization as directly owned by any member of the Venator Group for U.S. federal income and any other applicable Tax purposes.

 

Directly Owned Venator Assets ” means any assets associated with the Pigments Business that were (i) sold, contributed, or otherwise transferred to Venator or any member of the Venator Group as part of the Internal Reorganization and (ii) treated for a taxable period, or portion thereof, prior to the Internal Reorganization, as directly owned by any member of the Huntsman Group for U.S. federal income and any other applicable Tax purposes.

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Estimated Tax Installment Date ” means the date on which an installment of any Taxes is required to be made.

 

Filing Party ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1 .

 

Final Determination ” means the final resolution of cash Tax liability for any Tax Item or for the Tax Liability for any taxable period, by or as a result of (i) a final decision, judgment, decree or other order by any court of competent jurisdiction that can no longer be appealed; (ii) a final settlement with the IRS, a closing agreement or accepted offer in compromise under Sections 7121 or 7122 of the Code, or a comparable agreement under the laws of other jurisdictions, which resolves the entire Tax Liability for any taxable period; (iii) any allowance of a Tax Refund in respect of an overpayment of Tax, but only after the expiration of all periods during which such refund or credit may be recovered by the jurisdiction imposing the Tax; or (iv) any other final resolution, including by reason of the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or the execution of a pre-filing agreement with the IRS or other Tax Authority.

 

Group Return ” means (i) any Huntsman Group Return and (ii) any Venator Group Return.

 

Huntsman ” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this Agreement.

 

Huntsman Group ” means the Affiliated Group of which Huntsman is the common parent corporation, and any corporation or other entity which may be, may have been or may become a member of such group from time to time, but excluding, from and after the Offering Date, any member of the Venator Group.

 

Huntsman Group Return ” means (i) any Tax Return with respect to any Taxes that is filed on a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar basis wherein Venator or any member of the Venator Group joins in the filing of such Tax Return (for any taxable period or portion thereof) with Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group and (ii) any Tax Return of Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group that includes any Tax Items attributable to any Directly Owned Venator Assets.

 

Huntsman Separate Return ” means any Tax Return of Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group that is not a Huntsman Group Return.

 

Huntsman Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .

 

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Huntsman Tax Refunds ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a) .

 

Indemnifying Party ” means any Person from which an Indemnified Party is seeking indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Indemnified Party ” means any Person which is seeking indemnification from an Indemnifying Party pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement.

 

Independent Firm ” means an internationally or national recognized, as appropriate, law firm, in the event of a dispute regarding the interpretation of this Agreement, or an internationally or national recognized, as appropriate, accounting firm, in the event of a dispute regarding calculations made pursuant to this Agreement, in each case, mutually acceptable to Huntsman and Venator.

 

Internal Reorganization ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals of this Agreement.

 

IRS ” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

Offering Date ” means the closing date of the IPO.

 

Other Huntsman Businesses ” means any businesses of Huntsman and its subsidiaries other than the Pigments Business.

 

Payment Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3 .

 

Person ” means any individual, corporation, company, association, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, or other entity.

 

Pigments Business ” means the manufacturing of pigments and additives that improve performance and add color to everyday items, such as paints, inks, plastics, concrete, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food.

 

Post-Offering Taxable Period ” means a taxable period or portion thereof that begins after the Offering Date.

 

Pre-Offering Taxable Period ” means a taxable period or portion thereof that ends on or before the Offering Date.

 

Separation Agreement ” means the Separation Agreement, as amended from time to time, by and between Huntsman and Venator dated as of the date hereof.

 

Straddle Period ” means any taxable period that begins on or before and ends after the Offering Date.

 

Tax ” or “ Taxes ” means all taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments, including all net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, gains, ad valorem, value added,

 

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transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and estimated taxes, custom duties, fees, assessments and charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Tax Authority and includes any liability in respect of any of the foregoing that arises by operation of law.  For the avoidance of doubt, Tax or Taxes means all liabilities giving rise to a cash tax obligation in the year of Final Determination.

 

Tax Authority ” means the IRS and any other governmental authority responsible for the administration and collection of Taxes.

 

Tax Item ” means any item of income, gain, loss, deduction, expense, credit, or other attribute that may have the effect of increasing or decreasing any Tax Liability.

 

Tax Liabilities ” means all liabilities for Taxes.

 

Tax Refund ” means any refund or credit of any cash Taxes.

 

Tax Returns ” means any and all reports, returns, declaration forms and statements (including amendments thereto) filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes, and any attachments thereto.

 

Transfer Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 .

 

Treasury Regulations ” means the regulations under the Code promulgated by the United States Department of the Treasury.

 

Venator Group ” means the Affiliated Group of which Venator will be the common parent corporation immediately after the Internal Reorganization and IPO, any predecessor to any such entity, and any corporation or other entity which may become a member of such group from time to time.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Venator Group will include any legal entity which is wholly-owned, directly or indirectly, by members of the Venator Group.

 

Venator Group Return ” means any Tax Return of Venator or any member of the Venator Group that includes any Tax Items attributable to any Directly Owned Huntsman Assets, but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Huntsman Group Return.

 

Venator Separate Return ” means any Tax Return of Venator or any member of the Venator Group that is not a Venator Group Return.

 

Venator Taxes ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .

 

Venator Tax Refund ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(b) .

 

1.2                                References; Construction .

 

(a)                                  Capitalized terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement have the meaning ascribed to them in the Separation Agreement.

 

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(b)                                  The words “hereof,” “herein,” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.

 

(c)                                   The terms defined in the singular have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa.

 

(d)                                  References to any “Article” or “Section,” without more, are to Articles and Sections to or of this Agreement.  Unless otherwise expressly stated, clauses beginning with the term “including” or similar words set forth examples only and in no way limit the generality of the matters thus exemplified.

 

ARTICLE II
RESPONSIBILITY FOR TAXES; ALLOCATION

 

2.1                                Venator’s Responsibility For Taxes .  Venator will be responsible for, and will indemnify Huntsman and the members of the Huntsman Group against, any Venator Taxes.  “ Venator Taxes ” shall be determined in good faith by Huntsman and shall equal (a) any cash Taxes reflected on a Venator Separate Return, plus (b) the excess, if any, of (i) the cash Taxes reflected on any Group Return over (ii) the hypothetical cash Tax Liability that would have been shown on such Group Return if such Group Return had not included any Tax Items attributable to Venator, any member of the Venator Group, or any Directly Owned Venator Assets; provided, however, that “ Tax Items ” for purposes of this clause (ii)  will not include Tax Items arising solely as a result of the Internal Reorganization.

 

2.2                                Huntsman’s Responsibility For Taxes .  Huntsman will be responsible for, and will indemnify Venator and the members of the Venator Group against, any Huntsman Taxes.  “ Huntsman Taxes ” shall be determined in good faith by Huntsman and shall equal (a) any cash Taxes reflected on a Huntsman Separate Return, plus (b) the excess, if any, of (i) the cash Taxes reflected on any Group Return, over (ii) the amount of such cash Taxes that are Venator Taxes.

 

2.3                                Computation of Venator Taxes and Huntsman Taxes .

 

(a)                                  Venator Taxes and Huntsman Taxes shall be calculated in connection with the filing of any relevant Tax Return, the amendment of any relevant Tax Return and the occurrence of any Final Determination.

 

(b)                                  At least fifteen (15) days prior to the filing of any Group Return (or at least fifteen (15) days prior to the filing of an amendment thereof), Huntsman shall provide Venator with a written calculation setting forth in reasonable detail the amount of any Venator Taxes with respect to such Group Return.  Venator will have the right to review and comment on such calculation, and shall be provided with reasonable access to any supporting documentation on request.  Any dispute with respect to such calculation will be resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 .  If such dispute has not been resolved prior to the due date (including extensions) for filing such Tax Return (or amendment thereof), Venator will pay an amount equal to the Venator Taxes (as determined by Huntsman) to Huntsman and will be entitled to be reimbursed by Huntsman to the extent the dispute is resolved in Venator’s favor.

 

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(c)                                   Within 30 days following the amendment of any Group Return including Venator Taxes or the occurrence of a Final Determination affecting Venator Taxes, Huntsman shall provide Venator with a written revised calculation of Venator Taxes and within ten (10) days following the receipt thereof, Venator shall pay any additional Venator Taxes to Huntsman (or Huntsman shall pay to Venator any reduction in Venator Taxes previously paid pursuant to this Section 2.3 ). Any dispute with respect to such calculation will be resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 .

 

(d)                                  For purposes of calculating Venator Taxes and Huntsman Taxes, (i) any compensation deductions relating to the issuance or vesting of Huntsman stock or the exercise of any Huntsman stock options shall be treated as relating to Huntsman Taxes, and (ii) any compensation deductions relating to the issuance or vesting of Venator stock or the exercise of any Venator stock options shall be treated as relating to Venator Taxes.

 

(e)                                   For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that any amendment of any Tax Return or any Final Determination results in a change in the amount of any earnings and profits, previously taxed income, subpart F income inclusion or similar item, but does not result in a change in the Taxes reflected on any Group Return, such amendment or Final Determination shall not result in any payment obligation under Sections 2.1 and 2.2 .  Further, subpart F income, if any, associated with the Internal Reorganization in a Pre-Offering Taxable Period shall be a Huntsman Tax irrespective of the Final Determination or amendments.

 

2.4                                Payment of Sales, Use or Similar Taxes .  Notwithstanding Sections 2.1 and 2.2 , all sales, use, transfer, real property transfer, intangible, recordation, registration, documentary, stamp or similar Taxes applicable to, or resulting from the Internal Reorganization or from the sale of Venator shares in connection with the IPO (“ Transfer Taxes ”) will be borne one hundred percent (100%) by Huntsman.  Notwithstanding anything in this Article II to the contrary, the party required by applicable law shall remit payment for any Transfer Taxes and duly and timely file any Tax Returns required to be filed with respect to such Transfer Taxes, subject to any indemnification rights of Venator pursuant to this Section 2.4 , which shall be paid by Huntsman in accordance with Section 5.1 .  Venator, Huntsman, and their respective affiliates will cooperate in (a) determining the amount of such Transfer Taxes, (b) providing all requisite exemption certificates, and (c) preparing and timely filing any and all required Tax Returns for or with respect to such Transfer Taxes with any and all appropriate Tax Authorities.

 

2.5                                Carrybacks .

 

(a)                                  The carryback of any loss, credit, or other Tax Item from any Post-Offering Taxable Period shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Code and Treasury Regulations (and any applicable state, local or foreign laws).

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 2.5(d) , in the event that any member of the Venator Group realizes any loss, credit or other Tax Item in a Post-Offering Taxable Period of such member, such member may elect to carry back such Tax Item to a Pre-Offering Taxable Period or a Straddle Period of Huntsman or the Huntsman Group.  Huntsman shall cooperate with Venator and such member in amending the relevant Tax Return or seeking any Tax Refund from the appropriate Tax Authority that reasonably would result from such carryback (including by

 

7



 

filing an amended Tax Return), at Venator’s cost and expense.  To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to Venator Taxes pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.3 , Venator shall be entitled to any Tax Refund that is directly and exclusively attributable to such carryback, and Huntsman shall be entitled to any Tax Refund to which Venator is not entitled pursuant to this Section 2.5(b) .

 

(c)                                   Subject to Section 2.5(d) , in the event that any member of the Huntsman Group realizes any loss, credit or other Tax Item in a Post-Offering Taxable Period of such member, such member may elect to carry back such loss, credit or other Tax Item to a Pre-Offering Taxable Period or a Straddle Period of such member.  Venator shall cooperate with Huntsman and such member in seeking from the appropriate Tax Authority any Tax Refund that reasonably would result from such carryback (including by filing an amended Tax Return), at Huntsman’s cost and expense.  To the extent not reflected in an adjustment to Huntsman Taxes pursuant to Sections 2.2 and 2.3 , Huntsman shall be entitled to any Tax Refund resulting from such carryback.

 

(d)                                  Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, if any Tax Item of Huntsman or Venator would be eligible to be carried back or carried forward to the same Pre-Offering Taxable Period (had such carryback been the only carryback to such taxable period), any Tax Refund resulting therefrom shall be allocated between Huntsman and Venator proportionately based on the relative amounts of the Tax Refunds to which Huntsman and Venator, respectively, would have been entitled.

 

2.6                                Refunds .

 

(a)                                  Tax Refunds for Huntsman’s Account .  Huntsman shall be entitled to receive and retain all Tax Refunds with respect to any Huntsman Taxes (“ Huntsman Tax Refunds ”).  If Venator or any member of the Venator Group receives a Tax Refund (or any reduction in Tax Liability by means of offset or otherwise) constituting a Huntsman Tax Refund, within 15 days of receipt of such Huntsman Tax Refund, Venator shall pay to Huntsman an amount that is equal to the Huntsman Tax Refund, plus any interest paid by the applicable Tax Authority with respect to such Huntsman Tax Refund, less any Taxes payable by Venator or any Venator Group member in connection with the receipt of such Huntsman Tax Refund.

 

(b)                                  Tax Refunds for Venator’s Account .  Venator shall be entitled to receive and retain all Tax Refunds with respect to any Venator Taxes (“ Venator Tax Refunds ”).  If Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group receives a Tax Refund (or any reduction in Tax Liability by means of offset or otherwise) constituting a Venator Tax Refund, within 15 days of receipt of such Venator Tax Refund, Huntsman shall pay to Venator an amount that is equal to the Venator Tax Refund, plus any interest paid by the applicable Tax Authority with respect to such Venator Tax Refund, less any Taxes payable by Huntsman or any Huntsman Group member in connection with the receipt of such Venator Tax Refund.  For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent that any adjustments or carrybacks result in an increase in the amount of foreign tax credits available for use for U.S. federal income tax purposes by any member of the Huntsman Group, such increased utilization will not be treated as a refund or offset for purposes of this Section 2.6 .

 

8



 

(c)                                   To the extent the amount of any Tax Refund is reduced by a Tax Authority or a Tax proceeding, such reduction shall be allocated to the party to which such Tax Refund was allocated pursuant to this Section 2.6 .

 

2.7                                Payment of Additional Basis Tax Benefits .

 

(a)                                  Within 10 days following the determination of the Cumulative Actual Tax Liability of the Venator Group for each Post-Offering Taxable Period ending on or before December 31, 2028, Venator shall deliver to Huntsman a schedule calculating the Additional Basis Tax Benefit, if any, along with reasonable supporting documentation with respect to such calculation (such schedule to be delivered even if the Additional Basis Tax Benefit is zero).  Any dispute with respect to such calculation will be resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 .

 

(b)                                  With respect to each Post-Offering Taxable Period ending on or before December 31, 2028 in which there is an Additional Basis Tax Benefit, within 30 days following the delivery of the schedule described in Section 2.7(a)  for such Post-Offering Taxable Period, (i) if the Additional Basis Tax Benefit on such schedule is greater than the Additional Basis Tax Benefit on the schedule delivered under Section 2.7(a)  with respect to the immediately preceding Post-Offering Taxable Period (which, for the first Post-Offering Taxable Period shall be deemed to be zero), then Venator shall pay to Huntsman an amount equal to such increase, or (ii) if the Additional Basis Tax Benefit on such schedule is less than the Additional Basis Tax Benefit delivered with respect to the immediately preceding Post-Offering Taxable Period, then Huntsman shall pay to Venator an amount equal to such decrease.

 

ARTICLE III
PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS

 

3.1                                Preparation of Tax Returns — Huntsman’s Responsibility .

 

(a)                                  Huntsman will prepare or cause to be prepared, and will file or cause to be filed, (i) all Group Returns and (ii) all Huntsman Separate Returns.

 

(b)                                  Subject to Section 2.4 , Huntsman will have the right, with respect to any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a) , to determine: (i) the manner in which such Tax Return will be prepared and filed, including the method of accounting, positions, conventions, and principles of taxation to be used and the manner in which any Tax Item will be reported; (ii) whether any extensions may be requested; (iii) the elections that will be made by Huntsman, any member of the Huntsman Group, Venator, or any member of the Venator Group on such Tax Return; (iv) whether any amended Tax Returns will be filed; (v) whether any claims for refund will be made; (vi) whether any refunds will be paid by way of refund or credited against any liability for the related Tax; and (vii) whether to retain outside firms to prepare or review such Tax Returns.

 

(c)                                   Huntsman shall provide Venator with a copy of any Tax Return that includes Venator, any member of the Venator Group, or any Directly Owned Venator Assets promptly upon the filing of such Tax Returns.

 

9



 

3.2                                Preparation of Tax Returns — Venator’s Responsibility .

 

(a)                                  Venator will prepare or cause to be prepared, and will file or cause to be filed, all Venator Separate Returns.

 

(b)                                  Venator will have the right, with respect to any Tax Return described in Section 3.2(a) , to determine: (i) the manner in which such Tax Return will be prepared and filed, including the method of accounting, positions, conventions, and principles of taxation to be used and the manner in which any Tax Item will be reported; (ii) whether any extensions may be requested; (iii) the elections that will be made by Venator or any member of the Venator Group on such Tax Return; (iv) whether any amended Tax Returns will be filed; (v) whether any claims for refund will be made; (vi) whether any refunds will be paid by way of refund or credited against any liability for the related Tax; and (vii) whether to retain outside firms to prepare or review such Tax Returns.

 

3.3                                Agent .  Subject to the other applicable provisions of this Agreement, Venator hereby irrevocably designates, and agrees to cause each member of the Venator Group to so designate, Huntsman as its sole and exclusive agent and attorney-in-fact to take such action (including execution of documents) as Huntsman, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate in any and all matters (including Audits) relating to any Tax Return described in Section 3.1(a) .

 

3.4                                Manner of Tax Return Preparation .  Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the parties hereby agree to prepare and file all Tax Returns for any Pre-Offering Taxable Period and any Straddle Period in a manner consistent with past practice regarding such preparation and filings.  All Tax Returns shall be filed on a timely basis (taking into account applicable extensions) by the party responsible for filing such Tax Returns under this Agreement.

 

3.5                                Amended Returns and Claims .  Except as expressly provided herein, without the prior written consent of Huntsman, no formal or informal claim or request shall be filed with any Tax Authority, or with any administrative agency or court, for the adjustment, refund, or credit of Taxes with respect to any Group Return, including (i) any amended Tax Return claiming an adjustment to the Taxes as reported on such Group Tax Return or, if applicable, as previously adjusted, (ii) any claim for equitable recoupment or other offset, and (iii) any claim for refund or credit of Taxes previously paid.

 

3.6                                Payment of Tax Liability .  The party responsible for filing a Tax Return under Article III will be responsible for paying to the relevant Tax Authority the entire amount of the Tax Liability reflected on such Tax Return; provided, however, that the party liable for such Tax Liability pursuant to Article II shall pay the Taxes for which it is liable to the filing party as set forth in Article V .

 

ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS

 

4.1                                Tax Assistance and Cooperation .

 

(a)                                  Cooperation .  Huntsman and Venator will each cooperate fully (and each will cause its respective affiliates to cooperate fully) with all reasonable requests from the other party in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, claims for refund and Audits concerning issues or other matters covered by this Agreement.  The party requesting assistance

 

10



 

hereunder shall reimburse the other for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred in providing such assistance.  Such cooperation will include, without limitation:

 

(i)                                      the retention until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, and extensions, if any, thereof, and the provision upon request, of Tax Returns, books, records (including information regarding ownership and income Tax basis of property), documentation and other information relating to any Tax Returns, including accompanying schedules, related work papers, and documents relating to rulings or other determinations by Tax Authorities;

 

(ii)                                   the execution of any document that may be necessary or reasonably helpful in connection with any Audit, or the filing of a Tax Return or refund claim by a member of the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group, including certification, to the best of a party’s knowledge, of the accuracy and completeness of the information it has supplied; and

 

(iii)                                the use of the party’s reasonable best efforts to obtain any documentation that may be necessary or reasonably helpful in connection with any of the foregoing.  Each party will make its employees and facilities available on a reasonable and mutually convenient basis in connection with the foregoing matters.

 

(b)                                  Failure to Perform .  If a party fails to comply with any of its obligations set forth in Section 4.1(a)  upon reasonable request and notice by the other party, and such failure results in the imposition of additional Taxes, the nonperforming party will be liable in full for such additional Taxes.

 

(c)                                   Retention of Records .  A party intending to dispose of documentation of Huntsman (or any Huntsman affiliate) or Venator (or any Venator affiliate), including without limitation, books, records, Tax Returns and all supporting schedules and information relating thereto prior to the expiration of the statute of limitations (including any waivers or extensions thereof) of the taxable year or years to which such documentation relates, shall provide written notice to the other party describing the documentation to be destroyed or disposed of sixty (60) business days prior to taking such action.  The other party may arrange to take delivery of the documentation described in the notice at its expense during the succeeding sixty (60) day period.

 

ARTICLE V
PAYMENTS

 

5.1                                Payments .  Not later than thirty (30) days following the provision of the Venator Tax or Huntsman Tax computation to Venator as provided in Section 2.3 , or a Tax Return relating to Transfer Taxes filed by the Venator Group in accordance with Section 2.4 , Venator will pay Huntsman or Huntsman will pay Venator, as appropriate, any payment required to be made pursuant to Article II.

 

5.2                                Treatment of Payments .  Unless otherwise required by any Final Determination, Huntsman agrees (and shall cause the Huntsman Group) and Venator agrees (and shall cause the Venator Group) to treat any payments made between parties pursuant to this Agreement as adjustments to the liabilities assumed (or deemed assumed) or consideration transferred in

 

11



 

connection with the acquisition by Venator as part of the Internal Reorganization of the portion of the Pigments Business to which the payment relates.

 

5.3                                Interest .  Payments pursuant to this Agreement that are not made within the period prescribed in this Agreement (the “ Payment Period ”) and that are not otherwise setoff against amounts owed by one party to the other party will bear interest for the period from and including the date immediately following the last date of the Payment Period through and including the date of payment at a per annum rate equal to the applicable rate for large corporate underpayments set forth in Section 6621(c) of the Code.  Such interest will be payable at the same time as the payment to which it relates and will be calculated on the basis of a year of 365 days and the actual number of days for which due.

 

ARTICLE VI
AUDITS AND TAX PROCEEDINGS

 

6.1                                In General .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the party filing a Tax Return (the “ Filing Party ”) will have the exclusive right, in its sole discretion, to control, contest, and represent the interests of Huntsman, any member of the Huntsman Group, Venator, and any member of the Venator Group in any Audit relating to such Tax Return and to resolve, settle or agree to any deficiency, claim or adjustment proposed, asserted or assessed in connection with or as a result of any such Audit.  The Filing Party’s rights will extend to any matter pertaining to the management and control of an Audit, including execution of waivers, choice of forum, scheduling of conferences and the resolution of any Tax Item.  Any costs incurred in handling, settling, or contesting an Audit will be borne by the Filing Party.

 

6.2                                Notice .  As soon as practicable after a party receives a written notice from a Tax Authority of a proposed adjustment to a Tax Item for a Pre-Offering Taxable Period or a Straddle Period (irrespective of whether such proposed adjustment would reasonably be expected to give rise to an indemnification obligation or other liability (including a liability for Tax) under this Agreement), such party shall notify the other party of such proposed adjustment, and thereafter shall promptly forward to the other party copies of notices and material communications with any Tax Authority relating to such proposed adjustment; provided, however, that the failure to provide such notice will not release the Indemnifying Party from any of its obligations under this Agreement except to the extent that such Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced by such failure.

 

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

7.1                                Dispute Resolution .  In the event that Huntsman and Venator disagree as to the amount or calculation of any payment to be made under this Agreement, or the interpretation or application of any provision under this Agreement, the parties will attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute.  If such dispute is not resolved within ninety (90) business days following the commencement of the dispute, Huntsman and Venator will jointly retain an Independent Firm, reasonably acceptable to both parties, to resolve the dispute; provided, however, that in order to pursue any such dispute resolution under this Section 7.1 , the owing party shall either (a) first pay to the owed party, or place in an escrow reasonably satisfactory to the owed party

 

12



 

pending resolution of such dispute, an amount equal to the payment which is the subject of such dispute, or (b) deliver to the owed party a written opinion of an independent law or accounting firm reasonably acceptable to both parties, substantially to the effect that with respect to such dispute the owing party is more likely than not to prevail in its entirety in the dispute resolution proceeding.  The Independent Firm will act as an arbitrator to resolve all points of disagreement and its decision will be final and binding upon all parties involved.  Following the decision of the Independent Firm, Huntsman and Venator will each take or cause to be taken any action necessary to implement the decision of the Independent Firm.  The fees and expenses relating to the Independent Firm will be borne by the party that does not prevail in the dispute resolution proceeding.

 

7.2                                Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of any choice of laws principles, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

(b)                                  THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE AND FOREGO ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

7.3                                Changes in Law .  Any reference to a provision of the Code or a law of another jurisdiction will include a reference to any applicable successor provision or law.  If, due to any change in applicable law or regulations or their interpretation by any court of law or other governing body having jurisdiction subsequent to the date of this Agreement, performance of any provision of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated thereby becomes impracticable or impossible, the parties hereto will use their commercially reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such provision.

 

7.4                                Confidentiality .  Each party will hold and cause its directors, officers, employees, advisors and consultants to hold in strict confidence, unless compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process or, in the opinion of its counsel, by other requirements of law, all information (other than any such information relating solely to the business or affairs of such party) concerning the other parties hereto furnished to it by such other party or its representatives pursuant to this Agreement (except to the extent that such information can be shown to have been (a) in the public domain through no fault of such party, (b) later lawfully acquired from other sources not known to be under a duty of confidentiality by the party to which it was furnished, or (c) independently developed), and each party will not release or disclose such information to any other Person, except its directors, officers, employees, auditors, attorneys, financial advisors, bankers and other consultants who will be advised of and agree to be bound by the provisions of this Section 7.4 .  Each party will be deemed to have satisfied its obligation to hold confidential information concerning or supplied by the other party if it exercises the same care as it takes to preserve confidentiality for its own similar information.

 

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7.5                                Amendment, Modification, or Termination .  This Agreement may be amended, modified, supplemented or terminated only by a written agreement signed by all of the parties hereto.

 

7.6                                Term/Time Limit for Claims .  This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and shall continue in effect until otherwise agreed to in writing by Huntsman and Venator, or their successors; provided, however, this Agreement otherwise shall terminate 90 days after the expiration of the statute of limitations with respect to all the Group Returns, Huntsman Separate Returns and Venator Separate Returns addressed in this Agreement.  Notwithstanding the forgoing, this Agreement shall not terminate until all obligations and liabilities of the parties arising under this Agreement have been paid in full, including payments under Section 2.7 .

 

7.7                                Notices .  All notices and other communications required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing and will be deemed given upon (a) a transmitter’s confirmation of a receipt of a facsimile transmission (but only if followed by confirmed delivery of a standard overnight courier the following business day or if delivered by hand the following business day), (b) confirmed delivery of a standard overnight courier or when delivered by hand or (c) the expiration of five business days after the date mailed by certified or registered mail (return receipt requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other addresses for a party as may be specified by like notice):

 

If to Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group, to:

 

Huntsman Corporation

10003 Woodloch Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Attention: General Counsel

 

If to Venator or any member of the Venator Group, to:

 

Venator Materials PLC

10001 Woodloch Forest Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Attention: General Counsel

 

or to such other address as any party hereto may have furnished to the other parties by a notice in writing in accordance with this Section 7.7 .

 

7.8                                Complete Agreement .  This Agreement, with the other transaction agreements and other documents referred to herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all previous negotiations, commitments and writings with respect to such subject matter as well as any prior tax sharing agreements or arrangements between a member of the Huntsman Group, on the one hand, and a member of the Venator Group, on the other hand.  In the case of any conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of the Separation Agreement or any other transaction agreement, the terms of this Agreement will be applicable.

 

14



 

7.9                                Interpretation .  The Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the parties hereto and should not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.

 

7.10                         Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, but all of which together will constitute one and the same instrument.

 

7.11                         Successors and Assigns; No Third-Party Beneficiaries .  This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns, but neither this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests and obligations hereunder may be assigned by any party hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties.  This Agreement is solely for the benefit of Huntsman and Venator and their respective subsidiaries, affiliates, successors and assigns, and is not intended to confer upon any third parties any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

7.12                         Authorization .  Each of Huntsman and Venator 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 of law or of its charter or bylaws or any agreement, instrument or order binding on such party.

 

7.13                         Arbitration .  To the extent any dispute under this Agreement cannot be resolved pursuant to Section 7.1 , Huntsman and Venator shall resolve such dispute pursuant to the arbitration provisions set forth in Article IV of the Separation Agreement.

 

7.14                         Waiver of Jury Trial .  Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives all right to trial by jury in any litigation, claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding, investigation or counterclaim (whether based in contract, tort or otherwise) arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the actions of the parties hereto in the negotiation, administration, performance and enforcement thereof.

 

7.15                         Waivers .  Except as provided in this Agreement, no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including any investigation by or on behalf of any party, will be deemed to constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement.  The waiver by any party hereto of a breach of any provision hereunder will not operate or be construed as a waiver of any prior or subsequent breach of the same or any other provision hereunder.

 

7.16                         Specific Performance .  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event any provision of this Agreement was not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties will be entitled to specific performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or in equity.

 

7.17                         Setoff .  All payments to be made by any party under this Agreement may be netted against payments due to such party under this Agreement, but otherwise shall be made without setoff, counterclaim or withholding, all of which are hereby expressly waived.

 

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7.18                         Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof, or the application of such provision to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or unenforceable, will remain in full force and effect and will in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby, so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not affected in any manner adverse to any party.

 

7.19                         Effective Date .  This Agreement is effective as of the Effective Date.

 

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has caused this Tax Matters Agreement to be executed on its behalf by its officers thereunto duly authorized, all as of the day and year first written above.

 

 

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kevin C. Hardman

 

Name:

Kevin C. Hardman

 

Title:

Vice President, Tax

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Tax Matters Agreement]

 


Exhibit 10.3

 

Execution Version

 

 

 

EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION

 

AND

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

DATED AS OF AUGUST 7, 2017

 

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

 

 

 

Section 1.1

Definitions

1

Section 1.2

Interpretation

7

 

 

 

ARTICLE II

GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR ALLOCATION OF LIABILITIES

 

 

 

Section 2.1

General Principles

8

Section 2.2

Service Credit

10

Section 2.3

Plan Administration

10

Section 2.4

Retention of Venator Group Plans

11

Section 2.5

No Duplication or Acceleration of Benefits

11

Section 2.6

No Expansion of Participation

11

Section 2.7

Venator Group Decisions

11

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEES

 

 

 

Section 3.1

Active Employees

11

Section 3.2

Employment Law Obligations

14

Section 3.3

Employee Records

14

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

EQUITY AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS

 

 

 

Section 4.1

General Principles

16

Section 4.2

Equity Award Treatment

17

Section 4.3

Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act; Code Sections 162(m) and 409A

20

Section 4.4

Liabilities for Settlement of Awards

20

Section 4.5

Form S-8

20

Section 4.6

Tax Reporting and Withholding for Awards

20

Section 4.7

Approval of Venator New Equity Plan

21

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

BONUS AND SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

 

 

 

Section 5.1

Establishment of Venator Short-Term Incentive Plans

21

Section 5.2

Treatment of Short-Term Incentives for Year of IPO

21

Section 5.3

Plan Liabilities

21

 

i



 

ARTICLE VI

QUALIFIED DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

 

 

 

Section 6.1

Retention of Venator Group Defined Benefit Plans

22

Section 6.2

Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans

22

Section 6.3

Huntsman Europe BVBA Belgium

22

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

QUALIFIED DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS

 

 

 

Section 7.1

Establishment of the Venator 401(k) Plan

23

Section 7.2

Venator Employee Account Balances

23

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

 

 

 

Section 8.1

Establishment of Venator Deferred Compensation Plans

23

Section 8.2

Liability and Responsibility

24

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

WELFARE PLANS

 

 

 

Section 9.1

Establishment of Venator Welfare Plans

24

Section 9.2

Special Provisions Relating to Post-Retirement Welfare Plans

24

Section 9.3

Transitional Matters Under Venator Welfare Plans

25

Section 9.4

Benefit Elections and Designations and Continuity of Benefits

25

Section 9.5

Insurance Contracts

27

Section 9.6

Third-Party Vendors

27

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

 

 

 

Section 10.1

Venator Workers’ and Unemployment Compensation

28

Section 10.2

Assignment of Contribution Rights

28

Section 10.3

Collateral

28

Section 10.4

Cooperation

28

 

 

 

ARTICLE XI

SEVERANCE

 

 

 

Section 11.1

Establishment of Venator Severance Program

28

Section 11.2

Liability for Severance

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

BENEFIT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

 

 

Section 12.1

Accrued Time Off

29

Section 12.2

Leaves of Absence

29

 

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Section 12.3

Restrictive Covenants in Employment and Other Agreements

29

 

 

 

ARTICLE XIII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

 

 

Section 13.1

Preservation of Rights to Amend

29

Section 13.2

Confidentiality

29

Section 13.3

Administrative Complaints/Litigation

30

Section 13.4

Reimbursement and Indemnification

30

Section 13.5

Costs of Compliance with Agreement

31

Section 13.6

Fiduciary Matters

31

Section 13.7

Entire Agreement

31

Section 13.8

Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Assignment

31

Section 13.9

Amendment; Waivers

31

Section 13.10

Remedies Cumulative

32

Section 13.11

Notices

32

Section 13.12

Counterparts

32

Section 13.13

Severability

32

Section 13.14

Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

32

Section 13.15

Dispute Resolution

32

Section 13.16

Performance

33

Section 13.17

Construction

33

Section 13.18

Effect if IPO Does Not Occur

33

 

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EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT

 

This EMPLOYEE MATTERS AGREEMENT , made and entered into as of August 7, 2017 to be effective as of the Effective Date, is by and between Huntsman Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“ Huntsman ”), and Venator Materials PLC, a public company limited by shares and incorporated under the laws of England and Wales (“ Venator ”). Huntsman and Venator are also referred to in this Agreement individually as a “ Party ” and collectively as the “ Parties .”  Capitalized terms used herein not otherwise defined shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in Section 1.1 .

 

R E C I T A L S

 

WHEREAS , the Huntsman Board has determined that the separation (the “ Separation ”) and eventual IPO of the Venator Business is in the best interests of Huntsman, Venator and the Huntsman shareholders;

 

WHEREAS , concurrently herewith, Huntsman and Venator will enter into the Separation and Distribution Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “ Separation Agreement ”), in connection with the Separation;

 

WHEREAS , the Separation Agreement also provides for the execution and delivery of certain other agreements, including this Agreement, in order to facilitate and provide for the Separation and IPO of Venator; and

 

WHEREAS , in order to ensure an orderly transition under the Separation Agreement, it will be necessary for the Parties to allocate between them Assets, Liabilities and responsibilities with respect to certain employee compensation and benefit plans and programs, and certain other employment-related matters.

 

NOW , THEREFORE , in consideration of the foregoing and the covenants and agreements set forth below and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.1                                     Definitions .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.1 :

 

Adjusted Huntsman RSUs ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(e) .

 

Affiliate ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Agreement ” means this Employee Matters Agreement, together with all Schedules hereto and all amendments, modifications, and changes hereto entered into pursuant to Section 13.9 .

 

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Ancillary Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

ASC 718 ” means Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation — Stock Compensation, or any successor accounting standard.

 

Assets ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Benefit Management Records ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b) .

 

Benefit Plan ” means any contract, agreement, policy, practice, program, plan, trust, commitment or arrangement (whether written or unwritten) providing for benefits, perquisites or compensation of any nature to any Employee, or to any family member, dependent, or beneficiary of any Employee, including pension plans, thrift plans, supplemental pension plans and welfare plans, and contracts, agreements, policies, practices, programs, plans, trusts, commitments and arrangements providing for terms of employment, fringe benefits, severance benefits, change in control protections or benefits, travel and accident, life, disability and accident insurance, tuition reimbursement, travel reimbursement, vacation, sick, personal or bereavement days, leaves of absences and holidays.

 

COBRA ” means the U.S. Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as codified at Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and at Section 4980B of the Code.

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Collective Bargaining Agreements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(i) .

 

Defined Benefit Transfer Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .

 

Dividend Accounts ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(f) .

 

Effective Date ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Employee ” means any Huntsman Group Employee, Former Huntsman Group Employee or Venator Group Employee.

 

Employee Transfer Date ” means the legal Employee transfer date, which may differ among and between certain groups of Employees, but which is expected to be on or around May 1, 2017.

 

Equity Award Ratio ” means the ratio (as expressed as a quotient) determined by dividing the Huntsman VWAP by the Venator VWAP.

 

ERISA ” means the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Former Huntsman Group Employees ” means all former employees of the Huntsman Group.

 

Former Venator Group Employees ” means all former employees of the Venator Group.

 

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FSA Participation Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(b) .

 

HIPAA ” means the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder and any similar foreign, state, provincial or local Law.

 

HSA Participation Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(c) .

 

Huntsman ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Huntsman Benefit Plan ” means any Benefit Plan sponsored or maintained by a member of the Huntsman Group immediately prior to the Plan Transfer Date or Employee Transfer Date, as applicable, other than any Benefit Plan sponsored or maintained exclusively by a member of the Venator Group.

 

Huntsman Common Stock ” means a share of Huntsman’s common stock, par value $0.01.

 

Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plan ” means the Amended and Restated Huntsman Supplemental Savings Plan, as amended.

 

Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans ” means all Benefit Plans sponsored by one or more members of the Huntsman Group that are subject to Title IV of ERISA, other than the Venator Group Defined Benefit Plans.

 

Huntsman Defined Contribution Plans ” means all Benefit Plans sponsored by one or more members of the Huntsman Group that provide retirement benefits that are subject to Code Section 401(a), but not Title IV of ERISA, or applicable analogous foreign jurisdiction laws.

 

Huntsman Director ” means any individual who is a non-employee member of the Board of Directors of Huntsman immediately prior to the Effective Date.

 

Huntsman Entity ” means any member of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman Equity Plans ” means the Huntsman Stock Incentive Plan, the Huntsman Corporation 2016 Stock Incentive Plan, and any other plan or agreement sponsored or maintained by Huntsman as of the Effective Date pursuant to which equity or other long-term incentive awards are or may be granted (in each case, as amended from time to time).

 

Huntsman Europe BVBA Belgium ” means the defined benefit plan maintained by a member of the Huntsman Group for the benefit of both Huntsman Group Employees and Venator Group Employees.

 

Huntsman Group ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Huntsman Group Employees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b) .

 

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Huntsman LTI Awards ” means the Huntsman Options, the Huntsman Phantom Shares, the Huntsman Restricted Stock and the Huntsman Restricted Stock Units.

 

Huntsman Option ” means an award granted to a Venator Group Employee pursuant to the Huntsman Equity Plans providing the holder with an option to purchase a share of Huntsman Common Stock.

 

Huntsman Phantom Shares ” means an award granted to a Venator Group Employee pursuant to the Huntsman Equity Plans providing the holder with a phantom share of Huntsman Common Stock, whether designed to be settled in cash or shares of Huntsman Common Stock.

 

Huntsman Restricted Stock ” means an award granted to a Venator Group Employee pursuant to the Huntsman Equity Plans providing the holder with a restricted share of Huntsman Common Stock.

 

Huntsman Restricted Stock Unit ” or “ Huntsman RSU ” means an award granted to a Venator Group Employee pursuant to the Huntsman Equity Plans providing the holder with a restricted stock unit based on Huntsman Common Stock, whether designed to be settled in cash or shares of Huntsman Common Stock, and whether subject to time-based or performance-based vesting conditions.

 

Huntsman Retiree Medical Plan ” means the Welfare Plan sponsored or maintained by any one or more members of the Huntsman Group as of immediately prior to the Plan Transfer Date or Employee Transfer Date, as applicable, for the benefit of retired employees of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman Salary Deferral Plan ” means the defined contribution plan sponsored by the members of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman Short-Term Incentive Plans ” means those short-term incentive plans sponsored by the members of the Huntsman Group.

 

Huntsman VWAP ” means the volume weighted average price of Huntsman Common Stock for a ten (10) trading day period, starting with the opening of trading on the eleventh (11 th ) trading day prior to the Venator Trading Day to the closing of trading on the last trading day prior to the Venator Trading Day.

 

Huntsman Welfare Plan ” means any Welfare Plan sponsored or maintained by any one or more members of the Huntsman Group as of immediately prior to the Plan Transfer Date or Employee Transfer Date, as applicable, other than the Huntsman Retiree Medical Plan.

 

IPO ” means the initial public offering of Venator Ordinary Shares pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Law ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

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Party ” or “ Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Person ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Plan Transfer Date ” means that date that Venator will establish and/or accept transfer of each of the Venator Benefit Plans, which date may differ among and between such Venator Benefit Plans, but which is expected to be on or around July 1, 2017.

 

Separation ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Separation Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.

 

Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Transfer Documents ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

U.S. ” means the United States of America.

 

Venator ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.

 

Venator 401(k) Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 .

 

Venator Benefit Plan ” means any Benefit Plan sponsored or maintained by a member of the Venator Group immediately following the Plan Transfer Date or Employee Transfer Date, as applicable.

 

Venator Business ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiaries ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1 .

 

Venator Deferred Compensation Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1 .

 

Venator Director ” means any individual who is a non-employee member of the Board of Directors of Venator immediately after the Effective Date.

 

Venator Entity ” means any member of the Venator Group.

 

Venator Europe BVBA Belgium ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .

 

Venator Europe BVBA Belgium Participants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(b) .

 

Venator FSA ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(b) .

 

Venator Group ” has the meaning forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

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Venator Group Defined Benefit Plan ” means each Benefit Plan sponsored by one or more members of the Venator Group solely for the benefit of Venator Employees that is subject to Title IV of ERISA, other than the Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans.

 

Venator Group Employees ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a) .

 

Venator HSA has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4(c) .

 

Venator LTI Awards ” means the Venator Options and Venator Restricted Stock Units.

 

Venator New Equity Plan ” means the plan adopted by Venator, in accordance with Section 4.7 , under which the Venator LTI Awards described in Article IV shall be issued.

 

Venator Options ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b) .

 

Venator Ordinary Shares ” has the meaning set forth in the Separation Agreement.

 

Venator Pension Assets ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .

 

Venator Restricted Stock Unit ” or “ Venator RSU ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(c) .

 

Venator Retiree Welfare Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2 .

 

Venator Retiree Welfare Plan Participants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2 .

 

Venator Short-Term Incentive Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1 .

 

Venator Trading Day ” means the first day of public trading of the Ordinary Shares on the New York Stock Exchange, which is expected to be on or around August 3, 2017.

 

Venator VWAP ” means the volume weighted average price of Venator Ordinary Shares for the ten (10) trading day period, starting with the opening of trading on the Venator Trading Day to the closing of trading on the tenth (10 th ) day of public trading of the Ordinary Shares.

 

Venator Welfare Plan Participants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 .

 

Venator Welfare Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 .

 

WARN ” means the U.S. Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder, and any applicable foreign, state, provincial or local Law equivalent.

 

Welfare Plan ” means, where applicable, a “welfare plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) or a “cafeteria plan” under Section 125 of the Code, and any benefits offered thereunder, and any other plan offering health benefits (including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, and mental health and substance abuse), disability benefits, or life, accidental death and disability, and business travel insurance, pre-tax premium conversion benefits, dependent care

 

6



 

assistance programs, employee assistance programs, paid time off programs, contribution funding toward a health savings account or flexible spending accounts.

 

Section 1.2                                     Interpretation .  In this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

 

(a)                                  words used in the singular include the plural and words used in the plural include the singular;

 

(b)                                  if a word or phrase is defined in this Agreement, its other grammatical forms, as used in this Agreement, shall have a corresponding meaning;

 

(c)                                   reference to any gender includes the other gender and the neuter;

 

(d)                                  the words “include,” “includes” and “including” shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation”;

 

(e)                                   the words “shall” and “will” are used interchangeably and have the same meaning;

 

(f)                                    the word “or” shall have the inclusive meaning represented by the phrase “and/or”;

 

(g)                                   relative to the determination of any period of time, “from” means “from and including,” “to” means “to but excluding” and “through” means “through and including”;

 

(h)                                  whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days;

 

(i)                                      accounting terms used herein have the meanings historically ascribed to them by Huntsman and its Subsidiaries, including Venator for this purpose, in its and their internal accounting and financial policies and procedures in effect immediately prior to the date of this Agreement;

 

(j)                                     reference to any Article, Section or Schedule means such Article or Section of, or such Schedule to, this Agreement, as the case may be, and references in any Section or definition to any clause means such clause of such Section or definition;

 

(k)                                  the words “this Agreement,” “herein,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto” and words of similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other provision of this Agreement;

 

(l)                                      the term “commercially reasonable efforts” means efforts which are commercially reasonable to enable a Party, directly or indirectly, to satisfy a condition to or otherwise assist in the consummation of a desired result and which do not require the performing Party to expend funds or assume Liabilities other than expenditures and Liabilities which are customary and reasonable in nature and amount in the context of a series of related transactions similar to the IPO;

 

7



 

(m)                              reference to any agreement, instrument or other document means such agreement, instrument or other document as amended, supplemented and modified from time to time to the extent permitted by the provisions thereof and not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(n)                                  reference to any Law (including statutes and ordinances) means such Law (including any and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) as amended, modified, codified or reenacted, in whole or in part, and in effect at the time of determining compliance or applicability;

 

(o)                                  references to any Person include such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement; a reference to such Person’s “Affiliates” shall be deemed to mean such Person’s Affiliates following the IPO and any reference to a third party shall be deemed to mean a Person who is not a Party or an Affiliate of a Party;

 

(p)                                  if there is any conflict between the provisions of the main body of this Agreement and the Schedules hereto, the provisions of the main body of this Agreement shall control unless explicitly stated otherwise in such Schedule;

 

(q)                                  unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all references to dollar amounts herein shall be in respect of lawful currency of the U.S.;

 

(r)                                     the titles to Articles and headings of Sections contained in this Agreement, in any Schedule and exhibit and in the table of contents to this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to be a part of or to affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement; and

 

(s)                                    any portion of this Agreement obligating a Party to take any action or refrain from taking any action, as the case may be, shall mean that such Party shall also be obligated to cause its relevant Subsidiaries to take such action or refrain from taking such action, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE II
GENERAL PRINCIPLES FOR ALLOCATION OF LIABILITIES

 

Section 2.1                                     General Principles .

 

(a)                                  Cessation of Participation in Huntsman Benefit Plans by Venator Group Employees .  Each member of the Huntsman Group and each member of the Venator Group shall take any and all reasonable action as shall be necessary or appropriate so that active participation in the Huntsman Benefit Plans by all Venator Group Employees shall terminate in connection with the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date) as and when provided under this Agreement (or, if not specifically provided under this Agreement, as of the Effective Date).

 

(b)                                  Certain Obligations of the Huntsman Group .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, effective as of the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date), one or more members of the Venator Group (as determined by Venator) shall assume or continue the sponsorship of, and no member of the Huntsman Group shall have any

 

8



 

further Liability with respect to or under, the following agreements, obligations and Liabilities, and Venator shall indemnify each member of the Huntsman Group, and the officers, directors, and employees of each member of the Huntsman Group, and hold them harmless with respect to such agreements, obligations or Liabilities:

 

(i)                                      any and all individual agreements entered into between any member of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group and any Venator Group Employee;

 

(ii)                                   any and all agreements entered into between any member of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group and any individual who is a consultant or an independent contractor providing services primarily for the benefit of the Venator Business;

 

(iii)                                any and all collective bargaining agreements, collective agreements and trade union or works council agreements entered into between any member of the Huntsman Group or Venator Group and any labor union, trade union, works council or other representative of Venator Group Employees;

 

(iv)                               any and all wages, salaries, incentive compensation (as the same may be modified by this Agreement), commissions, bonuses, payment owed for any vacation or paid time off entitlement and any other compensation or benefits payable to or on behalf of any Venator Group Employees on or after the Employee Transfer Date, without regard to when such wages, salaries, incentive compensation, commissions, bonuses, or other compensation or benefits are or may have been earned;

 

(v)                                  any and all Liabilities and other obligations relating to any Benefit Plan that is sponsored, maintained or contributed to exclusively by a member or members of the Venator Group or for the benefit of one or more Venator Group Employees (whether or not such Liabilities relate to Venator Group Employees);

 

(vi)                               any and all expenses and obligations related to relocation, repatriation, transfers or similar items incurred by or owed to any Venator Group Employees that have not been paid prior to the Employee Transfer Date;

 

(vii)                            any and all immigration-related, visa, work application or similar rights, obligations and Liabilities related to any Venator Group Employees;

 

(viii)                         any employment tax, superannuation, employment insurance, pension plan or similar Liabilities incurred or owed with respect to Venator Group Employees; and

 

(ix)                               any and all Liabilities and obligations whatsoever with respect to claims made by, on behalf of, or with respect to any Venator Group Employees or independent contractors providing services primarily for the Venator Business including any such Liability or obligation in connection with any labor or employment practice, workers’ compensation claims, labor or employment Laws, employee benefit plan, program or policy not otherwise expressly retained or assumed by any member of the Huntsman Group pursuant to this Agreement, including such Liabilities relating to

 

9



 

actions or omissions of or by any member of the Venator Group or any officer, director, employee or agent thereof on or prior to the Effective Date.

 

(c)                                   Certain Obligations of the Huntsman Group .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, effective as of the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date), no member of the Venator Group shall have any further Liability for, and Huntsman shall indemnify each member of the Venator Group, and the officers, directors, and employees of each member of the Venator Group, and hold them harmless with respect to any and all Liabilities and obligations whatsoever with respect to, claims made by or with respect to any Huntsman Group Employees and Former Huntsman Group Employees in connection with any employee benefit plan, program or policy not otherwise retained or assumed by any member of the Venator Group pursuant to this Agreement, including such Liabilities relating to actions or omissions of or by any member of the Huntsman Group or any officer, director, employee or agent thereof on, prior to or after the Effective Date.

 

Section 2.2                                     Service Credit .

 

(a)                                  Service for Participation, Eligibility, Vesting, and Benefit Level Purposes .  Except as otherwise provided in any other provision of this Agreement, the Venator Benefit Plans shall, and Venator shall cause each member of the Venator Group to, recognize each Venator Group Employee’s full service credit for purposes of participation, eligibility, vesting and determination of level of benefits under any Venator Benefit Plan for such Venator Group Employee’s service with any member of the Huntsman Group on or prior to the Employee Transfer Date, to the same extent such service would be credited if it had been performed for a member of the Venator Group.

 

(b)                                  Evidence of Prior Service .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, but subject to applicable Law, upon reasonable request by one Party to the other Party, the first Party will provide to the other Party copies of any records available to the first Party to document such service, plan participation and membership of such Employees and cooperate with the first Party to resolve any discrepancies or obtain any missing data for purposes of determining benefit eligibility, participation, vesting and determination of level of benefits with respect to any Employee.

 

Section 2.3                                     Plan Administration .

 

(a)                                  Transition Services .  The Parties acknowledge that the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group may provide administrative services for certain of the other Party’s benefit programs for a transitional period under the terms of a transition services agreement. The Parties agree to enter into a business associate or comparable agreement (if required by HIPAA or other applicable health information or privacy Laws) in connection with such transition services agreement.

 

(b)                                  Participant Elections and Beneficiary Designations .  All participant elections and beneficiary designations made under any Huntsman Benefit Plan with respect to which Assets or Liabilities are transferred or allocated to plans maintained by a member of the Venator Group in accordance with this Agreement shall continue in effect under the applicable

 

10



 

Venator Benefit Plan, including deferral, investment and payment form elections, dividend elections, coverage options and levels, beneficiary designations and the rights of alternate payees under qualified domestic relations orders, to the extent allowed by applicable Law.

 

Section 2.4                                     Retention of Venator Group Plans .  In the event any Benefit Plan is sponsored, maintained or contributed to exclusively by a member or members of the Venator Group or exclusively for the benefit of one or more Venator Group Employees, from and after the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall cause a member of the Venator Group to assume or retain sponsorship of such Benefit Plan and all Liabilities relating thereto (whether or not such Liabilities relate to Venator Group Employees).

 

Section 2.5                                     No Duplication or Acceleration of Benefits .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or any Transfer Document, no participant in the Venator Benefit Plans shall receive benefits that duplicate benefits provided by the corresponding Huntsman Benefit Plan or arrangement. Furthermore, unless expressly provided for in this Agreement, the Separation Agreement or in any Transfer Document or required by applicable Law, no provision in this Agreement shall be construed to create any right to accelerate vesting or entitlements to any compensation or Benefit Plan on the part of any Huntsman Group Employee, Former Huntsman Group Employee, Huntsman Director, Venator Director, Venator Group Employee or Former Venator Group Employee.

 

Section 2.6                                     No Expansion of Participation .  Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, as otherwise determined or agreed to by Huntsman and Venator, as required by applicable Law, or as explicitly set forth in a Venator Benefit Plan, a Venator Group Employee shall be entitled to participate in the Venator Benefit Plans only to the extent that such Employee was entitled to participate in the corresponding Huntsman Benefit Plan or Benefit Plan sponsored by a member of the Venator Group as in effect as of the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date), with it being the intent of the Parties that this Agreement does not result in any expansion of the number of Venator Group Employees participating or the participation rights therein that they had prior to the Employee Transfer Date.

 

Section 2.7                                     Venator Group Decisions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary within this Agreement, Venator shall be responsible for all liabilities associated with severance or other benefit obligations for any Employee if such liabilities arise due to Venator or a Venator Entity failing to hire, failing to accept the transfer of, or otherwise preventing the employment of any Employee that was scheduled to become a Venator Group Employee but for whom Venator determines shall not become a Venator Group Employee.

 

ARTICLE III

 

ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEES

 

Section 3.1                                     Active Employees .

 

(a)                                  Venator Group Employees .  Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, effective as of the Employee Transfer date, the employment of each individual (i) who is employed by Venator as of immediately prior to the Employee Transfer Date or (ii) 

 

11



 

whose employment duties are to be exclusively related to the Venator Business immediately following the Employee Transfer Date (collectively, the “ Venator Group Employees ”) shall continue with a member of the Venator Group or shall be assigned and transferred to a member of the Venator Group (in each case, with such member as determined by Venator). Each of the Parties agrees to execute, and to seek to have the applicable employees execute, such documentation, if any, as may be necessary to reflect such assignments and transfers.

 

(b)                                  Huntsman Group Employees .  Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, the employment of each individual who is employed by a member of the Huntsman Group and is not a Venator Group Employee (collectively, the “ Huntsman Group Employees ”) shall continue with a member of the Huntsman Group or shall be assigned and transferred to a member of the Huntsman Group (in each case as determined by Huntsman). Each of the Parties agrees to execute, and to seek to have the applicable employees execute, such documentation, if any, as may be necessary to reflect such assignments and transfers.

 

(c)                                   Delayed Transfer Employees .  The Parties agree that the Employee Transfer Date for certain groups of Employees will differ and may occur subsequent to the relevant Plan Transfer Date and/or the Effective Date.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Employee whose transfer to the Venator Group is delayed will be treated as a Huntsman Group Employee for all purposes of this Agreement until their actual Employee Transfer Date.  Upon and following each Employee’s Employee Transfer Date, such Employee will be treated as a Venator Group Employee for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(d)                                  At-Will Status .  Notwithstanding the above or any other provision of this Agreement, nothing in this Agreement shall create any obligation on the part of any member of the Huntsman Group or any member of the Venator Group to (i) continue the employment of any Employee or permit the return from a leave of absence for any period following the date of this Agreement or the Employee Transfer Date (except as required by applicable Law) or (ii) change the employment status of any Employee from “at will” (or any similar concept within a non-U.S. jurisdiction) to the extent such Employee is an “at will” employee (or similar status within a non-U.S. jurisdiction) under applicable Law.

 

(e)                                   Separation from Service .  Except as set forth on a schedule to be agreed upon by the Parties, the Parties acknowledge and agree that the IPO and the assignment, transfer or continuation of the employment of Employees as contemplated by this Section 3.1(e) , (i) shall not be deemed a “separation from service” (as defined in Section 409A of the Code) of any Employee for purposes of this Agreement or any Benefit Plan of any member of the Huntsman Group or any member of the Venator Group but (ii) shall, with respect to Venator Group Employees and for purposes of the Huntsman Defined Contribution Plans, constitute a “severance from employment” (as described in Section 401(k)(2)(B) of the Code).

 

(f)                                    Not a Change of Control/Change in Control .  The Parties acknowledge and agree that neither the consummation of the IPO nor any transaction in connection with the IPO shall be deemed a “change of control,” “change in control,” or term of similar import for purposes of any Benefit Plan of any member of the Huntsman Group or any member of the Venator Group.

 

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(g)                                   Payroll Issues and Related Tax Matters .  Huntsman, or an appropriate Huntsman Entity, shall bear responsibility for payroll taxes, fringe benefit tax obligations, proper withholding, document distribution and reporting to the appropriate governmental authorities for each Huntsman Group Employee. With respect to the portion of the 2017 calendar year prior to the applicable Employee Transfer Date for each Venator Group Employee, Huntsman, or an appropriate Huntsman Entity, shall bear responsibility for payroll taxes, fringe benefit tax obligations, proper withholding, document distribution and reporting to the appropriate governmental authorities for each Venator Group Employee, including, without limitation, providing a Form W-2 to the applicable Venator Group Employees that are also Former Huntsman Employees following the end of the year in which the IPO occurs. With respect to the portion of the 2017 calendar year that begins on and after the applicable Employee Transfer Date for each Venator Group Employee, Venator, or an appropriate Venator Entity, shall bear responsibility for payroll taxes, fringe benefit tax obligations, proper withholding, document distribution and reporting to the appropriate governmental authorities for each Venator Group Employee.   The Parties agree that neither Venator nor an applicable Venator Entity will be treated as a “successor employer” of Huntsman or an applicable Huntsman Entity. Unless otherwise required by applicable Law, the entity for which the relevant employee is currently employed or, if such individual is not currently employed by Huntsman or Venator, was most recently employed at the time of the vesting, exercise, disqualifying disposition, payment or other relevant taxable event, as appropriate, in respect of equity awards and other compensation shall be entitled to claim any income tax deduction in respect of such equity awards and other compensation on its respective tax return associated with such event. Unless otherwise prohibited by applicable Law, any members of the Huntsman Group and the Venator Group may enter into separate reimbursement agreements regarding income tax deductions if the Parties mutually agree that the deduction should have gone to an entity other than the entity that received the income tax deduction on its respective tax return.

 

(h)                                  Employment Contracts; Expatriate Obligations .  Effective as of the Employee Transfer Date, Venator will assume and honor, or will cause a member of the Venator Group to assume and honor, any agreements to which any Venator Group Employee is party with any Huntsman Entity, including any (i) employment contract, executive agreement, offer letter, indemnification or consulting agreement, (ii) retention, severance or change of control arrangement or (iii) expatriate or relocation contract or arrangement (including agreements and obligations regarding repatriation, relocation, equalization of taxes and living standards in the host country).

 

(i)                                      Collective Bargaining Agreements Schedule 3.1(i)  sets forth a list of collective bargaining agreements, collective agreements, trade union or works council agreements and any other contractual or other obligation to a labor union, trade union, works council or other representative of any Venator Group Employee relating to the Venator Group Employees in effect on the date of this Agreement (collectively, the “ Collective Bargaining Agreements ”). Prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Huntsman and Venator will take or cause to be taken all actions necessary (if any) to cause a Venator Entity to continue sponsorship of the Collective Bargaining Agreements. Huntsman and Venator shall cooperate in submitting and completing any required successor employer application, or similar application or notice, in order to effectuate any such assignment. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to alter the provisions of any Collective Bargaining Agreement or modify in any way the obligations owed

 

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to the Employees covered by any such agreement. The Huntsman Group shall have no Liability for or under any collective bargaining agreements, collective agreements, multiemployer plans, pension and welfare plans and arrangements, labor union, trade union or works council agreements that related to the Venator Business and which were entered into with any member of the Huntsman Group, any union, works council, or representative of any Venator Group Employee, and such agreements, plans, and arrangements (if any) shall, to the extent permitted under applicable Law and their respective terms, be assigned from the applicable Huntsman Entity to Venator (or a Venator Entity designated by Venator) effective as of the Plan Transfer Date and Venator shall cooperate in submitting and completing any required successor employer application, or similar application or notice, in order to effectuate any such assignment.

 

Section 3.2                                     Employment Law Obligations .

 

(a)                                  WARN .  (i)  Huntsman shall be responsible for providing any necessary WARN notice and satisfying WARN obligations (or such other requirements under applicable Law) with respect to any termination of employment of any Huntsman Group Employee that occurs after the Effective Date, and (ii) Venator shall be responsible for providing any necessary WARN notice and satisfying WARN obligations (or such other requirements under applicable Law) with respect to any termination of employment of any Venator Group Employee that occurs after the Employee Transfer Date.

 

(b)                                  Compliance With Employment Laws . With respect to the time period occurring on and after the Effective Date, each member of the Huntsman Group shall be responsible for adopting and maintaining any policies or practices, and for all other actions and inactions, necessary to comply with employment-related Laws and requirements relating to the employment of Huntsman Group Employees and the treatment of any applicable Former Huntsman Group Employees in respect of their employment.  Each member of the Venator Group shall be responsible for adopting and maintaining any policies or practices, and for all other actions and inactions, necessary to comply with employment-related Laws and requirements relating to the employment of Venator Group Employees on or after the Employee Transfer Date.

 

Section 3.3                                     Employee Records .

 

(a)                                  Sharing of Information .  Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable Law, Huntsman and Venator (acting directly or through members of the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group, respectively) shall provide to the other and their respective agents and vendors all information reasonably necessary for the Parties to perform their respective duties under this Agreement. The Parties also hereby agree to enter into any business associate arrangements that may be required for the sharing of any information pursuant to this Agreement to comply with the requirements of HIPAA (or other applicable Law).

 

(b)                                  Transfer of Personnel Records and Authorization .  Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable Law, as soon as administratively feasible following the Employee Transfer Date, Huntsman shall transfer and assign to Venator all personnel records, all immigration documents, including I-9 forms and work authorizations, all payroll deduction authorizations and elections, whether voluntary or mandated by Law, including but not limited to

 

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W-4 forms and deductions for benefits under the applicable Venator Benefit Plans and all absence management records, Family and Medical Leave Act and employee leave records, insurance beneficiary designations, flexible spending account enrollment confirmations, attendance, and return to work information (“ Benefit Management Records ”).  Subject to any limitations imposed by applicable Law, Huntsman, however, may retain originals of, copies of, or access to Benefit Management Records as long as necessary to provide services to Venator (acting pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement).  Venator will use Benefit Management Records for lawful purposes only, including calculation of withholdings from wages and personnel management.  It is understood that following the IPO, Huntsman records so transferred and assigned may be maintained by Venator (acting directly or through one of its Subsidiaries) pursuant to Venator’s applicable records retention policy.

 

(c)                                   Access to Records .  To the extent not inconsistent with this Agreement and any applicable Laws, reasonable access to Employee-related records after the Employee Transfer Date will be provided to members of the Huntsman Group and members of the Venator Group pursuant to the terms and conditions of Article VII of the Separation Agreement. In addition, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, Venator shall provide Huntsman with reasonable access to those records necessary for its administration of any plans or programs on behalf of Huntsman Group Employees and Former Huntsman Group Employees after the IPO as permitted by any applicable Laws. Huntsman shall also be permitted to retain copies of all restrictive covenant agreements with any Venator Group Employee in which any member of the Huntsman Group has a valid business interest. In addition, Huntsman shall provide Venator with reasonable access to those records necessary for its administration of any plans or programs on behalf of Venator Group Employees after the applicable Employee Transfer Date or Plan Transfer Date as permitted by any applicable Laws. Venator shall also be permitted to retain copies of all restrictive covenant agreements with any Huntsman Group Employee or Former Huntsman Group Employee in which any member of the Venator Group has a valid business interest.

 

(d)                                  Maintenance of Records .  With respect to retaining, destroying, transferring, sharing, copying and permitting access to all Employee-related information, Huntsman and Venator shall comply with all applicable Laws and shall indemnify and hold harmless each other from and against any and all Liability, claims, actions, and damages that arise from a failure (by the indemnifying party or its Subsidiaries or their respective agents) to so comply with all applicable Laws applicable to such information.

 

(e)                                   No Access to Computer Systems or Files .  Except as set forth in the Separation Agreement, any Transfer Document or pursuant to any other agreement reached between the Parties, generally no provision of this Agreement shall give (i) any member of the Huntsman Group direct access to the computer systems or other files, records or databases of any member of the Venator Group or (ii) any member of the Venator Group direct access to the computer systems or other files, records or databases of any member of the Huntsman Group, unless specifically permitted by the owner of such systems, files, records or databases.

 

(f)                                    Confidentiality .  The provisions of this Section 3.3(f)  shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, the provisions of the Separation Agreement governing confidential information, including Section 7.7 of the Separation Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth in this Agreement, all records and data relating to Employees shall, in each case, be subject to the

 

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confidentiality provisions of the Separation Agreement and any other applicable agreement and applicable Law.

 

(g)                                   Cooperation .  Each Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate to share, retain, and maintain data and records that are necessary or appropriate to further the purposes of this Section 3.3(g)  and for each Party to administer its respective Benefit Plans to the extent consistent with this Agreement and applicable Law, and each Party agrees to cooperate as long as is reasonably necessary to further the purposes of this Section 3.3(g) . Except as provided under any Transfer Document, no Party shall charge another Party a fee for such cooperation.

 

ARTICLE IV
EQUITY AND LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS

 

Section 4.1                                     General Principles .

 

(a)           Additional Actions .  Huntsman and Venator shall take any and all reasonable actions as shall be necessary and appropriate to further the provisions of this Article IV , including, to the extent practicable, providing written notice or similar communication to each individual who holds one or more awards granted under any of the Huntsman Equity Plans informing such individual of (i) the actions contemplated by this Article IV with respect to such awards and (ii) whether (and during what time period) any “blackout” period shall be imposed upon holders of awards granted under any of the Huntsman Equity Plans during which time awards may not be exercised or settled, as the case may be.

 

(b)                                  Service Recognition; Change of Control .  From and after the IPO, (i) a grantee who has outstanding awards under one or more of the Huntsman Equity Plans and/or replacement awards under the Venator New Equity Plan shall be considered to have been employed by (or otherwise providing services to) the applicable plan sponsor before and after the IPO for purposes of (x) vesting and (y) determining the date of termination of employment (or any other applicable service relationship) as it applies to any such award and (ii) for purposes of determining whether any “change of control” has occurred with respect to any Huntsman LTI Award or Venator LTI Award, (x) a “change of control” shall only be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any award that is governed by the Huntsman Equity Plans upon a “change of control” of Huntsman and (y) a “change of control” shall only be deemed to have occurred for purposes of any award that is governed by the Venator New Equity Plan upon a “change of control” of Venator.

 

(c)                                   Consistency with Applicable Laws .  No award described in this Article IV , whether outstanding or to be issued, adjusted, substituted or cancelled by reason of or in connection with the IPO, shall be adjusted, settled, cancelled, or exercisable, until in the judgment of the administrator of the applicable plan or program such action is consistent with all applicable Laws, including federal securities Laws and any foreign jurisdiction rules and regulations that may be applicable to the award or to the holder thereof. Any period of exercisability will not be extended on account of a period during which such an award is not exercisable pursuant to the preceding sentence.

 

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(d)                                  ASC 718 .  The adjustment or conversion of Huntsman LTI Awards pursuant to this Article IV is intended to be effectuated in a manner so as to result in each adjusted Huntsman LTI Award or Venator LTI Award, as applicable, having an aggregate “fair value” and an “intrinsic value” (in each case, within the meaning of ASC 718 and determined in accordance therewith), as of immediately following the IPO, that shall not be materially greater than the fair value and intrinsic value of the related Huntsman LTI Award immediately prior to the IPO.

 

(e)                                   Section 409A of the Code .  The adjustment or conversion of Huntsman LTI Awards shall be effectuated in a manner that is intended to avoid the imposition of any penalty or other taxes on the holders thereof pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 4.2                                     Equity Award Treatment .

 

(a)                                  Vested Huntsman Options .  Each Huntsman Option that is vested but not yet exercised immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day shall continue to be exercisable for Huntsman Common Stock, subject to the same terms and conditions set forth in the Huntsman Equity Plans and as provided in any individual award agreement governing such Huntsman Option; provided , however , that from and after the Venator Trading Day, the vesting of each Huntsman Option shall be determined based upon continued service with the Venator Group rather than the Huntsman Group.

 

(b)                                  Unvested Huntsman Options .  Each holder of a Huntsman Option that is unvested immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day shall, upon the Venator Trading Day, have their rights to the Huntsman Option cancelled and the participants rights under each such Huntsman Option shall be converted into the right to receive a stock option award granted pursuant to the Venator New Equity Plan with respect to Venator Ordinary Shares (the “ Venator Options ”).  The number of Venator Options to be granted to each applicable participant shall be determined by multiplying the number of Huntsman Common Stock subject to the Huntsman Option by the Equity Award Ratio (rounded to the nearest whole share of Venator Ordinary Shares).  The exercise price of each new Venator Option shall be determined by dividing the exercise price of the original Huntsman Option by the Equity Award Ratio, rounded up to the nearest whole cent. Each Venator Option described in the preceding sentences shall be subject to the same terms and conditions after the Venator Trading Day as the terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Huntsman Option immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day, including vesting restrictions and the original term of the award; provided , however , that from and after the Venator Trading Day, the vesting and exercisability of each Venator Option shall be determined based upon continued service with the Venator Group rather than the Huntsman Group.

 

(c)                                   Huntsman Phantom Shares .  Each holder of a Huntsman Phantom Share that is outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day shall, upon the Venator Trading Day, have their rights to the Huntsman Phantom Share cancelled and the participants rights under each such Huntsman Phantom Share shall be converted into the right to receive a restricted stock unit award granted pursuant to the Venator New Equity Plan with respect to Venator Ordinary Shares (the “ Venator Restricted Stock Unit ” or “ Venator RSU ”). The number of Venator RSUs to be granted to each applicable participant shall be determined by

 

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multiplying the number of Huntsman Common Stock subject to the Huntsman Phantom Share by the Equity Award Ratio (rounded to the nearest whole share of Venator Ordinary Shares).  Each Venator RSU described in the preceding sentences shall be subject to the same terms and conditions after the Venator Trading Day as the terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Huntsman Phantom Share immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day, including vesting restrictions; provided , however , that from and after the Venator Trading Day, the vesting of each Venator RSU shall be determined based upon continued service with the Venator Group rather than the Huntsman Group, and provided , further , however , that in the event that applicable laws and regulations of the United Kingdom require that an award granted pursuant to the Venator New Equity Plan must be accompanied by a nil or nominal payment for such award by the participant, or such award must be settled in cash rather than Venator Common Stock, Venator shall design the applicable Venator RSUs in a matter that complies with such a requirement.

 

(d)                                  Huntsman Restricted Stock .  Each holder of Huntsman Restricted Stock that is outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day shall, upon the Venator Trading Day, have their rights to the Huntsman Restricted Stock cancelled and the participants rights under each such Huntsman Restricted Stock shall be converted into the right to receive a Venator Restricted Stock Unit. The number of Venator RSUs to be granted to each applicable participant shall be determined by multiplying the number of Huntsman Common Stock subject to the Huntsman Restricted Stock by the Equity Award Ratio (rounded to the nearest whole share of Venator Ordinary Shares).  Each Venator RSU described in the preceding sentences shall be subject to the same terms and conditions after the Venator Trading Day as the terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Huntsman Restricted Stock immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day, including vesting restrictions; provided , however , that from and after the Venator Trading Day, the vesting of each Venator RSU shall be determined based upon continued service with the Venator Group rather than the Huntsman Group, and provided , further , however , that in the event that applicable laws and regulations of the United Kingdom require that an award granted pursuant to the Venator New Equity Plan must be accompanied by a nil or nominal payment for such award by the participant, or such award must be settled in cash rather than Venator Common Stock, Venator shall design the applicable Venator RSUs in a matter that complies with such a requirement.

 

(e)                                   Huntsman Restricted Stock Units .  Each holder of a Huntsman RSU that is outstanding and unvested immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day shall, upon the Venator Trading Day, have their rights to the Huntsman RSU cancelled and the participants rights under each such Huntsman RSU shall be converted into the right to receive a Venator Restricted Stock Unit. The number of Venator RSUs to be granted to each applicable participant shall be determined by multiplying the number of Huntsman Common Stock subject to the Huntsman RSU by the Equity Award Ratio (rounded to the nearest whole share of Venator Ordinary Shares); provided , however , that in the event that the Huntsman RSU was subject to one or more performance conditions immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day, the target number of Huntsman Common Stock subject to the Huntsman RSU shall first be adjusted by the performance factor actually achieved immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day to determine the number of Huntsman RSUs that are deemed to be “earned” immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day (the “ Adjusted Huntsman RSUs ”), and the number of Venator RSUs to be granted to each applicable participant shall then be determined by multiplying the number of Huntsman

 

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Common Stock subject to the Adjusted Huntsman RSU by the Equity Award Ratio (rounded to the nearest whole share of Venator Ordinary Shares).   Each Venator RSU described in the preceding sentences shall be subject to the same terms and conditions after the Venator Trading Day as the terms and conditions applicable to the corresponding Huntsman RSU immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day; provided , however , that in the event that the original Huntsman RSUs were subject to one or more performance conditions prior to the conversions described in this paragraph, the corresponding new Venator RSU shall not be subject to any performance conditions from and after the Venator Trading Day, and provided , further , however , that from and after the Venator Trading Day, the time-based vesting conditions of each Venator RSU shall be determined based upon continued service with the Venator Group rather than the Huntsman Group, and provided , further , however , that in the event that applicable laws and regulations of the United Kingdom require that an award granted pursuant to the Venator New Equity Plan must be accompanied by a nil or nominal payment for such award by the participant, or such award must be settled in cash rather than Venator Common Stock, Venator shall design the applicable Venator RSUs in a matter that complies with such a requirement.

 

(f)                                    Accrued Dividends .  To the extent that any Huntsman LTI Award has accrued dividends or dividend equivalent rights that had not yet been paid out or otherwise settled immediately prior to the Venator Trading Day (the “ Dividend Accounts ”), Venator shall keep a bookkeeping account or accounts equal to the Dividend Account amount applicable to each individual that was the holder of a cancelled Huntsman LTI Award and recipient of a related Venator LTI Award.   The Dividend Accounts shall be subject to the same terms and conditions, including vesting and forfeiture provisions, that were applicable to the original Huntsman LTI Award to which such Dividend Account relates; provided , however, that from and after the Venator Trading Day, the time-based vesting conditions that were applicable to the original Huntsman LTI Award to which the Dividend Account relates shall be determined based upon continued service with the Venator Group rather than the Huntsman Group. Huntsman shall transfer the cash amount of such Dividend Accounts to Venator or the appropriate member of the Venator Group immediately following the time or times at which the Dividend Accounts become eligible to be settled and Venator or an applicable member of the Venator Group settles such Dividend Accounts, and Huntsman and Venator shall cooperate to ensure the timely transfer and receipt of the necessary funds.  For purposes of clarity, the termination of any Huntsman LTI Award that occurs solely as a result of the conversion of the holder’s rights into a Venator LTI Award as described in this Section 4.2 shall not result in the forfeiture of the related Dividend Account.

 

(g)                                   Other Legal and Administrative Matters .  Notwithstanding the conversion terms set forth in the remainder of this Section 4.2, Venator or an appropriate member of the Venator Group shall have the authority pursuant to the Venator New Equity Plan to modify the terms and conditions of any Venator LTI Award if the plan administrator of the Venator New Equity Plan determines that it is necessary or advisable in order to comply with any foreign legal, securities or administrative issues that impact the Venator LTI Awards, provided that such a modification does not result in the violation of any U.S.-based Laws or regulations.

 

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Section 4.3                                     Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act; Code Sections 162(m) and 409A .

 

(a)                                  Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act .  By approving the adoption of this Agreement, the respective Boards of Directors of each of Huntsman and Venator intend to exempt from the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by reason of the application of Rule 16b-3 thereunder, all acquisitions and dispositions of equity incentive awards by directors and officers of each of the Huntsman Group and the Venator Group, and the respective Boards of Directors of Huntsman and Venator also intend expressly to approve, in respect of any equity-based award, the use of any method for the payment of an exercise price and the satisfaction of any applicable tax withholding (specifically including the actual or constructive tendering of shares in payment of an exercise price and the withholding of award shares from delivery in satisfaction of applicable tax withholding requirements) to the extent such method is permitted under the applicable Huntsman Equity Plan, Venator New Equity Plan and award agreement.

 

(b)                                  Code Sections 162(m) and 409A .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary (including the treatment of supplemental and deferred compensation plans, outstanding long-term incentive awards and annual incentive awards as described herein), Huntsman and Venator agree to negotiate in good faith regarding the need for any treatment different from that otherwise provided herein to ensure that (i) a federal income tax deduction for the payment of such supplemental or deferred compensation or long-term incentive award, annual incentive award or other compensation is, to the extent prescribed under the terms of the applicable plan and award agreement, not limited by reason of Section 162(m) of the Code, and (ii) the treatment of such supplemental or deferred compensation or long-term incentive award, annual incentive award or other compensation does not cause the imposition of a penalty tax under Section 409A of the Code.

 

Section 4.4                                     Liabilities for Settlement of Awards .  Except as provided for pursuant to Section 4.6 , from and after the Venator Trading Day (a) Huntsman shall be responsible for all Liabilities associated with Huntsman LTI Awards, including any exercise, share delivery, registration or other obligations related to the exercise, vesting or settlement of the Huntsman LTI Awards and (b) Venator shall be responsible for all Liabilities associated with Venator LTI Awards, including any exercise, share delivery, registration or other obligations related to the exercise, vesting or settlement of the Venator LTI Awards.

 

Section 4.5                                     Form S-8 .  Prior to or as soon as reasonably practicable after the Venator Trading Day and subject to applicable Law, Venator shall prepare and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-8 (or another appropriate form) registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the offering of a number of shares of Venator Ordinary Shares at a minimum equal to the number of shares subject to the Venator LTI Awards.  Venator shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause any such registration statement to be kept effective (and the current status of the prospectus or prospectuses required thereby to be maintained) as long as any Venator LTI Awards remain outstanding.

 

Section 4.6                                     Tax Reporting and Withholding for Awards .  Huntsman (or one of its Subsidiaries) will be responsible for all income, payroll, or other tax reporting related to income

 

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of Huntsman Group Employees from equity-based and other long-term incentive awards outstanding pursuant to the Huntsman Equity Plans, and Venator (or one of its Subsidiaries) will be responsible for all income, payroll, or other tax reporting related to income of Venator Group Employees from equity-based and other long-term incentive awards granted under the Huntsman Equity Plans and the Venator New Equity Plan. Further, Huntsman (or one of its Subsidiaries) shall be responsible for remitting applicable tax withholdings for Huntsman Group Employees who hold equity-based and other long-term incentive awards outstanding pursuant to the Huntsman Equity Plans to each applicable taxing authority, and Venator (or one of its Subsidiaries) shall be responsible for remitting applicable tax withholdings for Venator Group Employees who hold equity-based and other long-term incentive awards granted under the Huntsman Equity Plans and the Venator New Equity Plan to each applicable taxing authority.  Huntsman and Venator acknowledge and agree that the Parties will cooperate with each other and with third-party providers to effectuate withholding and remittance of taxes, as well as required tax reporting, in a timely, efficient, and appropriate manner.

 

Section 4.7                                     Approval of Venator New Equity Plan .  Not later than the Venator Trading Day, Venator shall, or shall have caused an appropriate Huntsman Entity or Venator Entity to, have adopted the Venator New Equity Plan.

 

ARTICLE V
BONUS AND SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLANS

 

Section 5.1                                     Establishment of Venator Short-Term Incentive Plans .  Not later than the Effective Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, adopt one or more plans that will provide annual bonus and short-term cash incentive compensation opportunities for Venator Group Employees (the “ Venator Short-Term Incentive Plans ”).

 

Section 5.2                                     Treatment of Short-Term Incentives for Year of IPO .  From and after the Effective Date, Venator Group Employees shall cease participation in the annual bonus and short-term cash incentive compensation opportunities under the Huntsman Short-Term Incentive Plans and shall, for the avoidance of doubt, not be entitled to any benefits thereunder for the year in which the IPO occurs.  With respect to the year in which the IPO occurs, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, provide each Venator Group Employee who participated in a Huntsman Short-Term Incentive Plan and otherwise meets all service-based and other requirements to receive an award under a Venator Short-Term Incentive Plan, with an annual bonus payment under the appropriate Venator Short-Term Incentive Plan. The annual bonus payments under the Venator Short-Term Incentive Plan for the year in which the IPO occurs shall be calculated based on criteria to be determined and established by the Venator Group.

 

Section 5.3                                     Plan Liabilities .  For the avoidance of doubt, (a) the Venator Group shall be solely responsible for funding, paying, and discharging all obligations relating to any annual cash incentive awards that any Venator Group Employee or Former Venator Group Employee is eligible to receive under any Venator Group annual bonus and other short-term incentive compensation plans with respect to payments made beginning at or after the Effective Date, including the Venator Short-Term Incentive Plans, even though such annual incentive awards may relate to the full calendar year in which the IPO occurs, and no member of the Huntsman Group shall have any obligations with respect thereto, and (b) the Huntsman Group shall be

 

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solely responsible for funding, paying, and discharging all obligations relating to any annual cash incentive awards that any Huntsman Group Employee or Former Huntsman Group Employee is eligible to receive under any Huntsman annual bonus and other short-term incentive compensation plans with respect to payments made beginning at or after the Effective Date, including the Huntsman Short-Term Incentive Plans, and no member of the Venator Group shall have any obligations with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE VI
QUALIFIED DEFINED BENEFIT PLANS

 

Section 6.1                                     Retention of Venator Group Defined Benefit Plans .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall take all actions necessary (if any) to provide for the retention by the applicable Venator Entity of the sponsorship of each Venator Group Defined Benefit Plan.  Except as expressly set forth in Section 6.2 , from and after the Plan Transfer Date (a) the Venator Group shall be solely responsible for (and shall indemnify and hold harmless the Huntsman Group from) all Liabilities and obligations pursuant to the Venator Group Defined Benefit Plans (regardless of whether such Liabilities relate to a Venator Group Employee, Huntsman Group Employee or Former Huntsman Group Employee) and (b) Huntsman Group Employees shall cease active participation in all Venator Group Defined Benefit Plans.

 

Section 6.2                                     Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator Group Employees shall cease active participation in all Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans, and shall not accrue credit for any purposes under the Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans with respect to service with the Venator Group after the Plan Transfer Date.  The applicable Huntsman Entities shall retain sponsorship of the Huntsman Defined Benefit Plans, and each Huntsman Defined Benefit Plan shall retain all Liabilities with respect to all benefits accrued thereunder (including with respect to Venator Group Employees).

 

Section 6.3                                     Huntsman Europe BVBA Belgium .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish a defined benefit pension plan to provide retirement benefits to Venator Group Employees who were participants in the Huntsman Europe BVBA Belgium (such new defined benefit pension plan at Venator to be called, the “ Venator Europe BVBA Belgium ” and such Venator Group Employees, the “ Venator Europe BVBA Belgium Participants ”).  Venator shall be responsible for taking all necessary, reasonable, and appropriate action to establish, maintain, and administer the Venator Europe BVBA Belgium so that it satisfies all requirements under applicable Law. Venator (acting directly or through members of the Venator Group) shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities (including Liability for funding) and other obligations with respect to the Venator Europe BVBA Belgium.  As soon as practicable following the establishment of the Venator Europe BVBA Belgium, Huntsman shall, or shall cause the appropriate Huntsman Entity to, cause the transfer of all Assets held for purposes of providing benefits pursuant to the Huntsman Europe BVBA Belgium (the “ Venator Pension Assets ”) for Venator Europe BVBA Belgium Participants to Venator (the “ Defined Benefit Transfer Date ”) in accordance with applicable Law.  Through and including the Defined Benefit Transfer Date, Huntsman shall remain primarily responsible for causing benefits due under the Huntsman Europe BVBA Belgium through such date to be paid, with any such benefits paid reducing the Venator Pension Assets.  In connection with the transfer of Venator Pension Assets, the Parties (each acting directly or

 

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through their respective Affiliates) shall, to the extent necessary, file any necessary regulatory documentation regarding the transfer of Venator Pension Assets.

 

ARTICLE VII
QUALIFIED DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLANS

 

Section 7.1                                     Establishment of the Venator 401(k) Plan .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish a qualified defined contribution plan and trust for the benefit of Venator Group Employees who were eligible to participate in the Huntsman Salary Deferral Plan (the “ Venator 401(k) Plan ”), which provides for a cash or deferred arrangement under Section 401(k) of the Code.  Venator shall be responsible for taking all necessary, reasonable, and appropriate action to establish, maintain, and administer the Venator 401(k) Plan so that such plan is qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code and that the related trust thereunder is exempt under Section 501(a) of the Code.  Venator (acting directly or through its Affiliates) shall be responsible for any and all Liabilities and other obligations with respect to the Venator 401(k) Plan.

 

Section 7.2                                     Venator Employee Account Balances .

 

(a)                                  Venator or the appropriate Venator Entity shall cause the Venator 401(k) Plan to accept the plan-to-plan transfer of Venator Group Employees’ accounts from the Huntsman Salary Deferral Plan (including any notes representing participant loans).  Venator Group Employees’ accounts from the Huntsman Salary Deferral Plan will be mapped over from the Huntsman Salary Deferral Plan to the same investments under the Venator 401(k) Plan.

 

(b)                                  As soon as practicable following the Plan Transfer Date, any account balances for Venator Group Employees under any Huntsman Defined Contribution Plan maintained for Employees in Canada will be distributed in a lump sum cash payment in accordance with applicable law.

 

ARTICLE VIII
NONQUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS

 

Section 8.1                                     Establishment of Venator Deferred Compensation Plans .  On or prior to the Effective Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish and adopt one or more deferred compensation plans (the “ Venator Deferred Compensation Plan ”) to provide each Venator Group Employee who was eligible to participate in the Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plan as of immediately prior to the Effective Date (the “ Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiaries ”) benefits following the Effective Date.  As of the Effective Date, the Venator Group Employees shall no longer participate in the Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plan.  The Parties agree that the employment of a Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiary that becomes a participant in the Venator Deferred Compensation Plan at the Effective Date shall not be considered to have terminated (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiary shall not be deemed to have incurred a “separation from service”) as a result of the IPO or the transfer of employment from Huntsman (or a Huntsman Entity) to Venator (or a Venator Entity), and such employment shall only be considered to terminate for purposes of the applicable Venator Deferred Compensation Plans

 

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when the employment of such Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiary with the Venator Group terminates in accordance with the terms of the applicable Venator Deferred Compensation Plan and applicable Laws.  The Parties agree that any Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiary that does not become a participant in the Venator Deferred Compensation Plan at the Effective Date, for purposes of the Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plan, shall be deemed to have terminated (and, for the avoidance of doubt, such individual shall be deemed to have incurred a “separation from service”) as a result of the IPO or the transfer of employment from Huntsman (or a Huntsman Entity) to Venator (or a Venator Entity), as applicable, and will receive a distribution(s) from the Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plan according to the terms of the plan.

 

Section 8.2                                     Liability and Responsibility .  The Liabilities in respect of Venator Deferred Compensation Beneficiaries under the Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plans shall be assumed by the member of the Venator Group which sponsors the applicable Venator Deferred Compensation Plan, effective as of the Effective Date. Venator shall have sole responsibility for the administration of the Venator Deferred Compensation Plans and the payment of benefits thereunder to or on behalf of Venator Group Employees, and no member of the Huntsman Group shall have any liability or responsibility therefor. Huntsman shall have sole responsibility for the administration of the Huntsman Deferred Compensation Plans and the payment of benefits thereunder to or on behalf of Huntsman Group Employees and Former Venator Group Employees, and no member of the Venator Group shall have any liability or responsibility therefor.

 

ARTICLE IX
WELFARE PLANS

 

Section 9.1                                     Establishment of Venator Welfare Plans .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish and adopt Welfare Plans (the “ Venator Welfare Plans ”) which will provide welfare benefits to each Venator Group Employee who participate in any of the Huntsman Welfare Plans (and their eligible spouses and dependents, as the case may be) (collectively, the “ Venator Welfare Plan Participants ”). Coverage and benefits under the Venator Welfare Plans shall then be provided to the Venator Welfare Plan Participants on an uninterrupted basis under the newly established Venator Welfare Plans.  Venator Welfare Plan Participants shall cease to be eligible for coverage under the Huntsman Welfare Plans on the Plan Transfer Date or such later Employee Transfer Date. For the avoidance of doubt, Venator Welfare Plan Participants shall not participate in any Huntsman Welfare Plans once eligible under the Venator Welfare Plan, and Huntsman Group Employees and Former Huntsman Group Employees shall not participate in any Venator Welfare Plans at any time.

 

Section 9.2                                     Special Provisions Relating to Post-Retirement Welfare Plans .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish and adopt a Welfare Plan (the “ Venator Retiree Welfare Plan ”), which will provide post-retirement welfare benefits to each Venator Group Employee who is eligible to participate in the Huntsman Retiree Medical Plan (and their eligible spouses and dependents, as the case may be) (collectively, the “ Venator Retiree Welfare Plan Participants ”).

 

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Section 9.3                                     Transitional Matters Under Venator Welfare Plans .

 

(a)                                  Liability for Claims Incurred .  Huntsman, a member of the Huntsman Group, or the applicable Huntsman Welfare Plan shall be liable for all claims for benefits (other than flexible spending accounts) by Venator Welfare Plan Participants under the Huntsman Welfare Plans arising out of claims incurred on or prior to the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date).  Venator or a member of the Venator Group shall be liable for all other Welfare Plan coverages for Venator Welfare Plan Participants under any Welfare Plan for which Huntsman, a member of the Huntsman Group or the applicable Huntsman Welfare Plan is not expressly liable, as set forth above.

 

(b)                                  Credit for Deductibles and Other Limits . With respect to each Venator Welfare Plan Participant, each Venator Welfare Plan will give credit for the plan year in which the IPO occurs (or in the case of an Employee Transfer Date subsequent to the IPO, for the plan year in which the applicable Employee Transfer Date occurs) for any amount paid, number of services obtained or provider visits by such Venator Welfare Plan Participant toward deductibles, out-of-pocket maximums, limits on number of services or visits, or other similar limitations to the extent such amounts are taken into account under the corresponding Huntsman Welfare Plan. For purposes of any lifetime maximum benefit limit payable to a Venator Welfare Plan Participant under any Venator Welfare Plan, the Venator Welfare Plan will recognize any expenses paid or reimbursed by a Huntsman Welfare Plan with respect to such participant prior to the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date) to the same extent such expense payments or reimbursements would be recognized in respect of an active plan participant under the applicable Huntsman Welfare Plan.

 

(c)                                   COBRA .  On and after the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date), Venator shall assume all Liabilities and other obligations under COBRA (and shall provide any required coverage under the Venator Welfare Plans) with respect to all Venator Group Employees (and, in either case, their qualifying beneficiaries) who have a COBRA qualifying event (as defined in Section 4980B of the Code) on or after the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date).

 

Section 9.4                                     Benefit Elections and Designations and Continuity of Benefits .

 

(a)                                  Benefit Elections and Designations .  From and after the Plan Transfer Date, Venator or the appropriate Venator Entity shall cause each Venator Welfare Plan to recognize and give effect to all elections and designations (including all coverage and contribution elections and beneficiary designations) made by each Venator Welfare Plan Participant under, or with respect to, the corresponding Huntsman Welfare Plan for the plan year in which the IPO occurs (or in the case of an Employee Transfer Date subsequent to the IPO, for the plan year in which the applicable Employee Transfer Date occurs). Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 9.4(a)  will prohibit Venator from soliciting or causing the solicitation of new election forms or beneficiary designations from Venator Welfare Plan Participants to be effective under the Venator Welfare Plan as of the Plan Transfer Date or any time thereafter.

 

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(b)                                  Additional Details Regarding Flexible Spending Accounts . Pursuant to Section 9.1 , on or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish and adopt Venator Welfare Plans which will provide health care flexible spending account and dependent care flexible spending account benefits to Venator Welfare Plan Participants (each a “ Venator FSA ”).

 

(i)                                      It is the intention of the Parties that all activity under a Venator Welfare Plan Participant’s flexible spending account with Huntsman for the plan year in which the IPO occurs (or in the case of an Employee Transfer Date subsequent to the IPO, for the plan year in which the applicable Employee Transfer Date occurs) be treated instead as activity under the corresponding Venator FSA. Accordingly, (x) any period of participation by a Venator Welfare Plan Participant in a Huntsman flexible spending account during the plan year in which the IPO occurs (or in the case of an Employee Transfer Date subsequent to the IPO, for the plan year in which the applicable Employee Transfer Date occurs) (the “ FSA Participation Period ”) will be deemed a period when the Venator Welfare Plan Participant participated in the corresponding Venator FSA; (y) all expenses incurred during the FSA Participation Period will be deemed incurred while the Venator Welfare Plan Participant’s coverage was in effect under the corresponding Venator FSA; and (z) all elections and reimbursements made with respect to an FSA Participation Period under a Huntsman flexible spending account will be deemed to have been made with respect to the corresponding Huntsman FSA.

 

(ii)                                   If the aggregate reimbursement payouts made to Venator Welfare Plan Participants prior to the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date) from the applicable Huntsman Welfare Plan flexible spending accounts during the plan year in which the IPO occurs are less than the aggregate accumulated contributions to such accounts made by such Venator Welfare Plan Participants prior to the Plan Transfer Date for such plan year, Huntsman shall cause an amount equal to the amount by which such contributions are in excess of such reimbursement payouts to be transferred to Venator (or a Venator Entity designated by Venator) by wire transfer of immediately available funds as soon as practicable, but in no event later than 45 days, following the Plan Transfer Date (or later Employee Transfer Date).

 

(iii)                                Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 9.4(b) , on and after the Plan Transfer Date (or later Employee Transfer Date), the Venator Group shall assume, and cause the appropriate Venator FSA to be solely responsible for, all claims by Venator Welfare Plan Participants under the applicable Huntsman Welfare Plan flexible spending accounts that were incurred in the plan year in which the IPO occurs (or such later Employee Transfer Date occurs), whether incurred prior to, on, or after the Plan Transfer Date, that have not been paid in full as of the Plan Transfer Date (or later Employee Transfer Date).

 

(c)                                   Additional Details Regarding Health Savings Accounts . Pursuant to Section 9.1 , on or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish and adopt Venator Welfare Plans which will provide health savings account benefits to Venator Welfare Plan Participants. To the extent any Venator Welfare Plan provides or constitutes a health savings account (each a “ Venator HSA ”), such Venator Welfare Plan shall

 

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be effective as of the Plan Transfer Date. It is the intention of the Parties that all activity under a Venator Welfare Plan Participant’s health savings account with Huntsman for the year in which the IPO occurs (or in the case of an Employee Transfer Date subsequent to the IPO, for the plan year in which the applicable Employee Transfer Date occurs) be treated instead as activity under the corresponding Venator HSA.  Accordingly, (i) any period of participation by a Venator Welfare Plan Participant in a Huntsman health savings account during the year in which the IPO occurs (or in the case of an Employee Transfer Date subsequent to the IPO, for the plan year in which the applicable Employee Transfer Date occurs) (the “ HSA Participation Period ”) will be deemed a period when the Venator Welfare Plan Participant participated in the corresponding Venator HSA; (ii) all expenses incurred during the HSA Participation Period will be deemed incurred while the Venator Welfare Plan Participant’s coverage was in effect under the corresponding Venator HSA; and (iii) all elections and reimbursements made with respect to an HSA Participation Period under a Huntsman health savings account will be deemed to have been made with respect to the corresponding Venator HSA.

 

(d)                                  Waiver of Conditions or Restrictions .  Unless prohibited by applicable Law or a Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Venator Welfare Plans will waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions, service conditions, waiting period limitations or evidence of insurability requirements that would otherwise be applicable to the Venator Welfare Plan Participant following the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date) to the extent that such participant had previously satisfied such limitation under the corresponding Huntsman Welfare Plan.

 

Section 9.5                                     Insurance Contracts .  To the extent any Huntsman Welfare Plan is funded through the purchase of an insurance contract or is subject to any stop loss contract, Huntsman and Venator will cooperate and use their commercially reasonable efforts to replicate such insurance contracts for Venator (except for design changes and to the extent changes are required under applicable state insurance Laws or filings by the respective insurers) and to maintain any pricing discounts or other preferential terms for both Huntsman and Venator for a reasonable term. Neither Party shall be liable for failure to obtain such insurance contracts, pricing discounts, or other preferential terms for the other Party. Each Party shall be responsible for any additional premiums, charges, or administrative fees that such Party may incur pursuant to this Section 9.5 .

 

Section 9.6                                     Third-Party Vendors .  Except as provided below, to the extent any Huntsman Welfare Plan is administered by a third-party vendor, Huntsman and Venator will cooperate and use their commercially reasonable efforts to replicate any contract with such third-party vendor for Venator (except for changes agreed to by the Parties) and to maintain any pricing discounts or other preferential terms for both Huntsman and Venator for a reasonable term. Neither Party shall be liable for failure to obtain such pricing discounts or other preferential terms for the other Party. Each Party shall be responsible for any additional premiums, charges, or administrative fees that such Party may incur pursuant to this Section 9.6 .

 

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ARTICLE X
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION AND UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION

 

Section 10.1                              Venator Workers’ and Unemployment Compensation .  Effective as of the Employee Transfer Date, the Venator Entity employing each Venator Group Employee shall have (and, to the extent it has not previously had such obligations, such Venator Entity shall assume) the obligations for all claims and Liabilities relating to workers’ compensation and unemployment compensation benefits for all Venator Group Employees employed by that Venator Entity. Prior to the Employee Transfer Date, Venator, acting through the Venator Entity employing each Venator Group Employee, will be responsible for (a) obtaining workers’ compensation insurance, including providing all collateral required by the insurance carriers and providing all notices to Venator Group Employees required by applicable workers’ compensation Laws and (b) establishing new or transferred unemployment insurance employer accounts, policies and claims handling contracts with the applicable government agencies. To the extent that such unemployment insurance coverage cannot be either assigned to or obtained by Venator or a Venator Entity, in respect of unemployment claims and Liabilities otherwise to be assumed by Venator or a Venator Entity pursuant to this Section 10.1 , Huntsman shall remain primarily liable for such claims and Liabilities, but Venator shall indemnify and hold harmless Huntsman for any such claims and Liabilities. If the preceding sentence applies, then at one or more mutually agreed upon dates, Huntsman shall determine in good faith the present value of such claims and Liabilities and Venator shall reimburse Huntsman for that amount.

 

Section 10.2                              Assignment of Contribution Rights .  Huntsman will transfer and assign (or cause another member of the Huntsman Group to transfer and assign) to a member of the Venator Group all rights to seek contribution or damages from any applicable third party (such as a third party who aggravates an injury to a worker who makes a workers’ compensation claim) with respect to any workers’ compensation claim for which Venator is responsible pursuant to this Article X .

 

Section 10.3                              Collateral .  From and after the Effective Date, Venator (acting directly or through a member of the Venator Group) shall be responsible for providing all collateral required by insurance carriers in connection with workers’ compensation claims for which Liability is allocated to the Venator Group under this Article X .

 

Section 10.4                              Cooperation .  Venator and Huntsman shall use commercially reasonable efforts to provide that workers’ compensation and unemployment insurance costs are not adversely affected for either of them by reason of the IPO.

 

ARTICLE XI
SEVERANCE

 

Section 11.1                              Establishment of Venator Severance Program .  On or prior to the Plan Transfer Date, Venator shall, or shall cause another Venator Entity to, establish and adopt one or more severance plans, policies or arrangements at such levels and subject to such terms as Venator determines in its reasonable discretion.  As of the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date), the Venator Group Employees shall no longer participate in any severance plan, policy or program of the Huntsman Group.

 

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Section 11.2                              Liability for Severance .  As of the Plan Transfer Date (or such later Employee Transfer Date), Huntsman shall have no Liability or obligation under any Huntsman Group severance plan or policy with respect to Venator Group Employees.

 

ARTICLE XII
BENEFIT ARRANGEMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS

 

Section 12.1                              Accrued Time Off .  Venator shall recognize and assume all Liability for all unused vacation, holiday, sick leave, flex days, personal days and paid-time off and other time-off benefits with respect to Venator Group Employees which accrued prior to the applicable Employee Transfer Date.

 

Section 12.2                              Leaves of Absence .  Venator will continue to apply the appropriate leave of absence policies applicable to inactive Venator Group Employees who are on an approved leave of absence as of the Employee Transfer Date. Leaves of absence taken by Venator Group Employees prior to the Employee Transfer Date shall be deemed to have been taken as employees of a member of the Venator Group.

 

Section 12.3                              Restrictive Covenants in Employment and Other Agreements .  To the fullest extent permitted by the agreements described in this Section 12.3 and applicable Law, Huntsman shall assign, or cause an applicable member of the Huntsman Group to assign (including through notification to employees, as applicable), to Venator or a member of the Venator Group, as designated by Venator, all agreements containing restrictive covenants (including confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions) between a member of the Huntsman Group and a Venator Group Employee, with such assignment to be effective as of the Plan Transfer Date (or later Employee Transfer Date). To the extent that assignment of such agreements is not permitted, effective as of the Plan Transfer Date (or later Employee Transfer Date), each member of the Venator Group shall be considered to be a successor to each member of the Huntsman Group for purposes of, and a third-party beneficiary with respect to, all agreements containing restrictive covenants (including confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation provisions) between a member of the Huntsman Group and a Venator Group Employee, such that each member of the Venator Group shall enjoy all the rights and benefits under such agreements (including rights and benefits as a third-party beneficiary), with respect to the business operations of the Venator Group; provided , however , that in no event shall Huntsman be permitted to enforce such restrictive covenant agreements against Venator Group Employees for action taken in their capacity as employees of a member of the Venator Group.

 

ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 13.1                              Preservation of Rights to Amend .  The rights of each member of the Huntsman Group and each member of the Venator Group to amend, waive, or terminate any plan, arrangement, agreement, program, or policy referred to herein shall not be limited in any way by this Agreement.

 

Section 13.2                              Confidentiality .  Each Party agrees that any information conveyed or otherwise received by or on behalf of a Party in conjunction herewith that is not otherwise public

 

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through no fault of such Party is confidential and is subject to the terms of the confidentiality provisions set forth herein and in the Separation Agreement.

 

Section 13.3                              Administrative Complaints/Litigation .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, from and after the Effective Date, Venator shall assume, and be solely liable for, the handling, administration, investigation, and defense of actions, including ERISA, occupational safety and health, employment standards, union grievances, wrongful dismissal, discrimination or human rights, and unemployment compensation claims asserted at any time against Huntsman or any member of the Huntsman Group by (a) any Venator Group Employee (including any dependent or beneficiary of any such Employee), (b) any consultant or independent contractor who provided or provides services primarily for the benefit of the Venator Business or (c) any other person to the extent such actions or claims otherwise arise out of or relate to employment or the provision of services (whether as an employee, contractor, consultant, or otherwise) to or with respect to the business activities of any member of the Venator Group.  Clause (c) of the preceding sentence to the contrary notwithstanding, to the extent that any such legal action is brought by a Huntsman Group Employee or Former Huntsman Group Employee and relates to employment or the provision of services with respect to both the business activities of a member of the Venator Group and the business activities of a member of the Huntsman Group (excluding the Venator Group), reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in responding to such legal action shall be allocated among the Parties based upon the relative levels of service provided between the Venator Business and the businesses of the Huntsman Group other than the Venator Business.  Further notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any legal action relates to a putative or certified class of plaintiffs, which includes both Huntsman Group Employees (or Former Huntsman Group Employees) and Venator Group Employees and such action involves employment or benefit plan related claims, reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Parties in responding to such legal action shall be allocated among the Parties equitably in proportion to a reasonable assessment of the relative proportion of Employees included in or represented by the putative or certified plaintiff class. The procedures contained in the indemnification and related litigation cooperation provisions of the Separation Agreement shall apply with respect to each Party’s indemnification obligations under this Section 13.3 .

 

Section 13.4                              Reimbursement and Indemnification .  To the extent provided for under this Agreement, each Party agrees to reimburse the other Party, within 30 days of receipt from the other Party of reasonable verification, for all costs and expenses which the other Party may incur on its behalf as a result of any of the respective Huntsman Benefit Plans and Venator Benefit Plans and, as contemplated by Article XI , any termination or severance payments or benefits. All Liabilities retained, assumed, or indemnified against by Venator pursuant to this Agreement, and all Liabilities retained, assumed, or indemnified against by Huntsman pursuant to this Agreement, shall in each case be subject to the indemnification provisions of the Separation Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, (i) no provision of this Agreement shall require any member of the Venator Group to pay or reimburse to any member of the Huntsman Group any benefit-related cost item that a member of the Venator Group has paid or reimbursed to any member of the Huntsman Group prior to the Plan Transfer Date, and (ii) no provision of this Agreement shall require any member of the Huntsman Group to pay or reimburse to any member of the Venator Group any benefit-related cost item that a member of

 

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the Huntsman Group has paid or reimbursed to any member of the Venator Group prior to the Plan Transfer Date.

 

Section 13.5                              Costs of Compliance with Agreement .  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or any other Transfer Document, each Party shall pay its own expenses in fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement.

 

Section 13.6                              Fiduciary Matters .  Huntsman and Venator each acknowledge that actions required to be taken pursuant to this Agreement may be subject to fiduciary duties or standards of conduct under ERISA or other applicable Law, and no Party shall be deemed to be in violation of this Agreement if it fails to comply with any provisions hereof based upon its good-faith determination (as supported by advice from counsel experienced in such matters) that to do so would violate such a fiduciary duty or standard. Each Party shall be responsible for taking such actions as are deemed necessary and appropriate to comply with its own fiduciary responsibilities and shall fully release and indemnify the other Party for any Liabilities caused by the failure to satisfy any such responsibility.

 

Section 13.7                              Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, together with the documents referenced herein (including the Separation Agreement, the Transfer Documents and the plans and agreements referenced herein), constitutes the entire agreement and understanding among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior written and oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements and understandings with respect to the subject matter hereof.  Any conflicts between the provisions of this Agreement and the Separation Agreement (and the agreements referenced therein) or any Transfer Document shall be addressed in the manner set forth in Section 8.6 of the Separation Agreement.

 

Section 13.8                              Binding Effect; No Third-Party Beneficiaries; Assignment .  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Parties and should not be deemed to confer upon any third parties any remedy, claim, Liability, reimbursement, cause of action, or other right in excess of those existing without reference to this Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to amend any employee benefit plan or affect the applicable plan sponsor’s right to amend or terminate any employee benefit plan pursuant to the terms of such plan. The provisions of this Agreement are solely for the benefit of the Parties, and no current or former Employee, officer, director, or independent contractor or any other individual associated therewith shall be regarded for any purpose as a third-party beneficiary of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, except with the prior written consent of the other Party.

 

Section 13.9                              Amendment; Waivers .  No change or amendment may be made to this Agreement except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the Parties. Any Party may, at any time, (i) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other Party, (ii) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto, and (iii) waive compliance by the other Party with any of the agreements, covenants, or conditions contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party to be bound thereby. No failure or delay on the part of any Party in the exercise of any

 

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right hereunder shall impair such right or be construed to be a waiver of, or acquiescence in, any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement contained herein, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right preclude other or further exercises thereof or of any other right.

 

Section 13.10                       Remedies Cumulative .  All rights and remedies existing under this Agreement or the Schedules attached hereto are cumulative to, and not exclusive of, any rights or remedies otherwise available.

 

Section 13.11                       Notices .  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all notices, claims, certificates, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be duly given: (i) when personally delivered, (ii) if mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, on the date the return receipt is executed or the letter is refused by the addressee or its agent, (iii) if sent by overnight courier which delivers only upon the executed receipt of the addressee, on the date the receipt acknowledgment is executed or refused by the addressee or its agent, or (iv) if sent by facsimile or electronic mail, on the date confirmation of transmission is received (provided that a copy of any notice delivered pursuant to this clause (iv) shall also be sent pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii)), addressed to the attention of the addressee’s General Counsel at the address of its principal executive office or to such other address or facsimile number for a Party as it shall have specified by like notice.

 

Section 13.12                       Counterparts .  This Agreement, including the Schedules hereto and the other documents referred to herein, may be executed in multiple counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

Section 13.13                       Severability .  If any provision of this Agreement or the application thereof to any Person or circumstance is determined by an arbitrator or court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remaining provisions hereof or thereof, or the application of such provision to Persons, shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated thereby.

 

Section 13.14                       Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury .

 

(a)                                  This Agreement (and any claims or disputes arising out of or related hereto or to the transactions contemplated hereby or to the inducement of any Party to enter herein, whether for breach of contract, tortious conduct or otherwise and whether predicated on common law, statute or otherwise) shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware, irrespective of any choice of laws principles, including all matters of validity, construction, effect, enforceability, performance and remedies.

 

(b)                                  THE PARTIES EXPRESSLY WAIVE AND FOREGO ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.

 

Section 13.15                       Dispute Resolution .  The procedures set forth in Article IV of the Separation Agreement shall apply to any dispute, controversy or claim (whether sounding in contract, tort or otherwise) that arises out of or relates to this Agreement, any breach or alleged breach hereof, the transactions contemplated hereby (including all actions taken in furtherance of

 

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the transactions contemplated hereby on or prior to the date hereof), or the construction, interpretation, enforceability, or validity hereof. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO (A) UNCONDITIONALLY CONSENTS TO AND ACCEPTS HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS AND MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS AS THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTIONS AND VENUES FOR ALL COURT AND ARBITRATION PROCEEDINGS CONTEMPLATED BY ARTICLE IV OF THE SEPARATION AGREEMENT AND IRREVOCABLY AGREES TO BE BOUND BY ANY JUDGMENT OR AWARD RENDERED THEREBY; (B) IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY OBJECTION SUCH PARTY MAY NOW HAVE OR HEREAFTER HAS AS TO THE VENUE OF ANY SUCH PROCEEDING, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION THAT SUCH LOCATION IS AN INCONVENIENT FORUM; AND (C) AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT OR AWARD IN A DISPUTE MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION BY SUIT ON THE JUDGMENT OR IN ANY OTHER MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW.

 

Section 13.16                       Performance .  Each of Huntsman and Venator shall cause to be performed, and hereby guarantees the performance of, all actions, agreements and obligations set forth herein to be performed by any member of the Huntsman Group and any member of the Venator Group, respectively. The Parties each agree to take such further actions and to execute, acknowledge, and deliver, or to cause to be executed, acknowledged, and delivered, all such further documents as are reasonably requested by the other for carrying out the purposes of this Agreement or of any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement. The Parties also agree that by executing this Agreement, any actions that an authorized officer of any member of the Huntsman Group or the Venator Group, as applicable, that have been taken prior to the execution of this Agreement will be deemed to be ratified and approved by the Parties as approved actions taken in furtherance of this Agreement.

 

Section 13.17                       Construction .  This Agreement shall be construed as if jointly drafted by the Parties and no rule of construction or strict interpretation shall be applied against any Party.

 

Section 13.18                       Effect if IPO Does Not Occur .  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Separation Agreement is terminated prior to the Effective Date or the IPO is not otherwise consummated, then this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF , the Parties have caused this Agreement to be executed by their duly authorized representatives.

 

 

HUNTSMAN CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ R.W. Rogers

 

Name:

R.W. Rogers

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Simon Turner

 

Name:

Simon Turner

 

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

 



 

SCHEDULE 3.1(i) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS

 

Schedule 3.1(i)

 

Country

 

Site

 

Name of Agreement

Finland

 

Pori

 

Kemian Perusteollisuuden Työehtosopimus

Finland

 

Pori

 

Kemianalan Toimihenkilösopimus

Finland

 

Pori

 

Kemianteollisuuden ylempien toimihenkilöiden pöytäkirja

France

 

Calais

 

The Collective agreement of the Union of Chemical Industries-France

France

 

Comines

 

The Collective agreement of the Union of Chemical Industries-France

Germany

 

 

 

Labour agreement for the Chemical industry

Germany

 

Ibbenbüren (IBB)

 

Manteltarifvertrag Chemische Industrie Westfalen

Germany

 

Schwarzheide (SCH)

 

Manteltarifvertrag Chemische Industrie Ost

Germany

 

Duisburg

 

Manteltarifvertrag Chemische Industrie Nordrhein

Germany

 

Duisburg (DUI)

 

Manteltarifvertrag Chemische Industrie Nordrhein

Italy

 

Scarlino

 

Contratto Collettivo Nazionale di Lavoro per gli addetti all’industria chimica, chimico-farmaceutica, delle fibre chimiche e dei settori abrasivi, lubrificanti e GPL

Italy

 

Scarlino

 

Contratto Collettivo di Lavoro Dirigenti di Aziende produttrici di beni e servizi

Italy

 

Scarlino

 

Contratto Integrativo Aziendale 2017-2019 Stabilimento di Scarlino

Italy

 

Turin

 

The Italian National Contract for the Chemical business

Italy

 

Turin

 

The Italian National Contract for Executives

Spain

 

Huelva

 

Convenio colectivo de Huntsman P&A Spain

United Kingdom

 

Birtley

 

Voluntary recognition agreement between Huntsman pigments (UK) limited and GMB and UNITE

United Kingdom

 

Greatham

 

Huntsman Tioxide- Trade union recognition and collective bargaining agreement- Unite

United Kingdom

 

Kidsgrove

 

Voluntary recognition agreement between Huntsman pigments (UK) limited and GMB

United States

 

Beltsville

 

United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union (AFL-CIO-CLC) Local 12328

United States

 

Los Angeles

 

General Teamsters, Airline, Aerospace and Allied Employees, Warehousemen, Drivers, Construction, Rock and Sand Local 986

United States

 

St Louis

 

International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 282

 

S- 1


Exhibit 10.4

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

This Registration Rights Agreement (this “ Agreement ”), dated as of August 8, 2017, is entered into by and between Venator Materials PLC, an England and Wales public limited company (the “ Company ”), Huntsman International LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Huntsman (Holdings) Netherlands B.V., a private limited liability company (besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid) incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands (the “ Initial Holders ” and, together with the Company, the “ Parties ”).

 

WHEREAS, in connection with, and in consideration of, the transactions contemplated by the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-217753), the Initial Holders have requested, and the Company has agreed to provide, registration rights with respect to the Registrable Securities (as hereinafter defined) as set forth in this Agreement.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements set forth herein and for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged by each party hereto, the Parties hereby agree as follows:

 

1.                                       Definitions As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings indicated:

 

Affiliate ” means, with respect to any specified Person, a Person that directly or indirectly Controls or is Controlled by, or is under common Control with, such specified Person.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Automatic Shelf Registration Statement ” means an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405.

 

Blackout Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(o).

 

Board ” means the board of directors of the Company.

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday, any federal holiday or any other day on which banking institutions in the State of Texas or the State of New York are authorized or required to be closed by law or governmental action.

 

Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any other federal agency then administering the Securities Act or Exchange Act.

 

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Company Securities ” means any equity interest of any class or series in the Company.

 

Control ” (including the terms “ Controls ,” “ Controlled by ” and “ under common Control with ”) means the possession, direct or indirect, of the power to (a) direct or cause

 

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the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise or (b) vote 10% or more of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of a Person.

 

Demand Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i).

 

Demand Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i)

 

Effective Date ” means the time and date that a Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission or otherwise becomes effective.

 

Effectiveness Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(ii).

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Holder ” means (a) each of the Initial Holders until the Initial Holders cease to hold any Registrable Securities, (b) any Affiliate of an Initial Holder if such Affiliate holds Registrable Securities and until such Affiliate ceases to hold any Registrable Securities and (c) any holder of Registrable Securities to whom registration rights conferred by this Agreement have been transferred in compliance with Section 8(e)  hereof. For the avoidance of doubt, for purposes of this Agreement, the Company and the Initial Holders shall not be considered Affiliates of each other.

 

Holder Indemnified Persons ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Initial Holders ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Initiating Holder ” means the Holder delivering the Demand Notice or the Underwritten Offering Notice, as applicable.

 

Lock-Up Agreements ” means the lock-up agreements, described in Section 5(m) of the underwriting agreement entered into by the Company in connection with the initial public offering of Ordinary Shares, dated August 2, 2017, executed by Huntsman International LLC and Huntsman (Holdings) Netherlands B.V.

 

Lock-Up Period ” has the meaning set forth in the Lock-Up Agreements.

 

Losses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6(a).

 

Material Adverse Change ” means (a) any general suspension of trading in, or limitation on prices for, securities on any national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market in the United States; (b) the declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States; (c) a material outbreak or escalation of armed hostilities or other international or national calamity involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or a change in national or international financial, political or economic conditions; or (d) any event, change, circumstance or effect that is or is reasonably likely to be materially

 

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adverse to the business, properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), operations, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

Minimum Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)(i).

 

Ordinary Shares ” means the ordinary shares, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

Parties ” has the meaning set forth in the preamble.

 

Person means an individual, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, estate, trust, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind.

 

Piggyback Registration ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

Piggyback Registration Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

Piggyback Registration Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(i).

 

Proceeding ” means any action, claim, suit, proceeding or investigation (including a preliminary investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition) pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, to be threatened.

 

Prospectus ” means the prospectus included in a Registration Statement (including a prospectus that includes any information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A, Rule 430B or Rule 430C promulgated under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

 

Registration Expenses ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.

 

Registrable Securities ” means the Shares; provided, however, that Registrable Securities shall not include:  (a) any Shares that have been registered under the Securities Act and disposed of pursuant to an effective Registration Statement or otherwise transferred to a Person who is not entitled to the registration and other rights hereunder; (b) any Shares that have been sold or transferred by the Holder thereof pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force under the Securities Act) and the transferee thereof does not receive “restricted securities” as defined in Rule 144; and (c) any Shares that cease to be outstanding (whether as a result of repurchase and cancellation, conversion or otherwise).

 

Registration Statement ” means a registration statement of the Company in the

 

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form required to register under the Securities Act and other applicable law for the resale of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended plan of distribution of each Holder included therein, and including any Prospectus, amendments and supplements to each such registration statement or Prospectus, including pre- and post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto, and all material incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such registration statement.

 

Requested Underwritten Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

Rule 144 ” means Rule 144 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

Rule 405 ” means Rule 405 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

Rule 415 ” means Rule 415 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

Rule 424 ” means Rule 424 promulgated by the Commission pursuant to the Securities Act.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Selling Expenses ” means all underwriting discounts and selling commissions applicable to the sale of Registrable Securities.

 

Shares ” means all Ordinary Shares held by the Holders (whether owned as of the date of this agreement or acquired after the date hereof) and any other equity interests of the Company or equity interests in any successor of the Company issued in respect of such shares by reason of or in connection with any share dividend, share split, combination, reorganization, recapitalization, conversion to another type of entity or similar event involving a change in the capital structure of the Company.

 

Shelf Registration Statement ” means a Registration Statement of the Company filed with the Commission on Form S-3 (or any successor form or other appropriate form under the Securities Act) for an offering to be made on a continuous or delayed basis pursuant to Rule 415 (or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission) covering the Registrable Securities, as applicable.

 

Suspension Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8(b).

 

Trading Market ” means the principal national securities exchange on which Registrable Securities are listed.

 

Underwritten Offering ” means an underwritten offering of Ordinary Shares for cash (whether a Requested Underwritten Offering or in connection with a public offering of Ordinary Shares by the Company, shareholders or both), excluding an offering relating solely to an employee benefit plan, an offering relating to a transaction on Form S-4 or S-

 

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8 or an offering on any registration statement form that does not permit secondary sales.

 

Underwritten Offering Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b).

 

Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

Underwritten Offering Piggyback Request ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

Underwritten Piggyback Offering ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c)(ii).

 

VWAP ”  means, as of a specified date and in respect of Registrable Securities, the volume weighted average price for such security on the Trading Market for the five trading days immediately preceding, but excluding, such date.

 

WKSI ” means a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined under Rule 405.

 

Unless the context requires otherwise: (a) any pronoun used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms; (b) references to Sections refer to sections of this Agreement; (c) the terms “include,” “includes,” “including” and words of like import shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (d) the terms “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement; (e) unless the context otherwise requires, the term “or” is not exclusive and shall have the inclusive meaning of “and/or”; (f) defined terms herein will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms and derivative forms of defined terms will have correlative meanings; (g) references to any law or statute shall include all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and references to any law or statute shall be construed as including any legal and statutory provisions consolidating, amending, succeeding or replacing the applicable law or statute; (h) references to any Person include such Person’s successors and permitted assigns; and (i) references to “days” are to calendar days unless otherwise indicated.

 

2.                                       Registration .

 

(a)                                  Demand Registration .

 

(i)                                      At any time after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, or prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period with the written consent of three of the Representatives (as such term is defined in the Lock-Up Agreements), the Initial Holders (or any transferee to which an Initial Holder has transferred in accordance with Section 8(e) rights under this Section 2(a)(i)) shall have the option and right, exercisable by delivering a written notice to the Company (a “ Demand Notice ”), to require the Company to, pursuant to the terms of and subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, prepare and file with the Commission a Registration Statement registering the offering and sale of the number and type of Registrable Securities on the terms and conditions specified in the Demand Notice, which may include sales on a delayed or

 

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continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement (a “ Demand Registration ”).  The Demand Notice must set forth the number of Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holder intends to include in such Demand Registration and the intended methods of disposition thereof.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in no event shall the Company be required to effectuate a Demand Registration unless the Registrable Securities of the Holders to be included therein after compliance with Section 2(a)(ii)  have an aggregate value of at least $25 million based on the VWAP (the “ Minimum Amount ”) as of the date of the Demand Notice.

 

(ii)                                   Within five Business Days (or if the Registration Statement will be a Shelf Registration Statement, within two Business Days) after the receipt of the Demand Notice, the Company shall give written notice of such Demand Notice to all Holders and, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within 30 days after receipt of the Demand Notice (except if the Company is not then eligible to register for resale the Registrable Securities on Form S-3, in which case, as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within 90 days thereof), shall, subject to the limitations of this Section 2(a) , file a Registration Statement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Demand Notice, which Registration Statement shall cover all of the Registrable Securities that the Holders shall in writing request to be included in the Demand Registration (such request to be given to the Company within three Business Days (or if the Registration Statement will be a Shelf Registration Statement, within one Business Day) after receipt of notice of the Demand Notice given by the Company pursuant to this Section 2(a)(ii) ).  The Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable and remain effective under the Securities Act until the earlier of (A) 180 days (or five years if a Shelf Registration Statement is requested) after the Effective Date or (B) the date on which all Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement have been sold (the “ Effectiveness Period ”); provided, however, that such period shall be extended for a period of time equal to the period the Holders refrain from selling any securities included in such Registration Statement at the request of an underwriter of the Company or the Company pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(iii)                                Subject to the other limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company is not obligated hereunder to effect (A) an Underwritten Offering within 90 days after the closing of any Underwritten Offering, (B) more than a total of eight Demand Registrations for which an Initial Holder (or any transferee thereof in accordance with Section 8(e) ) is the Initiating Holder and (C) a subsequent Demand Registration pursuant to a Demand Notice if a Registration Statement covering all of the Registrable Securities held by the Initiating Holder shall have become and remains effective under the Securities Act and is sufficient to permit offers and sales of the number and type of Registrable Securities on the terms and conditions specified in the Demand Notice in accordance with the intended timing and method or methods of distribution thereof specified in the Demand Notice.  No Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Section 2(a)(iii)  if the Registration Statement relating thereto does not become effective or is not maintained effective for its entire Effectiveness Period, in which case the Initiating Holder shall be entitled to an additional Demand Registration in lieu thereof.  Further, a Demand Registration shall not

 

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constitute a Demand Registration of the Initiating Holder for purposes of this Section 2(a)(iii)  if, as a result of Section 2(a)(vi) , there is included in the Demand Registration less than the lesser of (x) Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holder having a VWAP measured on the effective date of the related Registration Statement of $25 million and (y) two-thirds of the number of Registrable Securities the Initiating Holder set forth in the applicable Demand Notice.

 

(iv)                               A Holder may withdraw all or any portion of its Registrable Securities included in a Demand Registration from such Demand Registration at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement.  Upon receipt of a notice from the Initiating Holder that the Initiating Holder is withdrawing all of its Registrable Securities from the Demand Registration or a notice from a Holder to the effect that the Holder is withdrawing an amount of its Registrable Shares such that the remaining amount of Registrable Shares to be included in the Demand Registration is below the Minimum Amount, the Company shall cease all efforts to secure effectiveness of the applicable Registration Statement.  Such registration nonetheless shall be deemed a Demand Registration with respect to the Initiating Holder for purposes of Section 2(a)(iii)  unless (A) the Initiating Holder shall have paid or reimbursed the Company for its pro rata share of all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the withdrawn registration of such Registrable Securities (based on the number of securities the Initiating Holder sought to register, as compared to the total number of securities included in such Demand Registration) or (B) the withdrawal is made following the occurrence of a Material Adverse Change or pursuant to the Company’s request for suspension pursuant to Section 3(o) .

 

(v)                                  The Company may include in any such Demand Registration other Company Securities for sale for its own account or for the account of any other Person, subject to Section 2(a)(vi)  and Section 2(c)(iii) .

 

(vi)                               In the case of a Demand Registration not being underwritten, if the Initiating Holder advises the Company that in its reasonable opinion the aggregate number of securities requested to be included exceeds the number that can be included without being likely to have a significant adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, the Company shall include in such Demand Registration only that number of securities that in the reasonable opinion of the Initiating Holder will not have such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated as follows: (A) first, pro-rata among all Holders (including the Initiating Holder) that have requested to participate in such Demand Registration based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder, (B) second, if there remains availability for additional securities to be included in such Demand Registration, the Company, and (C) third, if there remains availability for additional securities to be included in such Demand Registration, any other holders entitled to participate in such Demand Registration, if applicable, based on the relative number of securities such holder is entitled to include in such Demand Registration.

 

(vii)                            Subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, the Company shall effect any Demand Registration on such appropriate registration form of

 

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the Commission (A) as shall be selected by the Company and (B) as shall permit the disposition of the Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended method or methods of disposition specified in the Demand Notice; provided that if the Company becomes, and is at the time of its receipt of a Demand Notice, a WKSI, the Demand Registration for any offering and selling of Registrable Securities shall be effected pursuant to an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, which shall be on Form S-3 or any equivalent or successor form under the Securities Act (if available to the Company).  If at any time a Registration Statement on Form S-3 is effective and a Holder provides written notice to the Company that it intends to effect an offering of all or part of the Registrable Securities included on such Registration Statement, the Company will amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such offering to take place.

 

(viii)                         Without limiting Section 3 , in connection with any Demand Registration pursuant to and in accordance with this Section 2(a) , the Company shall (A) promptly prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed (1) such additional forms, amendments, supplements, prospectuses, certificates, letters, opinions and other documents, as may be necessary or advisable to register or qualify the securities subject to such Demand Registration, including under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Holders shall reasonably request; provided, however, that no such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would become subject to general service of process or to taxation or qualification to do business in such jurisdiction solely as a result of registration and (2) such forms, amendments, supplements, prospectuses, certificates, letters, opinions and other documents as may be necessary to apply for listing or to list the Registrable Securities subject to such Demand Registration on the Trading Market and (B) do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or appropriate or reasonably requested by the Holders to enable the Holders to consummate a public sale of such Registrable Securities in accordance with the intended timing and method or methods of distribution thereof.

 

(ix)                               In the event a Holder transfers Registrable Securities included on a Registration Statement and such Registrable Securities remain Registrable Securities following such transfer, at the request of such Holder, the Company shall amend or supplement such Registration Statement as may be necessary in order to enable such transferee to offer and sell such Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement; provided that in no event shall the Company be required to file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement unless (A) such Registration Statement includes only Registrable Securities held by the Holder, Affiliates of the Holder or transferees of the Holder or (B) the Company has received written consent therefor from a Person for whom Registrable Securities have been registered on (but not yet sold under) such Registration Statement, other than the Holder, Affiliates of the Holder or transferees of the Holder.

 

(b)                                  Requested Underwritten Offering .  Any Holder then able to effectuate a Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of Section 2(a)  (or who has previously effectuated a Demand Registration pursuant to Section 2(a)  but has not engaged in an Underwritten Offering in respect of such Demand Registration) shall have the option and right, exercisable by

 

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delivering written notice to the Company of its intention to distribute Registrable Securities by means of an Underwritten Offering (an “ Underwritten Offering Notice ”), to require the Company, pursuant to the terms of and subject to the limitations of this Agreement, to effectuate a distribution of any or all of such Holder’s Registrable Securities by means of an Underwritten Offering pursuant to a new Demand Registration or pursuant to an effective Registration Statement covering such Registrable Securities (a “ Requested Underwritten Offering ”); provided, that if the Requested Underwritten Offering is pursuant to a new Demand Registration, then the Registrable Securities of such Initiating Holder requested to be included in such Requested Underwritten Offering have an aggregate value of at least equal to the Minimum Amount as of the date of such Underwritten Offering Notice, and if the Requested Underwritten Offering is pursuant to an effective Demand Registration, then the Registrable Securities of such Initiating Holder requested to be included in such Requested Underwritten Offering have an aggregate value at least equal to 25 percent of the Minimum Amount as of the date of such Underwritten Offering Notice.  The Underwritten Offering Notice must set forth the number of Registrable Securities that the Initiating Holder intends to include in such Requested Underwritten Offering. The managing underwriter or managing underwriters of a Requested Underwritten Offering shall be designated by the Company; provided, however, that such designated managing underwriter or managing underwriters shall be reasonably acceptable to the Holders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company is not obligated to effect a Requested Underwritten Offering within 90 days after the closing of an Underwritten Offering. Any Requested Underwritten Offering (other than the first Requested Underwritten Offering made in respect of a prior Demand Registration) shall constitute a Demand Registration of the Initiating Holder for purposes of Section 2(a)(iii)  (it being understood that if requested concurrently with a  Demand Registration then, together, such Demand Registration and Requested Underwritten Offering shall count as one Demand Registration); provided, however, that a Requested Underwritten Offering shall not constitute a Demand Registration of the Initiating Holder for purposes of Section 2(a)(iii)  if, as a result of Section 2(c)(iii)(A) , the Requested Underwritten Offering includes less than the lesser of (i) Registrable Securities of the Initiating Holder having a VWAP measured on the effective date of the related Registration Statement of $25 million and (ii) two-thirds of the number of Registrable Securities the Initiating Holder set forth in the applicable  Underwritten Offering Notice.

 

(c)                                   Piggyback Registration and Piggyback Underwritten Offering .

 

(i)                                      If the Company shall at any time propose to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to an offering of Ordinary Shares (other than a registration statement on Form S-4, Form S-8 or any successor forms thereto or filed solely in connection with an exchange offer or any employee benefit or dividend reinvestment plan and other than a Demand Registration), whether or not for its own account, then the Company shall promptly notify all Holders of such proposal reasonably in advance of (and in any event at least five Business Days, except if the registration statement will be a Shelf Registration Statement, at least two Business Days, before) the anticipated filing date (the “ Piggyback Registration Notice ”).  The Piggyback Registration Notice shall offer Holders the opportunity to include for registration in such registration statement the number of Registrable Securities as they may request in writing (a “ Piggyback Registration ”).  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include in each such Piggyback Registration such Registrable Securities for which the

 

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Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (“ Piggyback Registration Request ”) within three Business Days or, if the Piggyback Registration will be on a Shelf Registration Statement, within one Business Day, after sending the Piggyback Registration Notice.  Each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities from a Piggyback Registration by giving written notice to the Company of its request to withdraw; provided that (A) such request must be made in writing prior to the effectiveness of such registration statement and (B) such withdrawal shall be irrevocable and, after making such withdrawal, a Holder shall no longer have any right to include Registrable Securities in the Piggyback Registration as to which such withdrawal was made.  Any withdrawing Holder shall continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent registration statement or registration statements as may be filed by the Company with respect to offerings of Ordinary Shares, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

(ii)                                   If the Company shall at any time propose to conduct an Underwritten Offering (including a Requested Underwritten Offering), whether or not for its own account, then the Company shall promptly notify all Holders of such proposal reasonably in advance of (and in any event at least five Business Days, except if the Underwritten Offering will be made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, at least two Business Days, before) the commencement of the offering, which notice shall set forth the principal terms and conditions of the issuance, including the proposed offering price or range of offering prices (if known), the anticipated filing date of the related registration statement (if applicable) and the number of Ordinary Shares that are proposed to be registered (the “ Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice ”).  The Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice shall offer Holders the opportunity to include in such Underwritten Offering (and any related registration, if applicable) the number of Registrable Securities as they may request in writing (an “ Underwritten Piggyback Offering ”); provided, however, that in the event that the Company proposes to effectuate the subject Underwritten Offering pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement other than an Automatic Shelf Registration Statement, only Registrable Securities of Holders which are subject to an effective Shelf Registration Statement may be included in such Underwritten Piggyback Offering.  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to include in each such Underwritten Piggyback Offering such Registrable Securities for which the Company has received written requests for inclusion therein (“ Underwritten Offering Piggyback Request ”) within three Business Days or, if such Underwritten Piggyback Offering will be made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, within one Business Day after sending the Underwritten Offering Piggyback Notice.  Each Holder shall be permitted to withdraw all or part of such Holder’s Registrable Securities from an Underwritten Piggyback Offering at any time prior to the effectiveness of the applicable registration statement, and such Holder shall continue to have the right to include any Registrable Securities in any subsequent Underwritten Offerings, all upon the terms and conditions set forth herein.

 

(iii)                                If the managing underwriter or managing underwriters of an Underwritten Offering advise the Company and the Holders that in their reasonable opinion that the inclusion of all of the Holders’ Registrable Securities requested for inclusion in the subject Underwritten Offering (and any related registration, if applicable)

 

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(and any other Ordinary Shares proposed to be included in such offering) exceeds the number that can be included without being likely to have a significant adverse effect on the price, timing or distribution of the securities offered or the market for the securities offered, the Company shall include in such Underwritten Offering (and any related registration, if applicable) only that number of Ordinary Shares proposed to be included in such Underwritten Offering (and any related registration, if applicable) that, in the reasonable opinion of the managing underwriter or managing underwriters, will not have such adverse effect, with such number to be allocated as follows:  (A) in the case of a Requested Underwritten Offering, (1) first, pro-rata among all Holders (including the Initiating Holder) that have requested to include Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder, (2) second, if there remains availability for additional Ordinary Shares to be included in such Underwritten Offering, the Company, and (3) third, if there remains availability for additional Ordinary Shares to be included in such Underwritten Offering, any other holders entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, if applicable, based on the relative number of Ordinary Shares then held by each such holder; and (B) in the case of any other Underwritten Offerings, (x) first, to the Company, (y) second, if there remains availability for additional Ordinary Shares to be included in such Underwritten Offering, pro-rata among all Holders desiring to include Registrable Securities in such Underwritten Offering based on the relative number of Registrable Securities then held by each such Holder, and (z) third, if there remains availability for additional Ordinary Shares to be included in such registration, pro-rata among any other holders entitled to participate in such Underwritten Offering, if applicable, based on the relative number of Ordinary Shares then held by each such holder.  If any Holder disapproves of the terms of any such Underwritten Offering, such Holder may elect to withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing underwriter(s) delivered on or prior to the time of the commencement of such offering.  Any Registrable Securities withdrawn from such underwriting shall be excluded and withdrawn from the registration.

 

(iv)                               The Company shall have the right to terminate or withdraw any registration initiated by it under this Section 2(c)  at any time in its sole discretion whether or not any Holder has elected to include Registrable Securities in such Registration Statement.  The Registration Expenses of such withdrawn registration shall be borne by the Company in accordance with Section 4 hereof.

 

3.                                       Registration and Underwritten Offering Procedures The procedures to be followed by the Company and each Holder electing to sell Registrable Securities in a Registration Statement pursuant to this Agreement, and the respective rights and obligations of the Company and such Holders, with respect to the preparation, filing and effectiveness of such Registration Statement and the effectuation of any Underwritten Offering, are as follows:

 

(a)                                  In connection with a Demand Registration, the Company will, at least three Business Days prior to the anticipated filing of the Registration Statement and any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than, after effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any filing made under the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement), (i) furnish to such Holders copies of all such documents prior to

 

11



 

filing and (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to address in each such document when so filed with the Commission such comments as such Holders reasonably shall propose prior to the filing thereof.

 

(b)                                  In connection with a Piggyback Registration, Underwritten Piggyback Offering or a Requested Underwritten Offering, the Company will, at least three Business Days (or in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement or an offering that will be made pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, at least one Business Day) prior to the anticipated filing of any initial Registration Statement that identifies the Holders and any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than amendments and supplements that do not materially alter the previous disclosure or do nothing more than name Holders and provide information with respect thereto), as applicable, furnish to such Holders copies of any such Registration Statement or related Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto that identify the Holders and any related Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (other than amendments and supplements that do not materially alter the previous disclosure or do nothing more than name Holders and provide information with respect thereto).  The Company will also  use commercially reasonable efforts to address in each such document when so filed with the Commission such comments as such Holders reasonably shall propose prior to the filing thereof.

 

(c)                                   The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to as promptly as reasonably practicable (i) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments, including post-effective amendments, and supplements to each Registration Statement and the Prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary under applicable law to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective with respect to the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered thereby for its Effectiveness Period and, subject to the limitations contained in this Agreement, prepare and file with the Commission such additional Registration Statements in order to register for resale under the Securities Act all of the Registrable Securities held by the Holders; (ii) cause the related Prospectus to be amended or supplemented by any required prospectus supplement, and as so supplemented or amended to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; and (iii) respond to any comments received from the Commission with respect to each Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and, as promptly as reasonably practicable provide such Holders true and complete copies of all correspondence from and to the Commission relating to such Registration Statement that pertains to such Holders as selling shareholders but not any comments that would result in the disclosure to such Holders of material and non-public information concerning the Company.

 

(d)                                  The Company will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act with respect to the Registration Statements and the disposition of all Registrable Securities covered by each Registration Statement.

 

(e)                                   The Company will notify such Holders who are included in a Registration Statement as promptly as reasonably practicable: (i)(A) when a Prospectus or any prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement in which such Holder is included has been filed; (B) when the Commission notifies the Company whether there will be a “review” of the applicable Registration Statement and whenever the Commission comments in writing on such Registration Statement (in which case the Company shall provide true and complete copies thereof and all written responses thereto to each of such Holders that pertain to

 

12



 

such Holders as selling shareholders); and (C) with respect to each applicable Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto, when the same has been declared effective; (ii) of any request by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority for amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information that pertains to such Holders as sellers of Registrable Securities; (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of such Registration Statement covering any or all of the Registrable Securities or the initiation of any Proceedings for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation or threatening of any Proceeding for such purpose; and (v) of the occurrence of any event or passage of time that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires any revisions to such Registration Statement, Prospectus or other documents so that, in the case of such Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (provided , however, that no notice by the Company shall be required pursuant to this clause (v) in the event that the Company either promptly files a prospectus supplement to update the Prospectus or a Form 8-K or other appropriate Exchange Act report that is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, which in either case, contains the requisite information that results in such Registration Statement no longer containing any untrue statement of material fact or omitting to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading).

 

(f)                                    The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid the issuance of or, if issued, obtain the withdrawal of (i) any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, or (ii) any suspension of the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction, as promptly as reasonably practicable, or if any such order or suspension is made effective during any Blackout Period or Suspension Period, as promptly as reasonably practicable after such Blackout Period or Suspension Period is over.

 

(g)                                   During the Effectiveness Period, the Company will furnish to each such Holder, without charge, at least one conformed copy of each Registration Statement and each amendment thereto and all exhibits to the extent requested by such Holder (including those incorporated by reference) promptly after the filing of such documents with the Commission; provided, that the Company will not have any obligation to provide any document pursuant to this clause that is available on the Commission’s EDGAR system.

 

(h)                                  The Company will promptly deliver to each Holder, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus or Prospectuses (including each form of prospectus) authorized by the Company for use and each amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request during the Effectiveness Period.  Subject to the terms of this Agreement, including Section 8(b) , the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders in connection with the offering

 

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and sale of the Registrable Securities covered by such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

(i)                                      The Company will cooperate with such Holders to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable Securities to be delivered to a transferee pursuant to a Registration Statement, which certificates shall be free of all restrictive legends indicating that the Registrable Securities are unregistered or unqualified for resale under the Securities Act, Exchange Act or other applicable securities laws, and to enable such Registrable Securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as any such Holder may request in writing.  In connection therewith, if required by the Company’s transfer agent, the Company will promptly, after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, cause an opinion of counsel as to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement to be delivered to and maintained with its transfer agent, together with any other authorizations, certificates and directions required by the transfer agent which authorize and direct the transfer agent to issue such Registrable Securities without any such legend upon sale by the Holder of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement.

 

(j)                                     Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) , as promptly as reasonably practicable, the Company will prepare a supplement or amendment, including a post-effective amendment, if required by applicable law, to the affected Registration Statement or a supplement to the related Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference, and file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered, no Registration Statement nor any Prospectus will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(k)                                  With respect to Underwritten Offerings, (i) the right of any Holder to include such Holder’s Registrable Securities in an Underwritten Offering shall be conditioned upon such Holder’s participation in such underwriting and the inclusion of such Holder’s Registrable Securities in the underwriting to the extent provided herein, (ii) each Holder participating in such Underwritten Offering agrees to enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form and sell such Holder’s Registrable Securities on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled to select the managing underwriter or managing underwriters hereunder and (iii) each Holder participating in such Underwritten Offering agrees to complete and execute all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents customarily and reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.  The Company hereby agrees with each Holder that, in connection with any Underwritten Offering in accordance with the terms hereof, it will negotiate in good faith and execute all indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements, including using all commercially reasonable efforts to procure customary legal opinions, auditor “comfort” letters.

 

(l)                                      For a reasonable period prior to the filing of any Registration Statement and throughout the Effectiveness Period, the Company will make available, upon reasonable notice at the Company’s principal place of business or such other reasonable place, for inspection during normal business hours by a representative or representatives of the selling

 

14



 

Holders, the managing underwriter or managing underwriters and any attorneys or accountants retained by such selling Holders or underwriters, all such financial and other information and books and records of the Company, and cause the officers, employees, counsel and independent certified public accountants of the Company to respond to such inquiries, as shall be reasonably necessary (and in the case of counsel, not violate an attorney-client privilege in such counsel’s reasonable belief) to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; provided, however, that any information that is not generally publicly available at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Persons unless disclosure of such information is required by court or administrative order or, in the opinion of counsel to such Person, law, in which case, such Person shall be required to give the Company written notice of the proposed disclosure prior to such disclosure and, if requested by the Company, assist the Company in seeking to prevent or limit the proposed disclosure.

 

(m)                              In connection with any Requested Underwritten Offering, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause appropriate officers and employees to be available, on a customary basis and upon reasonable notice, to meet with prospective investors in presentations, meetings and road shows.

 

(n)                                  Each Holder agrees to furnish to the Company any other information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such securities as the Company reasonably determines is required to be included in any Registration Statement or any Prospectus or prospectus supplement relating to an Underwritten Offering.

 

(o)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to file a Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or effect a Requested Underwritten Offering (or, if the Company has filed a Shelf Registration Statement and has included Registrable Securities therein, the Company shall be entitled to suspend the offer and sale of Registrable Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement) for a period of up to 60 days if (i) the Board determines that a postponement is in the best interest of the Company and its shareholders generally due to a pending transaction involving the Company (including a pending securities offering by the Company), (ii) the Board determines such registration would render the Company unable to comply with applicable securities laws or (iii) the Board determines such registration would require disclosure of material information that the Company has a bona fide business purpose for preserving as confidential (any such period, a “ Blackout Period ”); provided , however, that in no event shall any Blackout Period together with any Suspension Period exceed an aggregate of 120 days in any 12-month period.

 

(p)                                  In connection with an Underwritten Offering, the Company shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to provide to each Holder named as a selling securityholder in any Registration Statement a copy of any auditor “comfort” letters or customary legal opinions, in each case that have been provided to the managing underwriter or managing underwriters in connection with the Underwritten Offering, not later than the Business Day prior to the effective date of such Registration Statement.

 

4.                                       No Inconsistent Agreements; Additional Rights The Company shall not hereafter enter into, and is not currently a party to, any agreement with respect to its securities

 

15



 

that is inconsistent in any material respect with, or superior to, the rights granted to the Holders by this Agreement.

 

5.                                       Registration Expenses All Registration Expenses incident to the Parties’ performance of or compliance with their respective obligations under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with any Demand Registration, Requested Underwritten Offering, Piggyback Registration or Underwritten Piggyback Offering (in each case, excluding any Selling Expenses) shall be borne by the Company, whether or not any Registrable Securities are sold pursuant to a Registration Statement.  “ Registration Expenses ” shall include, without limitation, (i) all registration and filing fees (including fees and expenses (A) with respect to filings required to be made with the Trading Market and (B) in compliance with applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws), (ii) any stamp and other duties and share and other transfer taxes, if any, payable in connection with the offer and sale of Ordinary Shares, (iii) printing expenses (including expenses of printing certificates for Company Securities and of printing Prospectuses if the printing of Prospectuses is reasonably requested by a Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Registration Statement), (iv) messenger, telephone and delivery expenses, (v) fees and disbursements of counsel, auditors and accountants for the Company, (vi) Securities Act liability insurance, if the Company so desires such insurance, (vii) fees and expenses of all other Persons retained by the Company in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (viii) the reasonable fees and expenses of one law firm of national standing selected by the Holders owning the majority of the Registrable Securities to be included in any such registration or offering and (ix) all expenses relating to marketing the sale of the Registrable Securities, including expenses related to conducting a “road show.”  In addition, the Company shall be responsible for all of its expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including expenses payable to third parties and including all salaries and expenses of their officers and employees performing legal or accounting duties), the expense of any annual audit and the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Registrable Securities on the Trading Market.

 

6.                                       Indemnification .

 

(a)                                  The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, its Affiliates and each of their respective officers and directors and any agent thereof (collectively, “ Holder Indemnified Persons ”), to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, joint or several, costs (including reasonable costs of preparation and reasonable attorneys’ fees) and expenses, judgments, fines, penalties, interest, settlements or other amounts arising from any and all claims, demands, actions, suits or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, in which any Holder Indemnified Person may be involved, or is threatened to be involved, as a party or otherwise, under the Securities Act or otherwise (collectively, “ Losses ”), as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Registration Statement under which any Registrable Securities were registered, in any preliminary prospectus (if the Company authorized the use of such preliminary prospectus prior to the Effective Date), or in any summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus (if such free writing prospectus was authorized for use by the Company) or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Company is required to keep the Registration

 

16



 

Statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading; provided , however, that the Company shall not be liable to any Holder Indemnified Person to the extent that any such claim arises out of, is based upon or results from an untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement, such preliminary, summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person or any underwriter specifically for use in the preparation thereof.  The Company shall notify the Holders promptly of the institution, threat or assertion of any Proceeding of which the Company is aware in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability the Company may otherwise have and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of such Holder Indemnified Person or any indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of such securities by such Holder.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, this Section 6 shall survive any termination or expiration of this Agreement indefinitely.

 

(b)                                  In connection with any Registration Statement in which a Holder participates, such Holder shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors and any agent thereof, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, from and against any and all Losses as incurred, arising out of or relating to any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any such Registration Statement, in any preliminary prospectus (if used prior to the Effective Date of such Registration Statement), or in any summary or final prospectus or free writing prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto (if used during the period the Company is required to keep the Registration Statement current), or arising out of, based upon or resulting from the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, but only to the extent that the same are made in reliance and in conformity with information relating to the Holder furnished in writing to the Company by such Holder for use therein.  This indemnity shall be in addition to any liability such Holder may otherwise have and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or any indemnified party. In no event shall the liability of any selling Holder hereunder be greater in amount than the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such indemnification obligation

 

(c)                                   Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of any claim with respect to which it seeks indemnification and (ii) unless in such indemnified party’s reasonable judgment a conflict of interest between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist with respect to such claim or there may be reasonable defenses available to the indemnified party that are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party.  If such defense is assumed, the indemnifying party shall not be subject to any liability for any settlement made by the indemnified party without its consent (but such consent will not be

 

17



 

unreasonably withheld).  An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of a claim shall not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party there may be one or more legal or equitable defenses available to such indemnified party that are in addition to or may conflict with those available to another indemnified party with respect to such claim.  Failure to give prompt written notice shall not release the indemnifying party from its obligations hereunder.

 

(d)                                  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be unavailable to an indemnified party with respect to any Losses referred to herein, the indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall to the extent permitted by applicable law contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Losses in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party, on the one hand, and of the indemnified party, on the other, in connection with the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact that resulted in such Losses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the indemnifying party and of the indemnified party shall be determined by a court of law by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the indemnifying party or by the indemnified party and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission; provided, that in no event shall any contribution by a Holder hereunder exceed the net proceeds from the offering received by such Holder.

 

7.                                       Facilitation of Sales Pursuant to Rule 144 To the extent it shall be required to do so under the Exchange Act, the Company shall timely file the reports required to be filed by it under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act (including the reports under Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act referred to in subparagraph (c)(1) of Rule 144), and shall take such further action as any Holder may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable the Holders to sell Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitations of the exemption provided by Rule 144.  Upon the request of any Holder in connection with that Holder’s sale pursuant to Rule 144, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements.

 

8.                                       Miscellaneous .

 

(a)                                  Remedies .  In the event of actual or potential breach by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, each Holder, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law and under this Agreement, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement.  The Company agrees that monetary damages would not provide adequate compensation for any losses incurred by reason of a breach by it of any of the provisions of this Agreement and further agrees that, in the event of any action for specific performance in respect of such breach, it shall waive the defense that a remedy at law would be adequate.

 

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(b)                                  Discontinued Disposition .  Each Holder agrees that, upon receipt of a notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event of the kind described in clauses (ii) through (v) of Section 3(e) , such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of such Registrable Securities under the Registration Statement until such Holder’s receipt of the copies of the supplemental Prospectus or amended Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3(j)  or until it is advised in writing by the Company that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed, and, in either case, has received copies of any additional or supplemental filings that are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in such Prospectus or Registration Statement (a “ Suspension Period ”).  The Company may provide appropriate stop orders to enforce the provisions of this Section 8(b) .

 

(c)                                   Amendments and Waivers .  No provision of this Agreement may be waived or amended except in a written instrument signed by the Company and Holders that hold a majority of the Registrable Securities as of the date of such waiver or amendment; provided, that any waiver or amendment that would have a disproportionate adverse effect on a Holder relative to the other Holders shall require the consent of such Holder.  The Company shall provide prior notice to all Holders of any proposed waiver or amendment.  No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any Party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

(d)                                  Notices .  Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (i) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or electronic mail as specified in this Section 8(d)  prior to 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on a Business Day, (ii) the Business Day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is delivered via facsimile or electronic mail as specified in this Agreement later than 5:00 p.m. in the time zone of the receiving party on any date, (iii) the Business Day following the date of mailing, if sent by nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) upon actual receipt by the Party to whom such notice is required to be given.  The address for such notices and communications shall be as follows:

 

If to the Company:

Venator Materials PLC

 

Attention:  Russ R. Stolle

10001 Woodloch Forest Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77380

E-mail: russ_stolle@venatorcorp.com

 

 

 

With copy to:

 

Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.

Attention:  Jeffery B. Floyd

1001 Fannin Street, Suite 2500

Houston, Texas  77002

E-mail: jfloyd@velaw.com

 

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If to any Person who is then the registered Holder:

To the address of such Holder as indicated on the signature page of this Agreement or, if different, as it appears in the applicable register for the Registrable Securities or as may be designated in writing by such Holder in accordance with this Section 8(d) .

 

(e)                                   Successors and Assigns .  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, legal representatives and permitted assigns.  Except as provided in this Section 8(e) , this Agreement, and any rights or obligations hereunder, may not be assigned without the prior written consent of the Company and the Holders.  Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing to the contrary, the rights of a Holder pursuant to this Agreement with respect to all or any portion of its Registrable Securities may be assigned without such consent (but only with all related obligations) with respect to such Registrable Securities (and any Registrable Securities issued as a dividend or other distribution with respect to, in exchange for or in replacement of such Registrable Securities) by such Holder to a transferee of such Registrable Securities; provided (i) the Company is, within a reasonable time after such transfer, furnished with written notice of the name and address of such transferee or assignee and the Registrable Securities with respect to which such registration rights are being assigned and (ii) such transferee or assignee agrees in writing to be bound by and subject to the terms set forth in this Agreement.  The Company may not assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the Holders.

 

(f)                                    No Third Party Beneficiaries .  Nothing in this Agreement, whether express or implied, shall be construed to give any Person, other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns, any legal or equitable right, remedy, claim or benefit under or in respect of this Agreement.

 

(g)                                   Execution and Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.  In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile or electronic mail transmission, such signature shall create a valid binding obligation of the Party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) the same with the same force and effect as if such signature delivered by facsimile or electronic mail transmission were the original thereof.

 

(h)                                  Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial . This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.  Each of the Parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York located in in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purpose of any suit, action, proceeding or judgment relating to or arising out of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  Service of process in connection with any such suit, action or proceeding may be served on each Party anywhere in the world by the same methods as are specified for the giving of notices under this Agreement.  Each of the Parties irrevocably waives any objection to the laying of venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such courts and irrevocably waives any claim that any such suit, action or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.  EACH OF THE PARTIES HEREBY

 

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WAIVES ANY RIGHT TO REQUEST A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION WITH RESPECT TO THIS AGREEMENT AND REPRESENTS THAT COUNSEL HAS BEEN CONSULTED SPECIFICALLY AS TO THIS WAIVER.

 

(i)                                      Cumulative Remedies .  The remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

 

(j)                                     Severability .  If any term, provision, covenant or restriction of this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions set forth herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated, and the Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to find and employ an alternative means to achieve the same or substantially the same result as that contemplated by such term, provision, covenant or restriction.  It is hereby stipulated and declared to be the intention of the Parties that they would have executed the remaining terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions without including any of such that may be hereafter declared invalid, illegal, void or unenforceable.

 

(k)                                  Entire Agreement .  This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior contracts or agreements with respect to the subject matter hereof and the matters addressed or governed hereby, whether oral or written.

 

(l)                                      Termination .  Except for Section 6 , this Agreement shall terminate as to any Holder, when all Registrable Securities held by such Holder no longer constitute Registrable Securities.

 

[Signature page follows.]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.

 

 

COMPANY:

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

Name:

Russ R. Stolle

 

Title:

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 



 

 

HOLDER:

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN INTERNATIONAL LLC

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sean Douglas

 

Name:

Sean Douglas

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

Address for notice:

 

 

 

 

 

10003 Woodloch Forest Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77380

Attention: David Stryker

E-mail: david_stryker @huntsman.com

 

 

 

 

 

HOLDER:

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN (HOLDINGS) NETHERLANDS B.V.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Sean Douglas

 

Name:

Sean Douglas

 

Title:

Authorized Officer

 

 

 

Address for notice:

 

 

 

 

 

10003 Woodloch Forest Drive

The Woodlands, TX 77380

Attention: David Stryker

E-mail: david_stryker@huntsman.com

 

Signature Page to Registration Rights Agreement

 


Exhibit 10.5

 

Execution Version

 

 

$300,000,000

 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT,
 
dated as of August 8, 2017, among

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC,
as Holdings,

 

EACH OF HOLDINGS’ SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO AS “U.S. BORROWERS”,

 

EACH OF HOLDINGS’ SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO AS “CANADIAN BORROWERS”,

 

EACH OF HOLDINGS’ SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO AS “U.K. BORROWERS”,

 

EACH OF HOLDINGS’ SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO AS “GERMAN BORROWERS”,

 

EACH OF HOLDINGS’ SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO AS “FRENCH BORROWERS”,

 

EACH OF HOLDINGS’ SUBSIDIARIES THAT ARE SIGNATORIES HERETO AS “SPANISH BORROWERS”,

 

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., BARCLAYS BANK PLC, HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC. and GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA ,
as Arrangers and Bookrunners,

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

as Syndication Agent

 

and

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., BARCLAYS BANK PLC, HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC. and GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,
as Documentation Agents

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS

2

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01

Defined Terms

2

SECTION 1.02

Terms Generally

92

SECTION 1.03

Accounting Terms; GAAP

93

SECTION 1.04

Effectuation of Transfers

94

SECTION 1.05

Currencies

94

SECTION 1.06

Required Financial Statements

95

SECTION 1.07

Certain Calculations and Tests

95

SECTION 1.08

Disqualified Institutions

96

SECTION 1.09

Québec Interpretation

97

SECTION 1.10

Joint and Several Liability

97

SECTION 1.11

Rounding

99

SECTION 1.12

Times of Day

99

SECTION 1.13

Timing of Payment

99

SECTION 1.14

Spanish terms

99

SECTION 1.15

French Terms

100

SECTION 1.17

Luxembourg terms

102

 

 

 

ARTICLE II THE CREDITS

103

 

 

 

SECTION 2.01

Commitments

103

SECTION 2.02

Loans and Borrowings

107

SECTION 2.03

Requests for Borrowings; Interest Elections

108

SECTION 2.04

Swingline Loans

109

SECTION 2.05

Letters of Credit

110

SECTION 2.06

Funding of Borrowings

120

SECTION 2.07

[Reserved]

121

SECTION 2.08

Termination and Reduction of Commitments

121

SECTION 2.09

Promise to Pay; Evidence of Debt

122

SECTION 2.10

Optional Repayment of Loans

123

SECTION 2.11

Mandatory Repayment of Loans

123

SECTION 2.12

Fees

124

SECTION 2.13

Interest

129

SECTION 2.14

Alternate Rate of Interest

130

SECTION 2.15

Increased Costs

131

SECTION 2.16

Break Funding Payments

132

SECTION 2.17

Taxes

133

SECTION 2.18

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

139

SECTION 2.19

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

152

SECTION 2.20

Illegality

153

SECTION 2.21

Incremental Revolving Facility Increases

153

SECTION 2.22

Extensions of Revolving Facility Commitments

156

SECTION 2.23

Defaulting Lenders

158

SECTION 2.24

Effective Global Rate

161

 

 

 

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

161

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01

Organization; Powers

161

SECTION 3.02

Authorization

162

SECTION 3.03

Enforceability

162

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

SECTION 3.04

Governmental Approvals

162

SECTION 3.05

Borrowing Base Certificate

163

SECTION 3.06

Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases

163

SECTION 3.07

Subsidiaries

163

SECTION 3.08

Litigation; Compliance with Laws

164

SECTION 3.09

Federal Reserve Regulations

164

SECTION 3.10

Investment Company Act

164

SECTION 3.11

Use of Proceeds

164

SECTION 3.12

Tax Returns

164

SECTION 3.13

No Material Misstatements

165

SECTION 3.14

Environmental Matters

165

SECTION 3.15

Security Documents

166

SECTION 3.16

Location of Real Property

167

SECTION 3.17

Solvency

167

SECTION 3.18

No Material Adverse Effect

168

SECTION 3.19

Insurance

168

SECTION 3.20

USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA; OFAC; Anti-Terrorism

168

SECTION 3.21

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

169

SECTION 3.22

Employee Benefit Plans

169

SECTION 3.23

EEA Financial Institution

169

SECTION 3.24

Pensions

169

SECTION 3.25

Centre of Main Interests and Establishments

170

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV CONDITIONS OF LENDING

170

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01

All Credit Events After the Closing Date

170

SECTION 4.02

Conditions On the Closing Date

171

 

 

 

ARTICLE V AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

176

 

 

SECTION 5.01

Existence; Businesses and Properties

176

SECTION 5.02

Insurance

177

SECTION 5.03

Taxes

177

SECTION 5.04

Financial Statements, Reports, etc.

178

SECTION 5.05

Litigation and Other Notices

181

SECTION 5.06

Compliance with Laws

181

SECTION 5.07

Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Appraisals

182

SECTION 5.08

Use of Proceeds

183

SECTION 5.09

Compliance with Environmental Laws

183

SECTION 5.10

Further Assurances; Additional Security

183

SECTION 5.11

Cash Management Systems; Application of Proceeds of Accounts

187

SECTION 5.12

Lender Calls

191

SECTION 5.13

Pensions

191

SECTION 5.14

Centre of Main Interests and Establishments

192

SECTION 5.15

People with Significant Control regime

192

SECTION 5.16

Post-Closing Matters

192

SECTION 5.17

Spanish “Pagarés” ( Promissory Notes )

192

 

ii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI NEGATIVE COVENANTS

193

 

 

SECTION 6.01

Indebtedness

193

SECTION 6.02

Liens

198

SECTION 6.03

[Reserved]

202

SECTION 6.04

Investments, Loans and Advances

202

SECTION 6.05

Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions

205

SECTION 6.06

Restricted Payments

207

SECTION 6.07

Transactions with Affiliates

210

SECTION 6.08

Business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries

213

SECTION 6.09

Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.

213

SECTION 6.10

Financial Performance Covenant

215

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII [RESERVED]

216

 

 

ARTICLE VIII EVENTS OF DEFAULT

216

 

 

SECTION 8.01

Events of Default

216

SECTION 8.02

Right to Cure

219

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX THE AGENTS

219

 

 

SECTION 9.01

Authorization and Action

219

SECTION 9.02

Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

223

SECTION 9.03

[Reserved]

224

SECTION 9.04

Posting of Communications

224

SECTION 9.05

The Administrative Agent Individually

226

SECTION 9.06

Successor Administrative Agent

226

SECTION 9.07

Acknowledgements of Lenders

227

SECTION 9.08

Collateral Matters

228

SECTION 9.09

Credit Bidding

228

SECTION 9.10

Arrangers; Documentation Agents; Syndication Agents

229

SECTION 9.11

Intercreditor Agreement

229

SECTION 9.12

Special provisions relating to the Agents for Spain

230

 

 

ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS

234

 

 

SECTION 10.01

Notices; Communications

234

SECTION 10.02

Survival of Agreement

236

SECTION 10.03

[Reserved]

236

SECTION 10.04

Successors and Assigns

236

SECTION 10.05

Expenses; Indemnity

243

SECTION 10.06

Right of Set-off

245

SECTION 10.07

Applicable Law

245

SECTION 10.08

Waivers; Amendment

245

SECTION 10.09

Interest Rate Limitation

248

SECTION 10.10

Entire Agreement

249

SECTION 10.11

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

249

SECTION 10.12

Severability

249

 

iii



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

SECTION 10.13

Counterparts

249

SECTION 10.14

Headings

249

SECTION 10.15

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

250

SECTION 10.16

Confidentiality

250

SECTION 10.17

[Reserved]

251

SECTION 10.18

Release of Liens and Guarantees

252

SECTION 10.19

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

252

SECTION 10.20

Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements

252

SECTION 10.21

No Liability of the Issuing Banks

253

SECTION 10.22

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

253

SECTION 10.23

Cashless Settlement

254

SECTION 10.24

Holdings as Agent for Borrowers

254

SECTION 10.25

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

254

SECTION 10.26

Judgment Currency

255

SECTION 10.27

No Hardship

255

SECTION 10.28

Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation

255

 

iv



 

Exhibits and Schedules

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B

 

Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit C

 

Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit D

 

Form of Swingline Borrowing Request

Exhibit E

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates

Exhibit F

 

Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice

Exhibit G

 

Form of Initial Lender Certificate

Schedule 1.01(1)

 

Existing Letters of Credit

Schedule 1.01(2)

 

Guaranty and Security Principles

Schedule 1.01(3)

 

Foreign Security Documents

Schedule 1.01(4)

 

Unrestricted Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01(5)

 

Specified Account Debtors

Schedule 2.01

 

Commitments and Issuing Banks

Schedule 3.04

 

Governmental Approvals

Schedule 3.06(2)

 

Possession Under Lease

Schedule 3.07(1)

 

Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.07(2)

 

Equity Interests

Schedule 3.12

 

Taxes

Schedule 3.14

 

Environmental Matters

Schedule 3.16

 

Owned Material Real Property

Schedule 3.19

 

Insurance

Schedule 3.21

 

Intellectual Property

Schedule 4.02(11)

 

Local Counsel Opinions

Schedule 5.16

 

Post-Closing Matters

Schedule 6.01(4)

 

Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02(2)

 

Liens

Schedule 6.04

 

Investments

Schedule 6.07

 

Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 10.01

 

Notice Information; Administrative Agent’s Office

 

v



 

REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 107474130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages hereof, or in a joinder agreement hereto, as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages hereof, or in a joinder agreement hereto, as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages hereof, or in a joinder agreement hereto, as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages hereof, or in a joinder agreement hereto, as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages hereof, or in a joinder agreement hereto, as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages hereof, or in a joinder agreement hereto, as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party hereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

 

RECITALS

 

(1)                                  Huntsman International, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Huntsman ”), which, prior to the Closing Date, shall be the direct or indirect parent of Holdings, intends to separate its Pigments and Additives Business from the remaining business and assets of Huntsman through a series of transactions that will result in the Pigments and Additives Business being owned by Holdings, in each case consummated in one or more transactions on or prior to the Closing Date (the “ Venator Consolidation Transactions ”);

 

(2)                                  On the Closing Date, Huntsman or its Subsidiaries will offer all or a portion of its capital stock in Holdings an underwritten public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (the “ Initial Venator Distribution Transaction ”);

 

(3)                                  In connection with the consummation of the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, (a) the Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrowers in the form of Revolving Loans, Swingline Loans, and Letters of Credit in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $300 million, (b) certain financial institutions have agreed to extend credit to certain Subsidiaries of Holdings in the form of term loans under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (as defined herein) in an aggregate principal amount of up to $375 million and (c) certain Subsidiaries of Holdings will issue senior unsecured notes pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of up to $375 million; and

 



 

(4)                                  On the Closing Date, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries intend to apply credit extended under this Agreement, the Senior Notes and the Term Loan Credit Agreement to (i) pay fees, costs and expenses incurred by Huntsman, Holdings, and their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Venator Consolidation Transactions, the Loan Documents, the Term Loan Documents, the Senior Notes and the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, (ii) make the Special Closing Date Payments (directly or indirectly) and (iii) for general corporate purposes.

 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

DEFINITIONS

 

SECTION 1.01                     Defined Terms .  As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

ABL Priority Collateral ” means “ ABL Priority Collateral ” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ABL Priority Collateral Asset Sale ” means any Asset Sale that consists of or includes the disposition of ABL Priority Collateral outside the ordinary course of business.

 

ABR ” means when used in reference to any Loan or Borrowing denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars, refers to such Loan, or the Loans comprising such Borrowing, bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to (1) with respect to Loans or Borrowings denominated in Dollars, the U.S. Alternate Base Rate and (2) with respect to Revolving Loans or Revolving Facility Borrowings denominated in Canadian Dollars, the Canadian ABR.

 

ABR Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

 

ABR Loan ” means any Loan denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR.  For the avoidance of doubt, all Swingline Loans will be ABR Loans.

 

ABR Revolving Facility Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of ABR Revolving Loans.

 

ABR Revolving Loan ” means any Revolving Loan denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR.

 

Acceptable Appraiser ” means (1) Hilco Valuation Services or (2) any other experienced and reputable appraiser reasonably acceptable to Holdings and the Administrative Agent.

 

Account ” means, with respect to a Person, any of such Person’s now owned and hereafter acquired or arising accounts (as defined in the UCC and/or the PPSA) and shall include the meaning given to the term “Account” in any Foreign Security Document.

 

Account Debtor ” means any Person who is obligated on an Account.

 

2



 

Accounts Reserves ” means, without duplication, the Dilution Reserve and any other reserves related to Eligible Accounts, in each case, which the Administrative Agent deems necessary, in its Reasonable Credit Judgment.

 

Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral ” means any ABL Priority Collateral acquired by any Borrower in a Permitted Acquisition.

 

Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation ” means the relevant Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral applying eligibility and reserve criteria consistent with those applied to Accounts and Inventory included in the Borrowing Base, until the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a reasonably satisfactory appraisal and field examination in respect thereof; provided , that the Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral shall in no event comprise more than 15% of the availability created by the Aggregate Borrowing Base until the delivery to the Administrative Agent of a reasonably satisfactory appraisal and field examination in respect thereof.

 

Acquisition ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Additional Lender ” means the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and investors (other than natural persons) that become Lenders in connection with Incremental Commitments; provided that no Disqualified Institution may be an Additional Lender.

 

Adjusted LIBOR Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the LIBOR Rate in effect for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate applicable to such Eurocurrency Borrowing, if any.

 

Adjustment Date ” means the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of the Borrowers.

 

Administrative Agent ” means JPMCB, in its capacity as administrative agent for itself and the Lenders hereunder or, as applicable, such branches or affiliates of JPMCB as it shall from time to time designate for the purpose of performing its obligations hereunder in such capacity and any duly appointed successor in such capacity.  References to the “Administrative Agent” shall include J.P. Morgan Europe Limited (including but not limited to matters pertaining to the Loan Parties incorporated in Europe) and any other branch or affiliate of JPMCB designated by JPMCB for the purpose of performing its obligations in such capacity.

 

Administrative Agent Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(8).

 

Administrative Agent’s Office ” means the Administrative Agent’s address and account as set forth on Schedule 10.01 or such other address or account as the Administrative Agent may from time to time notify Holdings and the Lenders.

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

Ad Valorem Tax Reserve ” means an amount equal to any unpaid ad valorem taxes payable on any Inventory under the laws of the State of Texas or any such other state(s) in which such ad valorem taxes has priority by operation of law over the Lien of the Collateral Agent in any of the Collateral consisting of Eligible Inventory, as notified by the Administrative Agent to the Borrower in writing.

 

3



 

Affiliate ” means, when used with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Agent Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(2).

 

Aggregate Borrowing Base ” means the sum of the U.S. Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base, the French Borrowing Bases, the German Borrowing Bases, the Spanish Borrowing Base and the U.K. Borrowing Base.

 

Agents ” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in their respective capacities as such.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Annual Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(1).

 

“AML Legislation” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.28.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Anti-Terrorism Laws ” means any applicable law relating to terrorism, trade sanctions programs and embargoes, money laundering or bribery, including AML Legislation and any regulation, or order promulgated, issued or enforced pursuant to such laws by an applicable Governmental Authority, all as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

 

Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage ” means (1) at any time on or prior to the last day of the first full fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, a percentage per annum equal to 0.375%, and (2) at any time thereafter, (a) if the average daily Revolving Facility Credit Exposure (other than Revolving Facility Credit Exposure attributable to Swingline Loans) is greater than 50% of the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments as of the most recent Adjustment Date for the prior fiscal quarter, a percentage per annum equal to 0.25% and (b) if otherwise, a percentage per annum equal to 0.375%.

 

Applicable Margin ” means, at any time on or prior to the last day of the first full fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, (1) for ABR Revolving Loans, 0.50%, (2) for Eurocurrency Revolving Loans, 1.50%, (3) for CDOR Revolving Loans, 1.50% and, following the last day of the first full fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, the percentages per annum determined in accordance with the pricing grid set forth below, based on Average Historical Excess Availability as of the most recent Adjustment Date:

 

Pricing Level

 

Average Historical Excess 
Availability

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurocurrency 
Revolving Loans and 
CDOR Revolving 
Loans

 

Applicable Margin 
for ABR Revolving 
Loans or Swingline 
Loans

 

I

 

Greater than or equal to 66.67% of the aggregate Revolving Facility

 

1.50

%

0.50

%

 

4



 

Pricing Level

 

Average Historical Excess 
Availability

 

Applicable Margin for
Eurocurrency 
Revolving Loans and 
CDOR Revolving 
Loans

 

Applicable Margin 
for ABR Revolving 
Loans or Swingline 
Loans

 

 

 

Commitments

 

 

 

 

 

II

 

Less than 66.67% of the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments and greater than or equal to 33.33% of the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments

 

1.75

%

0.75

%

III

 

Less than 33.33% of the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments

 

2.00

%

1.00

%

 

The Applicable Margin shall be adjusted quarterly on a prospective basis on each Adjustment Date based upon the Average Historical Excess Availability in accordance with the table above; provided that if any Borrowing Base Certificate delivered pursuant to this Agreement is at any time restated or otherwise revised, or if the information set forth in any such Borrowing Base Certificate otherwise proves to be false or incorrect such that the Applicable Margin would have been higher than was otherwise in effect during any period, without constituting a waiver of any Default or Event of Default arising as a result thereof, interest due under this Agreement shall be recalculated by the Administrative Agent at such higher rate for any applicable periods and shall be due and payable within 5 Business Days of receipt of such calculation by the Borrowers from the Administrative Agent and shall be payable only to the Lenders whose Commitments were outstanding during such period.

 

Applicable Parties ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(3).

 

Approved Electronic Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(1).

 

Approved Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(3).

 

Approved Issuer ” means state, county or local development authorities and other tax-exempt entities.

 

Arranger ” means each of JPMCB, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA.

 

Asset Sale ” means any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) to any Person of any asset or assets (including by way of a Sale-Leaseback Transaction) of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Assignee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(2).

 

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent and Holdings (if required by

 

5



 

Section 10.04), substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form that is approved by the Administrative Agent and reasonably satisfactory to Holdings.

 

Availability Period ” means the period from and including the Closing Date to but excluding the earlier of the Maturity Date and the date of termination of the Revolving Facility Commitments.

 

Available Unused Commitment ” means, with respect to a Lender at any time, an amount equal to the amount by which (1) the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments of such Lender at such time exceeds (2) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposures (other than Revolving Facility Credit Exposure attributable to Swingline Loans) of such Lender at such time.

 

Average Historical Excess Availability ” means, at any Adjustment Date, the average daily Excess Availability for the prior fiscal quarter.

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

“Bank Levy” means: (a) the U.K. bank levy as set out in the Finance Act 2011, (b) the French taxe bancaire de risque systémique levied pursuant to article 235 ter ZE of the French Tax Code, the French taxe pour le financement du fonds de soutien aux collectivités territoriales levied pursuant to article 235 ter ZE bis of the French Tax Code, (c) the German bank levy as set out in the German Bank Restructuring Fund Act 2010 (Restrukturierungs Fondsgesetz, Fed. Law Gazette 1 2010, p.1900), (d) the Dutch bank levy act as set out in the Wet Bankenbelasting as approved by the Dutch parliament on 10 July 2012 (as amended) and (e) the Spanish bank levy (Impuesto sobre los Depósitos en las Entidades de Crédito) as set out in the Law 16/2012 of 27 December 2012, (f) any tax in any jurisdiction levied on a similar basis or for a similar purpose as any tax referred to in (a) to (e) above or any financial activities taxes (or other taxes) of a kind contemplated in the European Commission consultation paper on financial sector taxation dated 22 February 2011 or the Single Resolution Mechanism set up by EU Regulation n°806/2014 of July 15, 2014.

 

Blocked Account ” means any Deposit Account other than an Excluded Account.

 

Blocked Account Agreement ’ shall mean a Deposit Account control agreement to be executed by each institution maintaining a Deposit Account (other than an Excluded Account) for any Loan Party, in each case as required by and in accordance with the terms of Section 5.11 (or any similar agreements, documentation or requirement reasonably necessary, as determined by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion, to perfect the security interest of any Collateral Agent or effect control over the relevant Deposit Accounts).

 

Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds ” means the cash proceeds of Asset Sales involving aggregate consideration of $5 million or less.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning given to that term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will not be deemed to have

 

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beneficial ownership of any securities that such “person” has the right to acquire or vote only upon the happening of any future event or contingency (including the passage of time) that has not yet occurred.  The terms “ Beneficially Owns ,” “ Beneficially Owned ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” have a corresponding meaning.

 

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such entity, and the term “ directors ” means members of the Board of Directors.

 

Borrower ” and “ Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals to this Agreement.  Unless the context requires otherwise, each reference herein or in any other Loan Document to a determination made by a Borrower or the Borrowers, means and is a reference to a determination by Holdings.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(1).

 

Borrowing ” means a group of Loans of a single Type made on a single date and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

Borrowing Base ” means the U.S. Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base, the French Borrowing Bases, the German Borrowing Bases, the Spanish Borrowing Base, the U.K. Borrowing Base and/or the Aggregate Borrowing Base, as the context may require.

 

Borrowing Base Certificate ” means a certificate by a Responsible Officer of Holdings, substantially in the form of Exhibit B (or another form acceptable to the Administrative Agent and Holdings) setting forth the calculation of the U.S. Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base, the French Borrowing Bases, the German Borrowing Bases, the Spanish Borrowing Base and the U.K. Borrowing Base, including a calculation of each component thereof (including, to the extent Borrowers have received notice of any such Reserve from the Administrative Agent, any of the Reserves included in such calculation), all in such detail as is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  All calculations of each Borrowing Base in connection with the preparation of any Borrowing Base Certificate will be made by Holdings and certified to the Administrative Agent.

 

Borrowing Minimum ” means (i) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Dollars, $1,000,000 in the case of ABR Borrowings and $5,000,000 in the case of Eurocurrency Borrowings, (ii) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Canadian Dollars, $CDN 1,000,000 in the case of ABR Borrowings and $CDN 5,000,000 in the case of CDOR Borrowings, (iii) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Euros, €5,000,000 and (iv) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Sterling, £5,000,000.

 

Borrowing Multiple ” means (i) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Dollars, $1,000,000, (ii) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Canadian Dollars, $CDN 1,000,000, (iii) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Euros, €1,000,000 and (iv) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Sterling, £1,000,000.

 

Borrowing Request ” means a request by the applicable Borrower in accordance with the terms of Section 2.03.

 

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Budget ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(5).

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to close; provided that when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “ Business Day ” also excludes any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in the London interbank market; provided, further that when used in connection with a Canadian Revolving Loan, the term “ Business Day ” also excludes any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in Toronto, Ontario, Canada; provided , further that when used in connection with any date for the payment or purchase of Euros, the term “Business Day” also excludes any day on which TARGET2 is not open for the settlement of payments in Euros or banks are not open for general business in London.

 

CAM ” shall mean the mechanism for the allocation and exchange of interests in Loans, participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans and other extensions of credit and collections thereunder established under Section 2.18(7).

 

CAM Exchange ” shall mean the exchange of the Lender’s interests provided for in Section 2.18(7).

 

CAM Exchange Date ” shall mean the first date on which there shall occur (a) any event referred to in clause (8) or (9) of Section 8.01 in respect of Holdings or any Borrower or (b) an acceleration of Loans and termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01.

 

CAM Percentage ” shall mean, as to each Lender, a fraction, expressed as a decimal, of which (a) the numerator shall be the aggregate Dollar Equivalent (determined on the basis of Spot Rates prevailing on the CAM Exchange Date) of the sum, without duplication, of (i) the Obligations owed to such Lender (whether or not at the time due and payable), (ii) the Revolving L/C Exposure of such Lender and (iii) the Swingline Exposure of such Lender, in each case immediately prior to the occurrence of the CAM Exchange Date, and (b) the denominator shall be the aggregate Dollar Equivalent (determined on the basis of Spot Rates prevailing on the CAM Exchange Date) of the sum, without duplication, of (A) the Obligations owed to all the Lenders (whether or not at the time due and payable), (B) the Revolving L/C Exposure and (iii) the Swingline Exposure, in each case immediately prior to the occurrence of the CAM Exchange Date; provided that, for purposes of clause (a) above, the Obligations owed to the Swingline Lender will be deemed not to include any Swingline Loans except to the extent provided in clause (a)(iii) above.

 

Canadian ABR ” means, on any day, the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the higher of (i) the rate equal to the PRIMCAN Index rate that appears on the Bloomberg screen at 10:15 a.m. Toronto time on such day and (ii) the average rate for 30 day Canadian dollar-denominated bankers’ acceptances displayed and identified as such on the “Reuters Screen CDOR Page” as of 10:15 a.m. Toronto local time on such day, plus 1% per annum; provided , that if any the above rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Canadian Blocked Person ” means any Person that is a “designated person”, “politically exposed foreign person” or “terrorist group” as described in any Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws.

 

Canadian Borrower ” and “ Canadian Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals hereto.

 

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Canadian Borrower Line Cap ” means, at any time, the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments and (2) the Canadian Borrowing Base then in effect.

 

Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of the following amounts:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate principal amount of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans made to the Canadian Borrowers outstanding at such time; and

 

(2)                                  the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of Canadian Borrowers at such time.

 

The Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.23, the product of (a) such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage and (b) the aggregate Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of all Revolving Lenders, collectively, at such time.

 

Canadian Borrowing Base ” means, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  85% of the Eligible Accounts owned by the Canadian Borrowers or the Canadian Guarantors; plus

 

(2)                                  the lesser of (i) 65% of the Cost of Eligible Inventory owned by the Canadian Borrowers or the Canadian Guarantors and (ii) 85% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory owned by the Canadian Borrowers or the Canadian Guarantors; plus

 

(3)                                  At the option of the Canadian Borrowers, 100% of Qualified Cash of the Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors; provided , that, at any time, the aggregate amount of Qualified Cash included in the Canadian Borrowing Base, together with the aggregate amount of Qualified Cash included in the U.S. Borrowing Base, shall not exceed $15 million; plus

 

(4)                                  the positive amount, if any, by which the U.S. Borrowing Base (after giving effect to any amount of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base (other than the U.S. Borrowing Base)) exceeds the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure; less

 

(5)                                  Reserves.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral owned by a Canadian Borrower or a Canadian Guarantor will immediately be included in the Canadian Borrowing Base at a value equal to the Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation thereof; provided , that if the Borrowers have not delivered, at their expense, a customary field examination and inventory appraisal reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent within 90 days of the acquisition of such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral will cease to be eligible for inclusion in the Canadian Borrowing Base.

 

Canadian Defined Benefit Plan ” shall mean a pension plan for the purposes of any applicable pension benefits standards statute or regulation in Canada, which contains a “defined benefit provision,” as defined in subsection 147.1(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

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Canadian Dollar Equivalent ” shall mean, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Canadian Dollars, determined by Administrative Agent on the basis of the Spot Rate for the purchase of Canadian Dollars with Dollars.

 

Canadian Dollars ” or “ $CDN ” refers to the lawful money of Canada.

 

Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws ” means any Canadian laws, regulations or orders governing transactions in controlled goods or technologies or dealings with countries, entities, organizations, or individuals subject to economic sanctions and similar measures, including the Special Economic Measures Act (Canada), the United Nations Act (Canada), the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Canada), Part II.1 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Export and Import Permits Act (Canada), and any related regulations.

 

Canadian Guarantor ” means (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory of Canada (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) on the Closing Date and (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of Canada or any province or territory of Canada that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the Canadian Security Documents after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Canadian Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(3).

 

Canadian L/C Participation Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(3).

 

Canadian Loan Parties ” means the Canadian Borrowers and the Canadian Guarantors.

 

Canadian Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from a Canadian Borrower or Canadian Guarantor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any Canadian Borrower or Canadian Guarantor of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Winding Up Act of Canada, or any other federal, state, province, territory or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law naming such Canadian Borrower or Canadian Guarantor as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding;

 

(2)                                  all amounts owing from a Canadian Borrower or Canadian Guarantor to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations of any Canadian Borrower or Canadian Guarantor;

 

provided that:

 

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(a)                                  the Obligations of any Canadian Borrower or Canadian Guarantor under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the Canadian Security Documents and the Gauranty as provided by the Canadian Loan Party only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Canadian Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed; and

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any Canadian Security Document will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

Canadian Obligations Guarantors ” means each Loan Party which has provided a guaranty of the Canadian Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty (and subject to the limitations set forth therein, in each case excluding any Excluded Subsidiary and subject to the Guaranty and Security Prinicples.

 

Canadian Overadvance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(2).

 

Canadian Pension Plan ” shall mean any pension plan required to be registered under Canadian federal or provincial law that is maintained or contributed to, or to which there is or may be an obligation to contribute, by a Loan Party, for its employees or former employees, but does not include the Canada Pension Plan or the Québec Pension Plan as maintained by the Government of Canada or the Province of Québec, respectively, or any similar plan maintained by any other province.

 

Canadian Protective Advance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(3).

 

Canadian Qualified Lender means Alberta Treasury Branches or a financial institution that is listed on Schedule I, II, or III of the Bank Act (Canada), has received an approval to have a financial establishment in Canada pursuant to Section 522.21 of the Bank Act (Canada) or is not a foreign bank for purposes of the Bank Act (Canada).

 

Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure ” means at any time the sum of (1) the aggregate undrawn face amount of all U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Canadian Borrowers outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursements made with respect to U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Canadian Borrowers that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.  The Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standard Practices, International Chamber of Commerce No. 590, such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit will be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit at any time will be deemed to be the stated amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that, with respect to any U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit will be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

Canadian Security Documents ” means the collective reference to those documents identified as “Initial Canadian Security Documents” on Schedule 1.01(3) and each of the security

 

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agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by any Canadian Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or similar items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period; provided that Capital Expenditures will not include:

 

(1)                                  expenditures to the extent they are made with (a) Equity Interests of any Parent Entity or (b) proceeds of the issuance of Equity Interests of, or a cash capital contribution to, Holdings after the Closing Date;

 

(2)                                  expenditures with proceeds of insurance settlements, condemnation awards and other settlements in respect of lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property to the extent such expenditures are made to replace or repair such lost, destroyed, damaged or condemned assets, equipment or other property or otherwise to acquire, maintain, develop, construct, improve, upgrade or repair assets or properties useful in the business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

 

(3)                                  expenditures that are accounted for as capital expenditures of such Person and that actually are paid for by a third party (excluding Holdings and any Restricted Subsidiary) and for which none of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary has provided or is required to provide or incur, directly or indirectly, any consideration or obligation to such third party or any other Person (whether before, during or after such period) (it being understood that notwithstanding the foregoing, landlord financed improvements to leased real properties shall be excluded from “Capital Expenditures” pursuant to this clause (3));

 

(4)                                  the book value of any asset owned by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary prior to or during such period to the extent that such book value is included as a Capital Expenditure during such period as a result of such Person reusing or beginning to reuse such asset during such period without a corresponding expenditure actually having been made in such period; provided that any expenditure necessary in order to permit such asset to be reused will be included as a Capital Expenditure during the period that such expenditure is actually made;

 

(5)                                  the purchase price of equipment purchased during such period to the extent the consideration therefor consists of any combination of (a) used or surplus equipment traded in at the time of such purchase or (b) the proceeds of a concurrent sale of used or surplus equipment, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(6)                                  Investments in respect of a Permitted Acquisition;

 

(7)                                  the Transactions; or

 

(8)                                  the purchase of property, plant or equipment made within 15 months of the sale of any asset (other than inventory) to the extent purchased with the proceeds of Asset Sales (or, if not made within such period of 15 months, to the extent committed to be made during such period and actually made within a three-year period of such Asset Sale) that are not required to be applied to prepay Term Loans pursuant to Section 2.08 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement; or

 

(9)                                  expenditures related to the rebuild of Huntsman P&A Finland Oy’s facility in Pori, Finland.

 

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Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other similar arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for purposes hereof, the amount of such obligations at any time will be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock ” means:

 

(1)                                  in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or share capital;

 

(2)                                  in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)                                  in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

(4)                                  any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

Captive Insurance Company ” means a Subsidiary of Holdings created solely for providing self-insurance for Holdings and its Subsidiaries and engaging in no other activities other than activities ancillary thereto and necessary for the maintenance of corporate existence.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

(1)                                  Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Japanese yen, Sterling, Euros or any other national currency of any participating member of the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, any local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business and not for speculation;

 

(2)                                  direct obligations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case, with maturities not exceeding two years;

 

(3)                                  time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, certificates of deposit and money market deposits, in each case, with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition thereof, and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any commercial bank having capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $250.0 million;

 

(4)                                  repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above and clause (6) below entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (3) above;

 

(5)                                  commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition issued by a corporation rated at least “P-1” by Moody’s or “A-1” by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(6)                                  securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any

 

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political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(7)                                  Indebtedness issued by Persons with a rating of at least “A 2” by Moody’s or “A” by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency), in each case, with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition, and marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(8)                                  Investments in money market funds with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition that are rated “Aaa3” by Moody’s and “AAA” by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(9)                                  instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (1) through (8) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above customarily utilized in the countries where any such Restricted Subsidiary is located or in which such Investment is made; and

 

(10)                           shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (1) through (9) above.

 

Cash Dominion Period ” means the period commencing upon the occurrence of, and continuing during the continuation of, a Liquidity Condition or any Designated Event of Default.  Once commenced, a Cash Dominion Period will continue until such Liquidity Condition or Designated Event of Default has been cured or waived or is no longer continuing, as applicable.

 

Cash Management Bank ” means any provider of Cash Management Services that, at the time such Cash Management Obligations were entered into or, if entered into prior to the Closing Date, on the Closing Date, was the Administrative Agent, a Lender or an Affiliate of the foregoing.

 

Cash Management Obligations ” means obligations owed by any Loan Party to any Cash Management Bank in respect of or in connection with Cash Management Services and designated by the Cash Management Bank Holdings in writing to the Administrative Agent as “Cash Management Obligations” under this Agreement.

 

Cash Management Services ” means any treasury, depository, pooling, netting, overdraft, stored value card, purchase card (including so called “procurement card” or “P-card”), debit card, credit card, cash management, supply chain finance services (including, without limitation, trade payable services and supplier accounts receivables purchases) and similar services, merchant services constituting a line of credit and any automated clearing house transfer of funds.

 

CDOR Rate ” means, for the relevant interest period, the Canadian deposit offered rate which, in turn means on any day the sum of (a) the annual rate of interest determined with reference to the arithmetic average of the discount rate quotations of all institutions listed in respect of the relevant interest period for Canadian dollar-denominated bankers’ acceptances displayed and identified as such on the “Reuters Screen CDOR Page” as defined in the International Swap Dealer Association, Inc. definitions, as modified and amended from time to time, as of 10:00 a.m. Toronto local time on such day and, if such day is not a business day, then on the immediately preceding business day (as adjusted by the Administrative Agent after 10:00 a.m. Toronto local time to reflect any error in the posted rate of interest or in the posted average annual rate of interest) plus (b) 0.10% per annum; provided that if such rates are

 

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not available on the Reuters Screen CDOR Page on any particular day, then the Canadian deposit offered rate component of such rate on that day shall be calculated as the cost of funds quoted by the Administrative Agent to raise Canadian dollars for the applicable interest period as of 10:00 a.m. Toronto local time on such day for commercial loans or other extensions of credit to businesses of comparable credit risk; or if such day is not a business day, then as quoted by the Administrative Agent on the immediately preceding Business Day; provided , further that, if the CDOR Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

CDOR Rate Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of CDOR Rate Loans.

 

CDOR Rate Loan ” means a Revolving Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the CDOR Rate.

 

CFC ” means any “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code owned by a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

A “ Change in Control ” will be deemed to occur if, at any time:

 

(1)                                  any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person and its subsidiaries and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than the Permitted Holders, acquires Beneficial Ownership of Voting Stock of Holdings representing more than 40% of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings (determined on a fully diluted basis but without giving effect to contingent voting rights that have not yet vested), unless the Permitted Holders otherwise have the right (pursuant to contract, proxy or otherwise), directly or indirectly, to designate, nominate or appoint (and do so designate, nominate or appoint) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower; or

 

(2)                                  Holdings ceases to Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Lux Parent or U.S. Parent, other than as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

 

Change in Law ” means:

 

(1)                                  the adoption of any law, treaty, rule or regulation after the Closing Date;

 

(2)                                  any change in law, treaty, rule or regulation or in the interpretation, administration, implementation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date; or

 

(3)                                  compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.15(2), by any Lending Office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any written request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority, made or issued after the Closing Date; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (b) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States of America or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, in each case will be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.

 

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Charges ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09.

 

Clariant ” means Clariant Ltd, a Swiss corporation, and any successors thereto.

 

Class ” means (1) when used with respect to Revolving Facility Commitments, refers to whether such Revolving Facility Commitments are U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, European Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments, or Incremental Commitments (of the same tranche) or Extended Commitments (of the same tranche), (2) when used with respect to Loans or Borrowings, refers to whether such Loans or the Loans comprising such Borrowing are U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans, European Revolving Loans, French Revolving Loans or loans in respect of the same Class of Revolving Facility Commitments or Swingline Loans, and (3) when used with respect to Letters of Credit, refers to whether such Letters of Credit are U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit, European Letters of Credit, French Letters of Credit or Letters of Credit issued pursuant to the same Class of Revolving Facility Commitments.

 

Closing Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.02 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.08).

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (unless as specifically provided otherwise).

 

Collateral ” means all property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (including in accordance with Section 6 ( Parallel Debt, Covenants to pay the Common Collateral Agent ) of the Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to any Security Document; provided , however , that the Collateral (other than any assets subject to an English law floating charge) shall not include (i) any U.S. Excluded Assets or (ii) any assets that would be excluded pursuant to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

Collateral Access Agreement ” means a landlord waiver or other agreement, in a form as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, between the Collateral Agent and any third party (including any bailee, consignee, customs broker, or other similar Person) in possession of any Collateral or any landlord of any premises where any Collateral is located, as such landlord waiver or other agreement may be amended, restated, or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Collateral Agent ” means JPMCB, in its capacity as Collateral Agent for itself and the other Secured Parties (including in accordance with Section 6 ( Parallel Debt, Covenants to pay the Common Collateral Agent ) of the Intercreditor Agreement), and any duly appointed successor in that capacity or, as applicable, such branches or affiliates of JPMCB as it shall from time to time designate for the purpose of performing its obligations hereunder in such capacities and any duly appointed successor in such capacities.

 

Collection Account ” shall mean any Deposit Account into which proceeds of Accounts of any Loan Party other than a U.S. Loan Party or Canadian Loan Party are deposited.

 

COMI ” means the centre of main interests (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the EU Insolvency Regulation).

 

Commitment Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(1).

 

Commitment ” means (1) with respect to each Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitments, (2) with respect to the Swingline Lender, its Swingline Commitments and (3) with respect

 

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to any Issuing Bank, its Letter of Credit Commitments.  On the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of Commitments is $300 million.

 

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

Consolidated Debt ” means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of all Indebtedness (other than letters of credit or bank guarantees, to the extent undrawn) consisting of Capital Lease Obligations, Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Indebtedness in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and all Guarantees of the foregoing, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of Holdings for such period:

 

(1)                                  increased , in each case to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (and without duplication), by:

 

(a)                                  provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including state, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, and state taxes in lieu of business fees (including business license fees) and payroll tax credits, income tax credits and similar tax credits, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of Holdings or any Parent Entity in respect of such period (in each case, to the extent attributable to the operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries), which will be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by Holdings; plus

 

(b)                                  Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

 

(c)                                   cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus

 

(d)                                  all depreciation and amortization charges and expenses; plus

 

(e)                                   all

 

(i)                                      losses, charges and expenses relating to the Transactions;

 

(ii)                                   transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of any transaction that is out of the ordinary course of business (or any transaction proposed but not consummated) permitted under this Agreement, including equity issuances, investments, acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, mergers, amalgamations, option buyouts and the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Agreement (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any amendments, waivers or other

 

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modifications under the agreements relating to such Indebtedness or similar transactions; and

 

(iii)                                without duplication of any of the foregoing, non-operating or non-recurring professional fees, costs and expenses for such period; plus

 

(f)                                    any expense or deduction attributable to minority Equity Interests of third parties in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings; plus

 

(g)                                   the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities, charges and expenses paid or accrued to or on behalf of any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) or any of the Permitted Holders, in each case, to the extent permitted by Section 6.07; plus

 

(h)                                  earn-out obligations incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment and paid or accrued during such period; plus

 

(i)                                      all charges, costs, expenses, accruals or reserves in connection with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests held by officers or employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and all losses, charges and expenses related to payments made to holders of options or other derivative Equity Interests in the common equity of any Parent Entity in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person or any of its direct or indirect parents, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution; plus

 

(j)                                     all non-cash losses, charges and expenses, including any write-offs or write-downs; provided that if any such non-cash charge represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future four-fiscal quarter period (i) Holdings may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being calculated and (ii) to the extent Holdings does decide to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future four-fiscal quarter period will be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA for such future four-fiscal quarter period; plus

 

(k)                                  without duplication, cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies in connection with all events and transactions described in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis” ( provided that, in all such cases, any such addbacks that are pro forma cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies shall be subject to the limitations described in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis”); plus

 

(l)                                      non-recurring incremental costs arising out of the temporary interruption of the supply of goods to Holdings and its Subsidiaries; plus

 

(m)                              charges resulting from the write-off of capital expenditures arising from the cancellation of project or design plans; and

 

(2)                                  decreased , without duplication and to the extent increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, by non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that were deducted (and not added back) in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for any prior period ending after the Closing Date).

 

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For the purposes of determining the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio for any relevant period, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to equal (a) $32.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, (b) $35.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, (c) $49.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016 and (d) $72.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017 (it being understood that such amounts are subject to adjustments, as and to the extent otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, any calculation on a Pro Forma Basis).

 

Consolidated First Lien Net Debt ” means, as of any date, all Consolidated Debt as of such date that is (1) secured by a Lien on the ABL Priority Collateral that is senior to or pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations or (2) secured by a Lien on the Term Priority Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Term Loan Obligations, plus Capital Lease Obligations, minus all Unrestricted Cash as of such date, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that for purposes of calculating the amount of Consolidated First Lien Net Debt with respect to any Indebtedness being incurred in reliance on compliance with any financial ratio-based incurrence test, Unrestricted Cash will not include any proceeds received from such Indebtedness.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Obligations and the Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loan Credit Agreement will constitute Consolidated First Lien Net Debt.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including pay-in-kind interest payments, amortization of original issue discount, the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to Hedge Agreements relating to interest rates (other than in connection with the early termination thereof) but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of hedging obligations, all amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees, and all discounts, commissions, fees and other charges associated with any Receivables Facility); plus

 

(2)                                  consolidated capitalized interest of the referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

 

(3)                                  any amounts paid or payable in respect of interest on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the referent Person and that has been Guaranteed by the referent Person; less

 

(4)                                  interest income of the referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period;

 

provided that when determining Consolidated Interest Expense in respect of any four-quarter period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense will be calculated by multiplying the aggregate Consolidated Interest Expense accrued since the Closing Date by 365 and then dividing such product by the number of days from and including the Closing Date to and including the last day of such period.  For purposes of this definition, interest on Capital Lease Obligations will be

 

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deemed to accrue at the interest rate reasonably determined by Holdings to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligations in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (with such net income (or loss) being calculated after deducting the amounts for such period described in clause (1)(a) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, if any) and before any deduction for preferred stock dividends; provided that:

 

(1)                                  all net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expenses and charges, and in any event including, without limitation, all restructuring, severance, relocation, retention, consolidation, integration or other similar charges and expenses, contract termination costs, litigation costs, excess pension charges, system establishment charges, start-up or closure or transition costs, expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternative uses, fees, expenses or charges relating to curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans in connection with the Transactions or otherwise, expenses associated with strategic initiatives, facilities shutdown and opening and pre-opening costs and expenses (including pre-opening and opening of facilities and all income, loss, charges and expenses associated with facilities closed in any period, or scheduled for closure within 12 months of the date on which Consolidated Net Income is being calculated), and any fees, expenses, charges or change in control payments related to the Transactions or otherwise (including any transition-related expenses incurred before, on or after the Closing Date), will be excluded;

 

(2)                                  all net after-tax income, loss, expense or charge from abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on the disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations will be excluded;

 

(3)                                  all net after-tax gain, loss, expense or charge attributable to business dispositions and asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by Holdings) will be excluded;

 

(4)                                  all net after-tax income, loss, expense or charge attributable to the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness, Hedge Agreements or other derivative instruments will be excluded;

 

(5)                                  all non-cash gain, loss, expense or charge attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedge Agreements or other derivative instruments will be excluded;

 

(6)                                  (a) the net income for such period of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments are or are permitted to be paid in cash (or converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period; and (b) the net income for such period will include any ordinary course dividends, distributions or other payments in cash received from any such Person during such period in excess of the amounts included in clause (a) hereof;

 

(7)                                  the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period will be excluded;

 

(8)                                  the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the referent Person and

 

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its Restricted Subsidiaries) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting in relation to any acquisition consummated before or after the Closing Date, and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, will be excluded;

 

(9)                                  all non-cash impairment charges and asset write-ups, write-downs and write-offs will be excluded;

 

(10)                           all non-cash expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or agreements or post-employment benefit plans or agreements, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other similar rights will be excluded;

 

(11)                           any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the payment of dividend equivalent rights to option holders pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or post-employment benefit plan or agreement will be excluded;

 

(12)                           accruals and reserves for liabilities or expenses that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions within 18 months after the Closing Date will be excluded;

 

(13)                           all amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees, will be excluded;

 

(14)                           any currency translation gains and losses related to changes in currency exchange rates (including remeasurements of Indebtedness and any net loss or gain resulting from Hedge Agreements for currency exchange risk), will be excluded;

 

(15)                           [reserved];

 

(16)                           expenses and lost profits with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption will be disregarded to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer, but only to the extent that such amount (a) has not been denied by the applicable carrier in writing and (b) is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date on which such liability was discovered or such casualty event or business interruption occurred (with a deduction for any amounts so added back that are not reimbursed within such 365-day period); provided that any proceeds of such reimbursement when received will be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income to the extent the expense or lost profit reimbursed was previously disregarded pursuant to this clause (16);

 

(17)                           losses, charges and expenses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any asset disposition will be excluded to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement, but only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days);

 

(18)                           [reserved]; and

 

(19)                           non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances will be excluded.

 

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Consolidated Total Assets ” means, as of any date, the total assets of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, determined based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Consolidated Total Net Debt ” means, as of any date, the Consolidated Debt as of such date minus all Unrestricted Cash as of such date, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Net Debt with respect to any Indebtedness being incurred in reliance on compliance with any financial ratio-based incurrence test, Unrestricted Cash will not include any proceeds received from such Indebtedness.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Obligations and the Indebtedness in respect of the Term Loan Credit Agreement will constitute Consolidated Total Net Debt.

 

continuing ” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

 

Contribution Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(16).

 

Contribution Notice ” means a contribution notice issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 38 or section 47 of the Pensions Act 2004 (UK).

 

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, it being specified that the “ Control ” of the French Loan Parties and their Affiliates will be determined in accordance with article L.233-3 of the French Code de commerce , the “ Control ” of the Spanish Loan Parties and their Affiliates will be determined in accordance to article 42 of the Spanish Commerce Code and the terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” will have correlative meanings.

 

Cost ” shall mean, as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent in good faith, with respect to Inventory, the lower of (a) cost computed on a specific identification or first in first out basis or (b) market value, provided that for purposes of the calculation of Borrowing Base, the cost of Inventory shall not include (A) the portion of the cost of Inventory equal to the profit earned by any Affiliate on the sale thereof to any Borrower, or (B) write ups or write downs in cost with respect to currency exchange rates.

 

Covenant Trigger Event ” means that Excess Availability is less than the greater of (i) 10% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $22.5 million.  Once commenced, a Covenant Trigger Event will be deemed to be continuing until such time as Excess Availability equals or exceeds the greater of (i) 10% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $22.5 million for 30 consecutive calendar days.

 

Credit Event ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Article IV.

 

Cure Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02.

 

Cure Right ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.02.

 

Customs Broker Agreement ” means an agreement, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, in which the customs broker or other carrier acknowledges that it has control over and holds the documents evidencing ownership of the subject Inventory for the benefit of the Collateral

 

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Agent and agrees, upon notice from the Collateral Agent, to hold and dispose of such Inventory solely as directed by the Collateral Agent.

 

Debt Representative ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness that is secured on a pari passu basis with, or on a junior basis to, the Revolving Facility Claims, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

 

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Title 11 of the United States Code, the Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), Spanish Insolvency Law, the EU Insolvency Regulation, the provisions of the Livre VI and other relevant provisions related thereto of the French Code de commerce, the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Winding Up Act, and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, administration, receivership, interim receivership, proposal to creditors, insolvency, reorganization, winding up, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

Default ” means any event or condition which, but for the giving of notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means any Lender (1) whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, constitutes a Lender Default or (2) who has, or has a direct a direct or indirect parent company that has, become the subject of a Bail-in Action.

 

Deposit Account ” means any deposit account (as defined in Article 9 of the UCC, and shall include the meaning given to the term “Deposit Accounts” in any Foreign Security Document) held by any Loan Party.

 

Designated Cash Management Obligations ” means Cash Management Obligations that are designated by the Cash Management Bank and Holdings in writing to the Administrative Agent as “Designated Cash Management Obligations”.

 

Designated Cash Management Reserve ” means, as of any date, such reserves as the Administrative Agent determines in its Reasonable Credit Judgment to reflect (and in no event to exceed) the then aggregate outstanding cash management exposure of all Cash Management Banks to the relevant Loan Parties under all Cash Management Obligations.

 

Designated Event of Default ” means any Event of Default under Section 8.01(1) (solely with respect to a default under Section 3.05), Section 8.01(2), Section 8.01(3) (solely with respect to interest and Fees), Section 8.01(4) (solely with respect to a default under Section 5.04(9) or Section 5.11 or Section 6.10), Section 8.01(8) or Section 8.01(9).

 

Designated Hedging Agreement ” means Specified Hedge Agreements that are designated by the Qualified Counterparty and Holdings in writing to the Administrative Agent as a “Designated Hedging Agreement” and the Qualified Counterparty shall have provided the MTM value on the date of such designation.

 

Designated Hedging Reserve ” means, as of any date, such reserves as the Administrative Agent determines in its Reasonable Credit Judgment to reflect (and in no event to exceed) the then aggregate outstanding mark-to-market (“ MTM ”) exposure owed by the relevant Loan Parties to

 

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all Qualified Counterparties under all Designated Hedging Agreements.  Such exposure shall be the sum of the positive aggregate MTM values to each Qualified Counterparty of all Designated Hedging Agreements with such Qualified Counterparty outstanding at the time of the relevant calculation.  The aggregate MTM value to a Qualified Counterparty of all Designated Hedging Agreements with such Qualified Counterparty shall be calculated (1) on a net basis by taking into account the netting provision contained in the ISDA Master Agreement (or other similar agreement with netting provisions substantially similar to an ISDA Master Agreement) with such Qualified Counterparty and (2) if applicable, by taking into account any master netting agreement or arrangement in place among such Qualified Counterparty, any Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof that is also party to a Designated Hedging Agreement and the relevant Loan Party, in which case the positive aggregate MTM value of all relevant Designated Hedging Agreements to such Qualified Counterparty and such Subsidiaries or Affiliates who are parties to such master netting agreements shall be calculated in respect of all of the relevant Designated Hedging Agreements on a net basis across all such Designated Hedging Agreements, provided that Holdings (a) certifies to the Administrative Agent that such master netting agreement shall apply to all such Designated Hedging Agreements in all cases including upon the occurrence of an event of default by the relevant Loan Party in respect of any such Designated Hedging Agreement and (b) upon request, provides to the Administrative Agent a copy of the master netting agreement.  In calculating the positive aggregate MTM value to a Qualified Counterparty, the value of collateral posted to such Qualified Counterparty in respect of such Designated Hedging Agreements shall be taken into account, such that the value of such collateral shall reduce the MTM value of such Designated Hedging Agreements that is out-of-the-money to the relevant Loan Party by an amount equal to (i) the amount of cash collateral or (ii) the value of non-cash collateral with such value as determined by the relevant Qualified Counterparty or the relevant valuation agent in accordance with the relevant credit support annex or other collateral agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, taking into account any haircut provision applicable to such non-cash collateral), provided that Holdings shall provide any supporting documentation for such value as may be reasonably requested by the Administrative Agent.  For the avoidance of doubt, if the MTM value of all Designated Hedging Agreements with a Qualified Counterparty is a negative amount to such Qualified Counterparty (i.e., if all such Designated Hedging Agreements with such Qualified Counterparty are in-the-money to the relevant Loan Party on a net basis), such MTM value shall be treated as zero in calculating the amount of the Designated Hedging Reserves.  The MTM value of a Designated Hedging Agreement for this purpose shall be calculated and provided to the Administrative Agent, the relevant Loan Party and Holdings together with the supporting calculations therefor promptly (but in any case not later than three Business Days) following (x) the last calendar day of each calendar month and (y) such other date on which a request was made by the Administrative Agent, the relevant Loan Party or Holdings, as applicable, for such MTM value, which shall be used by the Administrative Agent in calculating the relevant portion of the Designated Hedging Reserves.  If a Qualified Counterparty fails to provide the MTM value of a Designated Hedging Agreement within the relevant timeframe specified above, then the Administrative Agent (I) shall give Holdings notice thereof within three Business Days from the date such Qualified Counterparty was required to provide such MTM value and (II) may (but is not obligated to) provide, upon receiving from Holdings or the relevant Loan Party all of the information reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent as being necessary to determine the MTM value of the relevant Designated Hedging Agreement, a proposed MTM value of the relevant Designated Hedging Agreement within such three Business Day period.  If the Administrative Agent agrees to provide such a proposed MTM value and Holdings does not notify the Administrative Agent within three Business Days from receipt thereof that it does not agree with such MTM value, then the Administrative Agent shall use such MTM value in calculating the relevant portion of the Designated Hedging Reserves.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible

 

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Officer of Holdings setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

 

Dilution Factors ” means, without duplication, with respect to any period, the aggregate amount of all deductions, credit memos, returns, adjustments, allowances, bad debt write-offs and other non-cash credits (including all volume discounts, trade discounts and rebates) that are recorded to reduce Accounts of the Borrowers in a manner consistent with current and historical accounting practices of the Borrowers.

 

Dilution Ratio ” means, at any time, the amount (expressed as a percentage), calculated in connection with the delivery of any Borrowing Base Certificate for the fiscal month most recently ended, equal to (a) (1) the aggregate amount of the applicable Dilution Factors in respect of the Accounts of the Borrowers for the 12 most recently ended fiscal months divided by (2) total gross sales of the Borrowers for such 12 most recently ended fiscal months minus (b) 5.0%; provided that if, on any date, the Dilution Ratio is less than 0%, the Dilution Reserve on such date shall be deemed to be zero.

 

Dilution Reserve ” means, at any date, the product of (1) the applicable Dilution Ratio at such time multiplied by (2) the aggregate amount of Eligible Accounts at such time.

 

Discharge of ABL Revolving Claims ” means “Discharge of ABL Revolving Claims” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Disinterested Director ” means, with respect to any Person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such Person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

 

Disqualified Institution ” means (a) competitors of Holdings, Huntsman and their respective subsidiaries, in each case identified in writing by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent from time to time (at any time when JPMCB is serving as Administrative Agent, by e-mail to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com), (b) financial institutions previously designated in writing by Holdings to the Administrative Agent on or prior to June 20, 2017 and (c) any affiliates of any such competitors or institutions reasonably identifiable as affiliates solely on the basis of the similarity of their names (other than bona fide fixed income investors or debt funds) or identified by the Borrowers in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time (at any time when JPMCB is serving as Administrative Agent, by e-mail to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com) (it being understood that any update pursuant to clause (a) or clause (c) above shall not become effective until the business day following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such notice, and, in any event, shall not apply retroactively or to any entity that (i) has previously acquired commitments, loans or participation otherwise permitted under the Revolving Facility, (ii) is party to a pending trade with respect to commitments, loans or participation under the Revolving Facility as of the date of such notice or (iii) that becomes a competitor of Huntsman or Holdings before becoming a Disqualified Institution.

 

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interests of such Person that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which they are convertible or for which they are redeemable or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

 

(1)                                  mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset

 

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sale are subject to the prior repayment in full of the Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments);

 

(2)                                  are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part;

 

(3)                                  provide for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash; or

 

(4)                                  either mandatorily or at the option of the holders thereof, are or become convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of:

 

(a)                                  the Latest Maturity Date; and

 

(b)                                  the date on which the Loans and all other Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations that are not then due and payable and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) are repaid in full and the Commitments are terminated and any outstanding Letters of Credit are expired, terminated, cash collateralized or backstopped on terms satisfactory to the Issuing Bank;

 

provided that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Equity Interests are issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; and provided , further , that any class of Equity Interests of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that is not Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

 

Distressed Person ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event.”

 

Documentation Agents ” means Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, and HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., each in its capacity as Documentation Agent.

 

Dollars ” or “ $ ” means lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Dollar Equivalent ” shall mean, at any time, (1) with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, such amount, and (2) with respect to any amount denominated in any currency other than Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Dollars, as determined by the Administrative Agent on the basis of the Spot Rate for the purchase of Dollars with such currency.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings that is organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, and “ Domestic Subsidiaries ” means any two or more of them.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Domestic Subsidiaries will mean Domestic Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Dominion Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.11.

 

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EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Eligible Accounts ” means all Accounts that constitute proceeds from the sale or disposition of Inventory or the provision of services in the ordinary course of business and that are reflected in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate, except any Account with respect to which any of the exclusionary criteria set forth below applies.

 

No Account will be an Eligible Account if:

 

(1)                                  such Account (i) has a scheduled due date that is more than 90 days after the date of the original invoice ( provided that this clause (i) shall not prevent Accounts of Account Debtors addressed pursuant to clause (ii)(x) of this clause (1) to constitute Eligible Accounts) or (ii) has been outstanding for more than (x) with respect to Account Debtors set forth on Schedule 1.01(5) (as such Schedule may be amended from time to time with the reasonable consent of the Administrative Agent), to the extent the applicable Account Debtor’s securities have an Investment Grade Rating, 180 days after the original invoice date or more than 60 days after the original due date relating to such invoice in an amount not to exceed $10 million or (y) with respect to all other Accounts, 90 days after the original invoice date or more than 60 days after the original due date relating to such invoice, provided that in determining the aggregate amount from the same Account Debtor that is unpaid hereunder such amount shall be the gross amount due in respect of the applicable Accounts without giving effect to any net credit balances;

 

(2)                                  in respect of Accounts governed by French law and to be assigned in favor of the French Revolving Lenders, such Accounts are not professional debts within the meaning of article L313-23 of the French Code monétaire et financier;

 

(3)                                  such Account is owed by an Account Debtor (or its Affiliates) where 50% or more of all Accounts owed by that Account Debtor (or its Affiliates) are deemed ineligible under clause (1) above;

 

(4)                                  such Account is owed by an Account Debtor that is an Affiliate of any Loan Party or an employee or agent (including any commission agent) of any Loan Party or any Affiliate of any Loan Party or arises out of a sale made or services rendered by the applicable Loan Party to a direct or indirect parent or Subsidiary of such Loan Party;

 

(5)                                  such Account is payable other than in Dollars, Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling to the extent a Loan Party has recorded a foreign exchange revaluation accrual with respect to such Accounts, and then an amount equal to such foreign exchange revaluation accrual);

 

(6)                                  such Account is owed by an Account Debtor who is either (i) the United States or any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States (exclusive, however, of Accounts with

 

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respect to which Borrowers have complied, to the reasonable satisfaction of Agent, with the Assignment of Claims Act, 31 USC §3727), or (ii) any state of the United States or any other Governmental Authority not covered by clause (i), or (iii) the federal government of Canada, unless the Financial Administration Act (Canada), as amended, has been complied with to the Administrative Agent’s satisfaction;

 

(7)                                  (i) such Account is owed by an Account Debtor whose securities have an Investment Grade Rating whose total obligations owing to Loan Parties exceeds 20% of all Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the obligations owing by such Account Debtor in excess of such percentage and (ii) such Account is owed by any other Account Debtor whose total obligations owing to Loan Parties exceed 10% of all Eligible Accounts, to the extent of the obligations owing by such Account Debtor in excess of such percentage; provided , that in each case, the amount of Eligible Accounts that are excluded because they exceed the foregoing percentage shall be determined by Administrative Agent based on all of the otherwise Eligible Accounts prior to giving effect to any eliminations based upon the foregoing concentration limit;

 

(8)                                  such Account is not subject to the first priority (subject to a Lien permitted under Section 6.02(9), 6.02(11), 6.02(12), 6.02(18), or 6.02(24)), valid and perfected Lien of the Collateral Agent as to such Account; provided , that any agreed deferment of the notifications in connection with the Liens will not prevent the Accounts from qualifying as Eligible Accounts and provided further , that the Liens created under the U.K. Security Documents shall be deemed perfected for the purposes of this clause (8) on the filing of a relevant form MR01 at the U.K. Companies House without any further perfection requirements.

 

(9)                                  such Account is subject to a retention of title right or a Loan Party does not have good, valid and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than (a) Liens granted to the Collateral Agent, for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties pursuant to the Security Documents, (b) a Lien permitted under Section 6.02(9), 6.02(11), 6.02(12), 6.02(18), or 6.02(24) or other Permitted Lien arising by operation of law, or (c) a junior Lien permitted under Section 6.02(1) or 6.02(22);

 

(10)                           (i) such Account does not constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the applicable Account Debtor enforceable in accordance with its terms, (ii) such Account arises in a transaction wherein the goods are placed on consignment or are sold pursuant to a guaranteed sale, a sale or return, a sale on approval, a bill and hold, or any other terms by reason of which the payment by the Account Debtor may be conditional;

 

(11)                           such Account is disputed, or a claim, counterclaim, discount, deduction, reserve, allowance, rebate, recoupment, offset has been asserted with respect thereto by the applicable Account Debtor (in each case, only to the extent of the relevant dispute, claim, counterclaim, discount, deduction, reserve, allowance, rebate, recoupment, or offset);

 

(12)                           such Account is owed by an Account Debtor that is subject to a bankruptcy proceeding of the type specified in Section 8.01(8) or (9) or that is liquidating, dissolving or winding up its affairs or otherwise deemed not creditworthy by the Administrative Agent in its Reasonable Credit Judgment;

 

(13)                           such Account does not conform with a covenant or representation in any material respect contained in this Agreement or the applicable Security Documents as to such Account;

 

(14)                           unless otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, the Account Debtor is organized or has its principal offices or principal place of business outside the United States, Canada or an

 

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Eligible European Jurisdiction, unless, in each case, such Account is backed by credit insurance satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or a letter of credit acceptable to the Administrative Agent which is in the possession of, is directly drawable by the Administrative Agent and, with respect to which the Administrative Agent has “control” as defined in Section 9-107 of the UCC or the equivalent concept in each applicable jurisdiction; provided , that up to $15 million of Accounts of Account Debtors organized or having principal offices or principal places of business other than the United States, Canada, or an Eligible European Jurisdiction may be included in the Aggregate Borrowing Base notwithstanding this clause (14);

 

(15)                           such Account was created on cash on delivery terms;

 

(16)                           the Account Debtor on such Account or any of its Affiliates is also a supplier to or creditor of any applicable Loan Party (but only to the extent that such Affiliate has contractual rights of offset and to the extent of such applicable offset) unless such Account Debtor has executed a no-offset letter in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(17)                           such Account consists of sundry receivables (including with respect to tax payments) or is subject to a pending credit memo that has not been fully processed;

 

(18)                           the goods giving rise to such Account have not been shipped to the Account Debtor or the services giving rise to such Account have not been performed by such Borrower or if such Account was invoiced more than once;

 

(19)                           such Account is owed by any Account Debtor which has sold all or substantially all of its assets;

 

(20)                           such Account is subject to a Qualified Receivables Financing or other Receivables Financing or third party financing;

 

(21)                           such Account is evidenced by Chattel Paper or an Instrument (each as defined in the applicable Security Document) of any kind and such Chattel Paper or Instrument has not been pledged and delivered to the Collateral Agent under the Security Documents, or has been reduced to judgment; or

 

(22)                           such Account includes a billing for interest, fees or late charges, but ineligibility will be limited to the extent thereof.

 

If any Account at any time ceases to be an Eligible Account, then such Account will promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base; provided that if any Account ceases to be an Eligible Account because of the adjustment of or imposition of new exclusionary criteria pursuant to the succeeding paragraph, the Administrative Agent will not require exclusion of such Account from the Borrowing Base until 5 Business Days following the date on which the Administrative Agent gives notice to Holdings of such ineligibility; provided that upon such notice, the Borrowers shall not be permitted to borrow any Loans or have any Letters of Credit issued so as to exceed the Borrowing Base after giving effect to such adjustment or imposition of new exclusionary criteria.  In determining the amount to be included, Eligible Accounts shall be calculated net of customer deposits and unapplied cash and shall exclude any unreconciled variance in amounts.

 

The Administrative Agent reserves the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, to adjust any of the exclusionary criteria set forth above and to establish new criteria, in each case, in its Reasonable Credit Judgment (based on an analysis of material facts or events first occurring, or first discovered by the Administrative Agent, after the Closing Date), subject to the

 

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necessary approvals set forth in Section 10.08 in the case of adjustments or new criteria which have the effect of making more credit available than would have been available based upon the criteria in effect on the Closing Date.

 

Eligible European Jurisdiction ” shall mean each of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and England and Wales, provided that the Administrative Agent may, in its Reasonable Credit Judgment, remove one or more of the countries comprising the Eligible European Jurisdictions and subsequently add one or more countries back as Eligible European Jurisdictions.

 

Eligible In-Transit Inventory ” shall mean Inventory owned by a Loan Party that would meet all of the criteria of “Eligible Inventory” if it were not in transit (solely to a location in the United States, Canada or an Eligible European Jurisdiction that would otherwise be acceptable pursuant to the other clauses of this definition). In addition, no Inventory shall be Eligible In-Transit Inventory unless (a) it is subject to a negotiable document of title, showing the Administrative Agent (or, with the consent of the Administrative Agent in its Reasonable Credit Judgment, the applicable Loan Party) as consignee; (b) such Inventory is insured in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, to the extent applicable, marine cargo insurance; (c) such Inventory has been identified to the applicable sales contract and title has passed to the applicable Loan Party; (d) such Inventory is not sold by a vendor that has a right to reclaim, divert shipment of, repossess, stop delivery, claim any reservation of title or otherwise assert Lien rights against the Inventory; (e) such Inventory is subject to the appropriate documentation such as delivery of customs broker, freight forwarder agreements, bill of lading or other shipping documents in a form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent (which documents shall be made available to the Administrative Agent for its inspection upon its reasonable request); and (f) such Inventory is shipped by a common carrier that is not affiliated with the vendor and has not been acquired from a Person that is (x) currently the subject or target of any Sanctions or (y) a Sanctioned Person.

 

Eligible Inventory ” means all Inventory reflected in the most recent Borrowing Base Certificate, except any Inventory with respect to which any of the exclusionary criteria set forth below applies.

 

No item of Inventory will be Eligible Inventory if such item:

 

(1)                                  is not subject to the first priority (subject to a Lien permitted under Section 6.02(9), 6.02(11), 6.02(12), 6.02(18), or 6.02(24)), valid and perfected Lien of the Collateral Agent as to such Inventory; provided, that the Liens created under the U.K. Security Documents shall be deemed perfected for the purposes of this clause (1) on the filing of a relevant form MR01 at the U.K. Companies House without any further perfection requirements;

 

(2)                                  a Loan Party does not have good, valid and marketable title thereto, free and clear of any Lien (other than (a) Liens granted to the Collateral Agent, for its own benefit and the benefit of the other Secured Parties pursuant to the Security Documents, (b) a Lien permitted under Section 6.02(9), 6.02(11), 6.02(12), 6.02(18), or 6.02(24) or other Permitted Lien arising by operation of law, or (c) a junior Lien permitted under Section 6.02(1), 6.02(22), 6.02(31), 6.02(32), 6.02(33) or 6.02(34));

 

(3)                                  is slow moving, obsolete, unmerchantable, defective, excess, expired, withdrawn (no longer manufactured by a Loan Party but continued to be sold), returned, a trial product, used, substandard or unfit for sale;

 

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(4)                                  does not conform in all material respects to the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or applicable Security Documents;

 

(5)                                  is not owned only by one or more Loan Parties;

 

(6)                                  is not located in the United States, Canada, Germany or the United Kingdom (other than to the extent that it is in-transit and is not deemed ineligible in accordance with clause (13) of this definition);

 

(7)                                  is located at any location leased by a Borrower unless (x) the lessor has delivered to the Collateral Agent a Collateral Access Agreement as to such location, (y) the Administrative Agent has given its prior consent thereto or (z) a Reserve for rent, charges, and other amounts due or to become due with respect to such location has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Reasonable Credit Judgment thereto, it being understood that in each case, during the 120-day period immediately following the Effective Date, such location need not be subject to a Collateral Access Agreement and the lack thereof shall not otherwise deem the applicable Inventory to be ineligible;

 

(8)                                  is located in any third-party warehouse or is in the possession of a bailee (other than a third-party processor) and is not evidenced by a Document (as defined in Article 9 of the UCC) or “document of title” (as defined in the PPSA), unless (x) the warehouseman or bailee has delivered to the Collateral Agent a Collateral Access Agreement as to such location, (y) the Administrative Agent has given its prior consent thereto or (z) an appropriate Reserve (including for rent, charges and other amounts due or to become due with respect to such location) has been established by the Administrative Agent in its Reasonable Credit Judgment, it being understood that in each case, during the 120-day period immediately following the Effective Date, such warehouse or location need not be subject to a Collateral Access Agreement and the lack thereof shall not otherwise deem the applicable Inventory to be ineligible ( provided that an appropriate Reserve may nevertheless be established by the Administrative Agent in its Reasonable Credit Judgment during such period);

 

(9)                                  is being processed offsite at a third party location or outside processor, or is in-transit to or from said third party location or outside processor;

 

(10)                           is the subject of a consignment by any Loan Party as consignor;

 

(11)                           contains or bears any intellectual property rights licensed to any Loan Party by any Person other than a Loan Party unless the Collateral Agent is reasonably satisfied that it may sell or otherwise dispose of such Inventory without (a) infringing the rights of such licensor, (b) violating any contract with such licensor, or (c) incurring any liability with respect to payment of royalties other than royalties incurred pursuant to sale of such Inventory under the current licensing agreement relating thereto;

 

(12)                           is a discontinued product or component thereof;

 

(13)                           is in transit, except for Eligible In-Transit Inventory;

 

(14)                           has been acquired from a Sanctioned Person;

 

(15)                           is designated at “backflush” or is awaiting categorization;

 

(16)                           have failed inspection and/or is held in quarantine;

 

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(17)                           is defective or damaged, has been blocked from use, has been deemed by a Loan Party to require rework or is being held for quality control purposes;

 

(18)                           is used to produce materials solely for a joint venture or is for sale to a joint venture ( provided that Inventory of Chemical Specialties LLC in an amount not to exceed $10 million shall not be excluded by this clause (18) to the extent such Inventory is sold or used in the production of materials for sale to Viance, LLC);

 

(19)                           is Inventory in relation to which (a) any contract or related documentation (such as invoices or purchase orders) relating to such Inventory includes retention of title rights in favor of the vendor or supplier thereof, or (b) under applicable governing laws, retention of title may be imposed unilaterally by the vendor or supplier thereof; provided that Inventory which may be subject to any rights of retention of title shall not be excluded from Eligible Inventory solely pursuant to this clause in the event that the Administrative Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory to it that the full purchase price of such Inventory has, or will have, been paid prior, or upon the delivery of, such Inventory to the relevant Loan Party;

 

(20)                           constitutes intercompany profit;

 

(21)                           constitutes operating supplies, packaging or shipping materials, cartons, repair parts, labels or miscellaneous spare parts or other such materials not considered for sale in the ordinary course of business or is designated as consumable; or

 

(22)                           is perishable.

 

If any Inventory at any time ceases to be Eligible Inventory, such Inventory will promptly be excluded from the calculation of the Borrowing Base; provided , however , that if any Inventory ceases to be Eligible Inventory because of the adjustment of or imposition of new exclusionary criteria pursuant to the succeeding paragraph, the Administrative Agent will not require exclusion of such Inventory from the Borrowing Base until 5 Business Days following the date on which the Administrative Agent gives notice to the Borrowers of such ineligibility; provided that upon such notice, the Borrowers shall not be permitted to borrow any Loans or have any Letters of Credit issued so as to exceed the Line Cap after giving effect to such adjustment or imposition of new exclusionary criteria. In determining the amount to be included, Eligible Inventory shall be calculated to exclude cost corrections and adjustments, reallocations of cost, unreconciled variances, overstatements and errors in cost input.

 

The Administrative Agent reserves the right, at any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, to adjust any of the exclusionary criteria set forth above and to establish new criteria, in each case, its Reasonable Credit Judgment (based on an analysis of material facts or events first occurring, or first discovered by the Administrative Agent, after the Closing Date), subject to the necessary approvals set forth in Section 10.08 in the case of adjustments or new criteria which have the effect of making more credit available than would be available based upon the criteria in effect on the Closing Date.

 

Engagement Letter ” means that certain Engagement Letter, dated as of June 20, 2017, by and among Holdings, JPMCB, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA.

 

Environment ” means the indoor and outdoor environment, including ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, and natural resources such as flora and fauna.

 

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Environmental Laws ” means all applicable laws (including common law), statutes, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, binding agreements and final, binding decrees or judgments, in each case, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the Environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the generation, management, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any harmful or deleterious substance or to occupational health and safety matters (to the extent relating to the Environment or exposure to harmful or deleterious substances).

 

Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time, and any final regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code or any entity, whether or not incorporated, that is under common control with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

 

ERISA Event ” means:

 

(1)                                  a Reportable Event, or the requirements of Section 4043(b) of ERISA apply, with respect to a Plan;

 

(2)                                  a withdrawal by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any Borrower, any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any Borrower, any ERISA Affiliate that is treated as a termination under Section 4062(e) of ERISA;

 

(3)                                  a complete or partial withdrawal by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any Borrower, any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, receipt of written notification by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrower, any ERISA Affiliate concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or written notification that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or endangered or in critical status within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA;

 

(4)                                  the provision by a Plan administrator or the PBGC of notice of intent to terminate a Plan, to appoint a trustee to administer a Plan, the treatment of a Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Plan or Multiemployer Plan;

 

(5)                                  the incurrence by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any Borrower, any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, other than for the payment of plan contributions or PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA;

 

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(6)                                  the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 302(c) of ERISA with respect to a Plan;

 

(7)                                  the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA with respect to any Plan; and

 

(8)                                  a determination that any Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA).

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

EU Insolvency Regulation ” means the Council of the European Union Regulation 1346/2000/EC on insolvency proceeds and the Council of the European Union Regulation 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings.

 

EU Lender ” means a Lender resident for tax purposes in a jurisdiction that is a member state of the European Union (other than Spain) or a permanent establishment of such European Union tax-resident Lender located in another member state of the European Union, provided that it does not obtain the relevant income item through a territory regarded as a tax haven for Spanish tax purposes (as currently defined under Spanish Royal Decree 1080/1991, of July, and as it may be set out in any successor tax legislation) nor acts through a permanent establishment located in Spain or outside the European Union with which such Lender’s income may be effectively connected.

 

Euros ” or “ ” refers to the single currency of the Participating Member States; provided , that if any member state or states ceases to have such single currency as its lawful currency (such member states(s) being the “Exiting State(s)”, Euros and € shall, for the avoidance of doubt, mean for all purposes the single currency adopted and retained as the lawful currency of the remaining member states and shall not include any successor currency introduced by the Existing State(s)).

 

Euro Equivalent ” shall mean, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Euros, determined by Administrative Agent on the basis of the Spot Rate for the purchase of Euros with Dollars.

 

Eurocurrency Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Eurocurrency Loans.

 

Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice ” means a notice for a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing or continuation pursuant to Section 2.03, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit F or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent).

 

Eurocurrency Loan ” means any Loan bearing interest determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

 

Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Eurocurrency Revolving Loans.

 

Eurocurrency Revolving Loan ” means any Revolving Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate.

 

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European   L/C Disbursement ” means a payment or disbursement made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a European Letter of Credit.

 

European Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

European Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue European Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.05.  The European Letter of Credit Commitments of each of the Issuing Banks on the Closing Date shall be those Commitments listed on Schedule 2.01 hereto.  Any Issuing Bank shall be permitted at any time to increase its European Letter of Credit Commitment with the written consent of Holdings and notice to the Administrative Agent of such increase, so long as all Issuing Bank’s European Letter of Credit Commitments do not exceed the European Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

European Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means the aggregate European Letter of Credit Commitments of the Issuing Banks, in an amount not to exceed $25 million.

 

European Revolving Facility ” means the European Revolving Facility Commitments (including any Incremental Commitments that are European Revolving Facility Commitments) and the extensions of credit made hereunder by the European Revolving Lenders.

 

European Revolving Facility Commitment ” means, with respect to a Lender, the commitment of such Lender, if any, to make European Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.01, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (1) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (2) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender under Section 10.04 or (3) increased from time to time under Section 2.21.  The initial amount of each Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender has assumed its European Revolving Facility Commitment, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ European Revolving Facility Commitments is $160 million.

 

European Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means the sum of the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure.

 

European Revolving Facility Percentage ” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total European Revolving Facility Commitments represented by such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment.  If the European Revolving Facility Commitments have terminated or expired, the European Revolving Facility Percentages will be determined based upon the European Revolving Facility Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments pursuant to Section 10.04.

 

European Revolving L/C Exposure ” means the sum of the German Revolving L/C Exposure, the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure and the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure.

 

European Revolving Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(1) and will include any German Overadvances, German Protective Advances,  Spanish Overadvances, Spanish Protective Advances, U.K. Overadvances and U.K. Protective Advances.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

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Excess Availability ” means, at any time, (1) the Line Cap at such time minus (2) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposures at such time.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Excluded Accounts’ ” means any Deposit Account, securities account, commodity account or any other deposit account of any Borrower or Restricted Subsidiary (and all cash, Cash Equivalents and other securities or investments credited thereto or deposited therein):  (1) that does not have an individual ending balance in excess of $1,000,000 or in the aggregate with each other account described in this clause (1), in excess of $10,000,000; (2) the balance of which is swept at the end of each Business Day into a deposit account, securities account or commodity account subject to a control agreement, so long as such daily sweep is not terminated or modified (other than to provide that the balance in such deposit account, securities account or commodity account is swept into another deposit account, securities account or commodity account subject to a control agreement) without the consent of the Collateral Agent; (3) that is a Trust Account; (4) any Deposit Account of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary the balance of which consists solely of identifiable proceeds of any sale or other disposition of any Term Priority Collateral including the Asset Sale Proceeds Account (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) so long as all amounts on deposit therein constitute Term Priority Collateral; or (5) to the extent that it is cash collateral for letters of credit (other than Letters of Credit) to the extent permitted hereunder.

 

Excluded Contributions ” means, as of any date, the aggregate amount of the net cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents, together with the aggregate fair market value (determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) of other assets that are used or useful in a business permitted under Section 6.08, received by Holdings after the Closing Date from:

 

(1)                                  contributions to its common equity capital; or

 

(2)                                  the sale of Capital Stock of Holdings;

 

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings on the date such contribution is made or such Capital Stock is sold, less the aggregate amount of Investments made pursuant to Section 6.04(28), in each case prior to such date; provided that the proceeds of Disqualified Stock, Cure Amounts and any net cash proceeds that are used prior to such date (A) to make Restricted Payments under Section 6.06(1) or Section 6.06(2)(b) or (B) for Contribution Indebtedness, will not be treated as Excluded Contributions.

 

Excluded Subsidiary ” means any:

 

(1)                                  Immaterial Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                  Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings;

 

(3)                                  Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                  CFC;

 

(5)                                  FSHCO;

 

(6)                                  Subsidiary of a CFC or FSHCO;

 

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(7)                                  Subsidiary that is not either (i) a Domestic Subsidiary or (ii) organized under the laws of a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction;

 

(8)                                  Subsidiary if acting as a Guarantor, or its Guarantee, would, and only so long as it would, (a) be prohibited by law or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the (but not incurred in anticipation of) Closing Date or on the date such subsidiary is acquired or organized (as long as, in the case of an acquisition of a subsidiary, such prohibition did not arise as part of such acquisition) or (b) require a governmental or regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

 

(9)                                  Subsidiary that is a Captive Insurance Company, not-for-profit Subsidiary or Subsidiary which is a special purpose entity for securitization transaction (including any Receivables Subsidiary) or like special purposes; and

 

(10)                           any Subsidiary that would be excluded by the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

in each case, unless Holdings determines in its sole discretion, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, that any of the foregoing Persons (other than a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (other than Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG)) should not be an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary not organized in a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of such Foreign Subsidiary is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion unless the Guarantee to be provided by such Foreign Subsidiary is consistent with the credit support provided by the other Guarantors (or as otherwise may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Restricted Subsidiary may be an Excluded Subsidiary in circumstances where Holdings and the Administrative Agent reasonably agree that any of the cost, difficulty, burden or consequences of such Restricted Subsidiary providing a Guarantee of the Obligations is excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation.  If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under the Loan Documents:

 

(1)                                  Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however denominated) or franchise Taxes imposed in lieu of net income Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (a) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office, principal place of business or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (b) that are Other Connection Taxes;

 

(2)                                  any U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed on amounts payable hereunder to or for the account of a Recipient under any law applicable at the time such Recipient becomes a party to this

 

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Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.19) (or in the case of a Lender, under any law applicable at the time such Lender changes its Lending Office), except to the extent that the Recipient’s assignor (if any), at the time of assignment (or such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office), was entitled to receive additional amounts from the applicable Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.17(1) or Section 2.17(4);

 

(3)                                  any Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by Spain on amounts payable hereunder to or for the account of a Recipient who is not a Spanish Qualifying Lender at the time such Recipient becomes a party to this Agreement (or in the case of an Initial Lender, at the time such Initial Lender changes its Lending Office) or, being a Spanish Qualifying Lender at that time, has ceased to be a Spanish Qualifying Lender or is not entitled to receive interest free and clear from Spanish withholding Tax, other than as a result of any change in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or double taxation agreement, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant Tax authority that has taken place after that time;

 

(4)                                  Taxes that are attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.17(6) or Section 2.17(8);

 

(5)                                  any Tax Deduction (other than a U.K. Tax Deduction) in respect of a payment to a Lender that could have been made without a Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration or application of) any law or double taxation agreement, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant Tax authority;

 

(6)                                  any Tax Deduction on account of Tax imposed by France on a payment made to a Lender if such Tax Deduction is imposed solely because this payment is made to (i) an account opened in the name of or for the benefit of that Lender in a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction or (ii) a Lender Party incorporated or acting through a Facility Office (or the office of the Administrative Agent) situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction;

 

(7)                                  any Taxes imposed under FATCA;

 

(8)                                  any Bank Levy (or any payment attributable to a Bank Levy); and

 

(9)                                  any Taxes under the laws of Germany arising solely due to the fact that the Obligations are secured (directly or indirectly) by real estate located in Germany ( inländische Grundstücke ) or any domestic rights treated as real property under German Civil Law ( inländische Rechte die den Vorschriften des Bürgerlichen Rechts über Grundstücke unterliegen ) within the meaning of section 49 para. 1 no. 5 lit. c) aa) Income Tax Act ( Einkommensteuergesetz — EStG ).

 

Existing Huntsman Indebtedness ” means (i) that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2005 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date) by and among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and JPMCB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, (ii) the notes due 2020 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2012 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto, (iii) the notes due 2021 issued pursuant that that certain Indenture, dated as of December 23, 2013 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National

 

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Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto, (iv) the notes due 2022 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2014 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto and (v) those certain senior notes due 2025 issued pursuant to the terms of that certain Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2015 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto.

 

Existing Letters of Credit ” means those Letters of Credit described on Schedule 1.01(1) hereto.

 

Extended Commitments ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(1).

 

Extended Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(1).

 

Extending Lender has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(1).

 

Extension ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(1).

 

Extension Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(2).

 

Extension Offer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(1).

 

Facility ” means each of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility, the French Revolving Facility and the European Revolving Facility.

 

“Facility Office” means the office or offices notified by a Lender to the Agents in writing on or before the date it becomes a Lender (or, following that date, by not less than five Business Days’ written notice) as the office or offices through which it will perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

FATCA means:

 

(a)                                  sections 1471 to 1474 of the Code or any associated regulations;

 

(b)                                  any treaty, law or regulation of any other jurisdiction, or relating to an intergovernmental agreement between the US and any other jurisdiction, which (in either case) facilitates the implementation of any law or regulation referred to in paragraph (a) above; or

 

(c)                                   any agreement pursuant to the implementation of any treaty, law or regulation referred to in paragraphs (a) or (b) above with the US Internal Revenue Service, the US government or any governmental or taxation authority in any other jurisdiction.

 

FATCA Deduction ” means a deduction or withholding from a payment under any Loan Document required by FATCA.

 

FCPA ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.20(3).

 

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Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds rate, provided that if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

Fee Letter ” means the applicable fee letter(s) with respect to the Revolving Facility dated on or about June 20, 2017 (as amended, restated, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified).

 

Fees ” means the Commitment Fees, the L/C Participation Fees, the Issuing Bank Fees, Administrative Agent Fees and all other fees set forth in the Fee Letter and relating hereto.

 

Finance Party ” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Arrangers, the Bookrunners, the Documentation Agent, the Syndication Agent or a Lender.

 

Financial Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the chief financial officer, president, principal accounting officer, director of financial services, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of such Person or any other senior officer or director with equivalent duties.

 

Financial Performance Covenant ” means the covenant set forth in Section 6.10.

 

Financial Support Direction ” shall mean a financial support direction issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 43 of the Pensions Act 2004 (UK).

 

First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of Consolidated First Lien Net Debt as of such date to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarter period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Fixed Amounts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(2).

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of:

 

(1)                                  (a) Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, minus (b) non-financed Capital Expenditures of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that were paid in cash during such period (it being understood that Capital Expenditures funded with proceeds of Revolving Loans will not be deemed to be “financed” for the purpose of this clause (b)) minus (c) taxes of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries based on income that were paid or payable in cash during such period (including tax distributions paid in cash during such period) to

 

(2)                                  Fixed Charges of Holdings for such period.

 

Fixed Charges ” means, for any period, the sum without duplication, of the following for such period:

 

(1)                                  the Consolidated Interest Expense of Holdings that was paid or payable in cash during such period; plus

 

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(2)                                  all scheduled principal amortization payments that were paid or payable in cash during such period with respect to Indebtedness for borrowed money of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, including payments in respect of Capital Lease Obligations, but excluding payments with respect to intercompany Indebtedness; plus

 

(3)                                  all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation and payments on account of tax distributions) paid in cash on any series of Disqualified Stock during such period.

 

Flood Certificate ” means a completed “Life-of-Loan”, “Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form” of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any successor Governmental Authority performing a similar function (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the applicable property owner relating thereto).

 

Flood Program ” means the National Flood Insurance Program created by the U.S. Congress pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, the Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004 and the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, in each case as amended from time to time, and any successor statutes, together with all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, implementing or interpreting any of the foregoing, as amended and modified from time to time.

 

Flood Zone ” means areas having special flood hazards as described in the Flood Program.

 

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender or Issuing Bank that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America.  For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each state thereof and the District of Columbia will be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

Foreign Security Documents ” means the Canadian Security Documents, the German Security Documents, the French Security Documents, the Luxembourg Security Documents, the Spanish Security Documents and the U.K. Security Documents, including, in each case, those documents set forth on Schedule 1.01(3).

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

French Borrower ” and “ French Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals hereto.

 

French Borrowing Base ” means, in respect of each French Borrower at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  85% of the Eligible Accounts of such French Borrower; plus

 

(2)                                  the positive amount, if any, by which the U.S. Borrowing Base (after giving effect to any amount of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base (other than the U.S. Borrowing Base)) exceeds the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure; less

 

(3)                                  Reserves.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral owned by a French Borrower will immediately be included in the French Borrowing Base for such French Borrower at a value equal to the Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation thereof; provided , that if the Borrowers have not delivered, at their expense, a customary field examination reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent within 90 days of the acquisition of such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral will cease to be eligible for inclusion in the French Borrowing Base.

 

French   Guarantors ” means:  (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of France on the Closing Date (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) and (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of France (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the French Security Documents after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, “French Guarantors” shall not include “French Borrowers”.

 

French Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(4).

 

French   L/C Disbursement ” means a payment or disbursement made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit.

 

French L/C Participation Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(4).

 

French Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

French Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue French Letters of Credit pursuant to Section 2.05.  The French Letter of Credit Commitments of each of the Issuing Banks on the Closing Date shall be those Commitments listed on Schedule 2.01 hereto.  Any Issuing Bank shall be permitted at any time to increase its French Letter of Credit Commitment with the written consent of Holdings and notice to the Administrative Agent of such increase, so long as all Issuing Bank’s French Letter of Credit Commitments do not exceed the French Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

French Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means the aggregate French Letter of Credit Commitments of the Issuing Banks, in an amount not to exceed $10 million.

 

French Line Cap ” means, with respect to any French Borrower, at any time, the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of French Revolving Facility Commitments and (2) the French Borrowing Base with respect to such French Borrower then in effect.

 

French Loan Parties ” means the French Borrowers and the French Guarantors.

 

French Borrowing Obligations ” shall mean on any date, the portion of the Obligations outstanding that are owing by French Borrowers to the French Revolving Lenders, as Borrowers under the French Revolving Facility.

 

French Obligations ” means:

 

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(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from a French Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any French Loan Party of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state, provincial, territorial or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law naming such French Loan Party as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding; and

 

(2)                                  all amounts owing from a French Loan Party to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations of any French Loan Party;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Obligations of any French Loan Party under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the French Security Documents (other than the French Receivables Assignments) and the Guaranty as provided by a French Loan Party only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other French Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed; and

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any French Security Document will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

French Obligations Guarantors ” means each Loan Party which has provided a guaranty of the French Obligations of any French Borrower pursuant to the Guaranty (and subject to the limitations set forth therein and/or in Section 1.16 as far as applicable, in each case excluding any Excluded Subsidiary and subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

French Overadvance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(2).

 

French Receivables Assignments means:

 

(a)                                  the master receivables assignment agreement under French law dated on or about the date of this Agreement between Huntsman P&A France SAS, as Assignor, the Collateral Agent, as security agent on behalf of the French Revolving Lenders, and the French Revolving Lenders as assignees; and

 

(b)                                  each receivables assignment form ( acte de cession de créances professionnelles à titre de garantie ) executed by Huntsman P&A France SAS in accordance with the master receivables assignment agreement referred to in paragraph (a) above.

 

French Protective Advance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(3).

 

French Revolving Facility ” means the French Revolving Facility Commitments (including any Incremental Commitments that are French Revolving Facility Commitments) and the extensions of credit made hereunder by the French Revolving Lenders.

 

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French Revolving Facility Commitment ” means, with respect to a Lender, the commitment of such Lender, if any, to make French Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.01, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (1) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (2) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender under Section 10.04 or (3) increased from time to time under Section 2.21.  The initial amount of each Lender’s French Revolving Facility Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender has assumed its French Revolving Facility Commitment, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ French Revolving Facility Commitments is $20 million.

 

French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to each French Borrower, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate principal amount of the French Revolving Loans made to such French Borrower outstanding at such time; and

 

(2)                                  the French Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such French Borrower at such time.

 

The French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to any French Borrower of any Revolving Lender at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.23, the product of (a) such Revolving Lender’s French Revolving Facility Percentage and (b) the aggregate French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to such French Borrower of all Revolving Lenders, collectively, at such time.

 

French Revolving Facility Percentage ” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total French Revolving Facility Commitments represented by such Lender’s French Revolving Facility Commitment.  If the French Revolving Facility Commitments have terminated or expired, the French Revolving Facility Percentages will be determined based upon the French Revolving Facility Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments pursuant to Section 10.04.

 

French Revolving L/C Exposure ” means, with respect to any French Borrower, at any time the sum of (1) the aggregate undrawn face amount of all French Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such French Borrower outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all French L/C Disbursements with respect to such French Borrower that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.  The French Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to any French Borrower of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its French Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate French Revolving L/C Exposure of such French Borrower at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a French Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standard Practices, International Chamber of Commerce No. 590, such French Letter of Credit will be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a French Letter of Credit at any time will be deemed to be the stated amount of such French Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that, with respect to any French Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such French Letter of Credit will be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such French Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

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French Revolving Lender ” means each financial institution listed on Schedule 2.01 (other than any such Person that has ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance in accordance with Section 10.04) having a French Revolving Facility Commitment, as well as any Person that becomes a French Revolving Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 10.04, which, for the avoidance of doubt, shall include any Issuing Bank having issued, or which may issue, a French Letter of Credit to a French Borrower.

 

French Revolving Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(1) and will include any French Overadvances and French Protective Advances.

 

French Security Documents ” means the documents referred to as such on Schedule 1.01(3) and/or Schedule 5.16 each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by any French Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10 .

 

Fronting Exposure ” means, at any time there is a Defaulting Lender, (1) with respect to the Issuing Banks, (a) such Defaulting Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the outstanding U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure or Canadian Borrower Revolving L/C Exposure, as applicable, other than U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure or Canadian Borrowing Revolving L/C Exposure, as applicable, as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to non-Defaulting Lenders or cash collateralized or backstopped in accordance with the terms hereof, (b) such Defaulting Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the outstanding German Revolving L/C Exposure, Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure or U.K. Borrower Revolving L/C Exposure, as applicable, other than German Revolving L/C Exposure, Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure or U.K. Borrowing Revolving L/C Exposure, as applicable, as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to non-Defaulting Lenders or cash collateralized or backstopped in accordance with the terms hereof and (c) such Defaulting Lender’s French Revolving Facility Percentage of the outstanding French L/C Exposure with respect to the applicable French Borrower, other than French Revolving L/C Exposure as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to non-Defaulting Lenders or cash collateralized or backstopped in accordance with the terms hereof and (2) with respect to the Swingline Lenders, such Defaulting Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of Swingline Loans other than Swingline Loans as to which such Defaulting Lender’s participation obligation has been reallocated to other Lenders in accordance with the terms hereof.

 

FSHCO ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings, substantially all of the assets of which consist of Equity Interests or Indebtedness of one or more CFCs.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession (but excluding the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC applicable only to public companies).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above or in the definition of Capital Lease Obligations or Capital Expenditures, in the event of a change under GAAP (or the application thereof) requiring any leases to be capitalized that are not required to be capitalized as of the Closing Date, only those leases that would result or would have resulted in Capital Lease Obligations or Capital Expenditures on the Closing Date (assuming for purposes hereof that they were in existence on the Closing Date) will be considered capital leases and all calculations under this Agreement will be made in accordance therewith.

 

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German Borrower ” and “ German Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals hereto.

 

German Borrowing Base ” means, with respect to each German Borrower, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  85% of the Eligible Accounts owned by such German Borrower; plus

 

(2)                                  the lesser of (i) 65% of the Cost of Eligible Inventory owned by such German Borrower and (ii) 85% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory owned by such German Borrower; plus ;

 

(3)                                  the positive amount, if any, by which the U.S. Borrowing Base (after giving effect to any amount of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base (other than the U.S. Borrowing Base)) exceeds the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure; less

 

(4)                                  Reserves.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral owned by a German Borrower will immediately be included in the German Borrowing Base for such German Borrower at a value equal to the Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation thereof; provided , that if the Borrowers have not delivered, at their expense, a customary field examination and inventory appraisal reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent within 90 days of the acquisition of such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral will cease to be eligible for inclusion in the German Borrowing Base.

 

German Guarantor ” means:  (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of Germany (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) on the Closing Date or (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of Germany that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the German Security Documents after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

German Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(5).

 

German L/C Participation Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(5).

 

German Line Cap ” means, with respect to any German Borrower, at any time, the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of European Revolving Facility Commitments and (2) the German Borrowing Base with respect to such German Borrower then in effect.

 

German Loan Parties ” means the German Borrowers and the German Guarantors.

 

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German Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from a German Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing;

 

(2)                                  all amounts owing from a German Loan Party to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations of any German Loan Party;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Obligations of any German Loan Party under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the German Security Documents and the Guaranty as provided by a German Loan Party only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other German Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed; and

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any German Security Document will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

German Obligations Guarantors ” means each Loan Party which has provided a guaranty of the German Obligations of any German Borrower pursuant to the Guaranty (and subject to the limitations set forth therein, in each case excluding any Excluded Subsidiary and subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

German Overadvance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(2).

 

German Protective Advance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(3).

 

German Qualifying Lender ”:  in respect of interest payable by the German Borrower, a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of any amounts hereunder and is:

 

(1)                                  resident for tax purposes in Germany;

 

(2)                                  lending through a Facility Office in Germany to which the relevant interest payment is effectively attributable for tax purposes; or

 

(3)                                  a German Treaty Lender.

 

German Resident ” means any Guarantor or any Subsidiary that qualifies as a resident party domiciled in Germany ( Inländer ) within the meaning of Section 2 paragraph 15 of the German Foreign Trade Act ( Außenwirtschaftsgesetz ) (including its directors, managers, officers, agents and employees).

 

German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means, with respect to any German Borrower, at any time, the sum of the following amounts:

 

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(1)                                  the aggregate principal amount of the European Revolving Loans made to such German Borrower outstanding at such time; and

 

(2)                                  the German Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower at such time.

 

The German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of any Revolving Lender with respect to any German Borrower at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.23, the product of (a) such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage and (b) the aggregate German Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to such German Borrower of all Revolving Lenders, collectively, at such time.

 

German Revolving L/C Exposure ” means, with respect to any German Borrower at any time the sum of (1) the aggregate undrawn face amount of all European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all European L/C Disbursements made with respect to European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.  The German Revolving L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its European Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate German Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to such German Borrower at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a European Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standard Practices, International Chamber of Commerce No. 590, such European Letter of Credit will be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a European Letter of Credit at any time will be deemed to be the stated amount of such European Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that, with respect to any European Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such European Letter of Credit will be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such European Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

German Security Documents ” means the collective reference to those documents identified as “Initial German Security Documents” on Schedule 1.01(3) and each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by any German Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

German Treaty ”:  as defined in the definition of “German Treaty State”.

 

German Treaty Lender ”:  a Lender which (a) is treated as a resident of a German Treaty State for the purposes of the German Treaty; and (b) is entitled to receive payments of interest without a deduction of Tax imposed by Germany under the German Treaty; and (c) does not carry on a business in Germany through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected.

 

German Treaty State ”: a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement with Germany (a “German Treaty”) which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by Germany on interest payable pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, provincial,  territorial, municipal, local, national, transnational, foreign or other governmental department, commission, board, tribunal, bureau, ministry, court, agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory, legislative, judicial or arbitral body, or other law, rule or regulation-making entity, or any entity or officer exercising executive,

 

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legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court.

 

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means:

 

(1)                                  any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect:

 

(a)                                  to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or otherwise) or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligations;

 

(b)                                  to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof;

 

(c)                                   to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation;

 

(d)                                  entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); or

 

(e)                                   as an account party in respect of any letter of credit, bank guarantee or other letter of credit guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation; or

 

(2)                                  any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness to be secured by such a Lien) of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor;

 

provided, that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).  The amount of any Guarantee will be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith, subject to any local limitations as set forth in this Agreement or in the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

Guarantor ” means, (i) with respect to the U.S. Obligations, each U.S. Obligations Guarantors, (ii)  with respect to the Canadian Obligations, each Canadian Obligations Guarantor, (iii) with respect to the French Obligations, each French Obligations Guarantor, (iv) with respect to the German Obligations, each German Obligations Guarantor, (v) with respect to the Spanish Obligations, each Spanish Obligations Guarantor and (vi) with respect to the U.K. Obligations, each U.K. Obligations Guarantor.

 

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Guaranty ” means the guaranty made by Holdings and the other Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, dated as of the Closing Date, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Guaranty and Security Principles ” means the Guaranty and the Security Principles set forth in Schedule 1.01(2); provided , that the Guaranty and Security Principle shall not apply to any ABL Priority Collateral of any Borrower.

 

Hazardous Materials ” means all pollutants, contaminants, wastes, chemicals, materials, substances and constituents, including explosive or radioactive substances or petroleum or petroleum byproducts or distillates, friable asbestos or friable asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or radon gas, in each case, that are regulated or would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, in each case, not entered into for speculative purposes; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries will be a Hedge Agreement.

 

Holdings ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble hereto.

 

Huntsman ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Huntsman-Clariant Merger ” means the merger of Huntsman Corporation with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clariant.

 

Huntsman Release ” means the termination of all guarantees, commitments and other obligations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries under the Existing Huntsman Indebtedness and the termination and release of all Liens related thereto.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means, as of any date, any Subsidiary that (1) did not, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holdings for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), have assets with a value in excess of 2.5% of the Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 2.5% of total revenues of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; and (2) taken together with all Immaterial Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holdings for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), did not have assets with a value in excess of 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 5.0% of total revenues of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such four-quarter period.

 

Impacted Interest Period ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “LIBOR Rate.”

 

Incremental Commitment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(1).

 

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Incremental Equivalent Term Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Incremental Revolving Facility Increase ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(1).

 

Incremental Facility Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(6)(a).

 

Incremental Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.21(5).

 

Incurrence Based Amounts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(3).

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

(1)                                  all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(2)                                  all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments;

 

(3)                                  all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such Person;

 

(4)                                  all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a long-term liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

(5)                                  all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(6)                                  all net payments that such Person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such Person is being determined, in respect of outstanding Hedge Agreements;

 

(7)                                  the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and bank guarantees;

 

(8)                                  the principal component of all obligations of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

 

(9)                                  all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (8) above; and

 

(10)                           the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock);

 

provided that Indebtedness will not include:

 

(a)                                  trade payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(b)                                  prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset; or

 

(d)                                  earn-out obligations until such obligations are not paid after becoming due and payable.

 

The Indebtedness of any Person will include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such Person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness expressly limits the liability of such Person in respect thereof.

 

Indemnified Taxes ” means (1) all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document; and (2) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (1), Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.05(2).

 

Initial Lender ” means each financial institution listed on Schedule 2.01.

 

Initial Lender Certificate ” means a certificate substantially in a form reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

Initial Venator Distribution Transaction ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Intellectual Property Rights ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the US Collateral Agreement.

 

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Common Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent, and JPMCB, as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and Holdings and the other Loan Parties pursuant to this Agreement and the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of (1) the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, to (2) the sum of (a) the Consolidated Interest Expense of Holdings for such period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, and in each case, paid or payable in cash, and (b) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation and payments on account of tax distributions) on any series of Disqualified Stock of Holdings or preferred stock of any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, made during such period.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (1) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing and, in addition, the date of any refinancing or conversion of such Borrowing with or to a Borrowing of a different Type, (2) with

 

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respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter of Holdings, (3) with respect to any Swingline Loan, the day that such Swingline Loan is required to be repaid pursuant to Section 2.09 and (4) each Maturity Date.

 

Interest Period ” means, as to any Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing or on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, as applicable, and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter (or, if agreed by all Lenders, 12 months or such shorter interest period), as Holdings may elect, or the date any Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing is converted to an ABR Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.03 or repaid or prepaid in accordance with Section 2.09, 2.10 or 2.11; provided that:

 

(1)                                  if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period will be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period will end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(2)                                  any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) will end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(3)                                  no Interest Period will extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date.  Interest will accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.

 

Inventory ” means, with respect to a Person, all of such Person’s now owned and hereafter acquired inventory (as defined in the UCC, and shall include the meaning given to the term “Inventory” in any Foreign Security Document), goods and merchandise, wherever located, in each case, to be furnished under any contract of service or held for sale or lease, all returned goods, raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods (including embedded software), other materials, and supplies of any kind, nature or description which are used or consumed in such Person’s business or used in connection with the packing, shipping, advertising, selling, or finishing of such goods, merchandise and other property, and all documents of title or other documents representing the foregoing.

 

Interpolated Screen Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in any currency for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the Screen Rate for the longest period for which the Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

 

Inventory Reserves means reserves against Inventory established in the Administrative Agent’s Reasonable Credit Judgment (without duplication, including duplication as a result of Inventory being otherwise ineligible) equal to the sum of the following:

 

(1)                                  Shrink Reserves (if applicable);

 

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(2)                                  a reserve determined by the Administrative Agent for Inventory that is discontinued, obsolete, unmerchantable, defective or unfit for sale;

 

(3)                                  a reserve for customs charges, logistics and shipping charges related to any Inventory in transit;

 

(4)                                  a reserve for Inventory which is designated to be returned to vendor or which is recognized as damaged or off quality or not to customer specifications by a Borrower; and

 

(5)                                  any other reserve as deemed appropriate by the Administrative Agent in its Reasonable Credit Judgment, from time to time.

 

Investment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

 

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency).

 

Investment Grade Securities ” means:

 

(1)                                  securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

(2)                                  securities that have an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3)                                  corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

 

(4)                                  investments in any fund that invests at least 95.0% of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) above which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution.

 

Issuing Bank ” means JPMCB, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., and Goldman Sachs Bank USA and each Lender designated as an Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.05(13), in each case, in its capacity as an issuer of Letters of Credit hereunder, and its successors in such capacity as provided in Section 2.05(10).  The Issuing Banks on the Closing Date shall be those Lenders listed on Schedule 2.01 hereto.  An Issuing Bank may, in its discretion, arrange for one or more Letters of Credit to be issued by Affiliates of such Issuing Bank or an underlying issuer, in which case the term “Issuing Bank” will include any such Issuing Bank and such Affiliate or underlying issuer with respect to Letters of Credit issued by such Affiliate or underlying issuer.

 

Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.12(7)(b).

 

ITA ” means the Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations thereunder, as amended.

 

Joint Venture ” means (a) any Person which would constitute an “equity method investee” of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any Person in whom Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially owns any Equity Interest that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary).

 

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JPMCB ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

Junior Financing ” means (1) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or secured by Liens that are contractually subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations (other than the Term Loan Obligations), (2) any unsecured Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than unsecured Indebtedness in a principal amount not exceeding $15 million in the aggregate over the term of this Agreement) or (3) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means a “junior lien” intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Upon the request of Holdings, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent will execute and deliver a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the Loan Parties and one or more Debt Representatives for Indebtedness permitted hereunder that is permitted to be secured on a junior basis to the Loans.

 

Latest Maturity Date ” means, as of any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date of the Revolving Facility Commitments or any Extended Commitments in effect on such date.

 

L/C Disbursement ” means a U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursement, European L/C Disbursement and/or French L/C Disbursement, as the context may require.

 

L/C Participation Fee ” means the U.S. L/C Participation Fee, Canadian L/C Participation Fee, French L/C Participation Fee, German L/C Participation Fee, Spanish L/C Participation Fee and/or U.K. L/C Participation Fee, as the context may require.

 

LCA Election ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(2).

 

LCA Test Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(2).

 

Legal Reservations ” means:

 

(1)                                  the principle that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, pre-insolvency proceedings (including, insofar as it refers to Spanish Loan Parties, transactions that may derive from articles 5 bis, as well as Additional Provision 4th of the Spanish Insolvency Law), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law);

 

(2)                                  the time barring of claims under any applicable law of any Relevant Jurisdiction, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void, the possibility that a court may strike out provisions of a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar reasons and defenses of set-off or counterclaim and similar principles, rights, defenses and limitations under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction;

 

(3)                                  the principle that in certain circumstances Liens granted by way of fixed charge may be re-characterized as a floating charge or that Liens purported to be constituted as an assignment may be re-characterized as a charge;

 

(4)                                  the principle that additional interest imposed pursuant to any relevant agreement may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty and therefore void;

 

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(5)                                  the principle that a court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by an unsuccessful litigant;

 

(6)                                  the principle that the creation or purported creation of a Lien over any contract or agreement which is subject to a prohibition on transfer, assignment or charging may be void, ineffective or invalid and may give rise to a breach of the contract or agreement over which a Lien has purportedly been created;

 

(7)                                  implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing;

 

(8)                                  similar principles, rights and defenses under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction; and

 

(9)                                  any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in the legal opinions delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Lender ” means each financial institution listed on Schedule 2.01 (other than any such Person that has ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance in accordance with Section 10.04), as well as any Person that becomes a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 10.04 and any Additional Lender.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Lender” and “Lenders” shall include the Swingline Lender.

 

Lender Default ” means:

 

(1)                                  the refusal (which may be given verbally or in writing and has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any Borrowing or reimbursement obligations, which refusal or failure is not cured within two Business Days after the date of such refusal or failure, unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and Holdings in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that one or more conditions precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable Default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied;

 

(2)                                  the failure of any Lender to pay over to the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other Lender any other amount required to be paid by it hereunder within two Business Days of the date when due;

 

(3)                                  the failure of any Lender within three Business Days after request by the Administrative Agent, to confirm that it will comply with its funding obligations under the Revolving Facility; provided that such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender pursuant to this clause (3) upon receipt of such written confirmation by the Administrative Agent and Holdings;

 

(4)                                  any Lender has notified Holdings or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations under the Revolving Facility or under other similar agreements in which it commits to extend credit;

 

(5)                                  any Lender has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, become the subject of a Bail-in Action; or

 

(6)                                  the admission by any Lender in writing that it is insolvent or such Lender becoming subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event.

 

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Lender-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls a Lender (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), as the case may be, a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any debt relief law, or a custodian, conservator, administrator, receiver, interim receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation or Bail-In Action, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event will not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests in any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof, unless such ownership interest results in or provides such Person with immunity from the jurisdiction of courts within the United States or from the enforcement of judgments or writs of attachment on its assets or permit such Person (or such Governmental Authority or instrumentality) to reject, repudiate, disavow or disaffirm any contracts or agreements made by such Person.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Loans.

 

Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

Letter of Credit Commitment ” means a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Commitment, a European Letter of Credit Commitment and/or a French Letter of Credit Commitment, as the context may require.

 

Letter of Credit Request ” shall mean a request by Holdings for a Letter of Credit in such form as may be approved by the relevant Issuing Bank.

 

LIBOR Rate ” means:

 

(1)                                  for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Dollars, the rate per annum rate for deposits in Dollars which appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the second London Business Day preceding the first day of such Interest Period (or if such rate does not appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page, then the rate as determined by the Administrative Agent from another recognized source or interbank quotation), for a term, and in an amount, comparable to the Interest Period and the amount of the Eurocurrency Borrowing requested (whether as an initial Eurocurrency Loan or as a continuation of a Eurocurrency Loan or as a conversion of a ABR Loan to a Eurocurrency Loan) by Borrowers in accordance with this Agreement (and if, at any time, any such rate is below zero, the LIBOR Rate shall be deemed to be zero at such time), which determination shall be made by the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(2)                                  for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Sterling, the rate per annum rate for deposits in Sterling which appears on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the first day of such Interest Period (or if such rate does not appear on the Reuters Screen LIBOR01 Page, then the rate as determined by the Administrative Agent from another recognized source or interbank quotation), for a term, and in an amount, comparable to the Interest Period and the amount of the Eurocurrency Borrowing requested (whether as an initial Eurocurrency Loan or as a continuation of a Eurocurrency Loan) by Borrowers in accordance with this Agreement (and if, at any time, any such rate is below zero, the LIBOR Rate shall be deemed to be zero at

 

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such time), which determination shall be made by the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(3)                                  for any Interest Period with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing denominated in Euros, the rate per annum rate for deposits in Euros which appears on the Reuters Screen EURIBOR01 page as of 11:00 a.m., London time, on the second London Business Day preceding the first day of such Interest Period (or if such rate does not appear on the Reuters Screen EURIBOR01 Page, then the rate as determined by the Administrative Agent from another recognized source or interbank quotation), for a term, and in an amount, comparable to the Interest Period and the amount of the Eurocurrency Borrowing requested (whether as an initial Eurocurrency Loan or as a continuation of a Eurocurrency Loan) by Borrowers in accordance with this Agreement (and if, at any time, any such rate is below zero, the LIBOR Rate shall be deemed to be zero at such time), which determination shall be made by the Administrative Agent and shall be conclusive in the absence of manifest error.

 

(4)                                  If such rate is not available at such time for any reason, then the “LIBOR Rate” for such Interest Period shall be the rate per annum determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate at which deposits in Dollars, Sterling or Euros, as applicable, for delivery on the first day of such Interest Period in same day funds in the approximate amount of the Eurocurrency Loan being made, continued or converted by the Administrative Agent and with a term equivalent to such Interest Period would be offered to the Administrative Agent by major banks in the London interbank eurocurrency market in which the Administrative Agent participates at their request at approximately 11:00 a.m. (London time) two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans in Dollars and Euros and on the first day of such Interest Period for Eurocurrency Loans in Sterling.

 

Lien ” means, with respect to any asset (1) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, license, security interest or similar encumbrance in or on such asset; or (2) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event will an operating lease, any capital lease in respect of Real Property permitted hereunder or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

Limited Condition Acquisition ” means any acquisition, including by way of merger, or amalgamation, by Holdings or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to the Loan Documents whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

 

Line Cap ” means, at any time, the lesser of (1) the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments at such time and (2) the Aggregate Borrowing Base at such time.

 

Liquidity Condition ” means and will exist during the period from (1) the date on which Excess Availability has been less than the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $30 million, in either case, for five consecutive Business Days, to (2) the date on which Excess Availability has been at least equal to the greater of (i) 12.5% of the Line Cap then in effect and $30 million, in either case, for 30 consecutive calendar days.

 

Loan Accounts ” means the loan accounts established on the books of the Administrative Agent.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Security Documents, the Guaranty, the Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Note, the TEG Letters and, solely for the purposes of Sections 3.01, 3.02, and 8.01(3) hereof, the Fee Letter.

 

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Loan Parties ” means the U.S. Loan Parties, the Canadian Loan Parties, the French Loan Parties, the German Loan Parties, the Spanish Loan Parties, the U.K. Loan Parties and Lux Parent.

 

Loans ” means the Revolving Loans, the Swingline Loans and any other loans and advances of any kind made by the Administrative Agent, any Lender or any Affiliate of the Administrative Agent or any Lender pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Local Time ” means (a) with respect to a Dollar or Canadian Dollar denominated Borrowing or Letter of Credit made or issued, as applicable, to a U.S. Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, New York City time and (b) with respect to (i) a Dollar denominated Borrowing or Letter of Credit made or issued, as applicable, to a French Borrower, a German Borrower, a Spanish Borrower or a U.K. Borrower or (ii) a Euro or Sterling denominated Borrowing or Letter of Credit, London time.

 

Lux Parent ” means Venator Finance S.à r.l., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies (R.C.S. Luxembourg) under number B215641 and direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings.

 

Luxembourg Security Documents ” means the collective reference to those documents identified as “Initial Luxembourg Security Documents” on Schedule 1.01(3) and each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by the Lux Parent pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Luxembourg ” means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

Margin Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on:

 

(1)                                  the business, financial condition or results of operations, in each case, of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole);

 

(2)                                  the ability of the Borrowers and the Guarantors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents; or

 

(3)                                  the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (taken as a whole) under the Loan Documents.

 

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness of Holdings, any Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party (other than the Loans) in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $50 million.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary other than an Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means, as the context may require:

 

(1)                                  with respect to Revolving Facility Commitments existing on the Closing Date and Loans and Letters of Credit in respect thereof, August 8, 2022; and

 

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(2)                                  with respect to any Extended Commitments and Loans and Letters of Credit in respect thereof, the final maturity date specified therefor in the applicable Extension Amendment; and

 

Maximum Guaranteed Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.16.

 

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09.

 

MIRE Event ” means if there are any Mortgaged Properties at such time, any increase, extension or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including an Incremental Loan or any other incremental credit facilities hereunder or any Extended Commitments and Extended Loans hereunder, but excluding (i) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (ii) the making of any Loan or (iii) the issuance, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit).

 

MNPI ” means any material Nonpublic Information regarding Holdings and the Subsidiaries that has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than Lenders who elect not to receive such information).  For purposes of this definition “material Nonpublic Information” means Nonpublic Information that would reasonably be expected to be material to a decision by any Lender to assign or acquire any Loan or to enter into any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Mortgaged Properties ” means, all Owned Material Real Property, as to which the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall be granted a Lien pursuant to the Mortgages.

 

Mortgages ” means each of the mortgages, charges, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt or other similar security document made by any Loan Party, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

MTM ” has the meaning assigned such term in the definition of “Designated Hedging Reserves.”

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (other than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Code Section 414) is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

 

Net Cash Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds (using the fair market value of any Cash Equivalents) received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, and including any proceeds received as a result of unwinding any related Hedge Agreements in connection with such transaction but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct cash costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration (including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements

 

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related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required to be paid as a result of such transaction that is secured by a Permitted Lien that is prior or senior to the Lien securing the Obligations, any costs associated with unwinding any related Hedge Agreements in connection with such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction; provided that such reserved amounts will be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds to the extent and at the time of any reversal thereof (to the extent not applied to the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount).

 

Net Orderly Liquidation Value ” means, with respect to Eligible Inventory, the net appraised liquidation value thereof (expressed as a percentage of the Cost of such Inventory) as determined from time to time by an Acceptable Appraiser in accordance with Section 5.07.

 

New York Courts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.15(1).

 

Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(3).

 

“Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction” means a “non-cooperative state or territory” ( État ou territoire non coopératif ) as set out in the list referred to in Article 238-0 A of the French Code general des Impôts, as such list may be amended from time to time.

 

Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Basket ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(2)

 

Note ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(2).

 

NYFRB ” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

NYFRB Rate ” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received to the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided , further , that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from any Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state, provincial, territorial or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, administration, receivership or similar law naming such Loan Party as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding;

 

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(2)                                  all amounts owing by any Loan Party to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Obligations of the Loan Parties under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents and the Guaranty only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed;

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any Security Document will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document; and

 

(c)                                   Obligations shall not, in any event, include any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

OFAC ” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes or stamp duties, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.19(2)); and Taxes due as a result of registration or other action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender where such registration or action is not: (a) necessary to maintain, preserve, establish, enforce, perfect or protect the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents; or (b) required by any competent tax administration or supervisory body.

 

Overadvance ” means each U.S. Overadvance, Canadian Overadvance, French Overadvance, German Overadvance, Spanish Overadvance and/or U.K. Overadvance, as the context may require.

 

Owned Material Real Property ” means any Real Property owned in fee by any of the Loan Parties that has a fair market value (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) of $15 million or more, other than (i) any Real Property that is a US Excluded Asset, (ii) that should be excluded from the Collateral pursuant to the Guaranty and Security Principles, (iii) Real Property located at 302 Midway Road, Freeport, TX 77541 or (iv) as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Parent Entity ” means any direct or indirect parent of Lux Parent, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Holdings.

 

Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(5)(a).

 

Payment Conditions ” means, and will be deemed to be satisfied with respect to any particular action as to which the satisfaction of the Payment Conditions is being determined if, after giving effect to the taking of such action, (1) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, (2) Excess Availability for each day in the 20-day period prior to such action and on the date of such proposed action would exceed the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $37.5 million, in any such case, on a Pro Forma Basis, (3) the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio would be at least 1.0 to 1.0 on a Pro Forma Basis giving effect to the subject action; provided that compliance with the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio will not be required if after giving effect to the taking of such action, Excess Availability for each day in the 20-day period prior to such action and on the date of such proposed action would exceed the greater of (i) 20% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $52.5 million, on a Pro Forma Basis, and (4) the Administrative Agent has received a certificate from a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying as to the calculations and satisfaction of the conditions set forth in foregoing clauses (1) through and including (3) above, which calculations shall be true and correct in all material respects.

 

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(5)(a).

 

Participating Member State ” means any member state of the European Union that has the euro as its lawful currency in accordance with the legislation of the European Union relating to Economic and Monetary Union.

 

Payee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(11)(b).

 

Payment Office ” means the office of the Administrative Agent located at 500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01, Newark, DE, 19713-2107, United States (Attention: Joe Aftanis), or such other office as the Administrative Agent may designate to the Borrowers and the Lenders from time to time.

 

Payor ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.17(11)(b).

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, or any successor thereto.

 

Pensions Regulator ” means the body corporate called the Pensions Regulator established under Part I of the Pensions Act 2004 (UK).

 

Perfection Certificate ” means the Perfection Certificate with respect to the U.S. Loan Parties in a form substantially similar to that delivered on the Closing Date.

 

Permitted Acquisition ” means any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or a majority of the Equity Interests in, or merger, consolidation or amalgamation with, a Person or division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent investment made in a Person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Acquisition) if (1) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Investment or would result therefrom; and (2) immediately after giving effect thereto, with respect to acquisitions of entities that do not become Subsidiary Loan Parties, the aggregate fair market value of all Investments made in such entities since the Closing Date (with all such

 

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Investments being valued at their original fair market value and without taking into account subsequent increases or decreases in value) will not exceed the greater of (a) $65 million and (b) 2.6% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such acquisition is made.

 

Permitted Cure Securities ” means any equity securities of Holdings other than Disqualified Stock.

 

Permitted Debt ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 6.01.

 

Permitted Holders ” means each of:

 

(1)                                  (i) Huntsman Corporation and (ii) after the consummation of the Huntsman-Clariant Merger, Clariant, and, in each case, any of their Affiliates and successors in interest; and

 

(2)                                  any group (within the meaning of Rules 13d 3 and 13d 5 under the Exchange Act) of which the Persons described in clause (1) above are members; provided that, without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, the Persons described in clause (1) collectively, beneficially own Voting Stock representing 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings then held by such group.

 

Permitted Investment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

 

Permitted Liens ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, “ Refinance ”) the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1)                                  the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced ( plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts or original issue discount, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses);

 

(2)                                  the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to the shorter of (a) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (b) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness being Refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the Latest Maturity Date were instead due on the date that is one year following the Latest Maturity Date; provided that no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this subclause (b) will have any scheduled principal payments due prior to the Latest Maturity Date in excess of, or prior to, the scheduled principal payments due prior to such Latest Maturity Date for the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

(3)                                  if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to any Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to such Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

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(4)                                  no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may have different obligors, or greater Guarantees or security, than the Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided that, with respect to a Refinancing of the Term Loan Obligations, the Liens on the Collateral, if any, securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will be on terms not materially less favorable to the Lenders than those contained in the documentation governing the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(5)                                  the terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral) of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are either (i) substantially identical to or less favorable to the providers of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being Refinanced (except for any such terms that are applicable only to periods following the Maturity Date) or (ii) when taken as a whole (other than interest rate, prepayment premiums and redemption premiums), not more restrictive to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement or are customary for similar indebtedness in light of current market conditions;

 

(6)                                  in the case of a Refinancing of Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with, or on a junior basis to, the Revolving Facility Claims with Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a junior basis, to the Revolving Facility Claims, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(7)                                  in the case of a Refinancing of the Term Loan Obligations, the Liens on the Collateral, if any, securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement that is substantially consistent with, and no less favorable to the Lenders in any material respect than, the Intercreditor Agreement as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings and as certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (or such short period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent), together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such resulting Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that the Borrower has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy clauses (3) and (4) above, as applicable, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrower within such five Business Day (or shorter) period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may not be incurred to Refinance Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a junior basis to the Revolving Loans with Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Revolving Loans.

 

Indebtedness constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will not cease to constitute Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness as a result of the subsequent extension of the Latest Maturity Date after the date of original incurrence thereof.

 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, unlimited liability company, limited liability company, government, individual or family trust, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

Pigments and Additives Business ” means the titanium dioxide and performance additives businesses and related assets of Huntsman and its Subsidiaries.

 

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Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is (1) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA; and (2) either (a) sponsored or maintained (at the time of determination or at any time within the five years prior thereto) by Holdings, Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) in respect of which Holdings, Borrowers or any of their Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

PPSA ” means mean the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario) and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder, as from time to time in effect, provided , however , if attachment, perfection or priority of Collateral Agent’s security interests in any Collateral are governed by the personal property security laws of any jurisdiction other than Ontario, PPSA shall mean those personal property security laws or such other applicable legislation (including the Civil Code of Québec) in such other jurisdiction for the purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for the definitions related to such provisions.

 

Priority Payable Reserve ” means reserves for amounts secured by any Liens, choate or inchoate, which rank or are capable of ranking in priority to or pari passu with the Collateral Agent’s or any other Lenders’ Liens and/or for amounts which may represent costs relating to the enforcement of the Administrative Agent’s Liens including, without limitation, the “prescribed part” under the Insolvency Act 1986 (UK) and any such amounts due and not paid for wages, vacation pay, severance pay, employee source deductions and contributions, amounts due and not paid under any legislation relating to workers’ compensation or to employment insurance, all amounts deducted or withheld and not paid and remitted when due under the ITA, all amounts collected but not remitted when due under the Excise Tax Act (Canada) or the Quebec Sales Tax Act, amounts currently or past due and not paid for realty, municipal or similar taxes (to the extent impacting personal or movable property), goods and services taxes, sales taxes, harmonized sales taxes, income taxes, VAT, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, or overdue rents and all unfunded wind-up or solvency deficiency amounts under, and all amounts currently or past due and not contributed, remitted or paid to or under, any Canadian Pension Plan or under the Canada Pension Plan, the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) or any similar legislation in any applicable jurisdiction (other than amounts included in the Wage Earner Protection Act Reserve), pension plan or fund obligations (including pension plan deficits) or other statutory deemed trusts or any similar statutory or other claims that would have or would reasonably be expected to have priority over or rank pari passu with any Liens granted to the Administrative Agent now or in the future.

 

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMCB as its prime rate in effect at its office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

Principle Obligations ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(1).

 

Pro Forma Basis ” or “ Pro Forma ” means, with respect to the calculation of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or any other calculation under any applicable provision of the Loan Documents, as of any date, that (1) pro forma effect will be given to the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or Investment, any issuance, incurrence, assumption or permanent repayment of Indebtedness (including Indebtedness issued, incurred or assumed as a result of, or to finance, any relevant transaction and for which any such financial ratio or other calculation is being calculated), all sales, transfers and other dispositions or discontinuance of any Subsidiary, line of business, division or store, or any conversion of a Restricted Subsidiary to an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary and

 

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restructuring, strategic and other cost savings initiatives, in each case that have occurred during the four consecutive fiscal quarter period of Holdings being used to calculate such financial ratio (the “ Reference Period ”), or subsequent to the end of the Reference Period but prior to such date or prior to or simultaneously with the event for which a determination under this definition is made (including any such event occurring at a Person who became a Restricted Subsidiary after the commencement of the Reference Period), as if each such event occurred on the first day of the Reference Period, and (2) pro forma effect will be given to factually supportable and identifiable pro forma cost savings related to operational efficiencies, strategic initiatives or purchasing improvements and other synergies, in each case, reasonably expected by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries to be realized based upon actions reasonably expected to be taken within 18 months of the date of such calculation (without duplication of the amount of actual benefit realized during such period from such actions), which cost savings, improvements and synergies can be reasonably computed, as certified in writing by a Financial Officer of Holdings; provided that any such pro forma adjustments in respect of such cost savings, improvements and synergies (including with respect to the Transactions) shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA (before giving effect to all such adjustments) for any four-quarter period; provided , further that such 20% cap shall not apply to Holdings’ cost savings program that was publically announced prior to the Effective Date in an amount not to exceed $60 million.

 

Process Agent ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15.

 

Projections ” means all projections (including financial estimates, financial models, forecasts and other forward-looking information) furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

Protective Advances ” means the U.S. Protective Advances, Canadian Protective Advances, French Protective Advances, German Protective Advances, Spanish Protective Advances and/or U.K. Protective Advances, as the context may require.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.04(1).

 

Qualified Cash ” means the amount of unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of the U.S. Loan Parties or Canadian Loan Parties, as the context may require, at such time (to the extent held in investment accounts and other accounts agreed between Borrowers and the Administrative Agent) either (1) in a deposit account maintained with the Administrative Agent or (2) in a deposit account subject to a Blocked Account Agreement; provided that the applicable account bank (if not the Administrative Agent) agrees that if (x) the Payment Conditions are tested or (y) the aggregate amount of the Revolving Facility Exposure exceeds the Line Cap, the applicable account bank shall provide daily reports to the Administrative Agent setting forth the balances in such accounts and such information as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request.

 

Qualified Counterparty ” means any counterparty to any Specified Hedge Agreement that, at the time such Specified Hedge Agreement was entered into or on the Closing Date, was an Agent, an Arranger, a Lender or an Affiliate of the foregoing, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, an Arranger, a Lender or an Affiliate of the foregoing.

 

Qualified Equity Interests ” means any Equity Interests other than Disqualified Stock.

 

Qualified Receivables Financing ” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

 

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(1)                                  the Board of Directors of Holdings has determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is, in the aggregate, economically fair and reasonable to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)                                  all sales or contributions of accounts receivable and related assets by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings); and

 

(3)                                  the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof will be market terms (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure any Indebtedness will not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided , however , that a grant of a security interest in such accounts receivable to perfect the transfer of an ownership interest in such accounts receivable to a Receivables Subsidiary shall not be considered a grant to secure any Indebtedness.

 

Qualifying Lender means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to receive payments in respect of an advance under any Loan Document (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in relation to a payment made by a Guarantor) and which:

 

(1)                                  fulfils the conditions imposed by the jurisdiction of the relevant Loan Party in order for any payment received or accrued under any Loan Document not to be subject to (or as the case may be, to be exempt from) any Tax Deduction; or

 

(2)                                  is a Treaty Lender.

 

Quarterly Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(2).

 

Ratio Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased, subleased or licensed by any Loan Party, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, and all improvements and appurtenant fixtures incidental to the ownership, lease, sublease or license thereof.

 

Reasonable Credit Judgment ” means reasonable credit judgment in accordance with customary business practices for comparable asset-based lending transactions; provided that, as it relates to the establishment of new Reserves (other than any defined Reserves that are expressly included in the definition thereof) or the adjustment or imposition of exclusionary criteria (other than those expressly set forth in the definitions of “Qualified Cash”, “Eligible Inventory” or “Eligible Accounts”), Reasonable Credit Judgment will require that:

 

(1)                                  such establishment, adjustment or imposition be based on the analysis of facts or events first occurring or first discovered by the Administrative Agent after the Closing Date that are materially different from facts or events known to the Administrative Agent on the Closing Date; provided that, this clause (1) shall not apply to  the Administrative Agent’s establishment of Reserves in

 

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respect of a Lien on ABL Priority Collateral permitted under Section 6.02(9), 6.02(11), 6.02(12), 6.02(18), or 6.02(24);

 

(2)                                  the contributing factors to the imposition of any Reserve will not duplicate (a) the exclusionary criteria set forth in definitions of “Eligible Accounts”,  “Eligible Inventory”, or “Qualified Cash” as applicable (and vice versa), or (b) any reserves deducted in computing book value; and

 

(3)                                  the amount of any such Reserve so established or the effect of any adjustment or imposition of exclusionary criteria be a reasonable quantification of the incremental dilution of the Borrowing Base attributable to such contributing factors.

 

Receivables Facility ” means one or more receivables financing facilities, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, the Indebtedness of which is non-recourse (except for standard representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or contributes its accounts receivable to either (1) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary; or (2) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or borrows against such accounts receivable.

 

Receivables Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey, contribute or otherwise transfer to:

 

(1)                                  a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Receivables Subsidiary); and

 

(2)                                  any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, and any assets related thereto including all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedge Agreements entered into by Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

 

Receivables Repurchase Obligation ” means any obligation of a seller to repurchase receivables transferred by such seller in a Qualified Receivables Financing, which obligation arises as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

Receivables Subsidiary ” means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (or another Person formed solely for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Financing with such Borrower and to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of Holdings (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

 

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(1)                                  no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise):

 

(a)                                  is guaranteed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, including servicing performance guarantees);

 

(b)                                  is recourse to or obligates Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, including servicing performance guarantees; or

 

(c)                                   subjects any property or asset of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(2)                                  with which neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which Holdings reasonably believe to be no less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of Holdings; and

 

(3)                                  to which neither Holdings nor any other Restricted Subsidiary has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of Holdings will be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of Holdings giving effect to such designation and a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as applicable.

 

Refinance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ,” and the terms “ Refinanced ” and “ Refinancing ” will have correlative meanings.

 

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(3)(b).

 

Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Reinvestment Deferred Amount ” has the meaning specified therefor in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, (1) such Person’s controlled Affiliates and the respective directors, officers, trustees, administrators, managers, partners and employees of such Person and such Persons’ controlled Affiliates and (2) the agents, advisors and other representatives of such Person and such Person’s controlled Affiliates in each case acting on behalf of, or at the express instructions of, such Person or such Person’s controlled Affiliates.

 

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, emanating or migrating in, into, upon, onto or through the Environment.

 

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Relevant Jurisdiction ” means in relation to a Loan Party:

 

(1)                                  the jurisdiction under whose laws that Loan Party is incorporated or organized as at the date of this Agreement or as at the date on which that Loan Party becomes party to this Agreement (as the case may be);

 

(2)                                  any jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and

 

(3)                                  any jurisdiction where any asset subject to or intended to be subject to the Liens to be created by it is situated.

 

Rent Reserve means, with respect to any leased store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot where any Inventory subject to Liens arising by operation of law is located that is not subject to a Collateral Access Agreement or other documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, a reserve equal to three (3) months’ rent and expenses at such store, warehouse distribution center, regional distribution center or depot.

 

Report ” means reports prepared by the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent or another Person showing the results of appraisals, field examinations or audits pertaining to the Loan Parties’ assets from information furnished by or on behalf of the Loan Parties, after the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent has exercised its rights of inspection pursuant to this Agreement, which Report may be distributed to the Lenders by the Administrative Agent, subject to the provisions of Section 10.16.

 

Reportable Event ” means any reportable event as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than those events as to which the 30 day notice period referred to in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has been waived, with respect to a Plan (other than a Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate that is considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code).

 

Required Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(2).

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having (1) Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and (2) Available Unused Commitments that, taken together, represent more than 50.0% of the sum of (a) all Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and (b) the total Available Unused Commitments.  The Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and Available Unused Commitments of any Defaulting Lender will be disregarded in determining Required Lenders; provided that subject to the Borrowers’ right to replace Defaulting Lenders as set forth herein, Defaulting Lenders will be included in determining Required Lenders with respect to:

 

(1)                                  any amendment that would disproportionately affect the obligation of the Loan Parties to make payment of the Loans or Commitments of such Defaulting Lender as compared to other Lenders holding the same Class of Loans or Commitments;

 

(2)                                  any amendment relating to:

 

(a)                                  increases in or extensions of the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender;

 

(b)                                  reductions of principal, interest, fees or premium applicable to the Loans or Commitments of such Defaulting Lender;

 

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(c)                                   extensions of final maturity or the due date of any amortization, interest, fee or premium payment applicable to the Loans or Commitments of such Defaulting Lender;

 

(d)                                  matters requiring the approval of each Lender in clause (vii) of the proviso to Section 10.08(2).

 

Reserve Account ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(7)(b).

 

Reserves ” means, without duplication of any other reserves or items that are otherwise addressed or excluded through eligibility criteria, such reserves (including Accounts Reserves, Ad Valorem Tax Reserves, Inventory Reserves, Rent Reserves, Designated Cash Management Reserves, reserves for unpaid and accrued sales tax, reserves for banker’s liens, rights of setoff or similar rights and remedies as to deposit accounts, Designated Hedging Reserves, reserves for self-insurance healthcare programs for employees, reserves for accrued and unpaid property taxes, reserves for Canadian priority rights for employee matters, reserves for uninsured, underinsured, unindemnified or under-indemnified liabilities or potential liabilities with respect to any litigation, reserves for any judgment Liens that encumber Collateral included in the Borrowing Base in the amount of such judgment, reserves for adjustments to costs, cost allocations and purchase price variances, and reserves for extended or extendible retention of title over Accounts, reserves for Taxes, fees, assessments, and other governmental charges, the Priority Payable Reserve, the Wage Earner Protection Act Reserve and other reserves against Eligible Accounts, Eligible Inventory and Qualified Cash) that the Administrative Agent from time to time determines in its Reasonable Credit Judgment as being appropriate to reflect:

 

(1)                                  the impediments to the Administrative Agent’s ability to realize upon the Collateral included in the Borrowing Base in accordance with the Loan Documents;

 

(2)                                  claims and liabilities that will need to be satisfied, or will dilute the amounts received by holders of Loans, in connection with the realization upon such Collateral or;

 

(3)                                  criteria, events, conditions, contingencies or risks that adversely affect any component of the Borrowing Base, the Collateral included therein or the validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents or any material remedies of the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, each Issuing Bank and each Lender under the Loan Documents with respect to such Collateral.

 

The establishment or increase of any Reserve will be limited to the exercise by the Administrative Agent of Reasonable Credit Judgment, upon at least five Business Days’ prior written notice to the Borrowers (which notice will include a reasonably detailed description of the Reserve being established); provided that upon such notice, the Borrowers will not be permitted to borrow so as to exceed the applicable Borrowing Base after giving effect to such new or modified Reserves; provided, further , that any Designated Hedging Reserve or Designated Cash Management Reserve shall not require such five Business Day prior notice and shall be effectively immediately upon written notice to the Borrowers.  During such five Business Day period, the Administrative Agent will, if requested, discuss any such new or modified Reserve with the Borrowers, and the Borrowers may take such action as may be required so that the event, condition or matter that is the basis for such new or modified Reserve no longer exists or exists in a manner that would result in the establishment of a lower Reserve or result in a lesser change, in each case, in a manner and to the extent reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, (a) the amount of any such Reserve or change will have a reasonable relationship to the event, condition or other matter that is the basis for such Reserve or such change and (b) no Reserves or changes will be duplicative of other reserves (including that reserves for the same the event, condition or other matter shall not be imposed against more than one of the U.S. Borrowing Base, the Canadian Borrowing Base, the French Borrowing Bases, the German

 

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Borrowing Bases, the Spanish Borrowing Base and the U.K. Borrowing Base) or changes or items that are otherwise addressed, excluded or already accounted for through eligibility criteria (including collection/advance rates).

 

Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, the chief executive officer, president, vice president, statutory director, secretary, assistant secretary or any Financial Officer of such Loan Party (or any other officer or director with equivalent duties) or any other individual designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by an existing Responsible Officer of such Loan Party as an authorized signatory of any certificate or other document to be delivered hereunder, including any person authorized by a power of attorney.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party will be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer will be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.  Unless the context requires otherwise, each reference herein and in any other Loan Document to a Responsible Officer of a Borrower means and is a reference to a Responsible Officer of Holdings.

 

Restricted Payments ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of a Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries will mean Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Revolving Facility ” means the Revolving Facility Commitments (including any Incremental Commitments) and the extensions of credit made hereunder by the Revolving Lenders.

 

Revolving Facility Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Revolving Loans.

 

Revolving Facility Claims ” has the meaning assigned to the term “ABL Claims” in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Revolving Facility Commitment ” means the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, the European Revolving Facility Commitment and/or the French Revolving Facility Commitment, as the context may require.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ Revolving Facility Commitments is $300 million.

 

Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, the Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, the applicable French Revolving Facility Exposure, the applicable German Revolving Facility Exposure, the Spanish Revolving Facility Exposure and/or the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, as the context may require.

 

Revolving Facility Percentage ” means the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage, the European Revolving Facility Percentage and/or the French Revolving Facility Percentage, as the context may require.

 

Revolving L/C Exposure ” means U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure, Canadian L/C Exposure, the applicable French Revolving L/C Exposure, the applicable German L/C Exposure, the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure and/or the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure, as the context may require.

 

Revolving Lender ” means each Lender with a Revolving Facility Commitment or outstanding Revolving Facility Credit Exposure.

 

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Revolving Loans ” means U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans, European Revolving Loans and/or French Revolving Loans, as the context may require.

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor entity thereto.

 

Sanctioned Country ” means a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of a comprehensive economic or financial sanctions program maintained by any Sanctions Authority under any Anti-Terrorism Law, including, without limitation, as of the date of this Agreement, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba (except in respect of the Canadian Loan Parties), Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

 

Sanctioned Person ” means (1) any Person listed in any sanctions list maintained by any Sanctions Authority, (2) a Canadian Blocked Person, (3) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, or (4) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person set forth in clauses (1), (2)  or (3) above.

 

Sanctions ” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by any Sanctions Authority.

 

Sanctions Authority ” means the United States, Canada, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (and its member states), the United Kingdom and the respective governmental institutions of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, Her Majesty’s Treasury, OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, and any other agency of the U.S. or Canadian government.

 

Screen Rate ” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for such currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

Secured Parties ” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders, any Qualified Counterparty and any Cash Management Bank.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security Documents ” means the U.S. Security Documents, the Canadian Security Documents, the French Security Documents, the German Security Documents, the Luxembourg Security Documents, the Spanish Security Documents and/or the U.K. Security Documents, as the context may require.

 

Senior Notes ” means the notes due 2025 issued by Lux Parent and U.S. Parent pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture.

 

Senior Notes Documents ” means the Senior Notes, the Senior Notes Indenture and all other documents evidencing, guaranteeing or otherwise governing the terms of the Senior Notes.

 

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Senior Notes Indenture ” means that certain Indenture, dated as of July 14, 2017, among the Borrowers party thereto, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time) and any supplemental indenture or additional indenture to be entered into with respect to the Senior Notes.

 

Settlement Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(2).

 

Shared Dollar Basket ” means, at any time, the greater of (1) $50 million and (2) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Assets at such time, minus the aggregate amount of (a) Investments which have been made prior to such time since the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.04(28) and which remain outstanding immediately prior to such time, (b) Restricted Payments which have been made prior to such time since the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.06(16) and (c) payments with respect to any Junior Financing which have been made prior to such time since the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.09(2)(c).

 

Shrink ” means Inventory that is lost, misplaced, stolen or otherwise unaccounted for.

 

Shrink Reserve ” means an amount reasonably estimated by the Administrative Agent to be equal to that amount which is required in order that the Shrink reflected in current stock ledger of the Borrowers would be reasonably equivalent to the Shrink calculated as part of the Borrowers’ most recent physical inventory (it being understood and agreed that no Shrink Reserve established by the Administrative Agent shall be duplicative of any Shrink as so reflected in the current stock ledger of the Borrowers or estimated by the Borrowers for purposes of computing any Borrowing Base other than at month’s end).

 

Spain ” means the Kingdom of Spain.

 

Spanish Borrower ” and “ Spanish Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals hereto.

 

Spanish Borrowing Base ” means, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  85% of the Eligible Accounts owned by the Spanish Borrowers; plus

 

(2)                                  the positive amount, if any, by which the U.S. Borrowing Base (after giving effect to any amount of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base (other than the U.S. Borrowing Base)) exceeds the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure; less

 

(3)                                  Reserves.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral owned by the Spanish Borrowers will immediately be included in the Spanish Borrowing Base at a value equal to the Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation thereof; provided , that if the Borrowers have not delivered, at their expense, a customary field examination and inventory appraisal reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent within 90 days of the acquisition of such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral will cease to be eligible for inclusion in the Spanish Borrowing Base.

 

Spanish Civil Code ” means the Spanish Civil Code approved by Royal Decree on 24 July 1889, as amended from time to time.

 

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Spanish Civil Procedure Law ” means Law 1/2000 of 7 January (Ley 1/2000, de 7 de enero, de Enjuiciamiento Civil), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Code of Commerce mean the Spanish Code of Commerce approved by Royal Decree, dated 22 nd  August 1885.

 

Spanish Companies Act ” means Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010 ( Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, de 2 de julio, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley de Sociedades de Capital ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Guarantor ” means:  (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of Spain (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) on the Closing Date or (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings organized under the laws of Spain that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the Spanish Security Documents after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Spanish Insolvency Law ” means the Spanish Insolvency Law 22/2003, dated 9 July ( Ley 22/2003, de 9 de julio, Concursal ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(6).

 

Spanish L/C Participation Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(6).

 

Spanish Lender ” means a Lender who is: (i) a Spanish tax-resident financial institution ( entidad de crédito or establecimiento financiero de crédito ) duly registered before the Bank of Spain as identified in paragraph (c) of article 61 of the Spanish Corporate Income Tax regulations approved by the Spanish Royal Decree 634/2015, of 10 July, as amended or restated (the “ Spanish CIT regulations ”); (ii) a Spanish tax-resident securitization fund as identified in paragraph (k) of article 61 of the Spanish CIT regulations; or (iii) a permanent establishment in Spain of a non-Spanish tax resident financial institution that is duly registered before the Bank of Spain, as identified in the second paragraph of article 8.1 of the Spanish Non-residents Income Tax regulations approved by Spanish Royal Decree 1776/2004, of 30 July, as amended or restated.

 

Spanish Line Cap ” means the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of European Revolving Facility Commitments and (2) the Spanish Borrowing Base then in effect.

 

Spanish Loan Parties ” means the Spanish Borrowers and the Spanish Guarantors.

 

Spanish Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from a Spanish Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any Spanish Loan Party of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state, province, territory or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law naming such Spanish Loan Party as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding;

 

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(2)                                  all amounts owing from a Spanish Loan Party to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations of any Spanish Loan Party;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Obligations of any Spanish Loan Party under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the Spanish Security Documents only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Spanish Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed; and

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any Spanish Security Document and the Guaranty as provided by a Spanish Loan Party will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

Spanish Obligations Guarantors ” means each Loan Party which has provided a guaranty of the Spanish Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty (and subject to the limitations set forth therein), in each case excluding any Excluded Subsidiary and subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

Spanish Overadvance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(2).

 

Spanish Protective Advance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(3).

 

Spanish Public Document ” means, a “ documento público ”, being either an “ escritura pública ” or a “ póliza o efecto intervenido por fedatario público ”.

 

Spanish Qualifying Lender ” means a Lender that is beneficially entitled to interest payable to such Lender under this Agreement and is an EU Lender, a Spanish Lender or a Spanish Treaty Lender.

 

Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of the following amounts:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate principal amount of the European Revolving Loans made to the Spanish Borrowers outstanding at such time; and

 

(2)                                  the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Spanish Borrowers at such time.

 

The Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.23, the product of (a) such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage and (b) the aggregate Spanish Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of all Revolving Lenders, collectively, at such time.

 

Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (1) the aggregate undrawn face amount of all European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Spanish Borrowers outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all European L/C Disbursements made with respect to European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Spanish Borrowers that have not yet

 

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been reimbursed at such time.  The Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its European Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a European Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standard Practices, International Chamber of Commerce No. 590, such European Letter of Credit will be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a European Letter of Credit at any time will be deemed to be the stated amount of such European Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that, with respect to any European Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such European Letter of Credit will be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such European Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

Spanish Royal Decree 5/2005 ” means the Royal Decree Law 5/2005 of 11 March 2005 of urgent reforms for the productivity and for the improvement of the public sector contracting ( Real Decreto Ley 5/2005, de 11 de marzo, de reformas urgentes para el impulso de la productividad y para la mejora de la contratación pública ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Security Documents ” means the collective reference to those documents identified as “Initial Spanish Security Documents” on Schedule 1.01(3) and each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by any Spanish Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Spanish Treaty Lender ” means a Lender who:

 

(3)                                  is treated as a resident of a Spanish Treaty State for purposes of a Spanish Treaty;

 

(4)                                  does not carry on a business in Spain through a permanent establishment therein with which such Lender’s interest in the relevant Loan is effectively connected; and

 

(5)                                  fulfils any conditions which must be fulfilled under that Spanish Treaty to obtain full exemption from Spanish tax on interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document, including the completion of any necessary procedural formalities.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, a Lender with respect to a Spanish Loan Party that is a bank or other financial institution claiming the benefits of the Treaty between Spain and the United States of America dated February 22, 1990, shall have the status of a Spanish Treaty Lender, even if interest payable to that Lender is not fully exempted from Spanish tax under the Treaty between Spain and the United States of America.

 

Spanish Treaty State ” means a jurisdiction having a double tax treaty (a “ Spanish Treaty ”) in force with Spain, making provision for full (or partial in the case of the Treaty between Spain and the United States of America) exemption from tax imposed by Spain on interest.

 

Special Closing Date Payments ” means Restricted Payments and/or cash payments or other distributions in cash in respect of, or redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination in respect of any Junior Financing owing to Huntsman and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the net proceeds of the Term Loans and the Senior Notes.

 

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Specified Event of Default ” means any Event of Default under Section 8.01(2), 8.01(3) (solely with respect to payments of interest and Fees), 8.01(8) or 8.01(9).

 

Specified Foreign Jurisdiction ” means Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and the United Kingdom.

 

Specified Hedge Agreement ” means any Hedge Agreement entered into or assumed between or among Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings and any Qualified Counterparty and designated by the Qualified Counterparty and Holdings in writing to the Administrative Agent as a “Specified Hedge Agreement” under this Agreement (but only if such Hedge Agreement has not been designated as a “Specified Hedge Agreement” under the Term Loan Credit Agreement) and it being understood that one notice of such designation with respect to a specified ISDA Master Agreement may designate all transactions thereunder as being a “Specified Hedge Agreement”, without the need for separate notices for each individual transaction thereunder.

 

Specified Hedge Obligations ” means all amounts owing to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement.

 

Specified Transaction ” means any Investment (including any Limited Condition Acquisition), disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Incremental Facility that by the terms of this Agreement requires such test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis”; provided that any increase in the Commitments (including, for this purpose, any Incremental Commitment or Extended Commitment) above the amount of Commitments in effect on the Closing Date, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn; provided , further , that, at Holdings’ election, any such Specified Transaction (other than a Restricted Payment) having an aggregate value of less than $5,000,000 shall not be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis.”

 

Specified UK Plans ” means the Tioxide Europe Ltd Pension Plan, the Huntsman Global Pension Scheme and the Tioxide Europe Ltd Non-Qualified Plan.

 

Spot Rate for a currency means the rate determined by the Administrative Agent to be the rate quoted by the Person acting in such capacity as the spot rate for the purchase by such Person of such currency with another currency through its principal foreign exchange trading office at approximately 11:00 a.m. on the date two Business Days prior to the date of such determination; provided that the Administrative Agent may obtain such spot rate from another financial institution designated by the Administrative Agent if the Person acting in such capacity does not have as of the date of determination a spot buying rate for any such currency.

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and Guarantees of performance entered into by Holdings or any Subsidiary of such Borrower that a Responsible Officer of Holdings has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation will be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

 

Standby Letters of Credit ” means standby letters of credit issued for any lawful purposes of Holdings and its Subsidiaries.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the

 

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maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board).  Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.  Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

Sterling ” and “ £ ” means the lawful currency of the United Kingdom.

 

Sterling Equivalent ” shall mean, at any time, with respect to any amount denominated in Dollars, the equivalent amount thereof in Sterling, determined by Administrative Agent on the basis of the Spot Rate for the purchase of Sterling with Dollars.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which (1) Equity Interests having ordinary voting power (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned by such Person; or (2) more than 50.0% of the Equity Interests are at the time owned by such Person.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Subsidiaries will mean Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Subsidiary Loan Parties means (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrowers) on the Closing Date (other than any Excluded Subsidiary); and (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) of Holdings that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the US Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Supermajority Revolving Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having (1) Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and (2)  Available Unused Commitments that, taken together, represent more than 66.67% of the sum of (a) all Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and (b) the total Available Unused Commitments outstanding at such time.  The Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and Available Unused Commitments of any Defaulting Lender will be disregarded in determining Supermajority Revolving Lenders.

 

Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Swingline Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Swingline Loans.

 

Swingline Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrowers for a Swingline Loan, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit D.

 

Swingline Commitment ” means, with respect to any Swingline Lender, the commitment of such Swingline Lender to make Swingline Loans pursuant to Section 2.04(1)(x).  The aggregate amount of the Swingline Commitments on the Closing Date is $30 million.

 

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Swingline Exposure ” means, at any time, the aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Swingline Borrowings made to U.S. Borrowers at such time.  The Swingline Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate Swingline Exposure at such time.

 

Swingline Lender ” means, JPMCB, in its capacity as a lender of Swingline Loans.

 

Swingline Loans ” means the swingline loans made to the U.S. Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.04(1)(x).

 

Syndication Agent ” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc. in its capacity as Syndication Agent.

 

TARGET2 ” means the Trans-European Automated Real-time Gross Settlement Express Transfer (TARGET2) payment system.

 

Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, deductions and withholdings in the nature or on account of tax (including backup withholding) imposed by any Governmental Authority and including any penalty or interest payable in connection with any failure to pay (or to declare taxable profits) or any delay in paying any of the same (or declaring taxable profits) related thereto.

 

Tax Deduction means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Taxes from a payment under any Loan Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.

 

TEG Letter ” means each letter from the Administrative Agent provided to a French Borrower from time to time pursuant to Section 2.24 ( Effective Global Rate ).

 

Term Loan Credit Agreement ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017, among Holdings, Lux Parent, U.S. Parent, the lenders party thereto and JPMCB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, initially in respect of $375 million of term loans made available on the Closing Date, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof.

 

Term Loan Documents ” means the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the other “Loan Documents” under and as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as each such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the requirements thereof.

 

Term Loan Security Documents ” means the “ Security Documents ” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Term Loan Obligations ” means the “ Obligations ” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Term Loans ” means the “ Term Loans ” as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Term Priority Collateral ” means “ Term Loan Priority Collateral ” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Title Company ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10(2)(c).

 

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Title Policy ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10(2)(c).

 

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt as of such date to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarter period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Trade Letters of Credit ” means trade letters of credit issued in support of trade obligations of Holdings or the Subsidiaries incurred in the ordinary course of business.

 

tranche ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.22(1).

 

Transaction Documents ” means the Loan Documents, the Term Loan Documents and the Senior Notes Documents.

 

Transactions ” means, collectively, the transactions contemplated to occur pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including:

 

(1)                                  the consummation of the Venator Consolidation Transactions;

 

(2)                                  the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents and the initial borrowings hereunder;

 

(3)                                  the execution and delivery of the Term Loan Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Term Loan Security Documents and the initial borrowings under the Term Loan Credit Agreement;

 

(4)                                  the execution and delivery of the Senior Notes Documents and the issuance of the Senior Notes;

 

(5)                                  the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction;

 

(6)                                  the Huntsman Release;

 

(7)                                  the Special Closing Date Payment; and

 

(8)                                  the payment of all fees, costs and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

 

Treaty Lender ” means a Lender which:

 

(1)                                  is treated as resident of a Treaty State for the purposes of the Treaty;

 

(2)                                  does not carry on business in the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Loan Party through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected;

 

(3)                                  is acting from a Facility Office situated in its jurisdiction or incorporation; and

 

(4)                                  fulfils any other conditions which must be fulfilled under the relevant Treaty by residents of the Treaty State for such residents to obtain full exemption from Tax imposed on any

 

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payment received or accrued under the relevant Loan Document by the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant Loan Party, subject to the completion of any necessary procedural formalities.

 

Treaty State ” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement with the jurisdiction of the relevant Loan Party (a “ Treaty ”), which makes provision for full exemption from Tax imposed on any payment received or accrued under the relevant Loan Document payments.

 

Trust Account ” means any accounts or trusts used solely to hold Trust Funds.

 

Trust Funds ” means, to the extent segregated from other assets of the Loan Parties in a segregated account that contains amounts comprised solely and exclusively of such Trust Funds, cash, Cash Equivalents or other assets comprised solely of:

 

(1)                                  funds used for payroll and payroll taxes and other employee benefit payments to or for the benefit of such Loan Party’s employees;

 

(2)                                  all taxes required to be collected, remitted or withheld (including federal and state withholding taxes (including the employer’s share thereof));

 

(3)                                  (a) proceeds from the issuance of Indebtedness, (b) proceeds from the sale or disposition of assets (other than ABL Priority Collateral) and (c) proceeds of insurance and condemnation awards (and payments in lieu thereof) relating to any assets (other than ABL Priority Collateral) in each of clauses (a), (b) and (c), to the extent such cash or permitted investment is required to be deposited in an account pursuant to the documentation governing any indebtedness having a first priority lien on any such assets; and

 

(4)                                  any other funds which Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries holds in trust or as an escrow or fiduciary for another person which is not a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings.

 

Type ” means, when used in respect of any Loan or Borrowing, the Rate by reference to which interest on such Loan or on the Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined.  For purposes hereof, the term “Rate” means Adjusted LIBOR Rate, CDOR Rate or ABR, as applicable.

 

U.K. Borrower ” and “ U.K. Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals hereto.

 

U.K. Borrowing Base ” means, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  85% of the Eligible Accounts owned by the U.K. Borrowers; plus

 

(2)                                  the lesser of (i) 65% of the Cost of Eligible Inventory owned by the U.K. Borrowers and (ii) 85% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory owned by the U.K. Borrowers; plus

 

(3)                                  the positive amount, if any, by which the U.S. Borrowing Base (after giving effect to any amount of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base (other than the U.S. Borrowing Base)) exceeds the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure; less

 

(4)                                  Reserves.

 

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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral owned by the U.K. Borrowers will immediately be included in the U.K. Borrowing Base at a value equal to the Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation thereof; provided , that if the Borrowers have not delivered, at their expense, a customary field examination and inventory appraisal  reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent within 90 days of the acquisition of such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral will cease to be eligible for inclusion in the U.K. Borrowing Base.

 

U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing ” means an HM Revenue & Customs’ Form DTTP2 duly completed and filed by the relevant Borrower, which contains the scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence provided by the relevant U.K. Treaty Lender pursuant to Section 2.17(6)(e)(ii), and is filed with HM Revenue & Customs: (a) within 30 days of the relevant U.K. Treaty Lender providing its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence pursuant to Section 2.17(6)(e)(i); or (b) if the relevant Borrower becomes a party hereunder after the date of this Agreement and the relevant U.K. Treaty Lender has already provided such information, within 30 days of the date on which that Borrower becomes a party under this Agreement.

 

U.K. CTA ” means the U.K. Corporation Tax Act 2009.

 

U.K. Guarantor ” means:  (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings incorporated in England and Wales (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) on the Closing Date, (2) Holdings or (3) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings incorporated in England and Wales that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the U.K. Security Documents after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

U.K. Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(7).

 

U.K. ITA ” means the U.K. Income Tax Act 2007.

 

U.K. L/C Participation Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(7).

 

U.K. Line Cap ” means the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of European Revolving Facility Commitments and (2) the U.K. Borrowing Base then in effect.

 

U.K. Loan Parties ” means the U.K. Borrowers and the U.K. Guarantors.

 

U.K. Non-Bank Lender ” means a Lender in respect of a U.K. Borrower which gives a U.K. Tax Confirmation.

 

U.K. Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from a U.K. Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any U.K. Loan Party of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state, province or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law naming such U.K. Loan Party as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding;

 

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(2)                                  all amounts owing from a U.K. Loan Party to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations of any U.K. Loan Party;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Obligations of any U.K. Loan Party under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the U.K. Security Documents and the Guaranty as provided by a U.K. Loan Party only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other U.K. Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed; and

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any U.K. Security Document will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

U.K. Obligations Guarantors ” means each Loan Party which has provided a guaranty of the U.K. Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty (and subject to the limitations set forth therein), in each case excluding any Excluded Subsidiary and subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

U.K. Overadvance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(2).

 

U.K. Protective Advance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(3).

 

U.K. Qualifying Lender ” means a Lender which is beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document and is (a) a Lender: (i) which is a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the U.K. ITA) making an advance under a Loan Document and is within the charge to U.K. corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance or would be within such charge as respects such payments apart from section 18A of the U.K. CTA; or (ii) in respect of an advance made under a Loan Document by a person that was a bank (as defined for the purpose of section 879 of the U.K. ITA) at the time that that advance was made and within the charge to U.K. corporation tax as respects any payments of interest made in respect of that advance; or (b) a Lender which is: (i) a company resident in the United Kingdom for U.K. tax purposes; or (ii) a partnership each member of which is: (1) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or (2) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the U.K. CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the U.K. CTA; or (iii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the U.K. CTA) of that company; or (c) a U.K. Treaty Lender.

 

U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of the following amounts:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate principal amount of the European Revolving Loans made to the U.K. Borrowers outstanding at such time; and

 

(2)                                  the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the U.K. Borrowers at such time.

 

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The U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.23, the product of (a) such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage and (b) the aggregate U.K. Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of all Revolving Lenders, collectively, at such time.

 

U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of (1) the aggregate undrawn face amount of all European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the U.K. Borrowers outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all European L/C Disbursements made with respect to European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the U.K. Borrowers that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.  The U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its European Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a European Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standard Practices, International Chamber of Commerce No. 590, such European Letter of Credit will be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a European Letter of Credit at any time will be deemed to be the stated amount of such European Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that, with respect to any European Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such European Letter of Credit will be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such European Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

U.K. Security Documents ” means the collective reference to those documents identified as “Initial U.K. Security Documents” on Schedule 1.01(3) and each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents governed by English law under which a Lien is granted in favor of the Collateral Agent executed and delivered by any U.K. Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

“U.K. or “United Kingdom means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

U.K. Tax Confirmation ” means a confirmation by a Lender that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document is either: (a) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; or (b) a partnership each member of which is: (i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the U.K. CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the U.K. CTA; or (c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the U.K. CTA) of that company.

 

U.K. Tax Deduction ” means a deduction or withholding for or on account of Tax imposed by the United Kingdom from a payment under a Loan Document, other than a FATCA Deduction.

 

U.K. Treaty State ” means a jurisdiction having a double taxation agreement (a “ U.K. Treaty ”) with the United Kingdom which makes provision for full exemption from tax imposed by the United Kingdom on interest.

 

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U.K. Treaty Lender ” means a Lender which:

 

(1)                                  is treated as a resident of a U.K. Treaty State for the purposes of a U.K. Treaty;

 

(2)                                  does not carry on a business in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment with which that Lender’s participation in the Loan is effectively connected; and

 

(3)                                  fulfils any conditions which must be fulfilled under that double taxation agreement to obtain full exemption from United Kingdom tax on interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document, including the completion of any necessary procedural formalities.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

 

Unrestricted Cash means, as of any date, all cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that would not appear as “restricted” on the Required Financial Statements, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, determined based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings specified on Schedule 1.01(4) as of the Closing Date and any other Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrowers) designated by Holdings as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder after the Closing Date by written notice to the Administrative Agent, unless in each case such Subsidiary has been subsequently re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary by Holdings hereunder; provided that Holdings will only be permitted to so designate a new Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date or subsequently re-designate any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (by written notice to the Administrative Agent) if:

 

(1)                                  no Event of Default is continuing; provided , that if such Subsidiary is being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (a) at Holdings’ option, the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date and (b) on the date such Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist immediately after such designation;

 

(2)                                  such designation or re-designation would not cause an Event of Default; provided , that if such Subsidiary is being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (a) at Holdings’ option, the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date and (b) on the date such Subsidiary is designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, such designation or re-designation would not cause a Specified Event of Default; and

 

(3)                                  compliance with the Payment Conditions.

 

The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will constitute an Investment for purposes of Section 6.04.  The redesignation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an incurrence at the time of such designation of Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and the Liens on the assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case outstanding on the date of such redesignation.

 

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U.S. Alternate Base Rate ” means, for any date, a fluctuating rate per annum equal to the highest of (1) the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1%, (2) the Prime Rate in effect on such day, or (3) the Adjusted LIBOR Rate plus  1.00% (and if, at any time, any such rate is below zero, the U.S. Alternate Base Rate shall be deemed to be zero at such time); provided that for the purpose of this definition, any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBOR Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, respectively.

 

USA PATRIOT Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

 

U.S. Borrower ” and “ U.S. Borrowers ” have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the recitals hereto.

 

U.S. Borrowing Base ” means, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  85% of the Eligible Accounts held by the U.S. Borrowers and the U.S. Guarantors; plus

 

(2)                                  The lesser of (i) 65% of the Cost of Eligible Inventory owned by the U.S. Borrowers or the U.S. Guarantors  and (ii) 85% of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value of Eligible Inventory held by the U.S. Borrowers and the U.S. Guarantors; plus

 

(3)                                  At the option of the U.S. Borrowers, 100% of Qualified Cash of the U.S. Borrowers and the U.S. Guarantors; provided that, at any time, the aggregate amount of Qualified Cash included in the U.S. Borrowing Base, together with the aggregate amount of Qualified Cash included in the Canadian Borrowing Base, shall not exceed $15 million; less

 

(4)                                  Reserves; less

 

(5)                                  the amount, if any, of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base (calculated immediately after giving effect to such amount of the U.S. Borrowing Base included in any other Borrowing Base).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral owned by a U.S. Borrower or a U.S. Guarantor will immediately be included in the U.S. Borrowing Base at a value equal to the Acquired Asset Borrowing Base Calculation thereof; provided , that if the Borrowers have not delivered, at their expense, a customary field examination and inventory appraisal reasonably acceptable to Administrative Agent within 90 days of the acquisition of such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may reasonably agree), such Acquired Asset ABL Priority Collateral will cease to be eligible for inclusion in the U.S. Borrowing Base.

 

U.S./Canadian   L/C Disbursement ” means a payment or disbursement made by an Issuing Bank pursuant to a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit.

 

U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.05.

 

U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Commitment ” means, with respect to each Issuing Bank, the commitment of such Issuing Bank to issue U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit pursuant to

 

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Section 2.05.  The U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Commitments of each of the Issuing Banks on the Closing Date shall be those Commitments listed on Schedule 2.01 hereto.  Any Issuing Bank shall be permitted at any time to increase its U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Commitment with the written consent of Holdings and notice to the Administrative Agent of such increase, so long as all Issuing Bank’s U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Commitments do not exceed the U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit.

 

U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit ” means the aggregate U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Commitments of the Issuing Banks, in an amount not to exceed $15 million.

 

U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility ” means the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments (including any Incremental Commitments that are U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments) and the extensions of credit made hereunder by the U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders.

 

U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment ” means, with respect to a Lender, the commitment of such Lender, if any, to make U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans pursuant to Section 2.01, expressed as an amount representing the maximum aggregate permitted amount of such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure hereunder, as such commitment may be (1) reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.08, (2) reduced or increased from time to time pursuant to assignments by or to such Lender under Section 10.04 or (3) increased from time to time under Section 2.21.  The initial amount of each Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment is set forth on Schedule 2.01 or in the Assignment and Acceptance pursuant to which such Lender has assumed its U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, as applicable.  The initial aggregate amount of the Lenders’ U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments is $120 million.

 

U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means the sum of the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure.

 

U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage ” means, with respect to any Revolving Lender, the percentage of the total U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments represented by such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment.  If the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments have terminated or expired, the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentages will be determined based upon the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments most recently in effect, giving effect to any assignments pursuant to Section 10.04.

 

U.S./Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure ” means the sum of the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure and the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure.

 

U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(1) and will include any Canadian Overadvances, Canadian Protective Advances, U.S. Overadvances and U.S. Protective Advances.

 

U.S.   Collateral Agreement ” means the ABL Guarantee and Collateral Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, among the U.S. Loan Parties and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

U.S. Excluded Assets ” means “ Excluded Assets ” as defined in the U.S. Collateral Agreement.

 

U.S. Excluded Equity Interests ” means “ Excluded Equity Interests ” as defined in the U.S. Collateral Agreement.

 

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U.S.   Guarantors ” means:  (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings on the Closing Date that is a Domestic Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) and (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) of Holdings that is a Domestic Subsidiary and becomes, or is required to become, a party to the U.S. Collateral Agreement after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

U.S. Issuing Bank Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(2).

 

U.S. L/C Participation Fee ” has the meaning assigned to such term pursuant to Section 2.12(2).

 

U.S. Line Cap ” means, at any time, the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments and (2) the U.S. Borrowing Base then in effect.

 

U.S. Loan Parties ” means the U.S. Borrowers and the U.S. Guarantors.

 

U.S. Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender from a U.S. Loan Party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any U.S. Loan Party of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state, province or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law naming such U.S. Loan Party as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding;

 

(2)                                  all amounts owing from a U.S. Loan Party to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  any Cash Management Obligations of any U.S. Loan Party;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  the Obligations of any U.S. Loan Party under any Specified Hedge Agreement and Cash Management Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the U.S. Security Documents and the Guaranty as provided by a U.S. Loan Party only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other U.S. Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed; and

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement, the Guaranty or any U.S. Security Document will not require the consent of any Cash Management Bank or Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document.

 

U.S. Obligations Guarantors ” means each Loan Party which has provided a guaranty of the U.S. Obligations pursuant to the Guaranty (and subject to the limitations set forth therein), in each case excluding any Excluded Subsidiary and subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles, in the case of each such Loan Party that is not a U.S. Person.

 

U.S. Overadvance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(2).

 

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U.S. Parent ” means Venator Materials LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and direct Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings.

 

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

U.S. Pledged Collateral ” means “ Pledged Collateral ” as defined in the U.S. Collateral Agreement.

 

U.S. Protective Advance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.01(3).

 

U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure ” means, at any time, the sum of:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate principal amount of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans made to U.S. Borrowers outstanding at such time;

 

(2)                                  the Swingline Exposure with respect to Swingline Loans made to U.S. Borrowers at such time; and

 

(3)                                  the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to Letters of Credit issued on behalf of U.S. Borrowers at such time at such time.

 

The U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will be, subject to adjustment as expressly provided in Section 2.23, the product of (a) such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage and (b) the aggregate U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of all Revolving Lenders, collectively, at such time.

 

U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure ” means at any time the sum of (1) the aggregate undrawn face amount of all U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the U.S. Borrowers outstanding at such time and (2) the aggregate principal amount of all U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursements with respect to U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the U.S. Borrowers that have not yet been reimbursed at such time.  The U.S./Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure of any Revolving Lender at any time will mean its U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure at such time.  For all purposes of this Agreement, if on any date of determination a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit has expired by its terms but any amount may still be drawn thereunder by reason of the operation of Rule 3.14 of the International Standard Practices, International Chamber of Commerce No. 590, such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit will be deemed to be “outstanding” in the amount so remaining available to be drawn.  Unless otherwise specified herein, the amount of a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit at any time will be deemed to be the stated amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit in effect at such time; provided that, with respect to any U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit that by its terms or the terms of any document related thereto provides for one or more automatic increases in the stated amount thereof, the amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit will be deemed to be the maximum stated amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit after giving effect to all such increases, whether or not such maximum stated amount is in effect at such time.

 

U.S.  Security Documents ” means the collective reference to the U.S. Collateral Agreement and each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by any U.S. Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

VAT means:

 

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(a)                                  any tax imposed in compliance with the Council Directive of 28 November 2006 on the common system of value added tax (EC Directive 2006/112); and

 

(b)                                  any other tax of a similar nature, whether imposed in a member state of the European Union in substitution for, or levied in addition to, such tax referred to in paragraph (a) above, or imposed elsewhere.

 

Venator Consolidation Transactions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Voting Stock ” means, as of any date, the Capital Stock of any Person that is at the time entitled to vote (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Wage Earner Protection Act Reserve ” means, on any date of determination, a reserve established from time to time by the Administrative Agent in such amount as the Administrative Agent determines reflects the amounts that may become due under the Wage Earner Protection Program Act (Canada) with respect to the employees of any Loan Party employed in Canada which would give rise to a Lien with priority under applicable law over the Lien of the Collateral Agent.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness as of any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal (excluding nominal amortization), including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest 1/12) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, a subsidiary of such Person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Wholly Owned Subsidiaries will mean Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

SECTION 1.02                     Terms Generally .  The definitions set forth or referred to in Section 1.01 will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun will include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  Unless the context requires otherwise:

 

(1)                                  the words “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation;”

 

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(2)                                  in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including;”

 

(3)                                  the word “will” will be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall;”

 

(4)                                  the word “incur” will be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” will have correlative meanings);

 

(5)                                  any reference to any Person will be construed to include such Person’s legal successors and permitted assigns; and

 

(6)                                  the words “asset” and “property” will be construed to have the same meaning and effect.

 

All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules will be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Agreement to any Loan Document or organizational document of the Loan Parties means such document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document).  Any reference to any law will include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation means unless otherwise specified, such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.  Whenever this Agreement refers to the “knowledge” of any Loan Party, such reference will be construed to mean the knowledge of the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer, controller or other Financial Officer of such Person.  Subject to Section 1.10, any reference herein to the “applicable Borrowers” or “Borrowers” making payment or receiving extensions of credit in respect of Obligations shall be deemed to refer to (A) the U.S. Borrowers making payment of, or receiving extensions of credit that constitute, U.S. Obligations, (B) the Canadian Borrowers making payment of, or receiving extensions of credit that shall constitute, Canadian Obligations, (C) the French Borrowers making payment of, or receiving extensions of credit that shall constitute, French Obligations or French Borrowing Obligations as the case may be, (D) the German Borrowers making payment of, or receiving extensions of credit that shall constitute, German Obligations, (E) the Spanish Borrowers making payment of, or receiving extensions of credit that shall constitute, Spanish Obligations and (F) the U.K. Borrowers making payment of, or receiving extensions of credit that shall constitute, U.K. Obligations.  For the avoidance of doubt, any reference to a Permitted Lien shall not serve to subordinate or postpone any Lien created by any Security Document to such Permitted Lien.

 

SECTION 1.03                     Accounting Terms; GAAP .  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature will be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all accounting or financial terms used herein will be construed, and all financial computations pursuant hereto will be made, without giving effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10 (or any other Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification having a similar effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of Holdings or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein.  In the event that any Accounting Change (as defined below) occurs and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then upon the written request of Holdings or

 

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the Administrative Agent (acting upon the request of the Required Lenders), Holdings, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such Accounting Change with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating Holdings’ financial condition will be the same after such Accounting Change as if such Accounting Change had not occurred; provided that provisions of this Agreement in effect on the date of such Accounting Change will remain in effect until the effective date of such amendment.  “ Accounting Change ” means (1) any change in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants or (2) any change in the application of GAAP by Holdings.

 

SECTION 1.04                     Effectuation of Transfers .  Each of the representations and warranties of Holdings and the Borrowers contained in this Agreement (and all corresponding definitions) is made after giving effect to the Transactions, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

SECTION 1.05                     Currencies .

 

(1)                                  Unless otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, monetary amounts are in Dollars.  For purposes of determining compliance with Article VI with respect to the amount of any Indebtedness, Investment, Lien, Asset Sale, or Restricted Payment in a currency other than Dollars, no Default or Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred solely as a result of changes in exchange rates occurring after the time such Indebtedness, Lien or Investment is incurred or Asset Sale or Restricted Payment is made.

 

(2)                                  The Administrative Agent shall determine the Dollar Equivalent of any Borrowing or Letter of Credit denominated in Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling: (a) (i) with respect to Revolving Loans denominated in Canadian Dollars that bears interest at the Canadian CDOR Rate, as of the date of the commencement of the initial Interest Period therefor and as of the date of the commencement of each subsequent Interest Period therefor, in each case, using the Spot Rate for Canadian Dollars in relation to Dollars in effect on the date that is two Business Days prior to the date on which the applicable Interest Period shall commence, (ii) with respect to a Revolving Loan denominated in Canadian Dollars that bears interest at the Canadian ABR, on the borrowing date applicable thereto using the Spot Rate for Canadian Dollars in relation to Dollars in effect on the date immediately prior to the applicable borrowing date, (iii) with respect to a Revolving Loan denominated in Euros or Sterling that bears interest at the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, as of the date of the commencement of the initial Interest Period therefor and as of the date of the commencement of each subsequent Interest Period therefor, in each case, using the Spot Rate for Euros or Sterling, as applicable, in relation to Dollars in effect on the date that is two Business Days prior to the date on which the applicable Interest Period shall commence, and (iv) with respect to any Letter of Credit denominated in Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling, on the date of issuance thereof and the date of any amendment thereto that increases the face amount thereof, in each case using the Spot Rate for Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling, as applicable, in relation to Dollars in effect on date immediately prior to the applicable issuance or amendment date, and (b) at such other times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent in its commercially reasonable discretion, in each case using the Spot Rate for Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling in relation to Dollars in effect on the date of determination.  Each amount determined pursuant to this clause (2) shall be the Dollar Equivalent of the applicable Borrowing or Letter of Credit until the next calculation thereof pursuant to the preceding sentences of this Section 1.05(2).  Upon the request of Holdings, Administrative Agent shall notify Holdings and the applicable Lenders of each calculation of the Dollar Equivalent of each Borrowing denominated in Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling.

 

(3)                                  Wherever in this Agreement in connection with a Borrowing, conversion, continuation or prepayment of a Loan, increase in Commitments, or issuance, amendment, or extension of

 

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a Letter of Credit, an amount, such as a required minimum, sublimit, maximum, or multiple amount, is expressed in Dollars, but such Borrowing or Loan, Commitments, or Letter of Credit is denominated in Canadian Dollars, Euros or Sterling, such amount shall be the Canadian Dollar Equivalent, Euro Equivalent or Sterling Equivalent, as applicable, of such Dollar amount .

 

(4)                                  Principal, interest, reimbursement obligations, cash collateral for reimbursement obligations, fees, and all other amounts payable to the Administrative Agent or Lenders under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be payable (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) in the currency in which such Obligations are denominated.

 

(5)                                  If at any time following one or more fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Canadian Dollar, Euro or Sterling against the Dollar, any part of the Obligations exceeds any other limit set forth herein for such Obligations, the applicable Borrowers shall within two (2) Business Days of written notice of same from the Administrative Agent immediately (a) make the necessary payments or repayments to reduce such Obligations to an amount necessary to eliminate such excess, or (b) maintain or cause to be maintained with the Administrative Agent deposits in an amount equal to or greater than the amount of such excess, such deposits to be maintained in such form and upon such terms as are acceptable to the Administrative Agent.  In addition, if, at any time of repayment, due to one or more fluctuations in the exchange rate of the Canadian Dollar, Euro or Sterling against the Dollar, any repayment of an L/C Disbursement is not sufficient to reimburse the Issuing Bank for such L/C Disbursement, the applicable Borrowers shall within two (2) Business Days of written notice of same from the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank immediately pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, an amount sufficient to cause the Issuing Bank to be reimbursed in full for the L/C Disbursement.

 

SECTION 1.06                     Required Financial Statements .  With respect to the determination of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or under any other applicable provision of the Loan Documents (including the definition of Immaterial Subsidiary) made on or prior to the date on which Required Financial Statements have been delivered for the first fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, such calculation will be determined for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or under any other applicable provision of the Loan Documents (including the definition of Immaterial Subsidiary) shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

SECTION 1.07                     Certain Calculations and Tests .

 

(1)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, in connection with a Specified Transaction undertaken in connection with the consummation of a Limited Condition Acquisition, when:

 

(i)                                      determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of the First Lien Leverage Ratio, Total Leverage Ratio, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio or the Interest Coverage Ratio;

 

(ii)                                   determining compliance with representations, warranties, defaults or Events of Default; and

 

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(iii)                                testing availability under baskets set forth in this agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated Total Assets);

 

(2)                                  the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder shall, at the option of Holdings (Holdings’ election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “ LCA Election ”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “ LCA Test Date ”) and if, after such ratios and other provisions are measured on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other Specified Transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period being used to calculate such financial ratio ending prior to the LCA Test Date, Holdings could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratios and provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with.  For the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition is permitted hereunder and (y) such ratios and other provisions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related Specified Transactions.  If Holdings has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement under any covenant that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, pro forma compliance with any First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, Total Net Leverage Ratio test, Interest Coverage Ratio test and/or any Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “ Fixed Amounts ”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement under the same covenant as such Fixed Amount that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “ Incurrence Based Amounts ”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts being substantially concurrently incurred (other than in the case of any Fixed Amounts contained in Section 6.01 or Section 6.02, any refinancings of any Indebtedness that was previously incurred) and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the Revolving Facility (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence, except that incurrences of Indebtedness and Liens constituting Fixed Amounts and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the Revolving Facility shall be taken into account for purposes of any Incurrence Based Amounts under any covenant other than Incurrence Based Amounts contained in Section 6.01 or Section 6.02.

 

SECTION 1.08                     Disqualified Institutions .  Notwithstanding anything in the Loan Documents to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible (or have any liability) for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions thereof relating to Disqualified Institutions.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (1) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective

 

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Lender or participant is a Disqualified Institution or (2) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Loans or Commitments, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.  The list of Disqualified Institutions shall be available to Lenders upon request but shall not otherwise be posted to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 1.09                     Québec Interpretation .  For all purposes of the interpretation or construction of this Agreement under the laws of the Province of Québec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Quebec, (a) “personal property” shall include “movable property”, (b) “real property” shall include “immovable property”, (c) “tangible property” shall include “corporeal property”, (d) “intangible property” shall include “incorporeal property”, (e) “security interest”, “mortgage” and “lien” shall include a “hypothec”, “prior claim” and a “resolutory clause”, (f) all references to filing, registering or recording under the UCC or PPSA shall include publication under the Civil Code of Québec, (g) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” liens or security interest shall include a reference to an “opposable” or “set up” lien or security interest as against third parties, (h) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff” or similar expression shall include a “right of compensation”, (i) “goods” shall include “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money and securities, (j) an “agent” shall include a “mandatary”, (k) “construction liens” shall include “legal hypothecs”, (l) “joint and several” shall include “solidary”, (m) “gross negligence or willful misconduct” shall be deemed to be “intentional or gross fault”, (n) “beneficial ownership” shall include “ownership on behalf of another as mandatary”, (o) “easement” shall include “servitude”, (p) “priority” shall include “prior claim”, (q) “survey” shall include “certificate of location and plan”, (r) “fee simple title” shall include “absolute ownership”, and (s) “ground lease” shall be deemed to include “emphyteutic lease.”  The parties hereto confirm that it is their wish that this Agreement and any other document executed in connection with the transactions contemplated herein be drawn up in the English language only (except if another language is required under any applicable law) and that all other documents contemplated thereunder or relating thereto, including notices, may also be drawn up in the English language only.  Les parties aux présentes confirment que c’est leur volonté que cette convention et les autres documents de crédit soient rédigés en langue anglaise seulement et que tous les documents, y compris tous avis, envisagés par cette convention et les autres documents peuvent être rédigés en langue anglaise seulement (sauf si une autre langue est requise en vertu d’une loi applicable).

 

SECTION 1.10                     Joint and Several Liability .

 

(1)                                  Each U.S. Borrower is jointly and severally liable under this Agreement for all U.S. Obligations, regardless of the manner or amount in which proceeds of U.S. Obligations are used, allocated, shared or disbursed by or among the Borrowers themselves, or the manner in which an Agent and/or any Lender accounts for such U.S. Obligations or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  Each U.S. Borrower shall be liable for all amounts due to an Agent and/or any Lender from any of the U.S. Borrowers under this Agreement, regardless of which U.S. Borrower actually receives Loans or other extensions of credit hereunder or the amount of such Loans and extensions of credit received or the manner in which such Agent and/or such Lender accounts for such Loans or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  Each U.S. Borrower’s U.S. Obligations with respect to Loans and other extensions of credit made to it, and such U.S. Borrower’s U.S. Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of such U.S. Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans made to, and Letters of Credit issued for the account of, the other U.S. Borrowers hereunder shall be separate and distinct obligations, but all such Obligations shall be primary obligations of each such U.S. Borrower.  The U.S. Borrowers acknowledge and expressly agree with the Agents and each Lender that the joint and several liability of each U.S. Borrower with respect to the U.S. Obligations is required as a condition to, and is given as inducement for and in consideration of, credit or accommodations extended or to be extended under the Loan Documents to any or all of the other Borrowers and is not required or given as a condition of extensions of credit to such U.S. Borrower.

 

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(2)                                  Each Canadian Borrower is jointly and severally liable under this Agreement for all Canadian Obligations, regardless of the manner or amount in which proceeds of Canadian Obligations are used, allocated, shared or disbursed by or among the Borrowers themselves, or the manner in which an Agent and/or any Lender accounts for such Canadian Obligations or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  Each Canadian Borrower shall be liable for all amounts due to an Agent and/or any Lender from any of the Canadian Borrowers under this Agreement, regardless of which Canadian Borrower actually receives Loans or other extensions of credit hereunder or the amount of such Loans and extensions of credit received or the manner in which such Agent and/or such Lender accounts for such Loans or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  Each Canadian Borrower’s Canadian Obligations with respect to Loans and other extensions of credit made to it, and such Canadian Borrower’s Canadian Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of such Canadian Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans made to, and Letters of Credit issued for the account of, the other Canadian Borrowers hereunder shall be separate and distinct obligations, but all such Obligations shall be primary obligations of each such Canadian Borrower.  The Canadian Borrowers acknowledge and expressly agree with the Agents and each Lender that the joint and several liability of each Canadian Borrower with respect to the Canadian Obligations is required as a condition to, and is given as inducement for and in consideration of, credit or accommodations extended or to be extended under the Loan Documents to any or all of the other Borrowers and is not required or given as a condition of extensions of credit to such Canadian Borrower.

 

(3)                                  Each U.K. Borrower is jointly and severally liable under this Agreement for all U.K. Obligations, regardless of the manner or amount in which proceeds of U.K. Obligations are used, allocated, shared or disbursed by or among the Borrowers themselves, or the manner in which an Agent and/or any Lender accounts for such U.K. Obligations or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  Each U.K. Borrower shall be liable for all amounts due to an Agent and/or any Lender from any of the U.K. Borrowers under this Agreement, regardless of which U.K. Borrower actually receives Loans or other extensions of credit hereunder or the amount of such Loans and extensions of credit received or the manner in which such Agent and/or such Lender accounts for such Loans or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  Each U.K. Borrower’s U.K. Obligations with respect to Loans and other extensions of credit made to it, and such U.K. Borrower’s U.K. Obligations arising as a result of the joint and several liability of such U.K. Borrower hereunder with respect to Loans made to, and Letters of Credit issued for the account of, the other U.K. Borrowers hereunder shall be separate and distinct obligations, but all such Obligations shall be primary obligations of each such U.K. Borrower.  The U.K. Borrowers acknowledge and expressly agree with the Agents and each Lender that the joint and several liability of each U.K. Borrower with respect to the U.K. Obligations is required as a condition to, and is given as inducement for and in consideration of, credit or accommodations extended or to be extended under the Loan Documents to any or all of the other Borrowers and is not required or given as a condition of extensions of credit to such U.K. Borrower.

 

(4)                                  Each Borrower’s Obligations under this Agreement shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be unconditional irrespective of (i) the validity or enforceability, avoidance, or subordination of the Obligations of any other Borrower or of any promissory note or other document evidencing all or any part of the Obligations of any other Borrower, (ii) the absence of any attempt to collect the Obligations from any other Borrower, or any other security therefor, or the absence of any other action to enforce the same, (iii) the waiver, consent, extension, forbearance, or granting of any indulgence by an Agent and/or any Lender with respect to any provision of any instrument evidencing the Obligations of any other Borrower, or any part thereof, or any other agreement executed as of the Closing Date or thereafter executed by any other Borrower and delivered to an Agent and/or any Lender, (iv) the failure by an Agent and/or any Lender to take any steps to perfect and maintain its security interest in, or to preserve its rights to, any security or collateral for the Obligations of any other Borrower, (v) an Agent’s and/or any Lender’s election, in any proceeding instituted under Title 11 of the United States

 

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Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, of the application of Section 1111(b)(2) of Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended or as debtor-in-possession under any other Debtor Relief Law, (vi) any borrowing or grant of a security interest by any other Borrower, as debtor-in-possession under Section 364 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended or as debtor-in-possession under any other Debtor Relief Law, (vii) the disallowance of all or any portion of an Agent’s and/or any Lender’s claim(s) for the repayment of the Obligations of any other Borrower under Section 502 of Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended or under any other Debtor Relief Law, or (viii) any other circumstances which might constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor or of any other Borrower..

 

SECTION 1.11                     Rounding .  Any financial ratios required to be maintained by the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement shall be calculated by dividing the appropriate component by the other component, carrying the result to one place more than the number of places by which such ratio is expressed herein and rounding the result up or down to the nearest number (with a rounding-up if there is no nearest number).

 

SECTION 1.12                     Times of Day .  Unless otherwise specified, all references herein to times of day shall be references to Eastern time (daylight or standard, as applicable).

 

SECTION 1.13                     Timing of Payment .  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, when the performance of any covenant to pay is stated to be due on a day which is not a Business Day the date of such performance shall extend to the immediately succeeding Business Day.

 

SECTION 1.14                     Spanish terms .  In this Agreement, where it relates to a Spanish Loan Parties or Spanish Security Documents, a reference to:

 

(a)                                  a “winding-up”, “administration” or “insolvency” or “dissolution” means a liquidación, disolución, procedimiento concursal, concurso as defined in Spanish Insolvency Law or the declaration of insolvency ( declaración de concurso ), including any solicitud de inicio del procedimiento de concurso voluntario , the request of declaration of insolvency by a third party ( solicitud de concurso por acreedores ) which results in the declaration of insolvency proceedings by the relevant court ( declaración de concurso necesario ) and “insolvency proceeding” means a declaración de concurso , necessary or voluntary ( necesario o voluntario ) and any step or proceeding related to a concurso under the Spanish Insolvency Act (including, without limitation, any petition filed under article 5 bis or article 231 of the Spanish Insolvency Law;

 

(b)                                  “liquidator”, “receiver”, “administrative receiver” or “administrator” means mediador concursal, administrador del concurso, administración concursal or any other person or entity performing the same function;

 

(c)                                   a “composition”or similar arrangement with any creditor means a convenio or acuerdo extrajudicial de refinanciación for the purposes of Spanish Insolvency Law;

 

(d)                                  a “change of control” has the meaning set forth in Section 42 of the Spanish Code of Commerce;

 

(e)                                   “financial assistance” has the meaning stated in Chapter VI of Title IV of the Spanish Companies Act or in any other foreign law on financial assistance that is mandatorily applicable to a Spanish Loan Party;

 

(f)                                    a “guarantee” means any garantía, aval or garantía a primer requerimiento;

 

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(g)                                   a grant, creation or transfer of a “security interest” or a “collateral” means any in rem or garantía real and any transfer by way of security (including any financial collateral under Spanish law including the security granted under Spanish Royal Decree 5/2005);

 

(h)                                  “trustee”, “fiduciary” and “fiduciary duty” has in each case the meaning given to such term under any applicable law;

 

(i)                                      “set-off” would include to the extent legally possible the rights to compensate under Spanish Royal Decree 5/2005; and

 

(j)                                     “wilful misconduct” means dolo .

 

SECTION 1.15                     French Terms .

 

In this Agreement, where it relates to a French Loan Party, a reference to:

 

(a)                                  an “administration”, “insolvency”, “dissolution” or “winding-up” includes (i) a French Loan Party is unable or admits inability to pay any of its debts (in full or a substantial part) as they fall due or suspends making payments on any of its debts (in full or a substantial part) when they become due, (ii) a French Loan Party is or becomes in cessation des paiements within the meaning of article L.631-1 of the French Code de commerce or encounters difficulties that it is not able to overcome within the meaning of article L.620-1 of the French Code de commerce , or becomes insolvent under any applicable insolvency law or (iii) a moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of a French Loan Party or a French Loan Party is subject to alert procedure ( procédure d’alerte ) by its statutory auditors in accordance with article L.234-1, L.234-2 or L.612-3 of the French Code de commerce;

 

(b)                                  an “attachment” includes a saisie ;

 

(c)                                   a “consolidation” or an “amalgation” includes in relation to any company any contribution of part of its business in consideration of shares ( apport partiel d’actifs ) and any demerger ( scission ) implemented in accordance with articles L.236 1 to L.236 24 of the French Code de commerce ;

 

(d)                                  “financial assistance” has the meaning stated in article L.225-216 of the French Code de commerce or in any other foreign law on financial assistance that is mandatorily applicable to a French Loan Party;

 

(e)                                   “gross negligence” includes faute lourde ;

 

(f)                                    a “guarantee” means any type of sûreté personnelle ;

 

(g)                                   “insolvency proceeding” means (i) any corporate action or legal proceeding is taken by a French Loan Party in relation to (A) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of all or any indebtedness, dissolution, the opening of proceedings for sauvegarde (including, for the avoidance of doubt, sauvegarde accélérée and sauvegarde financière accélérée ), redressement judiciaire or liquidation judiciaire or reorganisation (in the context of a mandat ad hoc or of a conciliation or otherwise) of a French Loan Party other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation, (B) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, temporary administrator, mandataire ad-hoc , conciliateur or other person exercising similar functions in respect of a French Loan Party or in respect of all or any of their respective assets, except in relation to the appointment of a liquidator in case of an amicable dissolution ( liquidation amiable ) of a French Loan Party, or (C) the enforcement of any Lien over any assets of any member of the group occurs and such enforcement is likely to have a Material Adverse

 

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Effect, (ii) a French Loan Party commences proceedings for the appointment of a mandataire ad hoc or the opening of a procedure of conciliation in accordance with articles L. 611-3 to L. 611-15 of the French Code de commerce, (iii) a judgment opening proceedings for sauvegarde (including, for the avoidance of doubt, sauvegarde accélérée and sauvegarde financière accélérée ), redressement judiciaire or liquidation judiciaire or ordering a cession totale ou partielle de l’entreprise is rendered in relation to a French Loan Party in accordance with articles L.620-1 to L.670-8 of the French Code de commerce, (iv) any procedure, judgment or step is taken, which has effects that are substantially the same as those referred to in paragraphs (i) through (iii) above

 

(h)                                  a “matured obligation” means any créanse certaine, liquide et exigible;

 

(i)                                      “merger’ includes any fusion implemented in accordance with articles L.236 1 to L.236 24 of the French Code de commerce ;

 

(j)                                     “trustee, fiduciary and fiduciary duty” has in each case the meaning given to such term under any applicable law;

 

(k)                                  a “person being unable to pay its debts” means that person being in a state of cessation des paiements in accordance with the French Code de commerce ;

 

(l)                                      a “receiver” includes an administrateur judiciaire, a mandataire ad hoc or a conciliateur;

 

(m)                              “wilful misconduct” means dol .

 

SECTION 1.16                     French Guarantee Limitations

 

(a)                                  The obligations and liabilities of any French Guarantor under the Loan Documents and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement shall not extend to include any obligations or liabilities which if incurred would constitute a breach of the financial assistance prohibitions within the meaning of article L. 225-216 of the French Code de commerce and/or would constitute a misuse of corporate assets within the meaning of article L. 241-3, L. 242-6 or L. 244-1 of the French Code de commerce or any other law or regulations having the same effect, as interpreted by French courts.

 

(b)                                  The obligations and liabilities of each French Guarantor under the Loan Documents and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, for the payment obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document or in respect of any Cash Management Obligations or in respect of any Specified Hedge Agreement, of any other Loan Parties which are not direct or indirect Subsidiaries of such French Guarantor shall be limited at any time to an amount equal to the aggregate of the proceeds of the Loans to the extent directly or indirectly on-lent by any other Loan Party to that French Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries under intercompany loans (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements) or similar arrangements and outstanding on the date a payment is requested to be made by such French Guarantor under such Guarantee (the “ Maximum Guaranteed Amount ”), it being specified that notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, any payment made by such French Guarantor under this Guarantee in respect of the payment obligations of any other Loan Party shall immediately reduce pro tanto the outstanding amount of the intra-group loans, or any sums, due by such French Guarantor under such intra-group loan (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements) or similar arrangements referred to above.

 

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(c)                                   The obligations and liabilities of each French Guarantor under the Loan Documents and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, for the payment obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document, or in respect of any Cash Management Obligations or in respect of any Specified Hedge Agreement, of each of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries which are or become Loan Party from time to time under the Loan Documents shall cover all amounts incurred by such Subsidiary (x) as Borrower only but not as Guarantor (if they are not Loan Parties incorporated under the laws of France (hereafter, a “ French Loan Party ”)) or (y) as Borrower and/or, subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) above, Guarantors (if they are French Parties); and

 

(d)                                  For the avoidance of doubt, any payment made by a French Guarantor under paragraph (b) above shall reduce the Maximum Guaranteed Amount.

 

(e)                                   It is acknowledged that no French Guarantor is acting jointly and severally with the other Guarantors and no French Guarantor shall therefore be considered as “ co-débiteur solidaire ” as to its obligations pursuant to the Guarantee given pursuant therewith.

 

For the purpose of this section 1.16 “Subsidiary” means, in relation to any company, another company which is controlled by it within the meaning of articles L.233-3 of the French Code de commerce .

 

SECTION 1.17                     Luxembourg terms .  In this Agreement, where it relates to Lux Parent, a reference to:

 

(a)                                  the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation includes the articles of association ( statuts ) or the restated articles of association (statuts coordonnés ), as the case may be;

 

(b)                                  an officer, secretary, manager or director includes a gérant or administrateur ;

 

(c)                                   a winding-up, dissolution or administration includes a Lux Parent:

 

(i)                                      being declared bankrupt ( faillite déclarée );

 

(ii)                                   being subject to a judicial liquidation ( liquidation judiciaire );

 

(iii)                                having filed for controlled management ( gestion contrôlée );

 

(d)                                  a moratorium includes a reprieve from payment ( sursis de paiement ) or a concordat préventif de faillite ;

 

(e)                                   a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver, administrator receiver, administrator or similar officer includes any:

 

(i)                                      juge-commissaire or insolvency receiver ( curateur ) appointed under the Luxembourg Commercial Code;

 

(ii)                                   liquidateur appointed under Articles 141 to 151 (inclusive) of the Luxembourg law dated 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended (the Luxembourg Companies’ Act );

 

(iii)                                juge-commissaire or liquidateur appointed under Article 203 of the Luxembourg Companies’ Act;

 

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(iv)                               commissaire appointed under the Grand-Ducal decree of 24 May 1935 on the controlled management regime or under Articles 593 to 614 (inclusive) of the Luxembourg Commercial Code; and

 

(v)                                  juge délégué appointed under the Luxembourg act of 14 April 1886 on the composition with creditors to avoid bankruptcy, as amended; and

 

(f)                                    an attachment includes a saisie .

 

ARTICLE II

 

THE CREDITS

 

SECTION 2.01                     Commitments .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein:

 

(1)                                  Revolving Loans .

 

(a)                                  Each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment severally agrees to make loans in Dollars and Canadian Dollars to the U.S. Borrowers (“ U.S. Revolving Loans ”) from time to time during the Availability Period in amounts not to exceed such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the U.S. Borrowing Base, and in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, (ii) the total U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Exposure exceeding the total U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the U.S. Line Cap, or (iv) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Line Cap.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the U.S. Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans.

 

(b)                                  Each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment agrees to make loans in Dollars and Canadian Dollars to the Canadian Borrowers (“ Canadian Revolving Loans ” and collectively with the U.S. Revolving Loans, the “ U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans ”) from time to time during the Availability Period in amounts not to exceed such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the Canadian Borrowing Base, and in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, (ii) the total Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and U.S. Borrower Revolving Facility Exposure exceeding the total U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) the Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Canadian Line Cap, or (iv) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Line Cap.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Canadian Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans.

 

(c)                                   Each French Revolving Lender agrees to make loans in Euros, Sterling and Dollars to the French Borrowers (“ French Revolving Loans ”) from time to time during the Availability Period in amounts not to exceed, with respect to any French Revolving Lender, such Revolving Lender’s French Revolving Facility Percentage of the French Borrowing Base of such French Borrower, and in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s French Revolving Facility Commitment, (ii) the total French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the total French Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) the French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the French Line Cap, or

 

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(iv) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Line Cap.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the French Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow French Revolving Loans.

 

(d)                                  Each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment agrees to make loans in Euros, Sterling and Dollars to the German Borrowers (“ German Revolving Loans ”) from time to time during the Availability Period in amounts not to exceed, with respect to any German Lender, such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the German Borrowing Base of such German Borrower, and in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment, (ii) the total German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the total European Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the German Line Cap, (iv) such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment or (v) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Line Cap.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the German Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow European Revolving Loans.

 

(e)                                   Each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment agrees to make loans in Euros, Sterling and Dollars to the Spanish Borrowers (“ Spanish Revolving Loans ”) from time to time during the Availability Period in amounts not to exceed, such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the Spanish Borrowing Base, and in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment, (ii) the total Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the total European Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Spanish Line Cap, (iv) such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment or (v)  the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Line Cap.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Spanish Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow European Revolving Loans.

 

(f)                                    Each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment agrees to make loans in Euros, Sterling and Dollars to the U.K. Borrowers (“ U.K. Revolving Loans ” and collectively with the German Revolving Loans and the Spanish Revolving Loans, the “ European Revolving Loans ”) from time to time during the Availability Period in amounts not to exceed such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the U.K. Borrowing Base, and in an aggregate principal amount that will not result in (i) such Revolving Lender’s U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment, (ii) the total U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the total European Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the U.K. Line Cap, (iv) such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment or (v) the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeding the Line Cap.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the U.K. Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow European Revolving Loans.

 

(2)                                  Overadvances .  Insofar as the Borrowers may request and the Administrative Agent or Required Lenders may be willing in their sole discretion to make Revolving Loans to the (A) U.S. Borrowers at a time when the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds, or would exceed with the making of any such U.S./Canadian Revolving Loan, the U.S. Borrowing Base (any such Loan being herein referred to individually as an “ U.S. Overadvance ”), (B) Canadian Borrowers at a time when the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds, or would exceed with the making of

 

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any such U.S./Canadian Revolving Loan, the Canadian Borrowing Base (any such Loan being herein referred to individually as a “ Canadian Overadvance ”), (C) French Borrowers at a time when the French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to such French Borrower exceeds, or would exceed with the making of any such French Revolving Loan, the French Borrowing Base with respect to such French Borrower (any such Loan being herein referred to individually as a “ French Overadvance ”), (D) German Borrowers at a time when the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to such German Borrower exceeds, or would exceed with the making of any such European Revolving Loan, the German Borrowing Base with respect to such German Borrower (any such Loan being herein referred to individually as a “ German Overadvance ”), (E) Spanish Borrowers at a time when the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds, or would exceed with the making of any such European Revolving Loan, the Spanish Borrowing Base (any such Loan being herein referred to individually as a “ Spanish Overadvance ”) and (F) U.K. Borrowers at a time when the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds, or would exceed with the making of any such European Revolving Loan, the U.K. Borrowing Base (any such Loan being herein referred to individually as a “ U.K. Overadvance ”), the Administrative Agent will enter such Overadvances as debits in the applicable Loan Account.  All Overadvances will be repaid on demand, will be secured by the applicable Collateral and will bear interest as provided in this Agreement for Revolving Loans generally.  (i) Any U.S. Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof will be made to the U.S. Borrowers by all U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentages, (ii) any Canadian Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof will be made to the Canadian Borrowers by all U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentages, (iii) any French Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof will be made to the applicable French Borrower by all French Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective French Revolving Facility Percentages, (iv) any German Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof will be made to the applicable German Borrower by all European Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective European Revolving Facility Percentages, (v) any Spanish Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof will be made to the Spanish Borrowers by all European Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective European Revolving Facility Percentages and (vi) any U.K. Overadvance made pursuant to the terms hereof will be made to the U.K. Borrowers by all European Revolving Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective European Revolving Facility Percentages. (i) U.S. Overadvances, together with outstanding U.S. Protective Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10.0% of the U.S. Line Cap, (ii) Canadian Overadvances, together with outstanding Canadian Protective Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10.0% of the Canadian Line Cap, (iii)  French Overadvances, together with outstanding French Protective Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10.0% of the aggregate amount of the French Line Cap, (iv) German Overadvances, together with outstanding German Protective Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10.0% of the aggregate amount of the German Line Cap, (v) Spanish Overadvances, together with outstanding Spanish Protective Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10.0% of the Spanish Line Cap and (vi) U.K. Overadvances, together with outstanding U.K. Protective Advances, in an aggregate amount not to exceed 10.0% of the U.K. Line Cap, may, in each case, be made in the sole, reasonable discretion of the Administrative Agent; provided that the Required Lenders may at any time revoke the Administrative Agent’s authorization to make future Overadvances; provided that no existing Overadvances will be subject to such revocation and any such revocation must be in writing and will become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof.  The foregoing notwithstanding, in no event, unless otherwise consented to by all Revolving Lenders will:

 

(a)                                  any Overadvances be outstanding for more than 30 consecutive days;

 

(b)                                  the Administrative Agent or Lenders make any additional Overadvances unless 30 days or more have expired since the last date on which any Overadvances were outstanding; or

 

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(c)                                   the Administrative Agent make Revolving Loans on behalf of Revolving Lenders under this Section 2.01(2) to the extent such Revolving Loans would cause a Revolving Lender’s share of the applicable Revolving Facility Credit Exposure to exceed such Lender’s applicable Revolving Facility Commitment or cause the aggregate applicable Revolving Facility Commitments to be exceeded.

 

(3)                                  Protective Advances .  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Administrative Agent, in its sole, reasonable discretion, (i) may make U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans to, or for the benefit of, U.S. Borrowers, on behalf of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders having U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, (ii) may make U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans to, or for the benefit of, Canadian Borrowers, on behalf of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders having a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, (iii) may make French Revolving Loans to, or for the benefit of, French Borrowers, on behalf of the French Revolving Lenders having a French Revolving Facility Commitment, (iv) may make European Revolving Loans to, or for the benefit of, German Borrowers, on behalf of the European Revolving Lenders having a European Revolving Facility Commitment, (v) may make European Revolving Loans to, or for the benefit of, Spanish Borrowers, on behalf of the European Revolving Lenders having a European Revolving Facility Commitment or (vi) may make European Revolving Loans to, or for the benefit of, U.K. Borrowers, on behalf of the European Revolving Lenders having a European Revolving Facility Commitment, so long as (A) the aggregate outstanding amount of such U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans, together with the aggregate outstanding amount of the U.S. Overadvances, does not exceed 10.0% of the U.S. Line Cap, (B) the aggregate amount of such U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans, together with the aggregate outstanding amount of the Canadian Overadvances, does not exceed 10.0% of the Canadian Line Cap, (C) the aggregate amount of such French Revolving Loans, together with the aggregate outstanding amount of the French Overadvances, does not exceed 10.0% of the aggregate amount of the French Line Cap, (D) the aggregate amount of such European Revolving Loans, together with the aggregate outstanding amount of the German Overadvances, does not exceed 10.0% of the aggregate amount of the German Line Cap, (E) the aggregate amount of such European Revolving Loans, together with the aggregate outstanding amount of the Spanish Overadvances, does not exceed 10.0% of the Aggregate Spanish Line Cap and (F) the aggregate amount of such European Revolving Loans, together with the aggregate outstanding amount of the U.K. Overadvances, does not exceed 10.0% of the U.K. Line Cap, if the Administrative Agent, in its Reasonable Credit Judgment, deems that such Revolving Loans are necessary or desirable to:

 

(a)                                  protect all or any portion of the Collateral;

 

(b)                                  enhance the likelihood or maximize the amount of repayment of the Loans and the other Obligations; or

 

(c)                                   pay any other amount chargeable to the Borrowers pursuant to this Agreement (the U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans described in this Section 2.01(3)(i), “ U.S. Protective Advances ”, ,the U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans described in this Section 2.01(3)(ii), “ Canadian Protective Advances ”, the French Revolving Loans described in this Section 2.01(3)(iii), “ French Protective Advances ”, the European Revolving Loans described in this Section 2.01(3)(iv), “ German Protective Advances ”, the European Revolving Loans described in this Section 2.01(3)(v), “ Spanish Protective Advances ” and the European Revolving Loans described in this Section 2.01(3)(vi), “ U.K. Protective Advances ”);

 

provided that (i) with respect to U.S. Protective Advances, in no event will the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceed the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, (ii) with respect to Canadian Protective Advances, in no event will the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the U.S. Revolving Facility

 

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Credit Exposure exceed the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, (iii) with respect to French Protective Advances, in no event will the French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceed the aggregate French Revolving Facility Commitments, (iv) with respect to German Protective Advances, in no event will the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceed the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments, (v) with respect to Spanish Protective Advances, in no event will the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceed the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments and (vi) with respect to U.K. Protective Advances, in no event will the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceed the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments and (vii) the Required Lenders under the Revolving Facility may at any time revoke the Administrative Agent’s authorization to make future Protective Advances; provided , further , that any such revocation must be in writing and will become effective prospectively upon the Administrative Agent’s receipt thereof and existing Protective Advances will not be subject to thereto.

 

Each applicable Revolving Lender will be obligated to advance to the Borrowers its applicable Revolving Facility Percentage of each Protective Advance made in accordance with this Section 2.01(3).  If Protective Advances are made in accordance with the preceding sentence, then all Revolving Lenders will be bound to make, or permit to remain outstanding, such Protective Advances based upon their applicable Revolving Facility Percentages in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  All Protective Advances will be repaid by the applicable Borrowers on demand, will be secured by the applicable Collateral and will bear interest as provided in this Agreement for Revolving Loans generally.  No Protective Advance may remain outstanding for more than forty-five (45) days without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

(4)                                  [Reserved] .

 

(5)                                  Reserves .  The Administrative Agent may at any time and from time to time in the exercise of its Reasonable Credit Judgment establish and increase or decrease Reserves in accordance with the terms of the definition thereof.

 

SECTION 2.02                     Loans and Borrowings .

 

(1)                                  Each Loan will be made as part of a Borrowing consisting of Loans of the same Type made by the Lenders ratably in accordance with their respective Commitments (or, in the case of Swingline Loans, in accordance with their respective Swingline Commitments).  The failure of any Lender to make any Loan required to be made by it will not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender will be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Loans as required.

 

(2)                                  Subject to Section 2.14, each Borrowing (other than a Swingline Borrowing) will be comprised entirely of ABR Loans, Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loan as the Borrowers may request in accordance herewith; provided that only U.S. Borrowers and Canadian Borrowers may request ABR Loans.  Each Swingline Borrowing will be an ABR Borrowing.  Each Lender at its option may make any ABR Loan, Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Loan; provided that any exercise of such option will not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and such Lender will not be entitled to any amounts payable under Section 2.15 or 2.17 solely in respect of increased costs resulting from such exercise and existing at the time of such exercise.

 

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(3)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no Borrower will be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.03                     Requests for Borrowings; Interest Elections .

 

(1)                                  Each request for an ABR Borrowing shall be made no later than 1:00 p.m. on the Local Time Business Day of the proposed date of Borrowing by electronic request of Holdings through Administrative Agent’s Commercial Electronic Office Portal or through such other electronic portal provided by Administrative Agent (the “ Portal ”).  The Borrowers hereby acknowledge and agree that any request made through the Portal shall be deemed made by a Responsible Officer of Holdings. Each request for a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing or request to continue a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing shall be made pursuant to Holdings’ submission of a Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice to Administrative Agent, which must be received by the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m. Local Time three (3) Business Days prior to the requested date of any Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing or continuation of Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans.  Each Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice shall specify (a) the name of the applicable Borrower, (b) the requested date of the Borrowing or continuation, as the case may be (which shall be a Business Day), (c) the principal amount of the Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans to be borrowed or continued (which shall be in a principal amount of at least the Borrowing Minimum or a Borrowing Multiple in excess thereof), (d) the duration of the Interest Period will respect thereto, (e) the currency of the Revolving Loan and (f) any outstanding ABR Loans that are requested to be converted to a Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan, as applicable.  If Holdings fails to elect an Interest Period, it will be deemed to have specified an Interest Period of one month.  If Holdings fails to give a timely notice with respect to any continuation of a Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan, then (i) if such Loans are denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars and made to a U.S. Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, the applicable Loans shall be converted to ABR Loans and (ii) otherwise, shall be converted to Eurocurrency Loans with an Interest Period of one month, effective as of the last day of the Interest Period then in effect with respect to the applicable Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans.

 

(2)                                  The Administrative Agent shall promptly notify each Lender of the amount of its share of the applicable Loans, and if no timely notice of a conversion or continuation is provided by Holdings, the Administrative Agent shall notify each Lender of the details of any automatic conversion to ABR Loans described above.

 

(3)                                  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan may be continued or converted only on the last day of an Interest Period for such Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan.  During the existence of a Default or an Event of Default, no Loans denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars may be requested as, converted to or continued as Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans without the consent of the Required Lenders.

 

(4)                                  The Administrative Agent, without the request of any Borrower, may advance any interest, fee, service charge (including direct wire fees), expenses of the Loan Parties pursuant to Section 10.05 of this Agreement, or other payment to which any Agent or Lender is entitled from the Loan Parties pursuant hereto or any other Loan Document and may charge the same to any Loan Account notwithstanding that an Overadvance may result thereby.  The Agent shall advise Holdings of any such advance or charge promptly after the making thereof.  Such action on the part of the Administrative Agent shall not constitute a waiver of the Administrative Agent’s rights and the Borrowers’ obligations under Section 2.11(1).  Any amount which is charged to a Loan Account as provided in this Section 2.03(4) shall constitute U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans (if advanced to U.S. Borrowers, U.S. Guarantors, Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors), French Revolving Loans (if advanced to French

 

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Borrowers) or European Revolving Loans (if advanced to German Borrowers, Spanish Borrowers or U.K. Borrowers) and shall, with respect to such amounts denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars advanced to a U.S. Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, bear interest at the interest rate then and thereafter applicable to ABR Loans.

 

(5)                                  [reserved].

 

(6)                                  [reserved].

 

(7)                                  After giving effect to all Borrowings, all conversions of Loans from one Type to the other, and all continuations of Loans as the same Type, there shall not be more than twelve Interest Periods in effect with respect to Eurocurrency Loans and CDOR Rate Loans.

 

SECTION 2.04                     Swingline Loans .

 

(1)                                  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Swingline Lender agrees to make Swingline Loans in Dollars to the U.S. Borrowers from time to time during the Availability Period; provided , that no such Swingline Loan will be permitted if, after giving effect thereto, (a) the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Swingline Loans would exceed Swingline Commitment; (b)  the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure would exceed the total U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments; (c) the Swingline Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Credit Exposure would exceed its U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment; or (d)  the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure would exceed the U.S. Borrowing Base; provided ; that the Swingline Lender will not be required to make a Swingline Loan to refinance an outstanding Swingline Borrowing.  Within the foregoing limits and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the U.S. Borrowers may borrow, prepay and reborrow Swingline Loans.

 

(2)                                  To request a Swingline Borrowing, the applicable U.S. Borrowers will notify the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender of such request by telephone (confirmed by a Swingline Borrowing Request by email or facsimile), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of a proposed Swingline Borrowing.  Each such notice and Swingline Borrowing Request will be irrevocable and will specify the requested (a) date (which will be a Business Day) and (b) amount of the Swingline Borrowing.  The Swingline Lender will consult with the Administrative Agent as to whether the making of the Swingline Loan is in accordance with the terms of this Agreement prior to the Swingline Lender funding such Swingline Loan.  The Swingline Lender will make each Swingline Loan in accordance with Section 2.02(2) on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 5:00 p.m., New York City time, to the account of the applicable Borrowers (or, in the case of a Swingline Borrowing made to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement as provided in Section 2.05(5), by remittance to the applicable Issuing Bank); provided that the Swingline Lender will not be obligated to make any Swingline Loan at any time when any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender, unless the Swingline Lender (i) is satisfied in its reasonable discretion that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the applicable Revolving Facility Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to clause (3) below or (ii) has otherwise entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender to eliminate the Swingline Lender’s risk with respect to such Lender.

 

(3)                                  The Swingline Lender may by written notice given to the Administrative Agent on any Business Day require the Revolving Lenders with U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments to acquire participations by 2:00 p.m. on such Business Day (provided that if such notice is not provided to Lenders by 12:00 p.m. on such Business Day, such 2:00 p.m. deadline shall be extended by up to two hours to the extent necessary to provide the Revolving Lenders with U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments two hours from such notice to acquire such

 

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participations ) in all or a portion of the outstanding Swingline Loans made by it.  Such notice will specify the aggregate amount of such Swingline Loans in which the applicable Revolving Lenders will participate.  Promptly upon receipt of such notice, the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to each such Revolving Lender, specifying in such notice such Revolving Lender’s applicable Revolving Facility Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees, upon receipt of notice as provided above, to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Swingline Lender, such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Facility Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans.  Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its respective obligation to acquire participations in Swingline Loans pursuant to this paragraph is absolute and unconditional and will not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including the occurrence and continuance of a Default or an Event of Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment will be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.  Each Revolving Lender with U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments will comply with its obligation under this paragraph by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Revolving Lender (and Section 2.06 will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Lenders), and the Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the Swingline Lender the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders.

 

(4)                                  The Administrative Agent will notify Holdings of any participations in any Swingline Loan acquired pursuant to paragraph (3), and thereafter payments in respect of such Swingline Loan will be made to the Administrative Agent and not to the Swingline Lender.  Any amounts received by the Swingline Lender from the Borrowers (or other party on behalf of the Borrowers) in respect of a Swingline Loan after receipt by the Swingline Lender of the proceeds of a sale of participations therein will be promptly remitted to the Administrative Agent and any such amounts received by the Administrative Agent will be promptly remitted by the Administrative Agent to the Revolving Lenders that made their payments pursuant to this paragraph and to the Swingline Lender, as their interests may appear; provided that any such payment so remitted will be repaid to the Swingline Lender or to the Administrative Agent, as applicable, if and to the extent such payment is required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason.  The purchase of participations in a Swingline Loan pursuant to paragraph (3) will not relieve the Borrowers of any default in the payment thereof.

 

(5)                                  If the Maturity Date in respect of any tranche of Revolving Facility Commitments occurs at a time when Extended Commitments are in effect, then (i) on such Maturity Date all then outstanding Swingline Loans shall be repaid in full on such date (and there shall be no adjustment to the participations in such Swingline Loans as a result of the occurrence of such Maturity Date) or refinanced with a borrowing of an Extension pursuant to Section 2.22; provided that, if on the occurrence of the such Maturity Date (after giving effect to any repayments of Revolving Loans and any reallocation of Letter of Credit participations as contemplated in Section 2.05), there shall exist sufficient unutilized Extended Commitments so that the respective outstanding Swingline Loans could be incurred pursuant to the Extended Commitments which will remain in effect after the occurrence of such Maturity Date, then there shall be an automatic adjustment on such date of the participations in such Swingline Loans and same shall be deemed to have been incurred solely pursuant to the Extended Commitments and such Swingline Loans shall not be so required to be repaid in full on such Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.05                     Letters of Credit .

 

(1)                                  General .  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (x) the U.S. Borrowers  and the Canadian Borrowers may request the issuance of Standby Letters of Credit or Trade Letters of Credit denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars ( provided that, anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, with respect to Letters of Credit denominated in a Canadian Dollars, all reimbursements by the Borrowers of the honoring of any drawing under such Letters of Credit

 

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shall be paid in Dollars based on the Spot Rate) issued for any lawful purposes of any Loan Party (such letters of credit issued for such purposes, “ U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit ”), (y) each French Borrowers may request the issuance of Standby Letters of Credit or Trade Letters of Credit denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars ( provided that, anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, with respect to Letters of Credit denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars, all reimbursements by the Borrowers of the honoring of any drawing under such Letters of Credit shall be paid in Dollars based on the Spot Rate) issued for any lawful purposes of that French Borrower (such letters of credit issued for such purposes, “ French Letters of Credit ”), or (z) the German Borrowers, the Spanish Borrowers and the U.K. Borrowers may request the issuance of Standby Letters of Credit or Trade Letters of Credit denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars ( provided that, anything to the contrary contained herein notwithstanding, with respect to Letters of Credit denominated in Euros, Sterling or Dollars, all reimbursements by the Borrowers of the honoring of any drawing under such Letters of Credit shall be paid in Dollars based on the Spot Rate) issued for any lawful purposes of any Loan Party (such letters of credit issued for such purposes, “ European Letters of Credit ”), in each case, for their own account or for the account of any Subsidiary ( provided that if such Subsidiary is not a Borrower, a Borrower shall be a co-applicant thereto), in a form reasonably acceptable to the applicable Issuing Bank, at any time and from time to time during the Availability Period and prior to the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date, provided that Goldman Sachs Bank USA shall not be obligated to issue Trade Letters of Credit and Barclays Bank PLC shall only be obligated to issue Standby Letters of Credit.  In the event of any inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the terms and conditions of any form of letter of credit application or other agreement submitted by any of the Borrowers to, or entered into by any of the Borrowers with, an Issuing Bank relating to any Letter of Credit, it is the intention of the parties hereto that such provisions be read together and construed, to the fullest extent possible, to be in concert with each other.  In the event of any actual, irreconcilable conflict that cannot be resolved as aforesaid, the terms and provisions of this Section 2.05 shall control and govern.  “ Letters of Credit ” will include U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit, European Letters of Credit, French Letters of Credit, European Letters of Credit and the Existing Letters of Credit.  Each Existing Letter of Credit will be deemed to have been issued under this Section 2.05 on the Closing Date.

 

(2)                                  Notice of Issuance, Amendment, Renewal, Extension .

 

(a)                                  Each request for  the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or the amendment, renewal (other than an automatic extension in accordance with paragraph (3) of this Section 2.05) or extension of an outstanding Letter of Credit), shall be irrevocable and the Borrowers will deliver by telefacsimile or other electronic method of transmission reasonably acceptable to the Issuing Bank (including by e-mail, if arrangements for doing so have been approved by the applicable Issuing Bank) to the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent three Business Days in advance of the requested date of issuance, amendment or extension (or such shorter period as the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank in their sole discretion may agree) (i) a Letter of Credit Request requesting the issuance of a Letter of Credit, or identifying the Letter of Credit to be amended or extended, and specifying the date of issuance, amendment or extension (which will be a Business Day), the date on which such Letter of Credit is to expire (which will comply with paragraph (3) of this Section 2.05), the amount of such Letter of Credit, the currency of such Letter of Credit, the name and address of the beneficiary thereof, identifying whether such Letter of Credit is a Standby Letter of Credit or a Trade Letter of Credit, and such other information (including the conditions to drawing) as is necessary to issue, amend or extend such Letter of Credit.  If requested by the applicable Issuing Bank, the Borrowers will also submit a letter of credit application and/or any other customary issuer documents on such Issuing Bank’s standard forms in connection with any request for a Letter of Credit.  The Administrative Agent’s records of the content of any such request will be conclusive absent manifest error.  A Letter of Credit will be issued or arranged, amended or extended in the Issuing Bank’s discretion and only if (and upon issuance, amendment or extension of each

 

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Letter of Credit, the Borrowers will be deemed to represent and warrant that), after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension:

 

(i)                                      the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure and the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure will not exceed the U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit;

 

(ii)                                   the U.S. Revolving Credit Exposure will not exceed the U.S. Line Cap;

 

(iii)                                the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure will not exceed the Canadian Line Cap;

 

(iv)                               the French Revolving L/C Exposure will not exceed the French Letter of Credit Sublimit;

 

(v)                                  the French Revolving Credit Exposure will not exceed the French Line Cap;

 

(vi)                               the German Revolving L/C Exposure, the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure and the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure will not exceed the European Letter of Credit Sublimit;

 

(vii)                            the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure will not exceed the German Line Cap, the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure and the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure will not exceed the U.K. Line Cap; and

 

(viii)                         the aggregate Revolving Facility Credit Exposure will not exceed the Line Cap.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Issuing Bank will not issue or arrange (or be obligated to issue or arrange) any Letter of Credit if:

 

(i)                                      any order, judgment or decree of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator by its terms purports to enjoin or restrain the Issuing Bank from issuing or arranging such Letter of Credit;

 

(ii)                                   any applicable law or any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any Governmental Authority with jurisdiction over the Issuing Bank prohibits the issuance of letters of credit generally;

 

(iii)                                such Letter of Credit imposes upon the Issuing Bank any restriction, reserve or capital requirement (for which the Issuing Bank is not otherwise compensated hereunder) not in effect on the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                               such Letter of Credit imposes upon the Issuing Bank any unreimbursed loss, cost or expense and which the Issuing Bank in good faith deems material to it;

 

(v)                                  any Lender is at such time a Defaulting Lender, unless the Issuing Bank (A) is satisfied in its reasonable discretion that the related exposure will be 100% covered by the Revolving Facility Commitments of the non-Defaulting Lenders pursuant to Section 2.23(1) or (B) has otherwise entered into satisfactory arrangements with the Borrowers or such Lender to eliminate the Issuing Bank’s risk with respect to such Lender;

 

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(vi)                               such Letter of Credit issuance would cause such Issuing Bank’s Revolving L/C Exposure to exceed such Issuing Bank’s Letter of Credit Commitments; or

 

(vii)                            issuance of such Letter of Credit would violate one or more policies of the Issuing Bank applicable to letters of credit generally

 

(3)                                  Expiration Date .

 

(a)                                  Each Standby Letter of Credit will expire at or prior to the close of business on the earlier of (i) the date one year (unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank in their sole discretion) after the date of issuance of such Standby Letter of Credit (or, in the case of any extension thereof, one year (unless otherwise agreed upon by the Administrative Agent and the Issuing Bank in their sole discretion) after such renewal or extension) and (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date; provided that any Standby Letter of Credit with a one-year tenor may provide for the automatic extension thereof for additional one-year periods (which will in no event extend beyond the date referred to in the preceding clause (ii)) so long as such Standby Letter of Credit permits the Issuing Bank to prevent any such extension at least once in each 12-month period (commencing with the date of issuance of such Standby Letter of Credit) by giving prior notice to the beneficiary thereof within a time period during such 12-month period to be agreed upon at the time such Standby Letter of Credit is issued; provided , further , that if the Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent each consent in their sole discretion, the expiration date of any Standby Letter of Credit may extend beyond the date referred to in clause (ii) above; and, provided , further , that (A) if any such Standby Letter of Credit is outstanding or is issued after the date that is 30 days prior to the Maturity Date, the Borrowers will provide cash collateral pursuant to documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and the relevant Issuing Bank in an amount equal to 103% of the face amount of each such Standby Letter of Credit on or prior to the date that is 30 days prior to the Maturity Date or, if later, such date of issuance, and (B) each Revolving Lender’s participation in any undrawn Standby Letter of Credit that is outstanding on the Maturity Date will terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(b)                                  Each Trade Letter of Credit will expire on the earlier of (i) 180 days after such Trade Letter of Credit’s date of issuance or (ii) the date that is five Business Days prior to the Maturity Date.

 

(4)                                  Participations .  By the issuance of a Letter of Credit (or an amendment to a Letter of Credit increasing the amount thereof) and without any further action on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank or the Revolving Lenders, such Issuing Bank hereby grants to (a) with respect to U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit, each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, and each such Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit, (b) with respect to French Letters of Credit, each French Revolving Lender, and each such Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s French Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit and (c) with respect to European Letters of Credit, each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment, and each such Revolving Lender hereby acquires from such Issuing Bank, a participation in such European Letter of Credit equal to such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under such Letter of Credit.  Each Revolving Lender hereby absolutely and unconditionally agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for the account of the Issuing Bank, its (x) U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of each U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursement, (y) French Revolving Facility Percentage of each French L/C Disbursement and (z) European Revolving Facility Percentage of each French L/C Disbursement and, made by such Issuing

 

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Bank and not reimbursed by the Borrowers on the date due as provided in paragraph (5) of this Section 2.05, or of any reimbursement payment required to be refunded to the Borrowers for any reason.  Each Revolving Lender acknowledges and agrees that its obligation to acquire participations pursuant to this paragraph in respect of Letters of Credit is absolute and unconditional and will not be affected by any circumstance whatsoever, including any amendment, renewal or extension of any Letter of Credit or the occurrence and continuance of a Default or Event of Default or reduction or termination of the Commitments, and that each such payment will be made without any offset, abatement, withholding or reduction whatsoever.

 

(5)                                  Reimbursement .

 

(a)                                  If the applicable Issuing Bank makes any U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursement in respect of a U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit, the U.S. Borrowers (with respect to U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a U.S. Borrower) or the Canadian Borrowers (with respect to U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a Canadian Borrower) will reimburse such U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursement not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the first Business Day after the U.S. Borrowers or Canadian Borrower, as applicable, receive notice under paragraph (8) of this Section 2.05 of such U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursement (or the second Business Day, if such notice is received after 12:00 noon, New York City time), together with accrued interest thereon from the date of such U.S. L/C Disbursement at the rate applicable to ABR Loans that are Revolving Loans; provided that the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an ABR Revolving Facility Borrowing of U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans or a Swingline Borrowing, as applicable, in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the U.S. Borrowers’ or the Canadian Borrowers’ obligations to make such payment will be discharged and replaced by the resulting ABR Revolving Facility Borrowing or Swingline Borrowing.

 

(b)                                  If the applicable Issuing Bank makes any French L/C Disbursement in respect of a French Letter of Credit, the French Borrower on behalf of which such French Letter of Credit was issued will reimburse such French L/C Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such French L/C Disbursement not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on the first Business Day after the applicable French Borrower receives notice under paragraph (8) of this Section 2.05 of such French L/C Disbursement (or the second Business Day, if such notice is received after 12:00 noon, Local Time), together with accrued interest thereon from the date of such French L/C Disbursement at the rate applicable to ABR Loans that are Revolving Loans; provided that the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with an Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowing of French Revolving Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the applicable French Borrower’s obligations to make such payment will be discharged and replaced by the resulting Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowing.

 

(c)                                   If the applicable Issuing Bank makes any European L/C Disbursement in respect of a European Letter of Credit, the applicable German Borrower on behalf of which such European Letter of Credit was issued (with respect to European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a German Borrower), the Spanish Borrowers (with respect to European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a Spanish Borrower) or the U.K. Borrowers (with respect to European Letters of Credit Issued on behalf of a U.K. Borrower) will reimburse such European L/C Disbursement by paying to the Administrative Agent an amount equal to such European L/C Disbursement not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on the first Business Day after the applicable German Borrower, Spanish Borrowers or U.K. Borrowers, as applicable, receive notice under paragraph (8) of this Section 2.05 of such European L/C Disbursement

 

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(or the second Business Day, if such notice is received after 12:00 noon, Local Time), together with accrued interest thereon from the date of such European Disbursement at the rate applicable to ABR Loans that are Revolving Loans; provided that the Borrowers may, subject to the conditions to borrowing set forth herein, request in accordance with Section 2.03 or 2.04 that such payment be financed with a Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowing of European Revolving Loans in an equivalent amount and, to the extent so financed, the applicable German Borrower’s, the Spanish Borrowers or the U.K. Borrowers’ obligations to make such payment will be discharged and replaced by the resulting Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowing.

 

(d)                                  If the applicable Borrowers fail to reimburse any L/C Disbursement when due, then the Administrative Agent will promptly notify the applicable Issuing Bank and each other applicable Revolving Lender of the applicable L/C Disbursement, the payment then due from the applicable Borrowers in respect thereof and, in the case of a Revolving Lender, such Lender’s Revolving Facility Percentage thereof.  Promptly following receipt of such notice, each Revolving Lender will pay to the Administrative Agent its Revolving Facility Percentage of the payment then due from the applicable Borrowers in the same manner as provided in Section 2.06 with respect to Loans made by such Lender (and Section 2.06 will apply, mutatis mutandis, to the payment obligations of the Revolving Lenders), and the Administrative Agent will promptly pay to the applicable Issuing Bank the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Lenders.  Any payment made by a Revolving Lender pursuant to this paragraph (5) to reimburse an Issuing Bank for any L/C Disbursement (other than the funding of an Revolving Loan or a Swingline Borrowing as contemplated above) will not constitute a Loan and will not relieve the applicable Borrowers of their obligations to reimburse such L/C Disbursement.

 

(e)                                   Promptly following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any payment from the Borrowers pursuant to paragraph (5)(a), (b) or (c), the Administrative Agent will distribute such payment to the applicable Issuing Bank or, to the extent that Revolving Lenders have made payments pursuant to paragraph (5)(d) to reimburse such Issuing Bank, then to such Lenders and such Issuing Bank as their interests may appear.

 

(6)                                  Obligations Absolute .  The obligations of the applicable Borrowers to reimburse L/C Disbursements as provided in paragraph (5) of this Section 2.05 will be absolute, unconditional and irrevocable, and will be performed strictly in accordance with the terms of this Agreement under any and all circumstances whatsoever and irrespective of:

 

(a)                                  any lack of validity or enforceability of any Letter of Credit or this Agreement, or any term or provision therein;

 

(b)                                  any draft or other document presented under a Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in any respect;

 

(c)                                   payment by the applicable Issuing Bank under a Letter of Credit against presentation of a draft or other document that does not comply with the terms of such Letter of Credit; or

 

(d)                                  the Issuing Bank or any of its branches or Affiliates being the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit;

 

(e)                                   the Issuing Bank or any correspondent honoring a drawing against a drawing document up to the amount available under any Letter of Credit even if such drawing document claims an amount in excess of the amount available under the Letter of Credit;

 

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(f)                                    the existence of any claim, set-off, defense or other right that any Borrower or any of its Subsidiaries may have at any time against any beneficiary, any assignee of proceeds, the Issuing Bank or any other Person;

 

(g)                                   the fact that any Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; or

 

(h)                                  any other event or circumstance whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing, that might, but for the provisions of this Section 2.05, constitute a legal or equitable discharge of, or provide a right of setoff against the Borrowers’ obligations hereunder.

 

(7)                                  Limited Liability .  None of the Administrative Agent, the Lenders, any Issuing Bank, or any of their Related Parties, will have any liability or responsibility by reason of or in connection with the issuance or transfer of any Letter of Credit or any payment or failure to make any payment thereunder (irrespective of any of the circumstances referred to in the preceding sentence), or any error, omission, interruption, loss or delay in transmission or delivery of any draft, notice or other communication under or relating to any Letter of Credit (including any document required to make a drawing thereunder), any error in interpretation of technical terms or any consequence arising from causes beyond the control of such Issuing Bank, or any of the circumstances referred to in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of Section 2.05(6); provided that the foregoing will not be construed to excuse the applicable Issuing Bank from liability to the Borrowers to the extent of any special, indirect and punitive damages (as opposed to consequential damages, claims in respect of which are hereby waived by the Borrowers to the extent permitted by applicable law) suffered by the Borrowers that are determined by a final and binding decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have been caused by such Issuing Bank’s failure to exercise care when determining whether drafts and other documents presented under a Letter of Credit comply with the terms thereof.  The parties hereto expressly agree that, in the absence of gross negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the applicable Issuing Bank, such Issuing Bank will be deemed to have exercised care in each such determination.  In furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the terms of such Letter of Credit.

 

(8)                                  Disbursement Procedures .  The applicable Issuing Bank will, promptly following its receipt thereof, examine all documents purporting to represent a demand for payment under a Letter of Credit.  Such Issuing Bank will promptly notify the Administrative Agent and Holdings by telephone (confirmed by facsimile or e-mail) of any such demand for payment under a Letter of Credit and whether such Issuing Bank has made or will make an L/C Disbursement thereunder; provided that any failure to give or delay in giving such notice will not relieve the applicable Borrowers of their obligations to reimburse such Issuing Bank and/or the Revolving Lenders with respect to any such L/C Disbursement (following receipt of notice from the Issuing Bank).

 

(9)                                  Interim Interest .  If an Issuing Bank makes any L/C Disbursement, then, unless the applicable Borrowers reimburse such L/C Disbursement in full on the date such L/C Disbursement is made, the unpaid amount thereof will bear interest, for each day from and including the date such L/C Disbursement is made to but excluding the date that the applicable Borrowers reimburse such L/C Disbursement, at the rate per annum then applicable to ABR Revolving Loans; provided that, if such L/C Disbursement is not reimbursed by the applicable Borrowers when due pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Section 2.05, then Section 2.13(3) will apply.  Interest accrued pursuant to this paragraph will be for the

 

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account of the applicable Issuing Bank, except that interest accrued on and after the date of payment by any Revolving Lender pursuant to paragraph (5) of this Section 2.05 to reimburse such Issuing Bank will be for the account of such Revolving Lender to the extent of such payment.

 

(10)                           Replacement of an Issuing Bank .  An Issuing Bank may be replaced at any time by written agreement between the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the replaced Issuing Bank and the successor Issuing Bank.  The Administrative Agent will notify the Lenders of any such replacement of an Issuing Bank.  At the time any such replacement becomes effective, the applicable Borrowers will pay all unpaid fees accrued for the account of the replaced Issuing Bank pursuant to Section 2.12.  From and after the effective date of any such replacement, (a) the successor Issuing Bank will have all the rights and obligations of the replaced Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit to be issued thereafter and (b) references herein to the term “Issuing Bank” will be deemed to refer to such successor or to any previous Issuing Bank, or to such successor and all previous Issuing Banks, as the context will require.  After the replacement of an Issuing Bank hereunder, the replaced Issuing Bank will remain a party hereto and will continue to have all the rights and obligations of such Issuing Bank under this Agreement with respect to Letters of Credit issued by it prior to such replacement but will not be required to issue additional Letters of Credit.

 

(11)                           Cash Collateralization .  If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, (a) in the case of an Event of Default described in Section 8.01(8) or (9), on the Business Day, or (b) in the case of any other Event of Default, on the third Business Day, in each case, following the date on which the Borrowers receive notice from the Administrative Agent demanding the deposit of cash collateral pursuant to this paragraph (11), (A) the U.S. Borrowers will deposit in an account with or at the direction of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (B) the Canadian Borrowers will deposit in a separate account with or at the direction of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, (C) the applicable French Borrowers will deposit in a separate account with or at the direction of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the French Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the French Revolving L/C Exposure of such French Borrower as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; (D) the applicable German Borrowers will deposit in a separate account with or at the direction of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the European Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the German Revolving L/C Exposure of such German Borrower as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; (E) the Spanish Borrowers will deposit in a separate account with or at the direction of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the European Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon and (F) the U.K. Borrowers will deposit in a separate account with or at the direction of the Administrative Agent, in the name of the Administrative Agent and for the benefit of the European Revolving Lenders, an amount in cash equal to 103% of the amount of the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure as of such date plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon; provided that, in each case, upon the occurrence of any Event of Default described in Section 8.01(8) or (9), the obligation to deposit such cash collateral will become effective immediately, and such deposit will become immediately due and payable, without demand or other notice of any kind.  Each such deposit pursuant to this paragraph will be held by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent as collateral for the payment and performance of the obligations of the applicable Borrowers under this Agreement.  The Administrative Agent will have exclusive dominion and control, including the exclusive right of withdrawal, over such accounts.  Other than any interest earned on the investment of such deposits, which

 

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investments will be made at the option and sole discretion of (i) for so long as an Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent and (ii) at any other time, the Borrowers, in each case, in Cash Equivalents and at the risk and expense of the Borrowers, such deposits will not bear interest.  Moneys in such account described in the foregoing clause (A) will be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursements for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, will be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the U.S. Borrowers for the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Borrowers under this Agreement.  Moneys in such account described in the foregoing clause (B) will be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursements for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, will be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Canadian Borrowers for the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Canadian Borrowers under this Agreement.  Moneys in such account described in the foregoing clause (C) will be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for French L/C Disbursements for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, will be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the applicable French Borrower for the French Revolving L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the applicable French Borrower under this Agreement.  Moneys in such account described in the foregoing clause (D) will be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for European L/C Disbursements for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, will be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the applicable German Borrower for the German Revolving L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the applicable German Borrower under this Agreement.  Moneys in such account described in the foregoing clause (E) will be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for European Disbursements for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, will be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Spanish Borrowers for the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the Spanish Borrowers under this Agreement.  Moneys in such account described in the foregoing clause (F) will be applied by the Administrative Agent to reimburse each Issuing Bank for European L/C Disbursements for which such Issuing Bank has not been reimbursed and, to the extent not so applied, will be held for the satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the U.K. Borrowers for the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure at such time or, if the maturity of the Loans has been accelerated (but subject to the consent of the Required Lenders), be applied to satisfy other obligations of the U.K. Borrowers under this Agreement.

 

(12)                           If the Borrowers (or any of them) are required to provide an amount of cash collateral hereunder as a result of the occurrence of an Event of Default, such amount (to the extent not applied as aforesaid) will be returned to such Borrowers within three Business Days after all Events of Default have been cured or waived.

 

(13)                           Additional Issuing Banks .  From time to time, the Borrowers may, by notice to the Administrative Agent, designate any Lender (in addition to the Administrative Agent) to act as an Issuing Bank; provided that such Lender agrees in its sole discretion to act as such and such Lender is reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent as an Issuing Bank.  Each such additional Issuing Bank will execute a counterpart of this Agreement upon the approval of the Administrative Agent (which approval will not be unreasonably withheld) and will thereafter be an Issuing Bank hereunder for all

 

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purposes.  The Borrowers may, in their sole discretion, request a Letter of Credit issuance from any Issuing Bank.

 

(14)                           Reporting .  Unless otherwise requested by the Administrative Agent, each Issuing Bank will (x) provide to the Administrative Agent copies of any notice received from the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.05(2) no later than the next Business Day after receipt thereof and (y) report in writing to the Administrative Agent as follows:

 

(a)                                  on or prior to each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank expects to issue, amend or extend any Letter of Credit, the date of such issuance, amendment or extension, and the aggregate face amount of the Letters of Credit to be issued, amended or extended by it and outstanding after giving effect to such issuance, amendment or extension occurred (and whether the amount thereof changed), and the Issuing Bank will be permitted to issue, amend or extend such Letter of Credit if the Administrative Agent will not have advised the Issuing Bank that such issuance, amendment or extension would not be in conformity with the requirements of this Agreement;

 

(i)                                      on each Business Day on which such Issuing Bank makes any L/C Disbursement, the date of such L/C Disbursement and the amount of such L/C Disbursement; and

 

(ii)                                   on any other Business Day, such other information with respect to the outstanding Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank as the Administrative Agent reasonably requests, including but not limited to prompt verification of such information as may be requested by the Administrative Agent.

 

The failure of any Issuing Bank (other than the Administrative Agent or any affiliate thereof acting as an Issuing Bank) to comply with the provisions of sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of this clause (14) with respect to any letter of credit will result in such letter of credit not being deemed a “Letter of Credit” hereunder and under the other Loan Documents.

 

(15)                           Reallocation .  If the Maturity Date in respect of any tranche of a Class of Revolving Facility Commitments occurs prior to the expiration of any Letter of Credit issued under such Class of Revolving Facility Commitments, then (i) if one or more other tranches of Revolving Facility Commitments of the same Class in respect of which the Maturity Date shall not have occurred are then in effect, such Letters of Credit shall automatically be deemed to have been issued (including for purposes of the obligations of the applicable Revolving Lenders to purchase participations therein and to make Revolving Loans and payments in respect thereof pursuant to Section 2.05(5)) under (and ratably participated in by the applicable Lenders pursuant to) the Revolving Facility Commitments of the same Class in respect of such non-terminating tranches up to an aggregate amount not to exceed the aggregate principal amount of the unutilized Revolving Facility Commitments thereunder at such time (it being understood that no partial face amount of any Letter of Credit may be reallocated); provided , in no event shall such reallocation cause a Lender’s share of the Revolving Facility Commitments of such Class to exceed such Lender’s Revolving Facility Commitments of such Class, and (ii) to the extent not reallocated pursuant to the immediately preceding clause (i), the applicable Borrowers shall cash collateralize any such Letter of Credit in accordance with Section 2.05(11).  If, for any reason, such cash collateral is not provided or reallocation does not occur, the Revolving Lenders under the maturing tranche shall continue to be responsible for their participating interests in the applicable Letters of Credit.  Except to the extent of reallocations of participations pursuant to clause (i) of the second preceding sentence, the occurrence of a Maturity Date with respect to a given tranche of Revolving Facility Commitments of the same Class shall have no effect upon (and shall not diminish) the percentage

 

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participations of the Revolving Lenders in any Letter of Credit issued under such Class of Revolving Facility Commitments before such Maturity Date.  Commencing with the Maturity Date of any tranche of Revolving Facility Commitments of the same Class, the sublimit for Letters of Credit shall be agreed with the Lenders under the extended tranches.

 

(16)                           Each Borrower agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless Issuing Bank (and its branches, Affiliates, and correspondents) and each such Person’s respective directors, officers, employees, attorneys and agents (each, including Issuing Bank, a “ Letter of Credit Related Person ”) (to the fullest extent permitted by law) from and against any and all claims, demands, suits, actions, investigations, proceedings, liabilities, fines, costs, penalties, and special, indirect, and punitive damages, and all reasonable fees and disbursements of attorneys, experts, or consultants and all other costs and expenses actually incurred in connection therewith or in connection with the enforcement of this indemnification (as and when they are incurred and irrespective of whether suit is brought), which may be incurred by or awarded against any Letter of Credit Related Person (other than Taxes, which shall be governed by Section 2.17 ) (the “ Letter of Credit Indemnified Costs ”), and which arise out of or in connection with, or as a result of this Agreement, any Letter of Credit, any issuer or drawing document referred to in or related to any Letter of Credit, or any action or proceeding arising out of any of the foregoing (whether administrative, judicial or in connection with arbitration); in each case, including that resulting from the Letter of Credit Related Person’s own negligence; provided , that such indemnity shall not be available to any Letter of Credit Related Person claiming indemnification to the extent that such Letter of Credit Indemnified Costs may be finally determined in a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted directly from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Letter of Credit Related Person claiming indemnity.  This indemnification provision shall survive termination of this Agreement and all Letters of Credit.

 

(17)                           Existing Letters of Credit .  The Borrowers and the Loan Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that all Existing Letters of Credit shall constitute Letters of Credit under this Agreement on and after the Closing Date with the same effect as if such Existing Letters of Credit were issued by the Issuing Bank at the request of the applicable Borrowers on the Closing Date.

 

SECTION 2.06                     Funding of Borrowings .

 

(1)                                  Each Lender will make each Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 10:00 a.m., Local Time, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders; provided that same-day ABR Loans will be made by each Lender on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 3:00 p.m., Local Time; provided , further that Swingline Loans will be made as provided in Section 2.04.  The Administrative Agent will make such Loans available to the applicable Borrowers by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of such Borrowers as specified in the applicable Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice; provided that ABR Revolving Loans and Swingline Borrowings made to finance the reimbursement of an L/C Disbursement and reimbursements as provided in Section 2.05(5) will be remitted by the Administrative Agent to the applicable Issuing Bank.

 

(2)                                  Unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Section 2.06 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to the applicable Borrowers a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and the applicable Borrowers severally agree to pay to

 

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the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand (without duplication) such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to the applicable Borrowers to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of such Lender, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (b) in the case of Borrowers, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans at such time.  If such Lender pays such amount to the Administrative Agent then such amount will constitute such Lender’s Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

(3)                                  The foregoing notwithstanding, the Administrative Agent, in its sole discretion, may from its own funds make the applicable Loan on behalf of any such Lender, (including by means of Swingline Loans to the applicable Borrowers).  In such event, the Lender, on behalf of whom Administrative Agent made the Loan, will reimburse the Administrative Agent for all or any portion of such Loan made on its behalf upon written notice given to such Lender not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Business Day such reimbursement is requested.  On each such settlement date, the Administrative Agent will pay to each Lender the net amount owing to such Lender in connection with such settlement, including amounts relating to Loans, fees, interest and other amounts payable hereunder.  The entire amount of interest attributable to such Loan for the period from and including the date on which such Loan is made on such Lender’s behalf, to but excluding the date the Administrative Agent is reimbursed in respect of such Loan by such Lender, will be paid to the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

SECTION 2.07                     [Reserved] .

 

SECTION 2.08                     Termination and Reduction of Commitments .

 

(1)                                  Unless previously terminated, the Revolving Facility Commitments will terminate on the Maturity Date.

 

(2)                                  The Borrowers may at any time terminate, or from time to time reduce, any Class of the Revolving Facility Commitments; provided that (i) each reduction of the Revolving Facility Commitments will be in an amount that is an integral multiple of $1.0 million and not less than $5.0 million (or, if less, the remaining amount of the applicable Revolving Facility Commitments), (ii) the U.S. Borrowers and the Canadian Borrowers will not terminate or reduce the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, either the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure would exceed the U.S. Line Cap or the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure would exceed the Canadian Line Cap, (iii) the French Borrowers will not terminate or reduce the French Revolving Facility Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the French Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, the French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to each French Borrower would exceed the French Borrower Line Cap with respect to such French Borrower, (iv) the German Borrowers, the Spanish Borrowers and the U.K. Borrowers will not terminate or reduce the European Revolving Facility Commitments if, after giving effect to any concurrent prepayment of the European Revolving Loans in accordance with Section 2.11, either the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of any German Borrower would exceed the German Line Cap with respect to such German Borrower, the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of the Spanish Borrowers would exceed the Spanish Line Cap or the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure of the U.K. Borrowers would exceed the U.K. Line Cap.

 

(3)                                  The Borrowers will notify the Administrative Agent of any election to terminate or reduce any Class of the Revolving Facility Commitments under paragraph (2) of this Section 2.08 at least three Business Days prior to the date of such termination or reduction, specifying such election and

 

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the date thereof.  Promptly following receipt of any notice, the Administrative Agent will advise the Lenders of the contents thereof.  Each notice delivered by Borrowers pursuant to this Section 2.08 will be irrevocable; provided that a notice of termination of the Revolving Facility Commitments delivered by Borrowers may state that such notice is revocable or conditioned upon the effectiveness of other credit facilities, in which case such notice may be revoked or extended by Borrowers (by notice to the Administrative Agent on or prior to the specified Closing Date).  Any termination or reduction of the Revolving Facility Commitments will be permanent.  Each reduction of any Class of the Revolving Facility Commitments will be made ratably among the Lenders in accordance with their respective Revolving Facility Commitments of such Class.

 

SECTION 2.09                     Promise to Pay; Evidence of Debt .

 

(1)                                  On the Maturity Date, each U.S. Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay (i) to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment the then unpaid principal amount of each U.S./Canadian Revolving Loan, U.S. Protective Advance or U.S. Overadvance, in each case made to any of the U.S. Borrowers and (ii) to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan made to a U.S. Borrower.  On the Maturity Date, each Canadian Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment the then unpaid principal amount of each U.S./Canadian Revolving Loan, Canadian Protective Advance or Canadian Overadvance, in each case, made to any of the Canadian Borrowers.  On the Maturity Date, each French Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each French Revolving Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each French Revolving Loan, French Protective Advance or French Overadvance, in each case, made to such French Borrower.  On the Maturity Date, each German Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment the then unpaid principal amount of each European Revolving Loan, German Protective Advance or German Overadvance, in each case, made to such German Borrower.  On the Maturity Date, each Spanish Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment the then unpaid principal amount of each European Revolving Loan, Spanish Protective Advance or Spanish Overadvance made to any Spanish Borrower.  On the Maturity Date, each U.K. Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment the then unpaid principal amount of each European Revolving Loan, U.K. Protective Advance or U.K. Overadvance, in each case, made to any U.K. Borrower. Each U.S. Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Swingline Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Swingline Loan on the earlier of the Maturity Date and the fifth Business Day after such Swingline Loan is made; provided that on each date that a Revolving Loan is made, the Borrower shall repay all Swingline Loans then outstanding and the proceeds of any such Revolving Loan shall be applied by the Administrative Agent to repay any Swingline Loans outstanding.

 

(2)                                  Any Lender may request that Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note (a “ Note ”).  In such event, the applicable Borrowers will prepare, execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender (or, if requested by such Lender, to such Lender and its registered assigns) and in a form approved by the Administrative Agent and reasonably acceptable to Borrowers.  Thereafter, the Loans evidenced by such Note and interest thereon at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) will be represented by one or more Notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if requested by such payee, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

(3)                                  The Administrative Agent will maintain accounts in which it will record (a) the amount of each Loan to the applicable Borrowers made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest

 

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Period (if any) applicable thereto, (b) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from the applicable Borrowers to each Lender hereunder and (c) any amount received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.  The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to this paragraph (3) will be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein will not in any manner affect the obligations of the applicable Borrowers to repay the Obligations in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 2.10                     Optional Repayment of Loans .

 

(1)                                  The Borrowers will have the right at any time and from time to time to repay any Loan in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (but subject to Section 2.16), in an aggregate principal amount, (a) in the case of Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans, that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $2.5 million, and (b) in the case of ABR Loans, that is an integral multiple of $100,000 and not less than $1.0 million, or, in each case, if less, the amount outstanding.

 

(2)                                  Prior to any repayment of any Loans, the Borrowers will select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid and will notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile transmission or e-mail) of such selection not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, (a) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, one Business Day before the anticipated date of such repayment and (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing, three Business Days before the anticipated date of such repayment.  Each repayment of a Borrowing will be applied to the Loans included in the repaid Borrowing such that each Lender receives its ratable share of such repayment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the immediately preceding sentence, prior to any repayment of a Swingline Loan hereunder, the applicable Borrowers will select the Borrowing or Borrowings to be repaid and will notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile transmission or e-mail) of such selection not later than 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on the scheduled date of such repayment.  Repayments of Eurocurrency Borrowings and CDOR Rate Borrowings will be accompanied by accrued interest on the amount repaid, together with any amounts due under Section 2.16.

 

SECTION 2.11                     Mandatory Repayment of Loans .

 

(1)                                  In the event (a) the aggregate amount of the U.S. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds the U.S. Line Cap at such time, then the U.S. Borrowers will on such Business Day repay outstanding U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans made to a U.S. Borrower, and, if there remains an excess after paying all such U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, cash collateralize U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a U.S. Borrower (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, (b) the aggregate amount of the Canadian Borrower Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds the Canadian Line Cap at such time, then the Canadian Borrowers will on such Business Day repay outstanding U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans made to a Canadian Borrower, and, if there remains an excess after paying all such U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans made to them, cash collateralize U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on their behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, (c) the aggregate amount of the French Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to any French Borrower exceeds the French Line Cap with respect to such French Borrower at such time, then such French Borrower will on such Business Day repay outstanding French Revolving Loans and, if there remains an excess after paying all such French Revolving Loans, cash collateralize French  Letters of Credit issued on its behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, (d) the aggregate amount of the German Revolving Facility Credit Exposure with respect to any German Borrower exceeds

 

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the German Line Cap with respect to such German Borrower at such time, then such German Borrower will on such Business Day repay such outstanding European Revolving Loans and, if there remains an excess after paying all such European Revolving Loans, cash collateralize European Letters of Credit issued on its behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, (e) the aggregate amount of the Spanish Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds the Spanish Line Cap at such time, then the Spanish Borrowers will on such Business Day repay outstanding European Revolving Loans, and, if there remains an excess after paying all such European Revolving Loans made to them, cash collateralize European Letters of Credit issued on their behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, (f) the aggregate amount of the U.K. Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds the U.K. Line Cap at such time, then the U.K. Borrowers will on such Business Day repay outstanding European Revolving Loans, and, if there remains an excess after paying all such European Revolving Loans made to them, cash collateralize European Letters of Credit issued on their behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, and (g) the aggregate amount of the total Revolving Facility Credit Exposure exceeds the Line Cap at such time, then the applicable Borrowers will on such Business Day repay outstanding Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, and, if there remains an excess after paying all Revolving Loans and Swingline Loans, cash collateralize Letters of Credit (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an aggregate amount equal to such excess.

 

(2)                                  [Reserved].

 

(3)                                  In the event and on such occasion as the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure and/or the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure exceeds the U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit Sublimit, the U.S. Borrowers or the Canadian Borrowers, as applicable, will deposit cash collateral (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an amount equal to such excess.  In the event and on such occasion as the aggregate French Revolving L/C Exposure exceeds the French Letter of Credit Sublimit, the applicable French Borrowers will deposit cash collateral for Letters of Credit issued on its behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an amount equal to such excess.  In the event and on such occasion as the aggregate German Revolving L/C Exposure, the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure and/or the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure exceeds the European Letter of Credit Sublimit, the applicable German Borrowers, Spanish Borrowers or U.K. Borrower will deposit cash collateral for Letters of Credit issued on its behalf (in accordance with Section 2.05(11)) in an amount equal to such excess.

 

(4)                                  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period, all amounts in the Dominion Account shall be applied by the Administrative Agent pursuant to clause (b) of the proviso to Section 5.11.

 

(5)                                  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period, the Borrowers will prepay Revolving Loans (with no reduction in commitments), cash collateralize Letters of Credit at 103% of the face amount thereof.  Any amounts prepaid pursuant to this clause (5) will be applied pursuant to the waterfall set forth in Section 2.18(3); provided that amounts applied pursuant to subclause (iv)  of clause (a) thereof and subclause (iv) of clause (b) thereof will be applied:

 

(a)                                  first , to ABR Loans; and

 

(b)                                  second , to Eurocurrency Loans and CDOR Rate Loans.

 

SECTION 2.12                     Fees .

 

(1)                                  Holdings agrees to pay to each Revolving Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender), through the Administrative Agent, on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of the

 

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Borrowers in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Revolving Facility Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a commitment fee (a “ Commitment Fee ”) on the daily amount of the Available Unused Commitment of such Lender during the preceding fiscal quarter (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the date on which the last of the Revolving Facility Commitments of such Lender will be terminated, as applicable) at a rate equal to the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage (which shall be adjusted quarterly on each Adjustment Date).  All Commitment Fees will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days and in Dollars.  For the purpose of calculating any Lender’s Commitment Fee, the outstanding Swingline Loans during the period for which such Lender’s Commitment Fee is calculated will be deemed to be zero.  The Commitment Fee due to each Lender will commence to accrue on the Closing Date and will cease to accrue on the date on which the last of the Commitments of such Lender will be terminated as provided herein.

 

(2)                                  The U.S. Borrowers agree to pay to:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment (other than any Defaulting Lender, it being understood that at any time the Issuing Bank has Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, the U.S. L/C Participation Fee with respect to such Fronting Exposure will be payable to the Issuing Bank for its own account), on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fee (a “ U.S.   L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the daily aggregate U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed U.S. L/C Disbursements), during the preceding fiscal calendar (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments are terminated, as applicable) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings effective for each day in such period; and

 

(b)                                  each Issuing Bank, for its own account (i) on the first Business Day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first Business Day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fronting fee in respect of each U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit issued on behalf of a U.S. Borrower issued by, or the term of which is extended by, such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance or extension of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily stated amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit plus (ii) such Issuing Bank’s customary issuance fees and customary documentary and processing fees and charges (collectively, “ U.S.   Issuing Bank Fees ”).  All U.S. L/C Participation Fees and U.S. Issuing Bank Fees that are payable in Dollars on a per annum basis will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

 

(3)                                  The Canadian Borrowers agree to pay to:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment (other than any Defaulting Lender, it being

 

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understood that at any time the Issuing Bank has Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, the Canadian L/C Participation Fee with respect to such Fronting Exposure will be payable to the Issuing Bank for its own account), on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fee (a “ Canadian L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the daily aggregate Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed Canadian L/C Disbursements), during the preceding fiscal quarter (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments are terminated, as applicable) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings effective for each day in such period; and

 

(b)                                  each Issuing Bank, for its own account (i) on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fronting fee in respect of each U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit issued on behalf of a Canadian Borrower issued by, or the term of which is extended by, such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance or extension of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily stated amount of such U.S./Canadian Letter of Credit plus (ii) such Issuing Bank’s customary issuance fees and customary documentary and processing fees and charges (collectively, “ Canadian Issuing Bank Fees ”).  All Canadian L/C Participation Fees and Canadian Issuing Bank Fees that are payable in Dollars on a per annum basis will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

 

(4)                                  Each applicable French Borrower agrees to pay to:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent for the account of each French Revolving Lender (other than any Defaulting Lender, it being understood that at any time the Issuing Bank has Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, the French L/C Participation Fee with respect to such Fronting Exposure will be payable to the Issuing Bank for its own account), on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fee (a “ French L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s French Revolving Facility Percentage of the daily aggregate French Revolving L/C Exposure  with respect to French Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such French Borrower (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed French L/C Disbursements), during the preceding fiscal quarter (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments are terminated, as applicable) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings effective for each day in such period; and

 

(b)                                  each Issuing Bank, for its own account (i) on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a

 

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fronting fee in respect of each  French Letter of Credit issued on behalf such French Borrower issued by, or the term of which is extended by, such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance or extension of such French Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such French Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily stated amount of such French Letter of Credit plus (ii) such Issuing Bank’s customary issuance fees and customary documentary and processing fees and charges (collectively, “ French Issuing Bank Fees ”).  All French L/C Participation Fees and French Issuing Bank Fees that are payable in Dollars on a per annum basis will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

 

(5)                                  Each applicable German Borrower agrees to pay to:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment (other than any Defaulting Lender, it being understood that at any time the Issuing Bank has Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, the German L/C Participation Fee with respect to such Fronting Exposure will be payable to the Issuing Bank for its own account), on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fee (a “ German L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the daily aggregate German Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed German L/C Disbursements), during the preceding fiscal quarter (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments are terminated, as applicable) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings effective for each day in such period; and

 

(b)                                  each Issuing Bank, for its own account (i) on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fronting fee in respect of each  European Letter of Credit issued on behalf such German Borrower issued by, or the term of which is extended by, such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance or extension of such European Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such European Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily stated amount of such European Letter of Credit plus (ii) such Issuing Bank’s customary issuance fees and customary documentary and processing fees and charges (collectively, “ French Issuing Bank Fees ”).  All French L/C Participation Fees and French Issuing Bank Fees that are payable in Dollars on a per annum basis will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

 

(6)                                  The Spanish Borrowers agree to pay to:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment (other than any Defaulting Lender, it being understood that at any time the Issuing Bank has Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, the Spanish L/C Participation Fee with respect to such Fronting Exposure will be payable to the Issuing Bank for its own account), on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of

 

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Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fee (a “ Spanish L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the daily aggregate Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed Spanish L/C Disbursements), during the preceding fiscal quarter (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments are terminated, as applicable) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings effective for each day in such period; and

 

(b)                                  each Issuing Bank, for its own account (i) on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fronting fee in respect of each European Letter of Credit issued on behalf of a Spanish Borrower issued by, or the term of which is extended by, such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance or extension of such European Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such European Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily stated amount of such European Letter of Credit plus (ii) such Issuing Bank’s customary issuance fees and customary documentary and processing fees and charges (collectively, “ Spanish Issuing Bank Fees ”).  All Spanish L/C Participation Fees and Spanish Issuing Bank Fees that are payable in Dollars on a per annum basis will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

 

(7)                                  The U.K. Borrowers agree to pay to:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent for the account of each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment (other than any Defaulting Lender, it being understood that at any time the Issuing Bank has Fronting Exposure to such Defaulting Lender, the U.K. L/C Participation Fee with respect to such Fronting Exposure will be payable to the Issuing Bank for its own account), on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fee (a “ U.K. L/C Participation Fee ”) on such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the daily aggregate U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure (excluding the portion thereof attributable to unreimbursed U.K. L/C Disbursements), during the preceding fiscal quarter (or in the case of the first full fiscal quarter, the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending with the end of the first full fiscal quarter, or ending with the Maturity Date or the date on which the Commitments are terminated, as applicable) at the rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin for Eurocurrency Revolving Facility Borrowings effective for each day in such period; and

 

(b)                                  each Issuing Bank, for its own account (i) on the first day after the end of each fiscal quarter of Holdings in each fiscal year, commencing with the first day after the end of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date, and on each Maturity Date and any date on which the Commitments of all the Lenders are terminated as provided herein, a fronting fee in respect of each European Letter of Credit issued on behalf of a U.K. Borrower issued by, or the term of which is extended by, such Issuing Bank for the period from and including the date of issuance or extension of such European Letter of Credit to and including the termination of such European Letter of Credit, computed at a rate equal to 0.125% per annum of the daily stated amount of such European Letter of Credit plus (ii) such Issuing Bank’s customary

 

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issuance fees and customary documentary and processing fees and charges (collectively, “ U.K. Issuing Bank Fees ” and together with the U.S. Issuing Bank Fees, Canadian Issuing Bank Fees, French Issuing Bank Fees, German Issuing Bank Fees and Spanish Issuing Bank Fees, the “ Issuing Bank Fees ”).  All U.K. L/C Participation Fees and U.K. Issuing Bank Fees that are payable in Dollars on a per annum basis will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in a year of 360 days.

 

(8)                                  Holdings agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the agency fees set forth in the applicable fee letter among the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the times and on the terms specified therein (the “ Administrative Agent Fees ”).

 

(9)                                  All Fees will be paid on the dates due, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders, except that Issuing Bank Fees will be paid directly to the applicable Issuing Banks.  Once paid, none of the Fees will be refundable under any circumstances.  No payment of Fees will be made by a French Loan Party on an account opened with a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 2.13                     Interest .

 

(1)                                  The Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing (including each Swingline Loan) will bear interest at the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(2)                                  The Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing will bear interest at the Adjusted LIBOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(3)                                  The Loans comprising each CDOR Rate Borrowing will bear interest at the CDOR Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(4)                                  Following the occurrence and during the continuation of a Specified Event of Default, the applicable Borrowers will pay interest on overdue amounts hereunder at a rate per annum equal to (a) in the case of overdue principal of any Loan, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.13 or (b) in the case of overdue interest or any other overdue amount, 2.00% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in clause (1) of this Section 2.13.

 

(5)                                  Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount only if, within the meaning of article 1343-2 of the French Code civil, such interest is due by a French Loan Party for a period of at least one year, but will remain immediately due and payable.

 

(6)                                  Accrued interest on each Loan will be payable by the applicable Borrowers, in arrears (a) on each Interest Payment Date for such Loan; (b) on the applicable Maturity Date; and (c) upon termination of the Commitments; provided that:

 

(i)                                      interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (4) of this Section 2.13 will be payable on demand;

 

(ii)                                   in the event of any repayment of any Loan (other than a repayment of an ABR Revolving Loan or Swingline Loan prior to the end of the Availability Period), accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid will be payable on the date of such repayment; and

 

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(iii)                                in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Loan will be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(7)                                  All interest hereunder will be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the ABR at times when the ABR is based on the prime rate or by reference to the CDOR Rate and Loans denominated in Sterling will be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and, in each case, will be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable ABR, Adjusted LIBOR Rate, LIBOR Rate or CDOR Rate will be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination will be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

(8)                                  For purposes of the Interest Act (Canada), (i) whenever any interest or fee under this Agreement is calculated using a rate based on a year of 360 days or any other period of time that is less than a calendar year, the rate determined pursuant to such calculation, when expressed as an annual rate, is equivalent to (x) the applicable rate based on a year of 360 days or any other period, (y) multiplied by the actual number of days in the calendar year in which the period for which such interest is payable (or compounded) ends and (z) divided by 360, or such other period of time that is less than the calendar year, (ii) the principle of deemed reinvestment of interest does not apply to any interest calculation under this Agreement and (iii) the rates of interest stipulated in this Agreement are intended to be nominal rates and not effective rates or yields.

 

(9)                                  If any provision of this Agreement would oblige any Borrower to make any payment of interest or other amount payable to any Lender in an amount or calculated at a rate which would be prohibited by applicable law or would result in a receipt by that Lender of “interest” at a “criminal rate” (as such terms are construed under the Criminal Code (Canada)), then, notwithstanding such provision, such amount or rate shall be deemed to have been adjusted with retroactive effect to the maximum amount or rate of interest, as the case may be, as would not be so prohibited by law or so result in a receipt by that Lender of “interest” at a “criminal rate”.

 

(10)                           In the event the Spanish Borrower fails to timely pay any amount due and payable under the Agreement, it shall pay interest in respect of such amounts due and unpaid in accordance with Article 316 of Spanish Code of Commerce, as amended, which shall accrue at the applicable rate calculated in accordance with this clause (9) .  Such interest due and unpaid by the Spanish Borrower shall be capitalized on a monthly basis for the purposes of Article 316 et. seq. of Spanish Code of Commerce.

 

SECTION 2.14                     Alternate Rate of Interest .  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing:

 

(1)                                  the Administrative Agent determines (which determination will be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBOR Rate, the LIBOR Rate, or the CDOR Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

(2)                                  the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that Adjusted LIBOR Rate, the LIBOR Rate, or the CDOR Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders by telephone, facsimile transmission or e-mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the

 

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Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (i) with respect to any Borrowing denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars with respect to a U.S. Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, (a) any Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice that requests the conversion of any applicable Borrowing to, or continuation of any such Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing will be ineffective and such Borrowing will be converted to or continued as on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto an ABR Borrowing, and (b) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing, such Borrowing will be made as an ABR Borrowing and (ii) with respect to any other Borrowing, any Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice that requests the a Borrowing of or the continuation of any such Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing, will be ineffective and such Borrowing will be converted to or continued as on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto a Loan bearing interest at an alternative rate mutually acceptable to the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders, provided , however , that if the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders cannot agree within a reasonable time on an alternative rate for such Loans, the Borrowers may, at their discretion, either (i) prepay such Loans or (ii) maintain such Loans outstanding, in which case, the interest rate payable to the applicable Lender on such Loans will be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent as its cost of funds to fund a Borrowing of such Loans with maturities comparable to the Interest Period applicable thereto plus the Applicable Margin.

 

SECTION 2.15                     Increased Costs .

 

(1)                                  If any Change in Law:

 

(a)                                  imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBOR Rate) or Issuing Bank;

 

(b)                                  imposes on any Lender or Issuing Bank or the London interbank market or Canadian interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans made by such Lender or any Letter of Credit or participation therein; or

 

(c)                                   subjects any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (a) Indemnified Taxes, (b) Taxes described in clauses (2) through (5) of the definition of Excluded Taxes, (c) Connection Income Taxes and (d) any Taxes attributable to a U.K. Tax Deduction required to be made by a Loan Party) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making, continuing, converting or maintaining any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Loan) or to increase the cost to such Lender or Issuing Bank of participating in, issuing or maintaining any Letter of Credit or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender or Issuing Bank hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the applicable Borrowers will pay to such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

(2)                                  If any Lender or Issuing Bank determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Loans made by, or participations in Letters of Credit or

 

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Swingline Loans held by, such Lender, or the Letters of Credit issued by such Issuing Bank, to a level below that which such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the applicable Borrowers will pay to such Lender or such Issuing Bank, as applicable, such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Issuing Bank or such Lender’s or such Issuing Bank’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(3)                                  A certificate of a Lender or an Issuing Bank setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or Issuing Bank or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section 2.15 will be delivered to the Borrowers and will be conclusive absent manifest error.  The applicable Borrowers will pay such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

 

(4)                                  Promptly after any Lender or any Issuing Bank has determined that it will make a request for increased compensation pursuant to this Section 2.15, such Lender or Issuing Bank will notify the Borrowers thereof.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender or Issuing Bank to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.15 will not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers will not be required to compensate a Lender or an Issuing Bank pursuant to this Section 2.15 for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender or Issuing Bank, as applicable, notifies the Borrowers of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s or Issuing Bank’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided , further , that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180-day period referred to above will be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.16                     Break Funding Payments .  Except as otherwise set forth herein, the applicable Borrowers will compensate each Lender for the actual out-of-pocket loss, cost and expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) attributable to the following events:

 

(1)                                  the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default);

 

(2)                                  the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto;

 

(3)                                  the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto; or

 

(4)                                  the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.19.

 

A certificate of any Lender setting forth in reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.16 will be delivered to the Borrowers and will be conclusive absent manifest error.  The applicable Borrowers will pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

 

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SECTION 2.17                     Taxes .

 

(1)                                  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder shall be made free and clear of and without any Tax Deduction, except as required by applicable law; provided that if any Tax Deductions are to be made under any applicable law from such payments (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Loan Party or the applicable withholding agent), then (a) such Loan Party (or other applicable withholding agent) will make such deductions; (b) such Loan Party (or other applicable withholding agent) will timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law; and (c) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax (but subject to subsection (2) below), the sum payable by the Loan Party will be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions have been made (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.17) the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, receives an amount equal to the amount it would have received had no such Tax Deductions been made.

 

(2)                                  A payment shall not be increased under subsection (1) above by reason of a U.K. Tax Deduction if, on the date on which the payment falls due:

 

(a)                                  the payment could have been made to the relevant Lender without a U.K. Tax Deduction if the Lender had been a U.K. Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a U.K. Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or U.K. Treaty or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority; or

 

(b)                                  the relevant Lender is a U.K. Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (b) of the definition of “U.K. Qualifying Lender” and:

 

(i)                                      an officer of HM Revenue & Customs has given (and not revoked) a direction (a “ Direction ”) under section 931 of the U.K. ITA which relates to the payment and that Lender has received from the Loan Party making the payment or from the Company a certified copy of that Direction; and

 

(ii)                                   the payment could have been made to the Lender without any U.K. Tax Deduction if that Direction had not been made; or

 

(c)                                   the relevant Lender is a U.K. Qualifying Lender solely by virtue of paragraph (b) of the definition of “U.K. Qualifying Lender” and:

 

(i)                                      the relevant Lender has not given a U.K. Tax Confirmation to the Company; and

 

(ii)                                   the payment could have been made to the Lender without any U.K. Tax Deduction if the Lender had given a U.K. Tax Confirmation to the relevant Loan Party, on the basis that the U.K. Tax Confirmation would have enabled such Loan Party to have formed a reasonable belief that the payment was an “excepted payment” for the purpose of section 930 of the U.K. ITA; or

 

(d)                                  the relevant Lender is a U.K. Treaty Lender and the Loan Party making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender without the U.K. Tax Deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under subsection (6)(e) below.

 

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(3)                                  In addition, the Loan Parties will pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of such Other Taxes.

 

(4)                                  The Loan Parties will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within ten days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Loan Party hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.17 but only to the extent necessary to preserve the after-tax yield the Administrative Agent or Lender (as applicable) would have received if such Indemnified Taxes imposed thereon had not been imposed) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority; provided , the foregoing indemnity shall not apply to any Indemnified Taxes compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(1), or which would have been compensated for by an increased payment under Section 2.17(1) but was not so compensated solely because one of the exclusions in Section 2.17(2) applied. A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to such Loan Party by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, will be conclusive absent manifest error.  The limitations set out in the Guaranty shall apply mutatis mutandis.

 

(5)                                  Within 30 days after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by a Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.17, such Loan Party shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(6)                                  (a)                                  Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document (other than with respect to a U.K. Tax Deduction to which the provisions of Section 2.17(6)(e)-(i) shall apply, as applicable) will deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, when requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent at least 30 days before any prepayment is due or made to that Lender under this Agreement, such properly completed and executed documentation requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, (other than with respect to a payment obliged to be made by a U.K. Borrower to which the provisions of section 2.17(6)(e)-(i) shall apply, as applicable), if requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, will deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  If the Loan Party is able to demonstrate that an increased Tax Deduction applies due to the failure of the Lender to comply with this paragraph (a), the payment by the Loan Party pursuant to paragraph (1) of Clause 2.17 (Tax Gross-Up) shall be limited in respect of the Tax Deduction that would have been made by such Loan Party had that Lender fulfilled its obligations in completing the procedural formalities necessary to benefit from an exemption or a reduction of Tax Deduction.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting the effect of Section 2.17(6)(a) above, each Recipient that is a U.S. Person will deliver to the U.S. Borrowers and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Recipient becomes a party under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax.

 

(c)                                   Without limiting the effect of Section 2.17(6)(a) above, each Foreign Lender will, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the U.S. Borrowers and the Administrative

 

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Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), copies of whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                                      duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto), claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States is a party;

 

(ii)                                   duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto);

 

(iii)                                in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or Section 881(c) of the Code, (A) a certificate substantially in the form of the applicable Exhibit E to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not (1) a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; (2) a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) or Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code; or (3) a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code and (B) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto);

 

(iv)                               duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, together with forms and certificates described in clauses (i) through (iii) above (and any additional Form W-8IMYs) and, if applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, as may be required; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the benefits of the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a certificate substantially in the form of the applicable Exhibit E on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; or

 

(v)                                  any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

(d)                                  Without limiting the effect of Section 2.17(6)(a) above, in respect of a Spanish Borrower, each Lender not resident for tax purposes in Spain shall, to the extent is legally entitled to do so, as soon as reasonably practical after the date on which it becomes a Lender, supply a tax residence certificate issued by the tax authorities of the jurisdiction in which such Lender is resident for tax purposes and, if such Lender is a Spanish Treaty Lender or otherwise entitled to the benefits of a double tax treaty entered into between such Lender’s jurisdiction of tax residence and Spain (other than an EU Lender), a tax residence certificate or the applicable tax treaty form accrediting that such Lender is resident for tax purposes in such jurisdiction within the meaning of such treaty.

 

(e)                                   Without limiting the effect of Sections 2.17(6)(a)-(d) above:

 

(i)                                      subject to subsection (ii) below, a U.K. Treaty Lender (or a Lender which would be a U.K. Treaty Lender upon the completion of any necessary procedural formalities) and each Loan Party which makes a payment to which that U.K. Treaty Lender is entitled shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that Loan Party to obtain authorization to make that payment without a U.K. Tax Deduction;

 

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(ii)                                   a U.K. Treaty Lender that holds a passport under the HM Revenue & Customs DT Treaty Passport scheme, and which wishes that scheme to apply to this Agreement, shall confirm in writing its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence to any U.K. Loan Party and the Administrative Agent, and having done so that U.K. Treaty Lender shall be under no further obligation pursuant to subsection (e)(i) above; and

 

(iii)                                if a U.K. Treaty Lender has confirmed its scheme reference number and its jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with subsection (e)(ii) above and: (a) a U.K. Borrower making a payment to that Lender has not made a U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing in respect of that Lender; or (b) a U.K. Borrower making a payment to that Lender has made a U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing but (1) that U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing has been rejected by HM Revenue & Customs; or (2) HM Revenue & Customs have not given the U.K. Borrower authority to make payments to that Lender without a U.K. Tax Deduction within 60 days of the date of the U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing, and in each case, the U.K. Borrower has notified that Lender in writing, that Lender and the U.K. Borrower shall co-operate in completing any procedural formalities necessary for that U.K. Borrower to obtain authorization to make that payment without a U.K. Tax Deduction.

 

(f)                                    If a U.K. Treaty Lender has not confirmed its scheme reference number and jurisdiction of tax residence in accordance with subsection (e) above, no U.K. Borrower shall make a U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing or file any other form relating to the HM Revenue & Customs DT Treaty Passport scheme in respect of that Lender’s Loan(s) unless that Lender otherwise agrees.

 

(g)                                   A U.K. Borrower shall, promptly on making a U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing, deliver a copy of that U.K. Borrower DTTP Filing to the Administrative Agent for delivery to the relevant U.K. Treaty Lender.

 

(h)                                  A U.K. Non-Bank Lender which becomes a party to this Agreement gives a U.K. Tax Confirmation to any U.K. Borrower by entering into this Agreement.  A U.K. Non-Bank Lender shall promptly notify any U.K. Borrower and the Administrative Agent if there is any change in the position from that set out in the U.K. Tax Confirmation.

 

(i)                                      Each Lender which becomes a party to this Agreement after the date of this Agreement shall indicate, in the Assignment and Acceptance which it executes on becoming a Lender (or in respect of an Initial Lender, in the Initial Lender Certificate), which of the following categories it falls in:

 

(i)                                      in respect of a U.K. Borrower: (A) not a U.K. Qualifying Lender; (B) a U.K. Qualifying Lender (other than a U.K. Treaty Lender); or (C) a U.K. Treaty Lender (on the assumption that all procedural formalities have been completed);

 

(ii)                                   in respect of a Spanish Borrower: (A) not a Spanish Qualifying Lender; (B) a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Lender; (C) a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Treaty Lender; or (D) a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is an EU Lender; and

 

(iii)                                in respect of any other Borrower: (A) not a Qualifying Lender; (B) a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender); or (C) a Treaty Lender.

 

If a Lender fails to indicate its status in accordance with subsection (i)(i) or (ii) above (as applicable) then such Lender shall be treated for the purposes of this Agreement (including by each U.K. Loan Party, Spanish Loan Party or other Loan Party (as applicable)) as if it is not a U.K. Qualifying Lender, Spanish

 

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Qualifying Lender or Qualifying Lender (as applicable) until such time as it notifies the Administrative Agent which category applies (and the Administrative Agent, upon receipt of such notification, shall inform each U.K. Borrower, Spanish Borrower or the Company (as applicable)).  Such new Lender shall also specify, in the Assignment and Acceptance which it executes on becoming a Party, whether it is incorporated or acting through a Facility Office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction.  For the avoidance of doubt, an Assignment and Acceptance shall not be invalidated by any failure of a Lender to comply with this subsection (i).

 

(7)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if a Lender assigns or transfers any of its rights or obligations with respect to a Loan or changes its Lending Office in respect of such Loan, and as a result of circumstances existing at the date the assignment, transfer or change occurs, a Loan Party would be obliged to make a payment to the successor or assign or Lender acting through its new Lending Office under Section 2.17(1) or 2.17(4) in respect of a U.K. Tax Deduction, then such successor or assign or Lender acting through its new Lending Office is only entitled to receive payment under those Sections to the same extent as the assigning or transferring Lender or Lender acting through its previous Lending Office would have been if the assignment, transfer or change had not occurred.

 

(8)                                  If a payment made to a Recipient under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Recipient were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Recipient will deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for each Borrower and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Recipient has complied with such Recipient’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (8), “FATCA” will include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

(9)                                  Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, the Lender shall, following written request by the relevant Borrower or the Administrative Agent at least 30 days before such an expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy occurs, update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

(10)                           If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion, exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes (by means of a credit against, relief or remission for, or repayment of any Taxes) as to which it has been indemnified by a Loan Party or with respect to which such Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.17, it will pay over promptly an amount equal to such refund to such Loan Party (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section 2.17 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender (including any Taxes imposed with respect to such refund) and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that such Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay as soon as reasonably practicable the amount paid over to such Loan Party pursuant to this Section 2.17(10) ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  Without prejudice to the generality of the preceding sentence, in the event that (i) a U.K. Tax Deduction is required to be made in connection with a payment

 

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to a Lender which is a U.K. Treaty Lender and (ii) an increased payment is made in connection with such U.K. Tax Deduction pursuant to subsection (1) above, then such Lender shall reasonably cooperate with the relevant U.K. Loan Party in order to obtain a refund of the amount of such U.K. Tax Deduction from HM Revenue & Customs (and, in the event that the amount of such U.K. Tax Deduction is refunded to such Lender, such Lender shall without unreasonable delay reimburse such amount to the relevant U.K. Borrower so that the Lender is in the same after-Tax position that it would have been in if such increased payment had not been made).  This Section 2.17(10) will not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems, in good faith, to be confidential) to the Loan Parties or any other Person or to interfere with its right to arrange its tax affairs in such a manner as it may see fit.

 

(11)                           Value added tax:

 

(a)                                  All amounts expressed to be payable under any Loan Document by any Party to a Lender which (in whole or in part) constitute the consideration for any supply for VAT purposes are deemed to be exclusive of any VAT which is chargeable on that supply, and accordingly, subject to paragraph (b) below, if VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Lender to any Party under a Loan Document and such Lender is required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT, that Party must pay to such Lender (in addition to and at the same time as paying any other consideration for such supply) an amount equal to the amount of the VAT (and such Lender must promptly provide an appropriate VAT invoice to that Party).

 

(b)                                  If VAT is or becomes chargeable on any supply made by any Lender (the “ Payee ”) to any other Lender (the “ Payor ”) under a Loan Document, and any Party other than the Payor (the “ Relevant Party ”) is required by the terms of any Loan Document to pay an amount equal to the consideration for that supply to the Payee (rather than being required to reimburse or indemnify the Payor in respect of that consideration):

 

(i)                                      (where the Payee is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must also pay to the Payee (at the same time as paying that amount) an additional amount equal to the amount of the VAT. The Payor must (where this paragraph (i) applies) promptly pay to the Relevant Party an amount equal to any credit or repayment the Payor receives from the relevant tax authority which the Payor reasonably determines relates to the VAT chargeable on that supply; and

 

(ii)                                   (where the Payor is the person required to account to the relevant tax authority for the VAT) the Relevant Party must promptly, following demand from the Payor, pay to the Payor an amount equal to the VAT chargeable on that supply but only to the extent that the Payor reasonably determines that it is not entitled to credit or repayment from the relevant tax authority in respect of that VAT.

 

(c)                                   Where a Loan Document requires any Party to reimburse or indemnify a Lender for any cost or expense, that Party shall reimburse or indemnify (as the case may be) such Lender for the full amount of such cost or expense, including such part thereof as represents VAT, save to the extent that such Lender reasonably determines that it is entitled to credit or repayment in respect of such VAT from the relevant tax authority.

 

(d)                                  In relation to any supply made by a Lender to any Party under a Loan Document, if reasonably requested by such Lender, that Party must promptly provide such Lender with details of that Party’s VAT registration and such other information as is reasonably

 

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requested in connection with such Lender’s VAT reporting requirements in relation to such supply.

 

(e)                                   Any reference in this section 11 (Value Added Tax) to any party shall, at any time when such party is treated as a member of a group for VAT purposes, include (where appropriate and unless the context otherwise requires) a reference to the person who is treated as making the supply or (as appropriate) receiving the supply under the grouping rules (as provided for in Article 11 of the Council Directive 2006/112/EC (or as implemented by the relevant member state of the European Union or any other similar provision in any jurisdiction which is not a member state of the European Union)) (including, for the avoidance of doubt, in accordance with section 43 of the United Kingdom Value Added Tax Act 1994) so that a reference to a Party shall be construed as a reference to that Party or the relevant group or unity (or fiscal unity) of which that Party is a member for VAT purposes at the relevant time or the relevant member (or head) of that group or unity (or fiscal unity) at the relevant time (as the case may be).

 

(12)                           A payment by the German Borrower shall not be increased pursuant to Section 2.17(1) by reason of a withholding or deduction for, or on account of, Taxes imposed by Germany if on the date on which the payment falls due (i) the payment could have been made to the Lender without a withholding or deduction if the Lender had been a German Qualifying Lender, but on that date that Lender is not or has ceased to be a German Qualifying Lender other than as a result of any change after the date it became a Lender under this Agreement in (or in the interpretation, administration, or application of) any law or German Treaty, or any published practice or published concession of any relevant taxing authority, or (ii) the relevant Lender is a German Treaty Lender and the Loan Party making the payment is able to demonstrate that the payment could have been made to the Lender, without the withholding or deduction had that Lender complied with its obligations under Section 2.17(6)(a) above .

 

(13)                           Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.17 will survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(14)                           For purposes of this Section 2.17, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA and the term “Lender” includes any Issuing Bank.

 

SECTION 2.18                     Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .

 

(1)                                  Unless otherwise specified, (a) the applicable Borrowers will make each payment required to be made by them hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees, reimbursement of L/C Disbursements or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., Local Time, at the Payment Office, except payments to be made directly to the applicable Issuing Bank or the Swingline Lender as expressly provided herein and except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.05 will be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto; and (b) each such payment will be made, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without condition or deduction for any defense, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  The Administrative Agent will distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof and will make settlements with the Lenders with respect to other payments at the times and in the manner provided in this Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein, if any payment hereunder is due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment will be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment

 

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accruing interest, interest thereon will be payable for the period of such extension.  Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder will be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent, at or before such time, has taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.  Notwithstanding anything contrary in this Section 2.18(1), no payment under the Loan Documents shall be made by a French Loan Party on an account opened with a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction.

 

(2)                                  The amount of each (i) Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of outstanding U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans (including outstanding Swingline Loans), (ii) European Revolving Facility Percentage of outstanding European Revolving Loans and (iii) French Revolving Facility Percentage of outstanding French Revolving Loans will be computed weekly (or more frequently in the Administrative Agent’s discretion) and will be adjusted upward or downward based on all U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans), European Revolving Loans or French Revolving Loans, as applicable, and repayments of U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans), European Revolving Loans and French Revolving Loans, as applicable, received by the Administrative Agent as of 4:00 p.m. on the first Business Day (such date, the “ Settlement Date ”) following the end of the period specified by the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent will deliver to each of the Lenders promptly after a Settlement Date a summary statement of the amount of outstanding U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans, European Revolving Loans and French Revolving Loans for the period and the amount of repayments received for the period.  As reflected on the summary statement, (a) the Administrative Agent will transfer to each Lender its applicable Revolving Facility Percentage of repayments and (b) each Lender will transfer to the Administrative Agent (as provided below) or the Administrative Agent will transfer to each Lender such amounts as are necessary to insure that, after giving effect to all such transfers, the amount of each Class of Revolving Loans made by each Lender will be equal to such Lender’s applicable Revolving Facility Percentage of all Revolving Loans outstanding in such Class as of such Settlement Date.  If the summary statement requires transfers to be made to the Administrative Agent by the Lenders and is received prior to 2:00 p.m. on a Business Day, such transfers will be made in immediately available funds no later than 5:00 p.m. that day and, if received after 2:00 p.m., then no later than 4:00 p.m. on the next Business Day.  The obligation of each Lender to transfer such funds is irrevocable, unconditional and without recourse to or warranty by the Administrative Agent.  If and to the extent any Lender has not so made its transfer to the Administrative Agent, such Lender agrees to pay to the Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand such amount, together with interest thereon, for each day from such date until the date such amount is paid to the Administrative Agent, equal to the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation plus any administrative, processing, or similar fees customarily charged by the Administrative Agent in connection with the foregoing.

 

(3)                                  Waterfalls.

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or the Intercreditor Agreement, if (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the U.S. Borrowers to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees and other Obligations then due from the U.S. Borrowers hereunder or (y) at any time during a Cash Dominion Period (including in connection with any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01) and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent receives proceeds of Collateral pledged by the U.S. Loan Parties, such funds will be applied,

 

(i)                                      first , toward payment of any expenses, fees and indemnities due to the Agents hereunder;

 

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(ii)                                   second , toward payment of interest and fees then due from the U.S. Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties;

 

(iii)                                third , toward payment of principal of unreimbursed U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursements, Swingline Loans, U.S. Protective Advances and U.S. Overadvances then due from the U.S. Borrowers hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, unreimbursed U.S./Canadian L/C Disbursements, U.S. Protective Advances and U.S. Overadvances then due to such parties;

 

(iv)                               fourth , on a pro rata basis, (x) toward payment of other principal then due from the U.S. Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such principal then due to such parties, (y) toward the payment of any outstanding obligations owed to the Qualified Counterparties under any Designated Hedging Agreements to which the U.S. Borrowers or U.S. Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Hedging Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Designated Hedging Agreements then due to such parties and (z) toward payment of any outstanding obligations owed to Cash Management Banks under any Designated Cash Management Obligations of the U.S. Borrowers or U.S. Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Cash Management Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Designated Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to cash collateralize U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued for the account of the U.S. Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.05(11);

 

(vi)                               sixth , to pay any other U.S. Obligations (excluding U.S. Obligations as described in items (2) and (3) of the definition of “Obligations” contained herein) ratably among the parties thereto in accordance with such amounts so owed them;

 

(vii)                            seventh , to payment of obligations pursuant to Specified Hedge Agreements then due from the U.S. Borrowers or U.S. Guarantors party to such Specified Hedge Agreements, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Specified Hedge Agreements then due to such parties;

 

(viii)                         eighth , to payment of Cash Management Obligations then due from the U.S. Borrowers or U.S. Guarantors, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties; and

 

(ix)                               ninth , to payment of all other U.S. Obligations of the U.S. Borrowers and the U.S. Guarantors then due and payable, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such U.S. Obligations then due to such parties;

 

provided that the application of such proceeds at all times will be subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided further that no payments made, or proceeds of Collateral pledged, by any Loan Party that is not a U.S. Loan Party shall be applied to any U.S. Obligations unless such Loan Party is a U.S. Obligations Guarantor.

 

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(b)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the Canadian Borrowers to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees and other Obligations then due from the Canadian Borrowers hereunder or (y) at any time during a Cash Dominion Period (including in connection with any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01) and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent receives proceeds of Collateral pledged by the Canadian Borrower and the Canadian Guarantors, such funds will be applied,

 

(i)                                      first , toward payment of any expenses, fees and indemnities due to the Agents hereunder;

 

(ii)                                   second , toward payment of interest and fees then due from the Canadian Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties;

 

(iii)                                third , toward payment of principal of unreimbursed Canadian L/C Disbursements, Canadian Protective Advances and Canadian Overadvances then due from the Canadian Borrowers hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, unreimbursed Canadian L/C Disbursements, Canadian Protective Advances and Canadian Overadvances then due to such parties;

 

(iv)                               fourth , on a pro rata basis, (x) toward payment of other principal then due from the Canadian Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such principal then due to such parties, (y) toward the payment of any outstanding obligations owed to the Qualified Counterparties under any Designated Hedging Agreements to which the Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Hedging Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Designated Hedging Agreements then due to such parties and (z) toward payment of any outstanding obligations owed to Cash Management Banks under any Designated Cash Management Obligations of the Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Cash Management Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Designated Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to cash collateralize U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Canadian Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.05(11);

 

(vi)                               sixth , to pay any other Canadian Obligations (excluding Canadian Obligations as described in items (2) and (3) of the definition of “Canadian Obligations” contained herein) ratably among the parties thereto in accordance with such amounts so owed them;

 

(vii)                            seventh , to payment of obligations pursuant to Specified Hedge Agreements then due from the Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors party to such Specified Hedge Agreements, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Specified Hedge Agreements then due to such parties;

 

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(viii)                         eighth , to payment of Cash Management Obligations then due from the Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties; and

 

(ix)                               ninth , to payment of all other Canadian Obligations of the Canadian Borrowers or Canadian Guarantors then due and payable, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Canadian Obligations then due to such parties;

 

provided, that the application of such proceeds at all times will be subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, further , that no payments made, or proceeds of Collateral pledged, by any Loan Party that is not a Canadian Loan Party shall be applied to any Canadian Obligations unless such Loan Party is a Canadian Obligations Guarantor.

 

(c)                                   Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from any French Borrower to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees and other Obligations then due from such French Borrower hereunder or (y) at any time during a Cash Dominion Period (including in connection with any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01) and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent receives proceeds of Collateral pledged by such French Borrower, such funds will be applied,

 

(A) in case of proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in respect of any French Security Document granted by the French Borrower, to the exclusion of the French Receivables Assignments:

 

(i)                                      first , toward payment of any expenses, fees and indemnities due to the Agents hereunder;

 

(ii)                                   second , toward payment of interest and fees then due from such French Borrower hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties;

 

(iii)                                third , toward payment of unreimbursed French L/C Disbursements, French Protective Advances and French Overadvances then due from such French Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, unreimbursed French L/C Disbursements, French Protective Advances and French Overadvances then due from such French Borrower to such parties;

 

(iv)                               fourth , on a pro rata basis, (x) toward payment of other principal then due from such French Borrower hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such principal then due to such parties, (y) toward the payment of any outstanding obligations owed to the Qualified Counterparties under any Designated Hedging Agreements to which such French Borrower is a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Hedging Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Designated Hedging Agreements then due to such parties and (z) toward payment of any outstanding obligations owed to Cash Management Banks under any Designated Cash Management Obligations of such French Borrower is a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Cash Management Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in

 

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accordance with the amounts of such Designated Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to cash collateralize French Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such French Borrower in accordance with Section 2.05(11);

 

(vi)                               sixth , to pay any other French Obligations of such French Borrower (excluding French Obligations as described in items (2) and (3) of the definition of “French Obligations” contained herein) ratably among the parties thereto in accordance with such amounts so owed them;

 

(vii)                            seventh , to payment of obligations pursuant to Specified Hedge Agreements then due from such French Borrower party to such Specified Hedge Agreements, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Specified Hedge Agreements then due to such parties;

 

(viii)                         eighth , to payment of Cash Management Obligations then due from such French Borrower, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties; and

 

(ix)                               ninth , to payment of all other French Obligations of such French Borrower then due and payable, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such French Obligations then due to such parties;

 

provided, that the application of such proceeds at all times will be subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, further , that no payments made, or proceeds of Collateral pledged, by any Loan Party shall be applied to the French Obligations of such French Borrower unless such Loan Party is a French Obligations Guarantor.

 

(B)                                in case of proceeds received by the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent in respect of any French Receivables Assignments:

 

(i)                                      first, to the French Revolving Lenders in or towards satisfaction in full of all amounts due to them in their capacity as such; and

 

(ii)                                   secondly , the balance, if any, in payment to the relevant French Borrower.

 

(d)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from any German Borrower to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees and other Obligations then due from such German Borrower hereunder or (y) at any time during a Cash Dominion Period (including in connection with any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01) and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent receives proceeds of Collateral pledged by such German Borrower, such funds will be applied,

 

(i)                                      first , toward payment of any expenses, fees and indemnities due to the Agents hereunder;

 

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(ii)                                   second , toward payment of interest and fees then due from such German Borrower hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties;

 

(iii)                                third , toward payment of unreimbursed German L/C Disbursements, German Protective Advances and German Overadvances then due from such German Borrower hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, unreimbursed German L/C Disbursements, German Protective Advances and German Overadvances then due from such German Borrower to such parties;

 

(iv)                               fourth , on a pro rata basis, (x) toward payment of other principal then due from such German Borrower hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such principal then due to such parties, (y) toward the payment of any outstanding obligations owed to the Qualified Counterparties under any Designated Hedging Agreements to which such German Borrower is a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Hedging Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Designated Hedging Agreements then due to such parties and (z) toward payment of any outstanding obligations owed to Cash Management Banks under any Designated Cash Management Obligations of such German Borrower is a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Cash Management Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Designated Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to cash collateralize European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower in accordance with Section 2.05(11);

 

(vi)                               sixth , to pay any other German Obligations of such German Borrower (excluding German Obligations as described in items (2) and (3) of the definition of “German Obligations” contained herein) ratably among the parties thereto in accordance with such amounts so owed them;

 

(vii)                            seventh , to payment of obligations pursuant to Specified Hedge Agreements then due from such German Borrower party to such Specified Hedge Agreements, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Specified Hedge Agreements then due to such parties;

 

(viii)                         eighth , to payment of Cash Management Obligations then due from such German Borrower, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties; and

 

(ix)                               ninth , to payment of all other German Obligations of such German Borrower then due and payable, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such German Obligations then due to such parties;

 

provided, that the application of such proceeds at all times will be subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, further , that no payments made, or proceeds of Collateral pledged, by any Loan Party shall be applied to the German Obligations of such German Borrower unless such Loan Party is a German Obligations Guarantor, and provided further that

 

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no Secured Party is obliged to share any amount recovered from a Spanish Loan Party which is declared insolvent, with any other Secured Party which is regarded as a related party ( persona especialmente relacionada ) to that Spanish Loan Party under the Spanish Insolvency Law.

 

(e)                                   Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the Spanish Borrowers to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees and other Obligations then due from the Spanish Borrowers hereunder or (y) at any time during a Cash Dominion Period (including in connection with any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01) and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent receives proceeds of Collateral pledged by the Spanish Borrower and the Spanish Guarantors, such funds will be applied,

 

(i)                                      first , toward payment of any expenses, fees and indemnities due to the Agents hereunder;

 

(ii)                                   second , toward payment of interest and fees then due from the Spanish Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties;

 

(iii)                                third , toward payment of unreimbursed Spanish L/C Disbursements, Spanish Protective Advances and Spanish Overadvances then due from the Spanish Borrowers hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, unreimbursed Spanish L/C Disbursements, Spanish Protective Advances and Spanish Overadvances then due to such parties;

 

(iv)                               fourth , on a pro rata basis, (x) toward payment of other principal then due from the Spanish Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such principal then due to such parties, (y) toward the payment of any outstanding obligations owed to the Qualified Counterparties under any Designated Hedging Agreements to which the Spanish Borrowers or Spanish Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Hedging Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Designated Hedging Agreements then due to such parties and (z) toward payment of any outstanding obligations owed to Cash Management Banks under any Designated Cash Management Obligations of the Spanish Borrowers or Spanish Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Cash Management Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Designated Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to cash collateralize European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the Spanish Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.05(11);

 

(vi)                               sixth , to pay any other Spanish Obligations (excluding Spanish Obligations as described in items (2) and (3) of the definition of “Spanish Obligations” contained herein) ratably among the parties thereto in accordance with such amounts so owed them;

 

(vii)                            seventh , to payment of obligations pursuant to Specified Hedge Agreements then due from the Spanish Borrowers or Spanish Guarantors party to such Specified

 

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Hedge Agreements, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Specified Hedge Agreements then due to such parties;

 

(viii)                         eighth , to payment of Cash Management Obligations then due from the Spanish Borrowers or Spanish Guarantors, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties; and

 

(ix)                               ninth , to payment of all other Spanish Obligations of the Spanish Borrowers or Spanish Guarantors then due and payable, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Spanish Obligations then due to such parties and provided further that no Secured Party is obliged to share any amount recovered from a Spanish Loan Party which is declared insolvent, with any other Secured Party which is regarded as a related party ( persona especialmente relacionada ) to that Spanish Loan Party under the Spanish Insolvency Law;

 

provided, that the application of such proceeds at all times will be subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, further , that no payments made, or proceeds of Collateral pledged, by any Loan Party that is not a Spanish Loan Party shall be applied to any Spanish Obligations unless such Loan Party is a Spanish Obligations Guarantor.

 

(f)                                    Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the U.K. Borrowers to pay fully all amounts of principal, unreimbursed L/C Disbursements, interest and fees and other Obligations then due from the U.K. Borrowers hereunder or (y) at any time during a Cash Dominion Period (including in connection with any termination of the Commitments pursuant to Section 8.01) and the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent receives proceeds of Collateral pledged by the U.K. Borrower and the U.K. Guarantors, such funds will be applied,

 

(i)                                      first , toward payment of any expenses, fees and indemnities due to the Agents hereunder;

 

(ii)                                   second , toward payment of interest and fees then due from the U.K. Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of interest and fees then due to such parties;

 

(iii)                                third , toward payment of unreimbursed U.K. L/C Disbursements, U.K. Protective Advances and U.K. Overadvances then due from the U.K. Borrowers hereunder, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of principal, unreimbursed U.K. L/C Disbursements, U.K. Protective Advances and U.K. Overadvances then due to such parties;

 

(iv)                               fourth , on a pro rata basis, (x) toward payment of other principal then due from the U.K. Borrowers hereunder with respect to any Revolving Facility Credit Exposure, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such principal then due to such parties, (y) toward the payment of any outstanding obligations owed to the Qualified Counterparties under any Designated Hedging Agreements to which the U.K. Borrowers or U.K. Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Hedging Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Designated Hedging Agreements then due to such parties and (z) toward payment of any outstanding obligations owed to Cash Management Banks under any Designated Cash

 

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Management Obligations of the U.K. Borrowers or U.K. Guarantors are a party in an aggregate amount not to exceed the Designated Cash Management Reserve ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Designated Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to cash collateralize European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of the U.K. Borrowers in accordance with Section 2.05(11);

 

(vi)                               sixth , to pay any other U.K. Obligations (excluding U.K. Obligations as described in items (2) and (3) of the definition of “U.K. Obligations” contained herein) ratably among the parties thereto in accordance with such amounts so owed them;

 

(vii)                            seventh , to payment of obligations pursuant to Specified Hedge Agreements then due from the U.K. Borrowers or U.K. Guarantors party to such Specified Hedge Agreements, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of obligations under such Specified Hedge Agreements then due to such parties;

 

(viii)                         eighth , to payment of Cash Management Obligations then due from the U.K. Borrowers or U.K. Guarantors, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such Cash Management Obligations then due to such parties; and

 

(ix)                               ninth , to payment of all other U.K. Obligations of the U.K. Borrowers or U.K. Guarantors then due and payable, ratably among the parties entitled thereto in accordance with the amounts of such U.K. Obligations then due to such parties;

 

provided, that the application of such proceeds at all times will be subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement; provided, further , that no payments made, or proceeds of Collateral pledged, by any Loan Party that is not a U.K. Loan Party shall be applied to any U.K. Obligations unless such Loan Party is a U.K. Obligations Guarantor.

 

(4)                                  Subject to express priorities set forth in Section 2.18(3) above, if any Lender, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtains payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of such Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans and accrued interest thereon than the proportion received by any other Lender, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion will purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements or Swingline Loans, as applicable, of other Lenders to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments will be shared by the Lenders ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Loans and participations in L/C Disbursements and Swingline Loans; provided that (a) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations will be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (b) the provisions of this paragraph (4) will not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender or Disqualified Institution) or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Revolving Loans or participations in L/C Disbursements to any assignee or participant, other than to any Borrower or any other Subsidiary or Affiliate thereof (as to which the provisions of this paragraph (4) apply).  Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agree, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation

 

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pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against any Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of such Borrower in the amount of such participation.

 

(5)                                  Unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from the Borrowers prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank hereunder that the applicable Borrowers will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that the applicable Borrowers have made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, the amount due.  In such event, if the applicable Borrowers have not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders or the applicable Issuing Bank, as applicable, severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the amount so distributed to such Lender or Issuing Bank with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(6)                                  If any Lender fails to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.04(3), 2.05(4) or (5), 2.06(1), or 2.18(4) then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under such Sections until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

 

(7)                                  Collateral Allocation Mechanism (CAM).

 

(a)                                  CAM Implementation.

 

(i)                                      On the CAM Exchange Date, (i) each Lender with U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments shall immediately be deemed to have acquired (and shall promptly make payment therefor to the Administrative Agent in accordance with Section 2.04(3)) participations in the Swingline Loans in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s applicable Revolving Facility Percentage of such Swingline Loan or Loans outstanding on such date, (ii) simultaneously with the automatic conversions pursuant to clause (iii) below, the Lenders shall automatically and without further act (and without regard to the provisions of Section 10.04 (but which such provisions shall remain applicable following such exchange)) be deemed to have exchanged interests in the Loans (other than the Swingline Loans) and participations in Letters of Credit ((x) with respect to each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit, (y) with respect to each French Revolving Lender, in an amount equal to such French Revolving Lender’s French Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under French Letters of Credit, and (z) with respect to each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment, in an amount equal to such Revolving Lender’s European Revolving Facility Percentage of the aggregate amount available to be drawn under European Letters of Credit), such that in lieu of the interest of each Lender in each Loan and Letter of Credit in which it shall participate as of such date (including such Lender’s interest in the Obligations of each Loan Party in respect of each such Loan and Letter of Credit), such Lender shall hold an interest in every one of the Loans (other than the Swingline Loans) and a participation in every one of the Letters of Credit (including the Obligations of each Loan Party in respect of each such Loan and each Reserve Account established pursuant to Section 2.18(7)(b)), whether or not such Lender shall previously have

 

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participated therein, equal to such Lender’s CAM Percentage thereof, (iii) simultaneously with the deemed exchange of interests pursuant to clause (ii) above, the interests in the Loans to be received in such deemed exchange shall, automatically and with no further action required, be converted into the Dollar Equivalent, determined using the Spot Rate calculated as of such date, of such amount and on and after such date all amounts accruing and owed to the Lenders in respect of such Obligations shall accrue and be payable in Dollars at the rate otherwise applicable hereunder. The CAM Exchange, in itself, will not affect the aggregate amount of the Obligations owing by each of Loan Parties on the CAM Exchange Date. Each Lender and each Loan Party hereby consents and agrees to the CAM Exchange, and each Lender agrees that the CAM Exchange shall be binding upon its successors and assigns and any person that acquires a participation in its interests in any Loan or any participation in any Swingline Loan or Letter of Credit. Each Loan Party agrees from time to time to execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent all such promissory notes and other instruments and documents as the Administrative Agent shall reasonably request to evidence and confirm the respective interests of the Lenders after giving effect to the CAM Exchange, and each Lender agrees to surrender any promissory notes and other instruments and documents received by it in connection with its Loans hereunder to the Administrative Agent; provided , however, that the failure of any Loan Party to execute or deliver or of any Lender to accept any such promissory note, instrument or document shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the CAM Exchange.

 

(ii)                                   As a result of the CAM Exchange, upon and after the CAM Exchange Date, each payment received by the Administrative Agent pursuant to any Loan Document in respect of the Obligations and each distribution made by an Agent pursuant to any Security Document in respect of the Obligations, shall be distributed to the Lenders pro rata in accordance with their respective CAM Percentages. Any direct payment received by a Lender on or after the CAM Exchange Date, including by way of set-off, in respect of an Obligation shall be paid over to the Administrative Agent for distribution to the Lenders in accordance herewith.

 

(b)                                  Letters of Credit .

 

(i)                                      In the event that on the CAM Exchange Date any Letter of Credit shall be outstanding and undrawn in whole or in part, or any L/C Disbursement shall not have been reimbursed by the applicable Borrower, (x) in the case of U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit, each Revolving Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility shall promptly pay over to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, an amount in Dollars equal to such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Facility Percentage of such undrawn face amount or (to the extent it has not already done so) such unreimbursed drawing, as applicable (y) in the case of French Letters of Credit, each French Revolving Lender shall promptly pay over to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, an amount in Dollars equal to such French Revolving Lender’s Revolving Facility Percentage of such undrawn face amount or (to the extent it has not already done so) such unreimbursed drawing, as applicable and (z) in the case of European Letters of Credit, each Revolving Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment shall promptly pay over to the Administrative Agent, in immediately available funds, an amount in Dollars equal to such Revolving Lender’s Revolving Facility Percentage of such undrawn face amount or (to the extent it has not already done so) such unreimbursed drawing, as applicable. The Administrative Agent shall establish a separate account (each, a “ Reserve Account ”) or accounts for each Lender for the amounts received with respect to each such Letter of Credit pursuant to the preceding sentence. The Administrative Agent shall deposit in each Lender’s Reserve Account such Lender’s CAM Percentage of the amounts received from the Revolving Lenders as provided above. The Administrative Agent shall have sole dominion and control over each Reserve Account, and the amounts deposited in each Reserve Account shall

 

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be held in such Reserve Account until withdrawn as provided below. The Administrative Agent shall maintain records enabling it to determine the amounts paid over to it and deposited in the Reserve Accounts in respect of each Letter of Credit and the amounts on deposit in respect of each Letter of Credit attributable to each Lender’s CAM Percentage. The amounts held in each Lender’s Reserve Account shall be held as a reserve against the Revolving L/C Exposure, shall be the property of such Lender, shall not constitute Loans to or give rise to any claim of or against any Loan Party and shall not give rise to any obligation on the part of any Loan Party to pay interest to such Lender or any other obligation of any Loan Party, it being agreed that the reimbursement obligations in respect of Letters of Credit shall arise only at such times as drawings are made thereunder, as provided in Section 2.05.

 

(ii)                                   In the event that after the CAM Exchange Date any drawing shall be made in respect of a Letter of Credit, the Administrative Agent shall, at the request of the applicable Issuing Bank, to the extent such drawing constitutes an L/C Disbursement, withdraw from the Reserve Account of each Lender any amounts, up to the amount of such Lender’s CAM Percentage of such drawing or payment, deposited in respect of such Letter of Credit and remaining on deposit and deliver such amounts to such Issuing Bank in satisfaction of the reimbursement obligations of the Lenders under Section 2.05(4) (but not of the applicable Borrower under Section 2.05(5)). In the event that any Lender shall default on its obligation to pay over any amount to the Administrative Agent as provided in this Section 2.18(7)(b), the applicable Issuing Bank shall have a claim against such Lender to the same extent as if such Lender had defaulted on its obligations under Section 2.05(4), but shall have no claim against any other Lender in respect of such defaulted amount, notwithstanding the exchange of interests in the applicable Borrower’s reimbursement obligations. Each other Lender shall have a claim against such defaulting Lender for any damages sustained by it as a result of such default, including, in the event that such Letter of Credit shall expire undrawn, its CAM Percentage of the defaulted amount.

 

(iii)                                In the event that after the CAM Exchange Date any Letter of Credit shall expire undrawn, the Administrative Agent shall withdraw from the Reserve Account of each Lender the amount remaining on deposit therein in respect of such Letter of Credit and distribute such amount to such Lender.

 

(iv)                               With the prior written approval of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld), any Lender may withdraw the amount held in its Reserve Account in respect of the undrawn amount of any Letter of Credit.  Any Lender making such a withdrawal shall be unconditionally obligated, in the event there shall subsequently be a drawing under such Letter of Credit, to pay over to the Administrative Agent, in the currency in which such drawing is denominated, for the account of the applicable Issuing Bank, on demand, its CAM Percentage of such drawing or payment.

 

(v)                                  Pending the withdrawal by any Lender of any amounts from its Reserve Account as contemplated by the above paragraphs, the Administrative Agent will, at the direction of such Lender and subject to such rules as the Administrative Agent may prescribe for the avoidance of inconvenience, invest such amounts in Cash Equivalents. Each Lender that has not withdrawn its amounts in its Reserve Account as provided in paragraph (iv) above shall have the right, at intervals reasonably specified by the Administrative Agent, to withdraw the earnings on investments so made by the Administrative Agent with amounts in its Reserve Account and to retain such earnings for its own account.

 

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SECTION 2.19                     Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

 

(1)                                  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15, or if any Loan Party is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, or any amount payable under a Loan Document by a French Loan Party becomes not deductible from that French Loan Party’s taxable income for French tax purposes by reason of that amount being paid or accrued to a Finance Party incorporated, domiciled, established or acting through a Facility Office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction or paid to an account opened in the name of or for the benefit of that Finance Party in a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction, then such Lender will, in consultation with the relevant Loan Party, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any such consequences, including (but not limited to, designate a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Loans hereunder or assign its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates if such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.15 or 2.17, as applicable, in the future or avoid such non-tax deductibility for French income tax purposes and (b) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect.  Each Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(2)                                  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.15 or is a Defaulting Lender, or if any Borrower is required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.17, then the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to such Lender and the Administrative Agent, require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that assumes such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (a) the Borrowers shall have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank, which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld, to the extent the consent of such Person would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of Loans to such assignee, (b) such Lender has received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Loans and funded participations in L/C Disbursements and Swingline Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrowers (in the case of all other amounts) and (c) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.15 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.17, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter.  Nothing in this Section 2.19 will be deemed to prejudice any rights that any Borrower may have against any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.

 

(3)                                  If any Lender (such Lender, a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”) has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination which, pursuant to the terms of Section 10.08, requires the consent of such Lender with respect to which the Required Lenders have granted their consent, then each Borrower will have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent) at its sole expense, to replace such Non-Consenting Lender by deeming such Non-Consenting Lender to have assigned its Loans and its Commitments hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank to the extent the consent of such Person would be required under Section 10.04; provided that (a) all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Non-Consenting Lender (including accrued Fees and any amounts due under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17) being removed or replaced will be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such assignment and (b) the replacement Lender will purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon.  No action by or consent of the Non-Consenting Lender will be necessary in connection with such removal or assignment, which will be immediately and automatically effective upon payment of such purchase price.  In connection with any such assignment, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, such Non-

 

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Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender will otherwise comply with Section 10.04; provided that if such Non-Consenting Lender does not comply with Section 10.04 within three Business Days after the Borrowers’ request therefor, compliance with Section 10.04 will not be required to effect such assignment.

 

SECTION 2.20                     Illegality .  If any Lender reasonably determines that any change in law has made it unlawful, or if any Governmental Authority has asserted after the Closing Date that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make or maintain any Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the Borrowers through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Loans or CDOR Rate Loans or to convert ABR Borrowings to Eurocurrency Borrowings or CDOR Rate Borrowings will be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, the Borrowers will upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), (i) with respect to Borrowings denominated in Dollars or Canadian Dollars with respect to a U.S. Borrower or a Canadian Borrower, either convert all Eurocurrency Borrowings or CDOR Rate Borrowings (as applicable) of such Lender to ABR Borrowings, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Borrowings or CDOR Rate Borrowings (as applicable) to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans or (ii) with respect to any other Borrowings, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Borrowings to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Loans, such Borrowing will be converted to a Loan bearing interest at an alternative rate mutually acceptable to the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders, provided , however , that if the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders cannot agree within a reasonable time on an alternative rate for such Loans, the Borrowers may, at their discretion, either (x) prepay such Loans or (y) maintain such Loans outstanding, in which case, the interest rate payable to the applicable Lender on such Loans will be the rate determined by the Administrative Agent as its cost of funds to fund a Borrowing of such Loans with maturities comparable to the Interest Period applicable thereto plus the Applicable Margin.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers will also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

SECTION 2.21                     Incremental Revolving Facility Increases .

 

(1)                                  Notice .  At any time and from time to time, on one or more occasions, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may, by notice to the Administrative Agent, (a) increase the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, (b) increase the French Revolving Facility Commitments and/or (c) increase the European Revolving Facility Commitments (each such increase, an “ Incremental Revolving Facility Increase ” and such additional Revolving Facility Commitments, the “ Incremental Commitments ”).

 

(2)                                  Ranking .  Any Incremental Commitments will (a) rank pari passu in right of payment with the applicable Revolving Facility Claims and (b) be secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the applicable Revolving Facility Claims including, as may be necessary under applicable law, pursuant to lower ranking security, which will contractually rank pari passu with the other Security Documents pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(3)                                  Size .  The principal amount of all commitments in respect of Incremental Revolving Facility Increases received pursuant to this Section 2.21, in the aggregate for all Incremental Revolving Facility Increases, shall not exceed $100.0 million.

 

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(4)                                  Minimum Amounts .  Each Incremental Revolving Facility Increase received pursuant to this Section 2.21 will be in an integral multiple of $1.0 million and in a minimum aggregate principal amount of $10.0 million (or such lesser minimum amount approved by the Administrative Agent).

 

(5)                                  Incremental Lenders .  Incremental Revolving Facility Increases may be provided by any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender will have an obligation to provide any Incremental Revolving Facility Increase), or any Additional Lender (collectively, the “ Incremental Lenders ”); provided that the Administrative Agent, each Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank shall have consented (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) to any Additional Lender’s provision of such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase if such consent by the Administrative Agent or such Swingline Lender would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of Commitments or Loans to such Additional Lender.

 

(6)                                  Incremental Facility Amendments .

 

(a)                                  Each Incremental Revolving Facility Increase will become effective pursuant to an amendment (each, an “ Incremental Facility Amendment ”) to this Agreement and, as appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by the Borrowers, the applicable Incremental Lenders and the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Facility Amendment.  Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable, will be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Revolving Facility Increase evidenced thereby.

 

(b)                                  Upon each Incremental Revolving Facility Increase of the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments in accordance with this Section 2.21:

 

(i)                                      each Incremental Lender in respect of such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed a portion of each Revolving Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding (A) participations hereunder in U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit and (B) participations hereunder in Swingline Loans held by each Lender (including each such Incremental Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment; and

 

(ii)                                   the Administrative Agent may, in consultation with the Borrowers, take any and all actions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that, after giving effect to such Lender’s Incremental Commitments, the percentage of the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments held by each Lender (including each such Incremental Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, which may be accomplished, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent following consultation with the Borrowers, by:

 

(A)                                requiring the outstanding U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans to be prepaid with the proceeds of a new Borrowing;

 

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(B)                                causing non-increasing Lenders to assign portions of their outstanding U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans to Incremental Lenders; or

 

(C)                                a combination of the foregoing.

 

(c)                                   Upon each Incremental Revolving Facility Increase of the French Revolving Facility Commitments in accordance with this Section 2.21:

 

(i)                                      each Incremental Lender in respect of such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed a portion of each Revolving Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding French Letters of Credit such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in French Letters of Credit held by each Lender (including each such Incremental Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate French Revolving Facility Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s French Revolving Facility Commitment; and

 

(ii)                                   the Administrative Agent may, in consultation with the Borrowers, take any and all actions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that, after giving effect to such Lender’s Incremental Commitments, the percentage of the aggregate French Revolving Facility Commitments held by each Lender (including each such Incremental Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate French Revolving Facility Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s French Revolving Facility Commitment, which may be accomplished, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent following consultation with the Borrowers, by:

 

(A)                                requiring the outstanding French Revolving Loans to be prepaid with the proceeds of a new Borrowing;

 

(B)                                causing non-increasing Lenders to assign portions of their outstanding French Revolving Loans to Incremental Lenders; or

 

(C)                                a combination of the foregoing.

 

(d)                                  Upon each Incremental Revolving Facility Increase of the European Revolving Facility Commitments in accordance with this Section 2.21:

 

(i)                                      each Incremental Lender in respect of such increase will automatically and without further act be deemed to have assumed a portion of each Revolving Lender’s participations hereunder in outstanding European Letters of Credit such that, after giving effect to each such deemed assignment and assumption of participations, the percentage of the aggregate outstanding participations hereunder in European Letters of Credit held by each Lender (including each such Incremental Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment; and

 

(ii)                                   the Administrative Agent may, in consultation with the Borrowers, take any and all actions as may be reasonably necessary to ensure that, after giving effect to such Lender’s Incremental Commitments, the percentage of the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments held by each Lender (including each such Incremental Lender) will equal the percentage of the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments of all Lenders represented by such Lender’s European Revolving Facility Commitment, which may be

 

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accomplished, at the discretion of the Administrative Agent following consultation with the Borrowers, by:

 

(A)                                requiring the outstanding European Revolving Loans to be prepaid with the proceeds of a new Borrowing;

 

(B)                                causing non-increasing Lenders to assign portions of their outstanding European Revolving Loans to Incremental Lenders; or

 

(C)                                a combination of the foregoing.

 

(7)                                  Conditions .  The initial availability of any Incremental Revolving Facility Increase will be subject solely to the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist immediately after giving effect to such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase on the date such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase is incurred (or commitments in respect thereof are provided); provided , that if the Incremental Revolving Facility Increase is being incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (i) the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date and (ii) on the date such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase is incurred (or commitments in respect thereof are provided), no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist immediately after giving effect thereto;

 

(b)                                  the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents will be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties will be accurate in all respects) immediately prior to, and immediately after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase (or the date on which commitments in respect thereof are provided); provided , that if the Incremental Revolving Facility Increase is being incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date; and

 

(c)                                   such other conditions (if any) as may be required by the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase, unless such other conditions are waived by such Incremental Lenders.

 

(8)                                  Terms .  Any Incremental Revolving Facility Increase will be on terms identical to (and shall form part of) the applicable Revolving Facility Commitments which are subject to such Incremental Revolving Facility Increase, except with respect to any arrangement, upfront, structuring or similar fees that may be agreed to by and among the Borrower and the Incremental Lenders.

 

SECTION 2.22                     Extensions of Revolving Facility Commitments .

 

(1)                                  Extension Offers .  Pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “ Extension Offer ”) made from time to time by the Borrowers to all Lenders of Loans with a like Maturity Date, the Borrowers may extend the Maturity Date of each such Lender’s U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments or European Revolving Facility Commitments and, subject to Section 2.22(3)(b), otherwise modify the terms of such U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments pursuant to the terms of the relevant Extension Offer, including by increasing the interest rate or fees payable in respect to such U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility

 

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Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments (each, an “ Extension, ” and each group of U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments so extended, as well as the original U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments not so extended, being a “ tranche ”).  Each Extension Offer will specify the minimum amount of U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments with respect to which an Extension Offer may be accepted, which will be an integral multiple of $1.0 million and an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $25.0 million (or (a) if less, the aggregate principal amount of such U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments or (b) such lesser minimum amount as is approved by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and shall be offered on a pro rata basis to all Lenders having U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments with a like Maturity Date.  If the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Loans and U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments (calculated on the face amount thereof) in respect of which Lenders have accepted an Extension Offer exceeds the maximum aggregate principal amount of Loans and U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments offered to be extended pursuant to an Extension Offer, then the Loans and U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments of such Lenders will be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, French Revolving Facility Commitments and European Revolving Facility Commitments of the Lenders that have accepted such Extension Offer.  There is no requirement that any Extension Offer or Extension Amendment (defined as follows) be subject to any “most favored nation” pricing provisions.  Each Lender accepting an Extension Offer is referred to herein as an “ Extending Lender ,” and the Loans and U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, French Revolving Facility Commitment and European Revolving Facility Commitment held by such Lender (and so extended) accepting an Extension Offer are referred to herein as “ Extended Loans ” and “ Extended Commitments ”.

 

(2)                                  Extension Amendments .  The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (an “ Extension Amendment ”) with the Borrowers as may be necessary in order to establish new tranches in respect of Extended Commitments (and related Extended Loans) and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in connection with the establishment of such new tranches, in each case, on terms consistent with this Section 2.22.  This Section 2.22 supersedes any provisions in Section 10.08 to the contrary.  Except as otherwise set forth in an Extension Offer, there will be no conditions to the effectiveness of an Extension Amendment. Extensions will not constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement. Nonetheless, as regards any documents executed in Spain, if legally required to do so, the Lenders shall grant a specific power of attorney in favor of the Agents, duly notarized and apostilled or legalized (as applicable), in order to authorize the Agents to execute any such additional documents or amendments that is necessary to reflect the Extension Amendment or shall otherwise appear before the notary together with the Agents to execute any such documents.

 

(3)                                  Terms of Extension Offers and Extension Amendments .  The terms of any Extended Commitments (and related Extended Loans) will be set forth in an Extension Offer and as agreed between the Borrowers and the Extending Lenders accepting such Extension Offer; provided that:

 

(a)                                  no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at the time the offering document in respect of an Extension Offer is delivered to the Lenders;

 

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(b)                                  except as to pricing terms (interest rate and fees) and maturity, the terms and conditions of such Revolving Facility Credit Exposure are substantially identical to (including as to ranking and priority), or, taken as a whole, no more favorable to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than, those applicable to the Revolving Facility Commitments (and related Extended Loans) subject to such Extension Offer, as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings.

 

(4)                                  Required Consents .  No consent of any Lender or any other Person will be required to effectuate any Extension, other than the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Borrowers and each Lender agreeing to such Extension with respect to one or more of its Revolving Facility Commitments.  The transactions contemplated by this Section 2.22 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Commitments on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) will not require the consent of any other Lender or any other Person, and the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including Sections 2.09 and 2.16) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.22 will not apply to any of the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.22.

 

SECTION 2.23                     Defaulting Lenders .

 

(1)                                  Adjustments .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, if any Lender becomes a Defaulting Lender, then, until such time as such Lender is no longer a Defaulting Lender, to the extent permitted by applicable law:

 

(a)                                  Waivers and Amendments .  Such Defaulting Lender’s right to approve or disapprove any amendment, waiver or consent with respect to this Agreement is restricted as set forth in Section 10.08.

 

(b)                                  Reallocation of Payments .  Any payment of principal, interest, fees or other amounts received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Defaulting Lender (whether voluntary or mandatory, at maturity, pursuant to Article VIII or otherwise), will be applied at such time or times as may be determined by the Administrative Agent as follows:

 

(i)                                      first , to the payment of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Administrative Agent hereunder;

 

(ii)                                   second , to the payment on a pro rata basis of any amounts owing by such Defaulting Lender to the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender hereunder;

 

(iii)                                third , if so determined by the Administrative Agent or requested by the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender, to be held as cash collateral for future funding obligations of such Defaulting Lender of any participation in any Swingline Loan or Letter of Credit;

 

(iv)                               fourth , as the Borrowers may request (so long as no Default or Event of Default exists), to the funding of any Revolving Loan in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has failed to fund its portion thereof as required by this Agreement, as determined by the Administrative Agent;

 

(v)                                  fifth , if so determined by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to be held in a non-interest bearing deposit account and released in order to

 

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satisfy obligations of such Defaulting Lender to fund Revolving Loans under this Agreement;

 

(vi)                               sixth , to the payment of any amounts owing to the Lenders, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by any Lender, the Issuing Bank or Swingline Lender against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement;

 

(vii)                            seventh , so long as no Default or Event of Default exists, to the payment of any amounts owing to the Borrowers as a result of any judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction obtained by the Borrowers against such Defaulting Lender as a result of such Defaulting Lender’s breach of its obligations under this Agreement; and

 

(viii)                         eighth , to such Defaulting Lender or as otherwise directed by a court of competent jurisdiction;

 

provided that if such payment is a payment of the principal amount of any Loans or L/C Disbursements in respect of which such Defaulting Lender has not fully funded its appropriate share, such payment will be applied solely to pay the Loans of, and L/C Disbursements owed to, all non-Defaulting Lenders on a pro rata basis prior to being applied to the payment of any Loans of, or L/C Disbursements owed to, such Defaulting Lender.  Any payments or other amounts paid or payable to a Defaulting Lender that are applied (or held) to pay amounts owed by a Defaulting Lender or to post cash collateral pursuant to this Section 2.23(1)(b) will be deemed paid to and redirected by such Defaulting Lender, and each Lender irrevocably consents hereto.

 

(c)                                   Certain Fees .  Such Defaulting Lender (i) will not be entitled to receive any Commitment Fee pursuant to Section 2.12(1) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (and the Borrowers will be required to pay any such fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender) and (ii) will not be entitled to receive any L/C Participation Fee pursuant to Section 2.12(2) for any period during which that Lender is a Defaulting Lender (although the Borrowers will be required to pay any such L/C Participation Fee that otherwise would have been required to have been paid to such Defaulting Lender to the non-Defaulting Lenders or Issuing Bank, in accordance with any reallocation of Fronting Exposure to non-Defaulting Lenders or as may be retained by the Issuing Bank, as the case may be).

 

(d)                                  Reallocation of Applicable Percentages to Reduce Fronting Exposure .  During any period in which there is a Defaulting Lender, for purposes of computing the amount of the obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans pursuant to Sections 2.04 and 2.05, the “ U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Percentage ”, “ French Revolving Facility Percentage ” and “ European Revolving Facility Percentage ” of each non-Defaulting Lender will be computed without giving effect to the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender; provided , that, each such reallocation will be given effect only to the extent such that the aggregate obligation of each non-Defaulting Lender to acquire, refinance or fund participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans will not exceed the positive difference, if any, of (i) (x) the U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment of such non-Defaulting Lender minus (y) the aggregate outstanding amount of the U.S./Revolving Revolving Loans of such Defaulting Lender, (ii) (x) the French Revolving Facility Commitment of such non-Defaulting Lender minus (y) the aggregate outstanding amount of the French Revolving Loans of such Defaulting Lender or (iii) (x) the European Revolving

 

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Facility Commitment of such non-Defaulting Lender minus (y) the aggregate outstanding amount of the Revolving Loans of such Defaulting Lender.

 

(e)                                   So long as such Lender is a Defaulting Lender, the Swingline Lender shall not be required to fund any Swingline Loan and no Issuing Bank shall be required to issue, amend or increase any Letter of Credit, in each case, in excess of (x) the applicable aggregate Revolving Facility Commitment minus (y) the applicable Revolving Facility Commitment of the Defaulting Lender.

 

(2)                                  Elimination of Remaining Fronting Exposure .  At any time that there exists a Defaulting Lender with a U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitment, (i) immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, the U.S. Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure of the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)) which will be held as security for the reimbursement obligations of the U.S. Borrowers with respect to the U.S. Revolving L/C Exposure, (ii) immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, the Canadian Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure of the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)) which will be held as security for the reimbursement obligations of the Canadian Borrowers with respect to the Canadian Revolving L/C Exposure, (iii) immediately upon request of the Administrative Agent or the Swingline Lender, the U.S. Borrowers will repay an amount of Swingline Loans that were made to the U.S. Borrowers sufficient to eliminate the Fronting Exposure of the Swingline Lender.  At any time that there exists a Defaulting Lender with a French Revolving Facility Commitment, immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, each French Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure of the French Revolving L/C Exposure with respect to such French Borrower (after giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)) which will be held as security for the reimbursement obligations of the French Borrowers with respect to the French Revolving L/C Exposure.  At any time that there exists a Defaulting Lender with a European Revolving Facility Commitment, (i) immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, each German Borrower will deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure of the German Revolving L/C Exposure of such German Borrower (after giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)) which will be held as security for the reimbursement obligations of such German Borrower with respect to the German Revolving L/C Exposure, (ii) immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, the Spanish Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure of the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)) which will be held as security for the reimbursement obligations of the Spanish Borrowers with respect to the Spanish Revolving L/C Exposure and (ii) immediately upon the request of the Administrative Agent or the Issuing Bank, the U.K. Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent cash collateral in an amount sufficient to cover all Fronting Exposure of the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure (after giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)) which will be held as security for the reimbursement obligations of the U.K. Borrowers with respect to the U.K. Revolving L/C Exposure.

 

(3)                                  Defaulting Lender Cure .  If the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Swingline Lender and the Issuing Bank agree in writing in their sole discretion that a Defaulting Lender should no longer be deemed to be a Defaulting Lender, the Administrative Agent will so notify the parties hereto, whereupon as of the effective date specified in such notice and subject to any conditions set forth therein (which may include arrangements with respect to any cash collateral), such Lender will, to the extent applicable, purchase that portion of outstanding Revolving Loans of the other Lenders or take such other actions as the Administrative Agent may determine to be necessary to cause the Revolving Loans and funded and unfunded participations in Letters of Credit and Swingline Loans to be held on a pro rata

 

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basis by the Lenders in accordance with their Revolving Facility Percentages (without giving effect to Section 2.23(1)(d)), whereupon such Lender will cease to be a Defaulting Lender; provided that no adjustments will be made retroactively with respect to fees accrued or payments made by or on behalf of the Borrowers while such Lender was a Defaulting Lender; and provided , further , that, except to the extent otherwise expressly agreed by the affected parties, no change hereunder from Defaulting Lender to Lender will constitute a waiver or release of any claim of any party hereunder arising from such Lender’s having been a Defaulting Lender.

 

SECTION 2.24                     Effective Global Rate .

 

(1)                                  For the purposes of article L.313-1 et seq. and article L.313-4 of the French Code monétaire et financier referring to articles L.314-1 to L.314-5 and R.314-1 et seq. of the French Code de la consommation, the French Borrowers and the Lenders acknowledge that, by virtue of certain characteristics of the French Revolving Facility (and in particular the floating rate of interest, Holdings’ right to select the duration of each Interest Period and the uncertainty as to the amount to be effectively drawn from time to time under the French Revolving Facility), the taux effectif global cannot be calculated at the date of this Agreement.

 

(2)                                  However, the French Borrowers acknowledge that they have received from the Administrative Agent a letter containing an indicative calculation of the taux effectif global , based on figured examples calculated on assumptions as to the taux de période and durée de période set out in a letter and on the assumption that the interest rate and all other fees, costs or expenses payable under this Agreement by any French Borrower will be maintained at their original level throughout the term of this Agreement (each a “ TEG Letter ”).

 

(3)                                  The French Borrowers and the Lenders acknowledge that the TEG Letters delivered in accordance with paragraph (2) above forms part of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE III

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

Each Borrower with respect to itself, and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, and Holdings, represent and warrant to each Agent and to each of the Lenders that:

 

SECTION 3.01                     Organization; Powers .  Each of Holdings, the Borrowers, and each Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(1)                                  is a partnership, unlimited liability company, limited liability company, corporation, trust or an exempted company duly organized, validly existing or incorporated and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation (to the extent such status or an analogous concept applies to such an organization);

 

(2)                                  has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted;

 

(3)                                  is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

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(4)                                  has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrowers, to borrow and otherwise obtain credit hereunder.

 

SECTION 3.02                     Authorization .  The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, the Borrowings hereunder and the Transactions to be consummated on the Closing Date:

 

(1)                                  have been duly authorized by all corporate, stockholder, partnership, limited liability company or other applicable action required to be taken by the Loan Parties; and

 

(2)                                  will not:

 

(a)                                  violate:

 

(i)                                      any provision (A) of law, statute, rule or regulation, or (B) of the certificate or articles of incorporation or association or other constitutive documents (including any partnership, limited liability company or operating agreement or by-laws) of any Loan Party;

 

(ii)                                   any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority; or

 

(iii)                                any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound;

 

(b)                                  be in conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under, any such indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument; or

 

(c)                                   result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any Loan Party, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Permitted Liens;

 

except with respect to clause (a) (excluding sub-clause (i)(B)) of this Section 3.02(2) as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect

 

SECTION 3.03                     Enforceability .  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and the Borrowers and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to any applicable Legal Reservations and any other perfection requirements specifically set out in the Security Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04                     Governmental Approvals .  No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority or third party is or will be required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents, the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the

 

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Security Documents or the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral, except for:

 

(1)                                  filings referred to in Section 3.14 and in the Security Documents, as the case may be;

 

(2)                                  filings as may be required under the Exchange Act, the Securities Act of Ontario or any other province, or any other foreign jurisdiction and applicable stock exchange rules in connection therewith;

 

(3)                                  such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect;

 

(4)                                  such actions, consents and approvals the failure of which to be obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(5)                                  filings or other actions listed on Schedule 3.04.

 

SECTION 3.05                     Borrowing Base Certificate .  At the time of delivery of each Borrowing Base Certificate, assuming that any eligibility criteria that requires the approval or satisfaction of the Administrative Agent has been approved by or is satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, each material Account reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in the Borrowing Base is an Eligible Account, the material Inventory reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in the Borrowing Base constitutes Eligible Inventory and the cash and Cash Equivalents reflected therein as eligible for inclusion in the Borrowing Base constitute Qualified Cash.

 

SECTION 3.06                     Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases .

 

(1)                                  Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Loan Parties has good and valid fee simple title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or licenses or other limited property interests in, all of its Real Properties and valid title to its personal property and assets, in each case, except for Permitted Liens or defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes, in each case, except where the failure to have such title interest, easement, license or right would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  All such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(2)                                  Neither Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has defaulted under any lease to which it is a party, except for such defaults as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  Each of Holdings’ and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ leases is in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06(2), on the Closing Date Holdings and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases, other than leases in respect of which the failure to enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.07                     Subsidiaries .

 

(1)                                  Schedule 3.07(1) sets forth as of the Closing Date the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization of Holdings, each Borrower and each Restricted Subsidiary and,

 

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as to each Restricted Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Equity Interests owned by Holdings or by any other Subsidiary of Holdings.

 

(2)                                  As of the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 3.06(2), there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, or similar rights, agreements or commitments relating to any Equity Interests owned or held by Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.08                     Litigation; Compliance with Laws .

 

(1)                                  There are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of Holding or any Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or any business, property or rights of any such Person, in each case, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(2)                                  To the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrower, none of Holdings, the Restricted Subsidiaries or their respective properties or assets is in violation of (nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate) any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or approval, or any building permit) or any restriction of record or agreement affecting any property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.09                     Federal Reserve Regulations .

 

(1)                                  None of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

 

(2)                                  No part of the proceeds of any Loan or Letter of Credit will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or to refund Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose or (ii) for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U or X.

 

SECTION 3.10                     Investment Company Act .  None of Holdings, any Borrower or any Guarantor is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

SECTION 3.11                     Use of Proceeds .  The Borrowers shall use the proceeds of the Revolving and Swingline Loans, and may request the issuance of Letters of Credit, for general corporate purposes or other transaction permitted by the Loan Documents (including for capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, the repayment or refinancing of Indebtedness and the making of Investments and Restricted Payments, in each case to the extent not prohibited hereunder).

 

SECTION 3.12                     Tax Returns .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12:

 

(1)                                  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, provincial, territorial local and non-U.S. Tax returns required to have been filed by it; and

 

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(2)                                  Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries has timely paid or caused to be timely paid (a) all Taxes shown to be due and payable by it (taking into account any applicable extensions) on the returns referred to in clause (1) of this Section 3.12 and (b) all other Taxes or assessments (or made adequate provision (in accordance with GAAP or in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in such Restricted Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of organization) for the payment of all Taxes due) with respect to all periods or portions thereof ending on or before the Closing Date, which Taxes, if not paid or adequately provided for, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case except Taxes or assessments that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary (as the case may be) has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.

 

SECTION 3.13                     No Material Misstatements .

 

(1)                                  All written factual information and written factual data (other than the Projections, estimates and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) concerning Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary that has been made available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, directly or indirectly, by or on behalf of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole and after giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto, is correct in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made.

 

(2)                                  The Projections that have been made available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by or on behalf of Holdings or the Borrowers in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole, have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are believed by Holdings or the Borrowers to be reasonable at the time made and at the time delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, it being understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

(a)                                  the Projections are merely a prediction as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts;

 

(b)                                  the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Holdings, the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(c)                                   no assurance can be given that any particular Projections will be realized; and

 

(d)                                  actual results may differ and such differences may be material.

 

SECTION 3.14                     Environmental Matters .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.14 or as to matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(1)                                  each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance with all, and has not violated any, Environmental Laws (including having obtained and complied with all permits, licenses, authorizations and other approvals required under any Environmental Law for the operation of its business);

 

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(2)                                  none of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary has received notice of or is subject to any pending, or to Holdings’ or any Borrower’s knowledge, threatened action, suit or proceeding alleging a violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law or regarding Hazardous Materials that remains outstanding or unresolved;

 

(3)                                  no Hazardous Material is located at, on or under any property currently or, to Holdings’ or any Borrower’s knowledge, formerly owned, operated or leased by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and no Hazardous Material has been generated, owned, treated, stored, handled or controlled by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or transported to or Released at any location which, in each case, described in this clause (3), in violation of Environmental Laws or would reasonably be expected to result in liability to Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(4)                                  there are no agreements in which Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has assumed or undertaken responsibility for any known or reasonably anticipated liability or obligation of any other Person arising under or relating to Environmental Laws or relating to Hazardous Materials.

 

SECTION 3.15                     Security Documents .

 

(1)                                  The U.S. Collateral Agreement and each other Security Document are effective upon the execution thereof to create in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) legal and valid Liens on the Collateral described therein, subject to the Legal Reservations and perfection requirements and with respect to (i) the U.K. Loan Parties, registration of particulars of each Security Document granted by a U.K. Loan Party at Companies House in England and Wales in accordance with Part 25 (Company Charges) of the Companies Act 2006 (UK) or any regulations relating to the registration of charges made under, or applying the provisions of, the Companies Act 2006 (UK) and payment of associated fees; and, (ii) with respect to the U.S. Loan Parties and Canadian Loan Parties when UCC and PPSA financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule III to the U.S. Collateral Agreement and on Schedule III to the Canadian Collateral Agreement, a short form grant of security interest in intellectual property (in substantially the form of Exhibit B to the U.S. Collateral Agreement (for trademarks), Exhibit C to the U.S. Collateral Agreement (for patents) or Exhibit D to the U.S. Collateral Agreement (for copyrights)) is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, and the U.S. Pledged Collateral described in the U.S. Collateral Agreement and the Canadian Pledged Collateral described in the Canadian Collateral Agreement is delivered to the Collateral Agent, together with duly executed and prepared stock powers, the Liens on the U.S. Collateral granted pursuant to the U.S. Collateral Agreement and the Liens on the Canadian Collateral granted pursuant to the U.S. Collateral Agreement will constitute fully perfected Liens on all right, title and interest of the U.S. Loan Parties and Canadian Loan Parties, as applicable, in such U.S. Collateral and Canadian Collateral in which (and to the extent) a security interest can be perfected under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA and the United States Copyright Act, as applicable, in each case prior to and superior in right of the Lien of any other Person (except for Permitted Liens) and (iii) the French Loan Parties, upon filling of the share pledge at the relevant company register to the extent necessary depending on the type of shares pledged.

 

(2)                                  When UCC and PPSA financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule III to the U.S. Collateral Agreement and on Schedule III to the Canadian Collateral Agreement or a short form grant of security interest in intellectual property (in substantially the form of Exhibit B to the U.S. Collateral Agreement (for trademarks), Exhibit C to the U.S. Collateral Agreement (for patents) or Exhibit D to the U.S. Collateral Agreement (for copyrights)) is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, the

 

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Liens on the U.S. Collateral granted pursuant to the U.S. Collateral Agreement and the Liens on the Canadian Collateral granted pursuant to the Canadian Collateral Agreement, shall constitute fully perfected Liens on all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties thereunder in the Intellectual Property Rights, in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other Person (except for Permitted Liens) (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered trademarks and patents, trademark and patent applications and registered copyrights, and will be necessary to perfect a Lien on U.S. registered copyrights, in each case, acquired by the U.S. Loan Parties and Canadian Loan Parties (as applicable) after the Closing Date).

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 3.15) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, other than with respect to Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary organized in a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction with respect to which security interest has been granted pursuant to a Security Document, neither Holdings, the Borrowers nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign law.

 

SECTION 3.16                     Location of Real Property .  Schedule 3.16 correctly identifies, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date, all Owned Material Real Property owned in fee by the Loan Parties.  As of the Closing Date, the Loan Parties own in fee all the Real Property set forth on Schedule 3.16.

 

SECTION 3.17                     Solvency .  On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, including the making of the Loans hereunder, and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of the Loans:

 

(1)                                  the Fair Value of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities;

 

(2)                                  the Present Fair Salable Value of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities;

 

(3)                                  Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole do not have Unreasonably Small Capital; and

 

(4)                                  Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature.

 

For purposes of this Section 3.17, (a) “ Fair Value ” means the amount at which the assets (both tangible and intangible), in their entirety, of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable period of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, with neither being under any compulsion to act; (b) “ Present Fair Salable Value ” means the amount that could be obtained by an independent willing seller from an independent willing buyer if the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction under present conditions for the sale of comparable business enterprises insofar as such conditions can be reasonably evaluated; (c) “ Liabilities ” means the recorded liabilities (including contingent liabilities that would be recorded in accordance with GAAP) of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; (d) “ will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature ” means for the period from the Closing Date through the Maturity Date, Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole

 

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will have sufficient assets and cash flow to pay their Liabilities as those liabilities mature or (in the case of contingent Liabilities) otherwise become payable, in light of business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity; and (e) “ do not have Unreasonably Small Capital ” means Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole after consummation of the Transactions is a going concern and has sufficient capital to reasonably ensure that it will continue to be a going concern.

 

SECTION 3.18                     No Material Adverse Effect .  Since the end of the most recent fiscal year of Holdings ended at least 90 days prior to the Closing Date, there has been no event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.19                     Insurance .  Schedule 3.19 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all material insurance maintained by or on behalf of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date.  As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 3.20                     USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA; OFAC; Anti-Terrorism .

 

(1)                                  To the extent applicable, each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries is in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA and all applicable Anti-Terrorism Laws that are applicable to such Person.

 

(2)                                  None of (a) the Loan Parties or any director, officer, or employee of the Loan Parties, or (b) to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any agent that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from any Facility established hereby of the Loan Parties is a Person that is: (i) a Sanctioned Person; or (ii) located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, (or director, officer, employee or agent thereof) is subject to the jurisdiction of such Sanctions Authority.

 

(3)                                  No part of the proceeds of the Loans or drawings under Letters of Credit will be used by Holdings, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, directly or, to the knowledge of Holdings, any Borrower, or any of their respective Subsidiaries, indirectly, (a) for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“ FCPA ”), (b) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country, or (c) in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanctions by Holdings, the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries.

 

(4)                                  (i) Holdings, the Borrowers, and their respective Subsidiaries, have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to reasonably ensure compliance by Holdings, the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects, (ii) Holdings, the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of Holdings, its employees and agents, are in compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in any Borrower being designated as a Sanctioned Person and (iii) none of (a) Holdings the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings, any agent of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.

 

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(5)                                  The representations and warranties given in this Section 3.20 shall not be made by nor apply to any German Resident in so far as they would violate or expose any German Resident or any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under any anti-boycott or blocking law, regulation or statute that is in force from time to time and applicable to such entity (including without limitation EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 and Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes ( Außenwirtschaftsverordnung — AWV )).

 

SECTION 3.21                     Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.21:

 

(1)                                  except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Holdings and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or possesses the right to use, all Intellectual Property Rights that are used in or reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens, and without conflict with the rights of any other Person;

 

(2)                                  except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the operation of the respective businesses of Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries nor their use of any Intellectual Property Rights, product, process, method, substance, part or other material now held for use, employed, sold or offered by any Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating Intellectual Property Rights of any Person;

 

(3)                                  no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any Borrower, threatened; and

 

(4)                                  except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrowers, no Person is infringing the Intellectual Property Rights owned by Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 3.22                     Employee Benefit Plans .  Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with its terms and the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under all Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plans, in the aggregate.

 

SECTION 3.23                     EEA Financial Institution .  No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

SECTION 3.24                     Pensions .

 

(1)                                  To the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrowers, any pension schemes operated by or maintained for the benefit of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries and/or any of their employees are to the extent required by applicable law fully funded if failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(2)                                  The Canadian Subsidiaries are in compliance with the requirements of the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) and other federal or provincial laws with respect to each Canadian Pension Plan, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No fact or situation that may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect exists

 

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in connection with any Canadian Pension Plan.  As of the Closing Date, none of the Canadian Subsidiaries maintain, administer, contribute or have any liability in respect of any Canadian Defined Benefit Plans or, in the last 5 years, have ever contributed, maintained or administered any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan governed by the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario).  No lien has arisen, choate or inchoate, in respect of any Canadian Borrower, Canadian Guarantor or their Subsidiaries or their property in connection with any Canadian Pension Plan (save for contribution amounts not yet due).

 

(3)                                  Except with respect to the Specified UK Plans, no UK Loan Party: (a) is or has at any time been an employer (as defined for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme that which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pensions Scheme Act 1993); or (b) is or has at any time been “connected” with or an “associate” (as those terms are used in sections 38 and 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) of such an employer and no UK Loan Party has been issued with a Financial Support Direction or Contribution Notice in respect of any UK defined benefit pension plan.

 

SECTION 3.25                     Centre of Main Interests and Establishments .  If its jurisdiction of organization is a member of the European Union, its COMI is, for the purposes of the EU Insolvency Regulation, situated in its jurisdiction of organization and it has no “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the EU Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CONDITIONS OF LENDING

 

The obligations of (a) the Lenders (including the Swingline Lender) to make Loans and (b) any Issuing Bank to issue Letters of Credit or amend, extend or renew Letters of Credit hereunder (each, a “ Credit Event ”) are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions:

 

SECTION 4.01                     All Credit Events After the Closing Date .  On the date of each Credit Event, other than Credit Events on the Closing Date:

 

(1)                                  The Administrative Agent shall have received, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing or CDOR Rate Borrowing, a Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice as required by Section 2.03, or, in the case of the issuance of a Letter of Credit, the applicable Issuing Bank and the Administrative Agent shall have received a notice requesting the issuance of such Letter of Credit (and if requested by such Issuing Bank, a letter of credit application and other customary issuer documents) as required by Section 2.05(2); provided , that to the extent the applicable Borrowing Base includes Qualified Cash, each such Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice shall include the amount of Qualified Cash as of the end of the Business Day prior to such Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice.

 

(2)                                  Except with respect to any Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.21 (solely when the proviso in Section 2.21(7)(b) is applicable and then only to the extent required thereby), the representations and warranties set forth in the Loan Documents will be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of such date, as applicable, with the same effect as though made on and as of such date, except to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which case such representations and warranties will be true and correct in all material respects (or, in the case of any representations and warranties qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect, in all respects) as of such earlier date).

 

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(3)                                  At the time of and immediately after any Borrowing (other than a Borrowing pursuant to Section 2.21 (solely when the proviso in Section 2.21(7)(a) is applicable)) or issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit (other than an extension not beyond the Maturity Date, or renewal of a Letter of Credit without any increase in the stated amount thereof), as applicable, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

 

(4)                                  At the time after such Borrowing or issuance, amendment, extension or renewal of a Letter of Credit, as applicable, the sum of, without duplication, (a) U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans made to any U.S. Borrower (including Swingline Loans), unreimbursed drawings under U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a U.S. Borrower and the undrawn amount of outstanding U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a U.S. Borrower thereunder does not exceed the U.S. Line Cap, (b) U.S./Canadian Revolving Loans made to any Canadian Borrower, unreimbursed drawings under U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a Canadian Borrower and the undrawn amount of outstanding U.S./Canadian Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a U.S. Borrower thereunder does not exceed the Canadian Line Cap, (c) French Revolving Loans made to any French Borrower, unreimbursed drawings under French Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such French Borrower and the undrawn amount of outstanding French Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such French Borrower thereunder does not exceed the French Line Cap with respect to such French Borrower, (d) European Revolving Loans made to any German Borrower, unreimbursed drawings under European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower and the undrawn amount of outstanding European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of such German Borrower thereunder does not exceed the German Line Cap with respect to such German Borrower, (e) European Revolving Loans made to any Spanish Borrower, unreimbursed drawings under European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a Spanish Borrower and the undrawn amount of outstanding European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of any Spanish Borrower thereunder does not exceed the Spanish Line Cap, (f) European Revolving Loans made to any U.K. Borrower, unreimbursed drawings under European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of a U.K. Borrower and the undrawn amount of outstanding European Letters of Credit issued on behalf of any U.K. Borrower thereunder does not exceed the U.K. Line Cap, (g) Revolving Loans (including Swingline Loans), unreimbursed drawings under Letters of Credit and the undrawn amount of outstanding Letters of Credit thereunder does not exceed the Line Cap and (h) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would result therefrom.

 

Each such Credit Event occurring after the Closing Date will be deemed to constitute a representation and warranty by each Borrower on the date of such Credit Event as to the matters specified in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of this Section 4.01.

 

There are no conditions, implied or otherwise, to the making of Loans after the Closing Date other than as set forth in the preceding clauses (1) through (4) of this Section 4.01 and upon satisfaction or waiver of such conditions Loans will be made by the Lenders and any applicable Letters of Credit will be issued, amended, extended or renewed.

 

SECTION 4.02                     Conditions On the Closing Date .  On or before the Closing Date:

 

(1)                                  Loan Documents .  The Administrative Agent shall have received:

 

(a)                                  this Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by Holdings and, except as set forth on Schedule 1.01(3) or Schedule 5.16, each Borrower.

 

(b)                                  [reserved].

 

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(c)                                   the U.S. Collateral Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and (except as set forth on Schedule 1.01(3) or Schedule 5.16) each other Loan Document, in each case, dated as of the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties party thereto.

 

(2)                                  Borrowing Request .  On or prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received one or more Borrowing Requests.

 

(3)                                  Financial Statements .  The Administrative Agent shall have received (a) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of Holdings for each fiscal quarter (except for any such fiscal quarter ending as of the end of a fiscal year) ended after December 31, 2016 and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, (b) the audited consolidated balance sheets of Venator as of December 31, 2016 and the related statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and (c) a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of Holdings (after giving effect to the Transactions) based on the historical balance sheet of Holdings as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, prepared so as to give effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date, which need not be prepared in compliance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or include adjustments for purchase accounting.

 

(4)                                  Fees .  Payment of (a) the upfront fee in respect of the Revolving Loans and the administrative fee required to be paid pursuant to the Fee Letter, it being understood that such upfront fee may be netted against the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans and (b) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Engagement Letter, in each case to the extent invoiced at least 3 Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as Holdings may reasonably agree).

 

(5)                                  Closing Date Certificate.   The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party (other than any German Loan Party, Spanish Loan Party and any French Loan Party) dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is (i) a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of incorporation, certificate of incorporation on change of name or other similar organizational or constitutional document of such Loan Party, and each amendment thereto, certified (as of a date reasonably near the Closing Date and only where customary in the applicable jurisdiction) as being a true and correct copy thereof by the Secretary of State or other applicable Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is organized and (ii) a true and correct copy of its bylaws, memorandum and articles of association or operating, management, partnership or similar agreement (to the extent applicable) and that such documents or agreements have not been amended or superseded since the date of the last amendment thereto;

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto is a certificate of good standing (or subsistence) with respect to such Loan Party (other than the Lux Parent and any U.K. Loan Party) from the Secretary of State or other applicable Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is organized (to the extent customarily provided and available in the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party);

 

(c)                                   that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or equivalent body in the relevant jurisdiction of such Loan Party including if required by law in any applicable jurisdiction, a copy of the resolutions of its Shareholders Meeting) of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection

 

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herewith on the Closing Date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect;

 

(d)                                  as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each Responsible Officer executing this Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document (together with a certificate of another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Responsible Officer executing the certificate pursuant to this Section 4.02(6)); and

 

(e)                                   in the case of a U.K. Loan Party whose shares are the subject of a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent (i) a certificate of that U.K. Loan Party certifying that no “warning notice” or “restrictions notice” (in each case as defined in Schedule 1B of the Companies Act 2006) has been issued in respect of those shares, together with a copy of the “PSC register” (within the meaning of section 790C(10) of the Companies Act 2006) of that U.K. Loan Party, which is certified by a Responsible Officer of that U.K. Loan Party to be correct, complete and not amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement, or (ii) a certificate of that U.K. Loan Party certifying that such U.K. Loan Party is not required to comply with Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006.

 

(6)                                  Closing Date Certificate for German Loan Parties .  With respect to any German Loan Party, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized signatory of such German Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is a true copy of (i) an electronic excerpt from the commercial register ( Handelsregisterauszug ) of recent date; (ii) a copy of the articles of association ( Satzung ) or partnership agreement ( Gesellschaftsvertrag ) and (iii) a copy of the list of the shareholders ( Gesellschafterliste ) (if applicable) relating to such German Loan Party;

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the shareholders of such German Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the Closing Date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect; and

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto are specimen signatures of the persons authorized to execute this Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document on behalf of the German Loan Party.

 

(7)                                  Closing Date Certificate for Lux Parent .  With respect to Lux Parent, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized signatory of Lux Parent dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is:

 

(i)                                      an up-to-date copy of an excerpt issued by the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (the “ RCS ”) one Business Day prior to the signature of this Agreement in respect of the Lux Parent;

 

(ii)                                   a complete and up-to-date copy of the articles of incorporation of the Lux Parent which are in full force and effect;

 

(iii)                                a copy of a certificate of non-registration of a judicial decision in respect of the Lux Parent issued by the RCS one Business Day prior to the signature of

 

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this Agreement, stating that as of two Business Days prior to the signature of this Agreement, no judicial decision pursuant to which the Lux Parent would be subject to one of the judicial proceedings referred to therein including, but not limited to, bankruptcy ( faillite ), controlled management ( gestion contrôlée ), reprieve from payments ( sursis de paiement ) or composition with creditors ( concordat préventif de la faillite ), has been registered with the RCS by application of article 13, items 2 to 12 and article 14 of the Luxembourg law of 19 December 2002 on the RCS and on the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, as amended; and

 

(b)                                  a complete copy of the resolutions duly adopted by the managers of the Lux Parent approving and authorising the entry by the Lux Parent into the Loan Documents to which it is to be a party and the performance of its obligations thereunder, which Resolutions are in full force and effect;

 

(c)                                   that each copy document relating to it specified above is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement;

 

(d)                                  that the persons whose name appear in an Exhibit thereto are the duly elected, qualified and acting directors of the Lux Parent, and the signatures set forth opposite their respective names are the true and genuine signatures of such managers;

 

(e)                                   that the guaranteeing or securing, as the case may be, by the Lux Parent, as a result of its entry into the Loan Documents and the performance of its obligations thereunder, will not cause any guaranteeing, security or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded; and

 

(f)                                    that the Lux Parent is not subject to bankruptcy ( faillite ), insolvency, voluntary or judicial liquidation ( liquidation volontaire ou judiciaire ), composition with creditors ( concordat préventif de la faillite ), reprieve from payment ( sursis de paiement ), controlled management ( gestion contrôlée ), or similar proceedings; the Lux Parent is not subject to, to the best of its knowledge, conservatory measures such as attachment order ( saisie conservatoire ) or garnishment ( saisie attribution or saisie arrêt ) and no application, petition, order or resolution has been made, or taken by the Lux Parent or by, to the best of its knowledge, any other person, for the appointment of a commissaire , curateur , liquidateur or similar officer for its administration, winding-up or similar proceedings.

 

(8)                                  Closing Date Certificate for Spanish Loan Parties .  With respect to any Spanish Loan Party, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized signatory of such Spanish Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is a true copy of (i) an up-to-date complete literal certificate (certificación literal completa) issued by the relevant Commercial Registry and (ii) (if applicable) a copy of any documents which should be registered with the Commercial Registry and are pending to be registered, if any;

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted and notarized by the Board of Directors (or the relevant body including if required by law a copy of the resolutions of its shareholders meeting duly notarized) of such Spanish Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the Closing Date and certifying

 

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that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect; and

 

(c)                                   that attached thereto are specimen signatures of the persons authorized to execute this Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document on behalf of the Spanish Loan Party.

 

(9)                                  Legal Opinions .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a customary legal opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, special New York and Delaware counsel to the Loan Parties and customary legal opinions of each counsel set forth on Schedule 4.02(11).

 

(10)                           Know Your Customer and Other Required Information .  The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three business days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Loan Parties as has been reasonably requested in writing at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date by the Arrangers that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

 

(11)                           Solvency Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

 

(12)                           Transactions .  The following transactions have been consummated or will be consummated substantially concurrently with the making of the Loans on the Closing Date:

 

(a)                                  the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction;

 

(b)                                  the Senior Notes Documents required to be executed on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto and Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have received at least $375 million in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes;

 

(c)                                   the Term Loan Documents required by the terms of the Term Loan Credit Agreement to be executed on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries shall have received at least $375 million in gross cash proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes; and

 

(d)                                  the Huntsman Release.

 

(13)                           Pledged Equity Interests; Pledged Notes .  Except as set forth on Schedule 1.01(3) or Schedule 5.16 or as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, to the extent included in the Collateral and required to be pledged pursuant to the Security Documents on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received the certificates representing the Equity Interests (if such Equity Interests are certificated) of the Loan Parties and the other outstanding Equity Interests (if such Equity Interests are certificated) owned by each Loan Party, in each case together with an undated stock power or stock transfer form for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof, to the extent applicable.

 

(14)                           Perfection Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate with respect to the U.S. Loan Parties dated as of the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of the U.S. Parent.

 

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(15)                           No Material Adverse Effect .  There have not been any changes, circumstances, events or effects that, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(16)                           Initial Borrowing Base Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received an executed Borrowing Base Certificate at least three Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its discretion), containing the information that would have been required pursuant to Section 5.04(9) if this Agreement were in effect prior to the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(17)                           Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties in Article III hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects after giving effect to such qualification).

 

ARTICLE V

 

AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

 

Holdings and each Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Commitments have been terminated, the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations that are not then due and payable and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or been cash-collateralized or backstopped on terms satisfactory to the Issuing Bank, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent in writing, Holdings and such Borrower will, and will cause each Restricted Subsidiary, to:

 

SECTION 5.01                     Existence; Businesses and Properties .

 

(1)                                  Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, except:

 

(a)                                  in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Borrower), where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(b)                                  in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 6.05.

 

(2)                                  (a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to lawfully obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the permits, franchises, authorizations, Intellectual Property Rights, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary to the normal conduct of its business and (b) at all times maintain and preserve all property necessary to the normal conduct of its business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted) and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times, in each case, except:

 

(i)                                      as expressly permitted by this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                   such as may expire, be abandoned or lapse in the ordinary course of business; or

 

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(iii)                                where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(3)                                  The transfer of shares in Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH from Huntsman Investments (Netherlands) B.V. to Huntsman Spin UK Limited shall be completed on or before August 31, 2017 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).

 

(4)                                  The new shareholder’s list of Huntsman (Holdings) GmbH reflecting the new shareholding of Huntsman Spin UK Limited shall be filed with the commercial register on or before 31 August 2017 and a copy of such new shareholder’s list shall be provided to the Collateral Agent on or before August 31, 2017 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).

 

SECTION 5.02                     Insurance .

 

(1)                                  Maintain, with insurance companies reasonably believed to be financially sound and reputable, or through self-insurance (other than insurance of property loss, damage, and business interruption), insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar businesses operating in the same or similar locations, and cause the Collateral Agent to be listed as a co-loss payee (and mortgagee in the case of owned Real Property) on property policies (including for casualty losses) and as an additional insured on liability policies, in each case, with respect to jurisdictions outside of the United States, to the extent available and customary in such jurisdictions. Holdings will furnish to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, upon reasonable request, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

(2)                                  Use commercially reasonable efforts to:  (a) if insurance is procured from insurance companies, obtain certificates and endorsements (or in the case of insurance held by any U.K. Loan Party, insurance broker’s letters) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent with respect to property and casualty insurance; (b) cause each insurance policy referred to in this Section 5.02 and procured from an insurance company to provide that it shall not be cancelled (x) by reason of nonpayment of premium except upon not less than 10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent (giving the Administrative Agent the right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums) or (y) for any other reason except upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent; and (c) deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to the cancellation of any such policy of insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence of renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, including an insurance binder) together with evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of payment of the premium therefor.

 

(3)                                  If there are any Mortgaged Properties, obtain and maintain flood insurance with respect to such Mortgaged Properties from such providers, in such amount and on terms in accordance with the Flood Program in a manner reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent.

 

SECTION 5.03                     Taxes .  Pay and discharge promptly when due all material Taxes imposed upon it or its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same becomes delinquent or in default; provided that such payment and discharge will not be required with respect to any Tax if (1) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (2) Holdings, any affected Borrower or any affected Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP (or in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary,

 

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in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in such Restricted Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of organization) with respect thereto.

 

SECTION 5.04                     Financial Statements, Reports, etc .  Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly furnish such information to the Lenders):

 

(1)                                  within 120 days following the end of the first fiscal year ended after the Closing Date, and within 90 days following the end of each fiscal year thereafter, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity showing the financial position of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal year and, in each case, starting with the following fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity will be audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing, or such other accountants as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Term Loan Credit Agreement or the Facilities occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or anticipated or actual financial covenant non-compliance under the Facilities)) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (the applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to this clause (1) being the “ Annual Financial Statements ”);

 

(2)                                  within 75 days following the end of the first fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, and within 60 days following the end of the second fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date (unless in each case such fiscal quarter is the last fiscal quarter of a fiscal year, in which case this clause (2) does not apply to such last fiscal quarter), and, thereafter, within 45 days following the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows showing the financial position of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal quarter and, in each case, the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and, starting with the second fiscal year after the Closing Date, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows will be certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings on behalf of Holdings as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes (the applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to this clause (2) being the “ Quarterly Financial Statements ” and, together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “ Required Financial Statements ”);

 

(3)                                  concurrently with any delivery of Required Financial Statements, a certificate of a Financial Officer of Holdings:

 

(a)                                  certifying that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

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(b)                                  setting forth in reasonable detail calculations of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters as of the close of the fiscal year or fiscal quarter, as applicable;

 

(c)                                   in the case of Annual Financial Statements only, (i) certifying a list of all Immaterial Subsidiaries, that each Subsidiary set forth on such list individually qualifies as an Immaterial Subsidiary and that all such Subsidiaries in the aggregate do not exceed the limitation set forth in clause (2) of the definition of the term “Immaterial Subsidiary”, and (ii) certifying a list of all Unrestricted Subsidiaries at such time and that each Subsidiary set forth on such list qualifies as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                  [reserved];

 

(5)                                  within 120 days following the end of the first fiscal year ended after the Closing Date, and within 90 days following the end of each full fiscal year ended thereafter, (a) a consolidated annual budget for such fiscal year in the form customarily prepared by Holdings (the “ Budget ”) and (b) projected average daily Excess Availability for each month in such fiscal year, which Budget and projected Excess Availability will in each case be accompanied by the statement of a Financial Officer of Holdings on behalf of Holdings to the effect that the Budget and projected Excess Availability are based on assumptions believed by Holdings to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof;

 

(6)                                  upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, concurrently with the delivery of the Annual Financial Statements, an updated Perfection Certificate (or, to the extent such request relates to specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate, such information), or in the case of any non-U.S. Loan Party, updated information relating to the Collateral consistent with such information provided on the Closing Date, in each case, reflecting all changes since the date of the information most recently received pursuant to this paragraph (6) or Section 5.10;

 

(7)                                  promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs, pension profile and financial condition of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (for itself or on behalf of any Lender);

 

(8)                                  promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent (so long as the following are obtainable using commercially reasonable measures), copies of any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates has not requested such documents from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, Holdings or the applicable ERISA Affiliate shall be in compliance with this Section 5.04(8) by promptly making a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and providing copies of such documents and notices to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof from the applicable administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan;

 

(9)                                  on or before the 25 th  day of each month from and after the Closing Date (or, with respect to the first three such months after the Effective Date, the 30 th  day), a Borrowing Base Certificate from Holdings as of the last day of the immediately preceding month, with such supporting materials as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (which requests may be more frequent with respect to information regarding Qualified Cash); provided that concurrently with or immediately prior to a non-ordinary course sale, transfer or other disposition of ABL Priority Collateral with a fair market value in excess of 5.0% of the Borrowing Base then in effect from a Borrower to any other Person, the Borrowers will deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate giving effect to such sale, transfer or other disposition; provided

 

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further that, after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Liquidity Condition or a Designated Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may require Holdings to deliver the Borrowing Base Certificate more frequently as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent may not require Holdings to deliver a Borrowing Base Certificate more frequently than weekly, and in the case of such weekly reporting the Borrowing Base Certificate will be due on Wednesday of each week (or, if Wednesday is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day) calculated as of the close of business on Saturday of the immediately preceding calendar week; and

 

(10)                           solely during a Cash Dominion Period, within 30 days of fiscal month end for each of the first two fiscal months of each fiscal quarter during such Cash Dominion Period, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows showing the financial position of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal month and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal month and, in each case, the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows will be certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings on behalf of Holdings as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes.

 

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 5.04 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing (1) the applicable financial statements of any other Parent Entity or (2)  Holdings’ (or any such other Parent Entity’s), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), (a) to the extent such information relates to another Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Entity, on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, and (b) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(1), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing, or such other accountants as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Term Loan Credit Agreement or the Facilities occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or anticipated or actual covenant non-compliance)) (it being understood and agreed that if, in compliance with this paragraph, (x) Holdings provide audited financial statements of any other Parent Entity and related report and opinion of accountants with respect thereto in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(1), no such audited financial information, opinion or report shall be required with respect to Holdings, (y) Holdings provide unaudited financial statements of such other Parent Entity in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(2) and 5.04(10)), no such unaudited financial information shall be required with respect to Holdings and (z) Holdings provide a Budget of such Parent Entity in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(5), no such Budget shall be required with respect to Holdings; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the foregoing clauses (x), (y) and (z), (i) to the extent such information relates to such Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Entity, on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(1), such materials are accompanied by

 

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a report and opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing, or such other accountants as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the Term Loan Credit Agreement or the Facilities occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or anticipated or actual financial covenant non-compliance under the Facilities)).  The obligations in clauses (1), (2) and (10) of this Section 5.04 may be satisfied by delivery of financial information of Holdings and its Subsidiaries so long as such financial statements include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, of the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.04 may be delivered electronically in accordance with Section 10.01(5).

 

SECTION 5.05                     Litigation and Other Notices .  Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly thereafter furnish to the Lenders) written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of Holdings obtains actual knowledge thereof:

 

(1)                                  any Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

(2)                                  the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any Person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as to which an adverse determination is reasonably probable and which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;

 

(3)                                  the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(4)                                  any material change in accounting policies or financial reporting practices by any Loan Party with respect to the Borrowers’ Accounts and Inventory or which otherwise could reasonably be expected to affect the calculation of the Borrowing Base or Reserves.

 

SECTION 5.06                     Compliance with Laws .  Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including ERISA, FCPA, OFAC, the Proceeds of Crime Act and the PATRIOT Act), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that this Section 5.06 will not apply to laws related to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 5.03. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to reasonably ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.

 

Furthermore, this undertaking shall not apply to any German Loan Party in so far as they would violate or expose any German Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under any anti-boycott or blocking law, regulation or statute that is in force from time to time and applicable to such entity (including without limitation EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 and Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes ( Außenwirtschaftsverordnung — AWV )).

 

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SECTION 5.07                     Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections; Appraisals .

 

(1)                                  (a) Keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries (in all material respects) are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (b) permit any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings or such Borrower, and as often as reasonably requested, to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent, upon reasonable prior notice to such Borrower, to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (subject to such accountant’s policies and procedures) provided that the Administrative Agent may not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year unless an Event of Default is continuing; and provided , further , that when an Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of Holdings at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice.

 

(2)                                  At any time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Designated Event of Default, and at such other times not more frequently than (a) once per 12-month period if subclause (b) does not apply and (b) twice per 12-month period during any period commencing upon the date on which Excess Availability has been less than the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $37.5 million for at least five consecutive Business Days and ending on the date on which Excess Availability has been greater than the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $37.5 million for 20 consecutive calendar days, the Loan Parties will, at their expense and upon the Administrative Agent’s request, permit any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent to conduct field examinations at reasonable business times and upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrowers; provided that if a field exam has commenced pursuant to immediately preceding clause (b) but not completed prior to such time as Excess Availability has been greater than 15% of the Line Cap then in effect for 20 consecutive calendar days, such field exam will be completed at the expense of the Loan Parties.  The Loan Parties will reasonably cooperate with the Administrative Agent and such Persons in the conduct of such field examinations.  The Administrative Agent shall provide a copy of any field examination to any Lender upon such Lender’s request.

 

(3)                                  At any time in the Administrative Agent’s sole discretion upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Designated Event of Default, and at such other times not more frequently than (a) once per 12-month period if subclause (b) does not apply and (b) twice per 12-month period during any period commencing upon the date on which Excess Availability has been less than the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $37.5 million for at least five consecutive Business Days and ending on the date on which Excess Availability has been greater than the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $37.5 million for 20 consecutive calendar days, the Loan Parties will, at their expense and upon the Administrative Agent’s request, permit any Acceptable Appraiser to conduct appraisals of the Collateral at reasonable business times and upon reasonable prior notice to the Borrowers; provided that if an appraisal of the Collateral has commenced pursuant to immediately preceding clause (b) but not completed prior to such time as Excess Availability has been greater than the greater of (i) 15% of the Line Cap then in effect and (ii) $37.5 million for 20 consecutive calendar days, such appraisal will be completed at the expense of the Loan Parties.  The Loan Parties will reasonably cooperate with the Administrative Agent and such Acceptable Appraiser in the conduct of such appraisals.  Such appraisals will be prepared in a form and on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, such appraisals to include, without limitation, information required by applicable law and by the internal policies of the Lenders.  In addition, the Loan Parties will have the right (but not the obligation), at their expense, at any time and from time to time to provide the Administrative Agent

 

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with additional appraisals or updates thereof of any or all of the Collateral from any Acceptable Appraiser prepared in a form and on a basis reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, in which case such appraisals or updates shall be used in connection with the determination of the Net Orderly Liquidation Value and the calculation of the Borrowing Base hereunder.  With respect to each appraisal made pursuant to this Section 5.07(3) after the Closing Date, (i) the Administrative Agent and the Loan Parties will each be given a reasonable amount of time to review and comment on a draft form of the appraisal prior to its finalization and (ii) any adjustments to the Net Orderly Liquidation Value or any Borrowing Base hereunder as a result of such appraisal shall be reflected in the Borrowing Base Certificate delivered immediately succeeding such appraisal.  The Administrative Agent shall provide a copy of any appraisal to any Lender upon such Lender’s request.

 

(4)                                  The Borrowers will conduct a physical count of the Inventory after an occurrence and during the continuation of an Event of Default, at the Administrative Agent’s request.  The Borrowers, at their own expense, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent the results of each physical verification that the Borrowers have made, or have caused any other Person to make on its behalf, of all or any portion of its Inventory.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including Sections 5.04(7), 5.05, 5.07(1) through (4) and 5.12) or any other Loan Document, none of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter with any competitor to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or that (1) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information; (2) in respect of which disclosure is prohibited by law or any binding agreement; (3) is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product; provided that in the event that any information is not provided in reliance on this clause (3), Holdings shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent that such information is being withheld and Holdings shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to communicate, to the extent feasible, the applicable information in a way that would not violate the applicable agreement or risk waiver of such privilege; or (4) creates an unreasonably excessive expense or burden on Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 5.08                     Use of Proceeds .  Use the proceeds of the Swingline Loans and request issuance of Letters of Credit solely for general corporate purposes (including to finance the Transactions, for capital expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, the repayment or refinancing of Indebtedness and the making of Investments and Restricted Payments, in each case to the extent not prohibited hereunder).

 

SECTION 5.09                     Compliance with Environmental Laws .  Comply, and make reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons occupying any Real Property to comply, with all Environmental Laws applicable to the operations or the Real Property, and obtain, renew and comply with, and make reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons occupying any Real Property to obtain, renew and comply with, all authorizations, permits, licenses and other approvals required pursuant to Environmental Law for the operations or Real Property, except, in each case, to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.10                     Further Assurances; Additional Security .

 

(1)                                  If (a) a Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) of Holdings is formed or acquired after the Closing Date or (b) an Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary, within five Business Days after the date such Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired or such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted

 

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Subsidiary, as applicable, notify the Administrative Agent thereof and, within 60 days after the date such Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Holdings will or will cause such Restricted Subsidiary to (and in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles):

 

(i)                                      Subject to any relevant guarantee limitation, deliver a joinder to the Guaranty, substantially in the form specified therein, duly executed on behalf of such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(ii)                                   with respect a Domestic Subsidiary, deliver a joinder to the U.S. Collateral Agreement substantially in the form specified therein, and with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, appropriate Security Documents (or amendments, supplements or joinders to appropriate Security Documents) substantially similar to other Loan Parties organized in the same jurisdiction, in each case, duly executed on behalf of such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(iii)                                to the extent required by and subject to the exceptions set forth in the applicable Security Documents (including, with respect to the U.S. Loan Parties, U.S. Excluded Equity Interests), pledge the outstanding Equity Interests (other than U.S. Excluded Equity Interests) owned by such Restricted Subsidiary, and cause each Loan Party owning any Equity Interests issued by such Restricted Subsidiary to pledge such outstanding Equity Interests, and deliver all certificates (if any) or, in respect of a pledge governed by French law and as applicable, certified copies of the relevant registre de mouvements de titres and comptes d’actionnaires , representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers, stock transfer forms, or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank, to the Collateral Agent (or a designated bailee thereof);  provided , that notwithstanding the foregoing or in any Loan Document to the contrary, no actions will be required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction in order to create or perfect any security interest in any Equity Interests.

 

(iv)                               to the extent required by and subject to the exceptions set forth in this Section 5.10 or the Security Documents, deliver to the Collateral Agent (or a designated bailee or agent thereof) UCC or equivalent financing statements in any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction financing statements with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary and such other documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to create the Liens intended to be created under the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by the Security Documents to the extent provided for in the Guaranty and Security Principles; and

 

(v)                                  except as otherwise contemplated by this Section 5.10 or any Security Document, obtain all consents and approvals required to be obtained by it in connection with (A) the execution and delivery of all Security Documents (or supplements thereto) to which it is a party and the granting by it of the Liens thereunder and (B) the performance of its obligations thereunder.

 

(2)                                  If any Loan Party (a) acquires fee simple title in Real Property located in the United States after the Closing Date or (b) enters a joinder pursuant to Section 5.10(1)(i) hereof and owns fee simple title in Real Property located in the United States, then, in each case, within 45 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such acquisition or entry of a joinder (as applicable), such Loan Party shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof of such acquired or owned Real Property located in the United States (as applicable), and (i) no earlier than 45 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such notice is given to the Collateral Agent and (ii) no later than 90 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may

 

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agree in its sole discretion) after such acquisition or entry of a joinder (as applicable), such Loan Party shall:

 

(a)                                  cause any such acquired or owned Owned Material Real Property located in the United States (as applicable) that has to be subjected to a Mortgage securing the Obligations;

 

(b)                                  (A) obtain fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent, with endorsements (including zoning endorsements where available) and in an amount not less than the fair market value of each Mortgaged Property that is owned in fee insuring the fee simple title to each of the fee owned Mortgaged Properties vested in the applicable Loan Party and insuring the Collateral Agent that the relevant Mortgage creates a valid and enforceable first priority Lien on the Mortgaged Property encumbered thereby, subject to any applicable Legal Reservations, each of which title policy (“ Title Policy ”) (1) shall include all endorsements reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and available in the related jurisdiction and (2) shall provide for affirmative insurance and such reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; (B) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that the applicable Loan Party has (1) delivered to the title company (the “ Title Company ”) all certificates and affidavits reasonably required by the Title Company in connection with the issuance of the applicable Title Policy and (2) paid to the Title Company or to the appropriate Governmental Authorities all expenses and premiums of the Title Company and all other sums required in connection with the issuance of the Title Policies including, without limitation, all recording, stamp and intangible taxes payable in connection with recording the Mortgages in the applicable real property records; and (C) a title report issued by the Title Company with respect thereto, together with copies of all recorded documents listed as exceptions to title or otherwise referred to therein, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(c)                                   obtain (i) American Land Title Association/National Society of Professional Surveyors land title surveys, dated no more than 60 days before the date of their delivery to the Collateral Agent, certified to the Collateral Agent and the issuer of the Title Policies in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or (ii) if applicable, previously obtained ALTA/NSPS land title surveys and affidavits of “no-change” with respect to each such survey, such surveys and affidavits to be sufficient to issue Title Policies to the Collateral Agent without any standard survey exceptions and with customary survey related endorsements and other coverages including, without limitation, public road access, survey, contiguity and so called comprehensive coverage;

 

(d)                                  ensure that the Collateral Agent shall have received from each applicable Loan Party:  (A) a completed Flood Certificate with respect to each Mortgaged Property with any “building”, “structure” or “mobile home” (each as defined in Regulation H as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board under the Flood Program), which Flood Certificate shall (1) be addressed to the Collateral Agent, (2) be completed by a company which has guaranteed the accuracy of the information contained therein, and (3) otherwise comply with the Flood Program; and (B) evidence describing whether the community in which each Mortgaged Property is located participates in the Flood Program; in the event any such property is located in a Flood Zone, (x) a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance, duly executed by the Borrower, (y) evidence of flood insurance with a financially sounds and reputable insurer, naming the Administrative Agent, as mortgagee, in an amount and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (z) evidence of the payment of

 

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premiums in respect thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, provided that no such Real Property located in the United States shall be subjected to a Mortgage until such time as the Administrative Agent shall have received written confirmation from each applicable Lender that such Lender has completed all flood insurance due diligence and flood insurance compliance in each case as required by the Flood Program (such written confirmation not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and for the avoidance of doubt, the 45 or 90 day period, as applicable, for the satisfaction of the requirements of this clause (2) shall be automatically extended pending such confirmation;

 

(e)                                   provide evidence of insurance naming the Collateral Agent as loss payee, additional insured and mortgagee with such responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations, and in such amounts and covering such risks (including the risk of damage caused by a flood if required pursuant to the Flood Program), as are reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, including the insurance required by the terms of any mortgage or deed of trust;

 

(f)                                    for each Mortgage delivered pursuant to clause (b), obtain customary mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt (as applicable) enforceability opinions of local counsel for the Loan Parties in the states in which such acquired Owned Material Real Property are located; and

 

(g)                                   take, or cause the applicable Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to perfect such Liens, in each case, at the expense of the Loan Parties, subject to paragraph (5) of this Section 5.10.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may waive the requirements of this Section 5.10(2) if the Administrative Agent determines (in its sole discretion) that the burden, cost, time or consequences of obtaining such items is excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained therefrom by the Secured Parties and such waiver would not result in the violation of applicable law.

 

(3)                                  Furnish to the Collateral Agent five Business Days prior written notice of any change in any Loan Party’s:

 

(a)                                  Corporate, company or organization name;

 

(b)                                  organizational structure (including jurisdiction of incorporation);

 

(c)                                   location (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-307) (where applicable), registered office address or location of chief executive office; or

 

(d)                                  organizational or company identification number (or equivalent) or, solely if required for perfecting a security interest in the applicable jurisdiction, Federal Taxpayer Identification Number.

 

Holdings and the Borrowers will not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will be made within any statutory period, under the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest, for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties, in all Collateral held by such Loan Party.

 

(4)                                  Execute any and all other documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such other actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and

 

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other documents), not described in the preceding clauses (1) through (3) and that may be required under any applicable law, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to satisfy the requirements set forth in this Section 5.10 and in the Security Documents with respect to the creation and perfection of the Liens on the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, contemplated herein and in the Security Documents and to cause such requirement to be and remain satisfied, all at the expense of the Borrowers, and provide to the Collateral Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created by the Security Documents.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary:

 

(a)                                  the other provisions of this Section 5.10 need not be satisfied with respect to any (i) U.S. Excluded Assets or U.S. Excluded Equity Interests or any exclusions and carve-outs from the perfection requirements set forth in the U.S. Collateral Agreement and (ii) any assets or other exclusions and carve-outs from grant of guarantees and security and perfection requirements set forth in the Security Documents;

 

(b)                                  neither Holdings nor the other Loan Parties will be required to grant a security interest in any asset or perfect a security interest in any Collateral to the extent the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein outweighs the benefit of the security afforded thereby as reasonably determined by Holdings and the Administrative Agent;

 

(c)                                   no actions will be required outside of the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction in order to create or perfect any security interest in any assets located outside of the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction and no security or pledge agreements, mortgages or deeds governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction, or any Intellectual Property Rights filings or searches in any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction will be required; and

 

(d)                                  the Administrative Agent shall not enter into any Mortgage in respect of any real property acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date until the date that is (a) if such Mortgaged Property relates to a property not located in a Flood Zone, ten (10) Business Days or (b) if such Mortgaged Property relates to a property located in a Flood Zone, thirty (30) days, after the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a Flood Certificate a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the applicable Loan Parties of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the applicable Loan Parties that flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the applicable Loan Parties of such notice; and (iii) if required by Flood Program, evidence of required flood insurance.

 

SECTION 5.11                     Cash Management Systems; Application of Proceeds of Accounts .

 

(1)                                  Within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as may be consented to by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and in each case (other than with respect to a U.S. Loan Party) subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles (other than in respect of the U.K. Loan Parties):

 

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(a)                                  With respect to the U.S. Loan Parties and the Canadian Loan Parties:

 

(i)                                      Enter into Blocked Account Agreements, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with the Collateral Agent and any bank with which any U.S. or Canadian Loan Party maintains any Blocked Account covering each such Blocked Account maintained with such bank;

 

(ii)                                   Ensure that all cash, checks, proceeds of collections of Accounts and other amounts received by or on behalf of the U.S. Loan Parties and the Canadian Loan Parties are deposited promptly upon receipt in accordance with historical practices into a Blocked Account (or another Deposit Account that is swept, net of such minimum balance (not to exceed $500,000 per account), if any, required by the bank at which such Deposit Account is maintained, not less than once per Business Day, into a Blocked Account), maintained in the name of such Loan Party.

 

(iii)                                Each such Blocked Account Agreement will require, during a Cash Dominion Period and upon receipt by Holdings of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent, the ACH or wire transfer no less frequently than once per Business Day of all available cash balances and cash receipts, including the then contents or then entire ledger balance of each such Blocked Account net of such minimum balance (not to exceed $500,000 per account), if any, required by the bank at which such Blocked Account is maintained to an account established with, and subject to the control of, the Administrative Agent (each such account, a “ Dominion Account ”).

 

(iv)                               All collected amounts received in a Dominion Account during a Cash Dominion Period and upon receipt by Holdings of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent shall be distributed and applied on a daily basis to the repayment of all Loans outstanding under this Agreement and to the payment of all other Obligations then due and owing pursuant to the waterfalls set forth in Section 2.18(3); provided that amounts applied pursuant to subclause (iv)  of clause (a) thereof and subclause (iv) of clause (b) thereof will be applied:

 

(A)                                first, to ABR Revolving Loans;

 

(B)                                second, to Eurocurrency Revolving Loans and CDOR Rate Loans; and

 

(C)                                third, to cash collateralize Letters of Credit at 103% of the face amount thereof.

 

with any excess, unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, to be remitted to the Borrowers.

 

(v)                                  If any time after the occurrence and during the continuance of a Cash Dominion Period as to which the Administrative Agent has notified Holdings, any cash or Cash Equivalents owned by any U.S. Loan Party or Canadian Loan Party are deposited to any account located in Canada or the United States, held or invested in any manner, other than in a Blocked Account subject to a Blocked Account Agreement (or another Deposit Account that is swept, net of such minimum balance (not to exceed $500,000 per account), if any, required by the bank at which such Deposit Account is maintained, not less than once per Business Day, into a Blocked Account), then the Administrative Agent will be entitled to require the applicable Borrower or Loan Party to close such account and have all funds therein transferred to a Blocked Account;

 

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(b)                                  With respect to each Loan Party other than a U.S. Loan Party, a Canadian Loan Party or the Lux Parent:

 

(i)                                      Enter into Blocked Account Agreements, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with the Collateral Agent and any bank with which any such Loan Party maintains any Blocked Account that is a Collection Account located in an Specified Foreign Jurisdiction (other than Canada) covering each such Blocked Account maintained with such bank;

 

(ii)                                   Ensure that all proceeds of collections of Accounts received by or on behalf of such Loan Parties are deposited promptly upon receipt in accordance with historical practices into a Blocked Account (or another Deposit Account that is swept, net of such minimum balance (not to exceed $500,000 per account), if any, required by the bank at which such Deposit Account is maintained, not less than once per Business Day, into a Blocked Account), maintained in the name of such Loan Party.

 

(iii)                                Each such Blocked Account Agreement shall (i) provide the applicable Collateral Agent with control over such account and (ii) will require, during a Cash Dominion Period and upon receipt by Holdings of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent, that the only way funds may be withdrawn from any such Blocked Account is by (or on the authorization or instruction of) the applicable Collateral Agent (or the Administrative Agent) in order to apply them in accordance pursuant to the waterfalls set forth in Section 2.18(3).

 

(iv)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is expressly acknowledged that it may be impractical for any such Loan Party to obtain a Blocked Account Agreement (or the equivalent) from the bank or depositary that maintains its Deposit Accounts or it may take longer than agreed to obtain a Blocked Account Agreement (or the equivalent) in which event the Administrative Agent will act reasonably in extending the time for obtaining such Blocked Account Agreement (or the equivalent) and granting any request to limit the scope of such Blocked Account Agreement or to not require a Blocked Account Agreement; provided that in each case, such Loan Party has exercised due diligence and reasonable efforts in providing such Deposit Account Control Agreement (or the equivalent). It is expressly acknowledged that (x) the Administrative Agent reserves the right to impose Reserves with respect to the failure to obtain any such Deposit Account Control Agreement over any Collection Accounts within such ninety (90) period referred to in Section 5.11(1)(d), at or after the end of such period (and if it does impose Reserves or agree to any other form of action acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the failure to obtain such Deposit Account Control Agreement shall not constitute an Event of Default) and (y) in connection with any failure to obtain any Blocked Account Agreement with respect to a Collection Account, the Administrative Agent may require the amendment of the relevant Security Documents on terms mutually agreeable to the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower, acting reasonably, to the extent necessary to ensure the continuing effectiveness of the security created thereby notwithstanding that any Blocked Account Agreement has not been obtained, and (z) the form of the Blocked Account Agreement (or the equivalent) may vary from the forms obtained for Deposit Accounts located in the United States in order to conform to local requirements and customs.

 

(c)                                   The foregoing clauses (a) and (b) will not apply to cash or Cash Equivalents constituting Term Priority Collateral required to be deposited in a blocked account in

 

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favor of the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement pursuant to the terms of the Term Loan Credit Agreement; provided , further , that the foregoing will not apply to cash or Cash Equivalents deposited, held or invested in any of the following:

 

(i)                                      any Excluded Account; or

 

(ii)                                   de minimis cash or cash equivalents from time to time inadvertently misapplied by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

(d)                                  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the provisions of this Section 5.11 will not apply to any Deposit Account that is opened or acquired by a Loan Party in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Investment permitted under this Agreement, in each case, prior to the date that is 90 days (or such later date as may be consented to by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) following the date of such account opening, Permitted Acquisition or other Investment, and the balances held in such Deposit Account at the date of such opening, Permitted Acquisition or other Investment shall not be counted toward the amount set forth in clause (1) of the definition of “Excluded Account” until the end of such 90 day period (or later period, if applicable);

 

(e)                                   The Dominion Accounts will at all times be under the sole dominion and control of the Collateral Agent.

 

(f)                                    So long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (ii) no Cash Dominion Period is then in effect, the Loan Parties will have full and complete access to, and may direct the manner of disposition of, funds in the Blocked Accounts.

 

(g)                                   Any amounts held or received in the Dominion Accounts (including all interest and other earnings with respect thereto, if any) at any time (i) after this Agreement has been terminated, the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (x) Specified Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations that, in each case, are not yet due and payable and (y) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full and all Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or been cash collateralized or backstopped on terms satisfactory to the Issuing Bank or (ii) when all Events of Default have been cured and no Cash Dominion Period is then in effect will be remitted to the Loan Parties as the Borrowers may direct.

 

(2)                                  Notwithstanding the provisions set out in section 5.10(1) above:

 

(a) each U.K. Loan Party shall, within 90 days after the Closing Date (or such longer period as may be consented to by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed):

 

(i) enter into Blocked Account Agreements, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, with the Collateral Agent and any bank with which any such U.K. Loan Party maintains any Blocked Account that is a Collection Account located in a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction (other than Canada) covering each such Blocked Account maintained with such bank; and

 

(ii) ensure that all proceeds of collections of Accounts received by or on behalf of such U.K. Loan Parties are deposited promptly upon receipt in accordance with

 

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historical practices into a Blocked Account (or another Deposit Account that is swept, net of such minimum balance (not to exceed $500,000 per account, or $5,000,000 in the aggregate), if any, required by the bank at which such Deposit Account is maintained, not less than once per Business Day, into a Blocked Account), maintained in the name of such U.K. Loan Party.

 

(b) each such Blocked Account Agreement will require, during a Cash Dominion Period and upon receipt by Holdings of written notice thereof by the Administrative Agent, that the only way funds may be withdrawn from any such Blocked Account is by (or on the authorization or instruction of) the applicable Collateral Agent (or the Administrative Agent) in order to apply them in accordance with the waterfalls set forth in Section 2.18(3).

 

SECTION 5.12                     Lender Calls .  Participate in quarterly conference calls with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, such calls to be held at such time as may be agreed to by Holdings and the Administrative Agent within a reasonable period of time following such request, with such calls including members of senior management of Holdings as Holdings deems appropriate, to discuss the state of Holdings’ business, including, but not limited to, recent performance, cash and liquidity management, operational activities, current business and market conditions and material performance changes; provided that in no event shall more than one such call be requested in any fiscal quarter (in total with respect to this Agreement and the Term Loan Credit Agreement); provided , further , that the requirements set forth in this Section 5.12 may be satisfied with a public earnings call for the applicable period.

 

SECTION 5.13                     Pensions .

 

(1)                                  Ensure that any pension schemes operated by or maintained for the benefit of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries and/or any of their employees are fully funded to the extent required by applicable law where failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(2)                                  Ensure that none of the Canadian Subsidiaries shall maintain, administer, contribute or have any liability in respect of any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan; provided that nothing in this clause (2) shall restrict Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from acquiring an interest in any Person in a transaction otherwise permitted hereunder notwithstanding that such Person sponsors, maintains, administers or contributes to, or has any liability in respect of, any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan governed by Pension Benefits Act (Ontario).

 

(3)                                  Except with respect to the Specified UK Plans, ensure that, where required by applicable law, all pension schemes operated by or maintained for its benefit and/or any of the employees of any U.K. Loan Party are fully funded based on the statutory funding objective under sections 221 and 222 of the Pensions Act 2004 or have a recovery plan in place with the intention of reaching fully funded status (and will make such contributions in full as they fall due under such recovery plan), and that no action or omission is taken by any U.K. Loan Party in relation to such a pension scheme which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (including the termination or commencement of winding-up proceedings of any such pension scheme or a U.K. Loan Party ceasing to employ any member of such a pension scheme).

 

(4)                                  Deliver to the Administrative Agent: (i) at such times as those reports are prepared in order to comply with the then current statutory or auditing requirements (as applicable either to the trustees of any relevant schemes or to the U.K. Loan Parties) and (ii) at any other time if the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that any relevant statutory or auditing requirements are not

 

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being complied with, actuarial reports in relation to all pension schemes mentioned in paragraph (3) above.

 

(5)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any material change in the rate of contributions to any pension scheme mentioned in paragraph (3) above paid or recommended to be paid (whether by the scheme actuary or otherwise) or required (by law or otherwise).

 

SECTION 5.14                     Centre of Main Interests and Establishments .  If its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation is a member of the European Union, ensure that its COMI is, at all times, situated in its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation and that it does not have an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the EU Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction and it shall not, and it shall ensure that none of its Subsidiaries will, do anything to change the location of its COMI.

 

SECTION 5.15                     People with Significant Control regime.   Each Loan Party shall (and shall ensure that each of its Subsidiaries will) (i) within the relevant timeframe, comply with any notice it receives pursuant to Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 from any company incorporated in the U.K. whose shares are the subject of a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent and (ii) promptly provide the Administrative Agent with a copy of that notice.

 

SECTION 5.16                     Post-Closing Matters .  Deliver to Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the items described on Schedule 5.16 hereof on or before the dates specified with respect to such items on Schedule 5.16 (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed to by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion or, with respect to matters relating primarily to the Term Priority Collateral, in the sole discretion of the administrative agent under the Term Loan Credit Agreement).  All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents will be deemed modified to the extent necessary to effect the foregoing (and to permit the taking of the actions described on Schedule 5.16 within the time periods specified thereon, rather than as elsewhere provided in the Loan Documents).

 

SECTION 5.17                     Spanish “Pagarés” ( Promissory Notes ) .  Each Spanish Borrower undertakes to comply at all times with the following obligations in relation to any “ pagaré ” that any of their Account Debtors may deliver them as payment instruments: (i) to keep all “ pagarés ” at a separate location in their premises until the date in which such “ pagarés ” need to be presented for collection, in a specific locked box marked with the reference “JPM Credit Agreement” at their principal office, the exact location of which will be notified at all times to the Administrative Agent; (ii) to permit at all times during the continuance of an Event of Default the Administrative Agent immediate access to such “ pagarés ” and the location in which they are kept, ready for inspection upon request by it; (iii) to prevent the access by any third parties to such locked box other than the Administrative Agent, and other than those employees of the Spanish Borrower insofar as necessary to ensure that the “ pagarés ” are duly presented for collection at the date of payment set forth in such “ pagaré ”; (iv) to only proceed to collect such “ pagarés ” in accordance with Section 5.11; (v) to instruct all of its Account Debtors that issue such “ pagarés ” from now on to do so with the specific mention “not to the order” (“ no a la orden ”), so that they cannot be endorsed to any third party; and (vi) upon occurrence of an Event of Default, to immediately send the relevant locked box in which “ pagarés ” are kept and any other “ pagaré ” received during such period to the Administrative Agent for its custody and collection, for as long as such Event of Default is continuing. In addition to the above, the relevant Spanish Borrower hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and its designees, and grants them full powers of attorney, upon occurrence of and continuance of an Event of Default, to take in such Spanish Borrower’s name and on their behalf any and all steps necessary or desirable, in the judgment of the Administrative Agent or its designees, to collect all amounts due under any and all of their “ pagarés ”, including, without limitation, endorsing (if possible)

 

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such “ pagarés ” to the Administrative Agent, and enforcing such “ pagarés ” and the related contracts thereto.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

NEGATIVE COVENANTS

 

Holdings and each Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that, so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations that are not then due and payable and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full and Letters of Credit have expired, terminated or been cash-collateralized or backstopped on terms satisfactory to the Issuing Bank, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent in writing, it will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

SECTION 6.01                     Indebtedness .  Issue, incur, permit to exist or assume any Indebtedness; provided that Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries may issue, incur or assume Indebtedness so long as (i) immediately after giving effect to the issuance, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (but without including the proceeds thereof in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting and excluding undrawn Commitments), if the Interest Coverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, shall not be less than 2.00 to 1.00 (the “ Ratio Debt ”), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this paragraph (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), may not exceed the greater of (a) $70 million and (b) 2.8%  of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred, (iii) no Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom, and (iv) such Indebtedness is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (or, if the Term Loan Credit Agreement is no longer in effect as of the date of incurrence of such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness would have otherwise been permitted to be incurred under the Term Loan Credit Agreement most recently in effect prior to the date of incurrence).  The foregoing limitation will not apply to (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

 

(1)                                  Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents (including Indebtedness created under Incremental Revolving Facility Increases and Extended Commitments) together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (1);

 

(2)                                  (a)Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Term Loan Credit Agreement (including all Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans and Extended Term Loans, in each case, as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement); (b) any Incremental Equivalent Term Debt; and (c) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement); provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (2) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred, does not exceed the sum of:

 

(i)                                      $375 million; plus

 

(ii)                                   the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement as in effect on the date hereof) (the “ Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap ”); plus

 

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(iii)                                (A)with respect to any such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt to be secured on a pari passu basis to the Term Loans, such amount as would not result in the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, as of the date of such incurrence (and after giving effect to such incurrence but without including the proceeds thereof in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting) and after giving effect to any acquisition or other transaction consummated in connection with the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt), but excluding undrawn Commitments, being greater than 1.50 to 1.00; and

 

(B)                                with respect to any such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt to be secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans, subordinated in right of payment to the Term Loans or unsecured on a junior basis to the Term Loans, such amount as would not result in the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as of the date of such incurrence (and after giving effect to such incurrence but without including the proceeds thereof in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting) and after giving effect to any acquisition or other transaction consummated in connection with the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt), but excluding undrawn Commitments, being greater than 3.20 to 1.00;

 

provided , that if the Borrowers incur indebtedness under clause (ii) above in reliance on the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap on the same date that it incurs indebtedness under the either clause (iii)(A) and (iii)(B) above, then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, with respect to the amounts incurred under either clause (iii)(A) and (iii)(B) above will be calculated without including any incurrence under the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Basket pursuant to clause (ii) above;

 

(3)                                  customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;

 

(4)                                  Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1) or (2) above) and set forth on Schedule 6.01(4);

 

(5)                                  Capital Lease Obligations, Indebtedness with respect to mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness to finance all or any part of the purchase, lease, construction, installation, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), plant or equipment or other fixed or capital assets and Indebtedness arising from the conversion of the obligations of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any “synthetic lease” transactions to on-balance sheet Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (5) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), not to exceed the greater of (a) $40 million and (b) 1.6% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred within 270 days after the purchase, lease, construction, installation, repair or improvement of the property that is the subject of such Indebtedness;

 

(6)                                  Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank Guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits (whether to current or former employees) or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance in respect of such items, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits (whether current or former) or property, casualty or liability insurance; provided that

 

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upon the incurrence of any Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, such obligations are reimbursed not later than 45 days following such incurrence;

 

(7)                                  Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, earn-outs, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or other acquisition permitted hereunder or the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiaries not prohibited by this Agreement, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of financing any such Permitted Acquisition;

 

(8)                                  intercompany Indebtedness between or among Holdings, any Borrower and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(9)                                  Indebtedness pursuant to Hedge Agreements entered into the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(10)                           Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion Guarantees and similar obligations, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11)                           Guarantees of Indebtedness of Holdings, any Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under this Agreement to the extent such Guarantees are not prohibited by the provisions of Section 6.04 (other than Section 6.04(20));

 

(12)                           (a) Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition and Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary if such Indebtedness was not created in anticipation or contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) Indebtedness incurred or assumed in anticipation or contemplation of a Permitted Acquisition; provided that, in each case of the foregoing subclauses (a) and (b):

 

(i)                                      no Event of Default is continuing immediately before such Permitted Acquisition or would result therefrom;

 

(ii)                                   immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition, on a Pro Forma Basis (but in the case of clause (b) without including the proceeds of such Indebtedness in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting), either (A) Holdings or any Borrower would be permitted to incur at least $1 of Ratio Debt or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio would increase;

 

(iii)                                the aggregate principal amount of any such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (12) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (12) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), may not exceed the greater of (a) $30 million and (b) 1.2% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred; and

 

(iv)                               such Indebtedness is otherwise permitted to be incurred under the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

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(13)                           Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture up to an aggregate outstanding principal amount as of any date and (b) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (13) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), not to exceed, in the case of Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (13), $375 million;

 

(14)                           Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Indebtedness (other than credit or purchase cards) is extinguished within 10 Business Days after notification received by Holdings of its incurrence;

 

(15)                           Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

 

(16)                           Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed an amount equal to 100% of the net proceeds received by Holdings from the issuance or sale of its Equity Interests or as a contribution to its capital after the Closing Date, other than (a) proceeds from the issuance or sale of Holdings’ Disqualified Stock, (b) Excluded Contributions, (c) Cure Amounts and (d) any such proceeds that are used prior to the date of incurrence to make a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(1) or Section 6.06(2)(b) (any such Indebtedness, “ Contribution Indebtedness ”);

 

(17)                           Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18)                           Indebtedness incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Receivables Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings) in an aggregate principal amount (when combined with all Indebtedness outstanding under all Qualified Receivables Financings) not to exceed the $30 million;

 

(19)                           Cash Management Obligations, obligations owed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of or in connection with any treasury, depository, pooling, netting, overdraft, stored value card, purchase card (including so called “procurement card” or “P card”), debit card, credit card, cash management, supply chain finance services (including, without limitation, trade payable services and supplier accounts receivables purchases) and similar services and any automated clearing house transfer of funds, and other Indebtedness in respect thereof entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(20)                           Indebtedness issued to future, current or former officers, directors, managers, and employees, consultants and independent contractors of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity permitted by Section 6.06;

 

(21)                           Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing Guarantees of Indebtedness of, joint ventures; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (21) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), may not exceed the greater of (a) $25 million and (b) 1.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred;

 

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(22)                           Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties in an aggregate outstanding principal amount, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by non-Loan Parties to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (22) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), not to not exceed the greater of (a) $25 million and (b) 1.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred;

 

(23)                           (i) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of short-term obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services so long as such obligations are incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money and (ii) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;

 

(24)                           Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in the ordinary course of business or (b) in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Investment;

 

(25)                           any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Indebtedness incurred under clauses (4), (5), (8), (12), (13), (16), (21), (22), this clause (25) or clauses (28) or (29) of this Section 6.01 and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(26)                           [reserved];

 

(27)                           Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, warehouse receipts or similar facilities or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred or undertaken in the ordinary course of business;

 

(28)                           additional Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (28) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), not to exceed the greater of (a) $100 million and (b) 4.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred; and

 

(29)                           letters of credit issued in favor of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $50 million and (b) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Asset as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt or is entitled to be incurred as Ratio Debt, any Borrower may, in its sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents, the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes Indenture will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception in clauses (1), (2) and (13), respectively, of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and shall not be permitted to be reclassified pursuant to this paragraph.  All unsecured Permitted Debt originally incurred under clause (5), (21), (22) or (28) of the definition of Permitted Debt will be automatically reclassified as Ratio Debt on the first date on which such Indebtedness would have been permitted to be incurred as Ratio Debt.  Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will not be

 

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deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01.  Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness will not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 6.01.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower Dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to Refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced ( plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, original issue discount, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses in connection therewith).

 

SECTION 6.02                     Liens .  Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien that secures obligations under any Indebtedness on any property or assets at the time owned by it, except the following (collectively, “ Permitted Liens ”):

 

(1)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Sections 6.01(1) or 6.01(2); provided that, in the case of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(2), the applicable Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement(s) substantially consistent with and no less favorable to the Lenders in any material respect than the Intercreditor Agreement as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(2)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.02(2); provided that such Liens only secure the obligations that they secure on the Closing Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 6.01) and do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary other than replacements, additions, accessions and improvements thereto;

 

(3)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(5); provided that such Liens only extend to the assets financed with such Indebtedness (and any replacements, additions, accessions and improvements thereto);

 

(4)                                  Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of Qualified Receivables Financing securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(18);

 

(5)                                  Liens on assets of non-Loan Parties securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(22);

 

(6)                                  Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(25); provided that the Liens securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are limited to all or part of the same property that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the original Lien ( plus any replacements, additions, accessions and improvements thereto);

 

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(7)                                  (a) Liens on property or Equity Interests of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary if such Liens were not created in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) Liens on property at the time Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger, amalgamation or consolidation with or into Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, if such Liens were not created in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition;

 

(8)                                  Liens on property or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

 

(9)                                  Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or that are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03;

 

(10)                           Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Closing Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Liens (so long as the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Agreement); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

 

(11)                           Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01(10) and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which Holdings, any Borrower or any affected Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto;

 

(12)                           Liens imposed by law, including landlord’s, carriers’, builders’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP;

 

(13)                           (a) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other similar laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (b) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(14)                           deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15)                           survey exceptions and such matters as an accurate survey would disclose, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), licenses, special assessments, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business and title defects or irregularities in each case

 

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that are of a minor nature and that, in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(16)                           any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any leases or subleases entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)                           Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (a) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18)                           Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights;

 

(19)                           leases or subleases, non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property Rights and software) granted to others in the ordinary course of business that do not interfere in any material respect with the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(20)                           Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or other agreement in respect of any Permitted Investment;

 

(21)                           the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(22)                           Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA financing statements or equivalent statements in any other jurisdiction;

 

(23)                           Liens on Equity Interests of any joint venture (a) securing obligations of such joint venture or (b) pursuant to the relevant joint venture agreement or arrangement;

 

(24)                           Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(25)                           Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents under clause (4) of the definition thereof;

 

(26)                           Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements;

 

(27)                           Liens on vehicles or equipment of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(28)                           Liens on property or assets used to defease or to satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

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(29)                           Liens:

 

(a)                                  of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection;

 

(b)                                  attaching to pooling, commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(c)                                   in favor of banking or other financial institutions or entities, or electronic payment service providers, arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking or finance industry (including, in relation to bank accounts held in Germany, Liens arising under the general terms and conditions of banks ( Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen der Banken und Sparkassen ));

 

(30)                           Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(31)                           Liens that rank pari passu with the Liens securing the Term Loan Obligations if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the date on which such Liens are first created is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00; provided that a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness will become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(32)                           Liens that rank junior to the Liens securing both the Obligations and the Term Loan Obligations, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the date on which such Liens are first created is less than or equal to 3.20 to 1.00; provided that a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness will become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(33)                           Liens securing additional obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $75 million and (b) 3.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date such Liens are first created;

 

(34)                           Liens securing (a) Specified Hedge Obligations and Cash Management Obligations, which amounts are secured under the Loan Documents, and (b) amounts owing to any Qualified Counterparty (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) under any Specified Hedge Agreement (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement), which amounts are secured under the Term Loan Documents; provided that, in each case, the applicable Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement(s) substantially consistent with and no less favorable to the Lenders in any material respect than the Intercreditor Agreement as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(35)                           Liens on amounts deposited to secure any Loan Party’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ obligations in connection with pension liabilities ( Altersteilzeitverpflichtungen ) pursuant to § 8a German Partial Retirement Act ( Altersteilzeitgesetz ) or in connection with time credits ( Wertguthaben ) pursuant to § 7e German Social Code IV ( Sozialgesetzbuch IV );

 

(36)                           any Lien required to be granted under mandatory law in favor of creditors as a consequence of a merger or a conversion permitted under this Agreement due to §§ 22, 204 UmwG; and

 

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(37)                           Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention (including retention of title), consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods.

 

For purposes of this Section 6.02, Indebtedness will not be considered incurred under a subsection or clause of Section 6.01 if it is later reclassified as outstanding under another subsection or clause of Section 6.01 (in which event, and at which time, same will be deemed incurred under the subsection or clause to which reclassified).

 

SECTION 6.03                     [Reserved] .

 

SECTION 6.04                     Investments, Loans and Advances .  Purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger, consolidation or amalgamation with a Person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation) any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in (each, a “ Investment ”), any other Person, except the following (collectively, “ Permitted Investments ”):

 

(1)                                  the Transactions;

 

(2)                                  loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of any Parent Entity, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $5 million and (ii) 0.2% of Consolidated Total Assets at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof after the date made);

 

(3)                                  [reserved];

 

(4)                                  [reserved];

 

(5)                                  intercompany Investments among Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including intercompany Indebtedness);

 

(6)                                  Investments in (x) Viance, LLC and Louisiana Pigment Company (and any successor thereof) in an amount, net of any Investments by Viance, LLC and Louisiana Pigment Company in any Loan Party, not to exceed the greater of (i) $25 million and (ii) 1.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Investment is made and (y) other Joint Ventures in an amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $50 million and (ii) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Investment is made;

 

(7)                                  Cash Equivalents and, to the extent not made for speculative purposes, Investment Grade Securities or Investments that were Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities when made;

 

(8)                                  Investments arising out of the receipt by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of non-cash consideration in connection with any sale of assets permitted under Section 6.05;

 

(9)                                  accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments and other credits granted or made in the ordinary course of business and any Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled Account Debtors and others, including in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, such Account Debtors and others, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

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(10)                           Investments acquired as a result of a foreclosure by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(11)                           Hedge Agreements entered into the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(12)                           Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04 and any replacements, refinancings, refunds, extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause (12) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investments existing or committed on the Closing Date (other than pursuant to an increase as required by the terms of any such Investment as in existence on the Closing Date);

 

(13)                           Investments resulting from pledges and deposits that are Permitted Liens;

 

(14)                           intercompany loans among non-Loan Party Subsidiaries and Guarantees by non-Loan Party Subsidiaries permitted by Section 6.01(22);

 

(15)                           acquisitions of obligations of one or more officers or other employees of any Parent Entity or any Subsidiary of Holdings in connection with such officer’s or employee’s acquisition of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity, so long as no cash is actually advanced by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to such officers or employees in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;

 

(16)                           Guarantees of operating leases (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)                           Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Equity Interests of any Parent Entity;

 

(18)                           Investments consisting of the redemption, purchase, repurchase or retirement of any Equity Interests permitted under Section 6.06;

 

(19)                           Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

 

(20)                           Guarantees permitted under Section 6.01;

 

(21)                           advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(22)                           Investments, including loans and advances, to any Parent Entity so long as Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary would otherwise be permitted to make a Restricted Payment in such amount; provided that the amount of any such Investment will be deemed to be a Restricted Payment under the appropriate clause of Section 6.06 for all purposes of this Agreement;

 

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(23)                           purchases or acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases or acquisitions of contract rights or Intellectual Property Rights in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(24)                           Investments in assets useful in the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary made with (or in an amount equal to) any Reinvestment Deferred Amount or Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds;

 

(25)                           any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person, in each case in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness, not to exceed, in the aggregate, $30 million;

 

(26)                           intercompany current liabilities owed to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

 

(27)                           Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

(28)                           any Investment made at any time in an amount not exceeding the Shared Dollar Basket at such time, plus any returns of capital that at such time have actually been received by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of their Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(28);

 

(29)                           Investments for the establishment and maintenance (including the establishment and maintenance of required reserves in an amount not to exceed the reserves reasonably determined by an independent actuary and in any event not less than any amount that may be required from time to time in accordance with applicable statutes or other applicable Requirements of Law) of a captive insurance program that is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in the same or similar businesses;

 

(30)                           Investments in Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(31)                           [reserved];

 

(32)                           [reserved];

 

(33)                           [reserved];

 

(34)                           [reserved];

 

(35)                           [reserved];

 

(36)                           [reserved];

 

(37)                           additional Investments (including Permitted Acquisitions); provided that both immediately before such Investment is made and immediately after giving effect to such Investment, the Payment Conditions are satisfied; and

 

(38)                           Investments for the establishment of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are initially capitalized in a de minimis amount.

 

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SECTION 6.05                     Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions .  Merge into, or consolidate or amalgamate with, any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, license, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any part of its assets, or issue, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of the assets of any other Person or any division, unit or business of any other Person, except that this Section 6.05 will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                  if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary into (or with) any Borrower; provided that (i) such Borrower shall be the survivor or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not the Borrower (any such Person, the “ Successor Borrower ”), (A) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia or a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction (other than France) and (B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the applicable Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided, further, that, prior to any Person becoming a Successor Borrower, the Administrative Agent shall have received al documentation and other information that has been reasonably requested in writing by the Lenders that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act;

 

(b)                                  the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary into or with any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is a Subsidiary Loan Party;

 

and, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), no Person other than any Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party receives any consideration;

 

(c)                                   the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party into or with any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

 

(d)                                  any transfer of Inventory among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries or between Restricted Subsidiaries and any other transfer of property or assets among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries or between Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)                                   the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings if a Responsible Officer of Holdings determines in good faith that such liquidation, dissolution or change in form is in the best interests of Holdings and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders;

 

(f)                                    the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary with or into any other Person in order to effect a Permitted Investment; or

 

(g)                                   the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary into (or with) Holdings; provided that (1) Holdings shall be the continuing

 

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or surviving Person or (2) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not Holdings or is a Person into which Holdings has been liquidated (any such Person, the “ Successor Holdings ”) (A) the Successor Holdings shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia or a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction and (B) the Successor Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (C) the Successor Holdings shall pledge 100% of the Equity Interests of the U.S. Parent and the Lux Parent to the Collateral Agent as Collateral to secure the Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(2)                                  any sale, transfer or other disposition if:

 

(a)                                  at least 75% of the consideration therefor is in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents; and

 

(b)                                  such sale, transfer or disposition is made for fair market value (as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith);

 

provided that each of the following items will be deemed to be cash for purposes of this Section 6.05(2):

 

(i)                                      any liabilities of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries (as shown on the most recent Required Financial Statements or in the notes thereto), other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable disposition and for which Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing;

 

(ii)                                   any securities received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable disposition; and

 

(iii)                                any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such disposition; provided that the aggregate fair market value of all such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (A) $50 million and (B) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Designated Non-Cash Consideration is received, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value;

 

(3)                                  (a) the purchase and sale of Inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business, (c) the sale of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business or (d) the disposition of Cash Equivalents (or Investments that were Cash Equivalents when made);

 

(4)                                  [reserved];

 

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(5)                                  Investments permitted by Section 6.04 (including any Permitted Acquisition expressly permitted under Section 6.04(37) or merger, consolidation or amalgamation in order to effect such a Permitted Acquisition expressly permitted under Section 6.04(37)), provided , that, following any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving Holdings or any Borrower, Holdings, a Successor Holdings, such Borrower or a Successor Borrower is the surviving Person;

 

(6)                                  Permitted Liens;

 

(7)                                  Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06;

 

(8)                                  the sale of (a) defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction and (b) accounts receivable and related assets in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30 million;

 

(9)                                  leases, non-exclusive licenses, or subleases or sublicenses of any real or personal property (including Intellectual Property Rights) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)                           sales, leases or other dispositions of Inventory of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary determined by the management of Holdings to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(11)                           acquisitions and purchases made with Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds;

 

(12)                           to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code (or comparable or successor provision), any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon permitted by such provision) for use in any business conducted by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not in contravention of Section 6.08; provided that to the extent the property being transferred constitutes ABL Priority Collateral, such replacement property will constitute ABL Priority Collateral;

 

(13)                           any sale, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of any asset or assets having a fair market value, as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith, of not more than $5 million;

 

(14)                           the lapse, abandonment or discontinuance of the use or maintenance of any Intellectual Property Rights if previously determined by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in its reasonable business judgment that such lapse, abandonment or discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business; and;

 

(15)                           the Transactions.

 

To the extent any Collateral is disposed of in a transaction expressly permitted by this Section 6.05 to any Person other than Holdings, any Borrower or any Guarantor, such Collateral will be free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent will take, and each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to take, any actions reasonably requested by Holdings in order to evidence the foregoing, in each case, in accordance with Section 10.18.

 

SECTION 6.06                     Restricted Payments .  Declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), directly or indirectly, whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Person paying such dividends or distributions) or directly or indirectly redeem,

 

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purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any of its Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares) (the foregoing, “ Restricted Payments ”) other than:

 

(1)                                  the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of or with the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings) of, Equity Interests of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to Holdings, other than (a) Excluded Contributions, (b) Cure Amounts and (c) any such proceeds that are used prior to the date of determination to (i) make a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(2)(b) or (ii) incur Contribution Indebtedness;

 

(2)                                  Restricted Payments to any Parent Entity the proceeds of which are used to purchase, retire, redeem or otherwise acquire, or to any Parent Entity for the purpose of paying to any other Parent Entity to purchase, retire, redeem or otherwise acquire, the Equity Interests of such Parent Entity (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held directly or indirectly by then present or former directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity or their estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses (including for all purposes of this clause (2), Equity Interests held by any entity whose Equity Interests are held by any such future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager, consultant or independent contractor or their estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement or any stock subscription or shareholder or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions may not exceed:

 

(a)                                  the amount of net cash proceeds contributed to Holdings that were received by any Parent Entity since the Closing Date from sales of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity to directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements, other than (a) Excluded Contributions, (b) Cure Amounts and (c) any such proceeds that are used prior to the date of determination to (1) make a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(1) or (2) incur Contribution Indebtedness; plus

 

(b)                                  the amount of net proceeds of any key man life insurance policies received during such fiscal year; plus

 

(c)                                   the amount of any bona fide cash bonuses otherwise payable to directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests, the fair market value of which is equal to or less than the amount of such cash bonuses, which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent fiscal year;

 

and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment;

 

(3)                                  Restricted Payments to consummate the Transactions;

 

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(4)                                  Restricted Payments in any fiscal year in an amount equal to 6.0% of the market capitalization of Holdings (or its Parent Entity, as applicable);

 

(5)                                  Restricted Payments in the form of cash distributions with respect to any taxable period in which any Subsidiary of Holdings is treated as a disregarded entity, partnership or S corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or is a member of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar tax group with any equityholders, to enable any equityholders to pay any Taxes attributable solely to the income, operations and ownership of such Subsidiary;

 

(6)                                  Restricted Payments to permit any Parent Entity to:

 

(a)                                  pay operating, overhead, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses (including directors’ fees and expenses and administrative, legal, accounting, filings and similar expenses), in each case to the extent related to its separate existence as a holding company or to its ownership of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(b)                                  pay fees and expenses related to any public offering or private placement of debt or equity securities of, or incurrence of any Indebtedness by, any Parent Entity or any Permitted Investment, whether or not consummated, including the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction;

 

(c)                                   pay franchise taxes and other similar taxes and expenses, in each case, in connection with the maintenance of its legal existence;

 

(d)                                  make payments under transactions permitted under Section 6.07 (other than Section 6.07(8)) , in each case to the extent such payments are due at the time of such Restricted Payment; or

 

(e)                                   pay customary salary, bonus and other compensation or benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, employees, directors, managers, consultants or independent contractors of any Parent Entity to the extent related to its ownership of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(7)                                  non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(8)                                  Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to make, or to any Parent Entity for the purpose of paying to any other Parent Entity to make, payments in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of any such Person, in connection with any merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination, or in connection with any dividend, distribution or split of Equity Interests;

 

(9)                                  [reserved];

 

(10)                           Restricted Payments to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (or, in the case of non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, to Holdings and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary) on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests so long as any repurchase of its Equity Interests from a Person that is not Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under Section 6.04);

 

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(11)                           Restricted Payments to any Parent Entity to finance, or to any Parent Entity for the purpose of paying to any other Parent Entity to finance, any Permitted Investment; provided that (a) such Restricted Payment is made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (b) promptly following the closing thereof, such Parent Entity causes (i) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings or (ii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation (to the extent permitted by Section 6.05) of the Person formed or acquired into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings in order to consummate such Permitted Investment, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 5.10;

 

(12)                           the payment of any dividend or distribution or consummation of any redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of a redemption notice related thereto, if at the date of declaration or notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(13)                           the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary by, one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries (other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash or Cash Equivalents);

 

(14)                           [reserved];

 

(15)                           additional Restricted Payments; provided that both immediately before any such Restricted Payment is made and immediately after giving effect to such Restricted Payment, the Payment Conditions are satisfied;

 

(16)                           any Restricted Payment made at any time in an amount not exceeding the Shared Dollar Basket at such time; provided that no Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom;

 

(17)                           the Special Closing Date Payments; and

 

(18)                           Restricted Payments in connection with the issuance of Equity Interests to management or employees pursuant to and in accordance with compensation agreements with such management or employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in such reasonably estimated amounts as are necessary to satisfy the tax obligations of such management or employees (including estimated tax payments) as a result of the issuance of such Equity Interests.

 

SECTION 6.07                     Transactions with Affiliates .  Sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates in a transaction involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million, unless such transaction is (i) otherwise permitted (or required) under this Agreement or (ii) upon terms no less favorable to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, except that this Section 6.07 will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                  transactions between or among (a) Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) Holdings and any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including by way of a merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which a Loan Party is the surviving entity);

 

(2)                                  [reserved];

 

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(3)                                  any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or any other Parent Entity in good faith;

 

(4)                                  loans or advances to employees or consultants of any Parent Entity, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.04(2);

 

(5)                                  the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (limited, in the case of any Parent Entity (other than Holdings), to the portion of such fees and expenses that are allocable to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall be 100% for so long as such Parent Entity owns no assets other than the Equity Interests in Holdings and assets incidental to the ownership of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries));

 

(6)                                  the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, the Transactions and transactions pursuant to the Transaction Documents and other transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(7)                                  (a) any employment agreements entered into by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (b) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, officers or directors and (c) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

 

(8)                                  Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.06, including payments to any Parent Entity;

 

(9)                                  any purchase by any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) of the Equity Interests of Holdings and the purchase by Holdings of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(10)                           transactions between the Huntsman and its Subsidiaries on one hand and Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the other hand, for the purpose of facilitating the Venator Consolidation Transactions and the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, whether consummated prior to, or after the consummation of the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, including any customary transition services agreements, separation agreements or similar agreements entered into between Huntsman and its Subsidiaries on one hand and Venator and its Subsidiaries on the other hand;;

 

(11)                           transactions with Restricted Subsidiaries for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(12)                           any transaction in respect of which Holdings delivers to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the Lenders) a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of Holdings from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case, of nationally recognized standing that is (a) in the good faith determination of Holdings qualified to render such letter and (b) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which letter states that such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate;

 

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(13)                           transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(14)                           the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests of Holdings to any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) and capital contributions by any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) to Holdings;

 

(15)                           the issuance of Equity Interests to the management of Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions;

 

(16)                           payments by Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among Holdings, any Borrower and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(17)                           payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are:

 

(a)                                  approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of Holdings or any Borrower in good faith;

 

(b)                                  made in compliance with applicable law; and

 

(c)                                   otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

 

(18)                           transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, that are fair to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(19)                           transactions between or among Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of Holdings or any other Parent Entity, so long as (a) such director abstains from voting as a director of Holdings or such Parent Entity, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person and (b) such Person is not an Affiliate of Holdings for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity;

 

(20)                           transactions pursuant to, and complying with, the provisions of Section 6.01, Section 6.04 or Section 6.05(1);

 

(21)                           the existence of, or the performance by any Loan Party of its obligations under the terms of, any customary registration rights agreement to which a Loan Party or any Parent Entity is a party or becomes a party in the future;

 

(22)                           intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth herein;

 

(23)                           [reserved];

 

(24)                           central services (including, without limitation, management information systems, pension and profit sharing plans, and human resources) provided by the Loan Parties to affiliates at the Loan Parties’ cost; and

 

(25)                           Qualified Receivables Financings.

 

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SECTION 6.08                     Business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries .  Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, engage at any time in any business or business activity other than any business or business activity conducted by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) and any similar, corollary, related, ancillary, incidental or complementary business or business activities or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

 

SECTION 6.09                     Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc .

 

(1)                                  amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders the articles or certificate of incorporation (or similar document), by-laws, limited liability company operating agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                  make any cash payment or other distribution in cash in respect of, or amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of, any Junior Financing, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposits, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination in respect of any Junior Financing; except in the case of this clause (2):

 

(a)                                  [reserved];

 

(b)                                  any payments in respect of Junior Financings; provided that both immediately before any such payment is made and immediately after giving effect to such payment, the Payment Conditions are satisfied;

 

(c)                                   any payment in respect of Junior Financings made at any time in an amount not exceeding the Shared Dollar Basket at such time; provided that no Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom;

 

(d)                                  (i) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing into or for Equity Interests of any Parent Entity or other Junior Financing and (ii) any payment that is intended to prevent any Junior Financing from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code;

 

(e)                                   the incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(f)                                    (i) payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest; (ii) mandatory offers to repay, repurchase or redeem (including in connection with the Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales); (iii) mandatory prepayments of principal, premium and interest; and (iv) payments of fees, expenses and indemnification obligations, in each case, with respect to such Junior Financing;

 

(g)                                   payments or distributions in respect of all or any portion of such Junior Financing with the proceeds contributed directly or indirectly to Holdings by any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) from the issuance, sale or exchange by any such Parent Entity of Equity Interests;

 

(h)                                  the Special Closing Date Payments; and

 

(i)                                      the Transactions; or

 

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(3)                                  permit any Material Subsidiary to enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms restricts (a) with respect to any such Material Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, Restricted Payments from such Material Subsidiary to Holdings or any other Loan Party that is a direct or indirect parent of such Material Subsidiary or (b) with respect to any such Material Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, the granting of Liens by such Material Subsidiary pursuant to the Security Documents; except in the case of this clause (3):

 

(a)                                  restrictions imposed by applicable law;

 

(b)                                  contractual encumbrances or restrictions:

 

(i)                                      under the Term Loan Documents;

 

(ii)                                   [reserved]; or

 

(iii)                                under any agreement relating to Ratio Debt, Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(1), (2), (4), (5), (7), (11) (solely as it relates to Indebtedness in another clause referenced in this clause (b)(iii)), (12), (13), (16), (18), (21), (22), (25) or (28), Indebtedness that is secured on a pari passu basis with Indebtedness under the Term Loan Documents, or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, that does not materially expand the scope of any such encumbrance or restriction;

 

(c)                                   any restriction on a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

(d)                                  customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)                                   any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(f)                                    customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property Rights and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)                                   customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

 

(h)                                  customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)                                      customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 6.05 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer or other disposition;

 

(j)                                     customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (i) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 6.09;

 

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(k)                                  customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as a Responsible Officer of Holdings has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

 

(l)                                      any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(m)                              restrictions in agreements representing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party;

 

(n)                                  customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

 

(o)                                  restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(p)                                  any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (o) above, so long as such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of Holdings, not materially more restrictive with respect to such Lien, dividend and other payment restrictions, taken as a whole, than those contained in the Lien, dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

SECTION 6.10                     Financial Performance Covenant .  Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of a Covenant Trigger Event, Holdings will maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of not less than 1.0 to 1.0 measured for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements are available (or were required to be furnished) at the time of occurrence of such Covenant Trigger Event, and each subsequent four fiscal quarter period ending during the continuance of such Covenant Trigger Event.

 

For the purpose of determining compliance with Article VI, in the event that any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, disposition, Restricted Payment, contractual obligation, encumbrance or restriction or payment, prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or amendment, modification or other change in respect of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of transactions permitted pursuant to any clause of the negative covenants, such transaction (or portion thereof) at any time shall be permitted under one or more of such clauses as determined by Holdings in its sole discretion at such time of determination.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if Holdings incurs Indebtedness or Liens, or makes dispositions, Restricted Payments, restricted debt payments or Investments under any applicable fixed amount on the same date that it incurs Indebtedness or Liens, or makes Restricted Payments, restricted debt payments or Investments under any applicable ratio-based amount, then the ratio-based amount with respect to the amounts incurred under the ratio-based basket will be calculated without regard to any incurrence under the fixed amount.  Unless Holdings elects otherwise, each ratio-based amount shall be deemed incurred first to the extent permitted, with the balance incurred under the fixed amount.

 

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SECTION 6.11                     Spanish “Pagarés” ( Promissory Notes )

 

Each Spanish Borrowers undertakes at all times to comply with the following obligations in relation to any “ pagaré ” that any of their Account Debtors may deliver them as payment instruments: not to sell, assign or otherwise dispose of, or create or suffer to exist any adverse claim upon or with respect to, any “ pagaré ”, or endorse, or assign any right to receive income in respect thereof, or allow any rights of setoff to arise in connection therewith, other than in accordance with this Article VI.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

[RESERVED]

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

 

SECTION 8.01                     Events of Default .  In case of the happening of any of the following events (each, an “ Event of Default ”):

 

(1)                                  any representation or warranty made by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or any certificate or document required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect (or in any respect if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality) when made or deemed made;

 

(2)                                  default is made in the payment of any principal of any Loan when and as the same becomes due and payable, whether at the due date thereof, at a date fixed for prepayment thereof, by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

 

(3)                                  default is made in the payment of any interest on any Loan or the reimbursement of any L/C Disbursement or in the payment of any Fee or any other amount due under any Loan Document (other than an amount referred to in clause (2) of this Section 8.01), when and as the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

 

(4)                                  default is made in the due observance or performance by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in (a) Section 5.01(1), 5.05(1), 5.08, 5.11 (but only if such default occurs during a Cash Dominion Period), or in Article VI (in each case solely to the extent applicable to such Person) or (b) Section 5.04(9) or 5.07, and such default under Section 5.04(9) or 5.07 shall continue unremedied for a period of five Business Days following notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers;

 

(5)                                  default is made in the due observance or performance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in clauses (2), (3) and (4) of this Section 8.01) (in each case solely to the extent applicable to such Person), and such default continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to the Borrowers;

 

(6)                                  (a) any event or condition occurs that (i) results in any Material Indebtedness becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or (ii) enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity or (b) Holdings or any Restricted

 

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Subsidiary fails to pay the principal of any Material Indebtedness at the stated final maturity thereof; provided that this clause (6) will not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; provided , further , that such event or condition is unremedied and is not waived or cured by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any acceleration of the Loans and termination of the Commitments pursuant to the final paragraph of this Section 8.01;

 

(7)                                  a Change in Control occurs;

 

(8)                                  an involuntary proceeding is commenced or an involuntary petition is filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking:

 

(a)                                  relief in respect of Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(b)                                  the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, monitor, administrator, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(c)                                   the winding up or liquidation of Holdings, any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (except, in the case of any Material Subsidiary, in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05)

 

(d)                                  and, in any of clauses (a), (b) or (c), such proceeding or petition continues undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing is entered;

 

(9)                                  Holdings, any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary:

 

(a)                                  voluntarily commences any proceeding, insolvency proceeding or files any petition seeking relief under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(b)                                  consents to the institution of, or fails to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in clause (8) of this Section 8.01;

 

(c)                                   applies for or consents to the appointment of a receiver, interim receiver, monitor, trustee, custodian, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, any Borrower or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(d)                                  files an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding;

 

(e)                                   makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

(f)                                    if incorporated in France (i) becomes in cessation des paiements within the meaning or article L.631-1 of the French Code de commerce , (ii) encounters difficulties that it

 

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is not able to overcome within the meaning of article L.620-1 of the French Code de commerce, (iii) is subject to a procedure d’alerte by its statutory auditors in accordance with article L.234-1, L.234-2 or L.612-3 of the French Code de commerce , or (iv) is subject to a declared moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

(g)                                   becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due (meaning, with respect to any German Loan Party, that any such person is either unable to pay its debts as they fall due ( Zahlungsunfähigkeit ), or is over indebted ( Überschuldung ));

 

(10)                           There is entered against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) equal to or greater than $50 million (to the extent not covered by insurance), which judgments are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of 60 consecutive days, or any action is legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of Holdings or any other Loan Party to enforce any such judgment;

 

(11)                           an ERISA Event or ERISA Events occurs with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, which together with all other ERISA Events, if any, is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(12)                           (a) any material provision of any Loan Document ceases to be, or is asserted in writing by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary not to be, for any reason, a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto, (b) any security interest purported to be created by any Security Document and to extend to assets that are included in the Borrowing Base or otherwise are not immaterial to Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis ceases to be, or is asserted in writing by any Borrower or any other Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected security interest in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except to the extent that any such loss of validity, perfection or priority results from the limitations of laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction as they apply to pledges of Equity Interests or the application thereof, or from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under a Security Document or to file Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA continuation statements or take any other action and except to the extent that such loss is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the Collateral Agent is reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer or (c) the Guarantees pursuant to the Security Documents by any Loan Party of any of the Obligations cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof) or are asserted in writing by Holdings, any Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party not to be in effect or not to be legal, valid and binding obligations, except in the cases of clauses (a) and (b), in connection with an Asset Sale permitted by this Agreement;

 

then, (i) upon the occurrence of any such Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Holdings described in clause (8) or (9) of this Section 8.01 under the Bankruptcy Code or any other liquidation, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, receivership, insolvency or similar debtor relief law of the United States from time to time and affecting the rights of creditors generally) and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, will, by notice to Holdings, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (A) terminate forthwith the Commitments, (B) declare the Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, will become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of

 

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which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding; (C) if the Loans have been declared due and payable pursuant to clause (B) above, demand cash collateral pursuant to Section 2.05(11); and (D) exercise all rights and remedies granted to it under any Loan Document and all of its rights under any other applicable law or in equity, and (ii) in any event with respect to Holdings or the Borrowers described in clause (8) or (9) of this Section 8.01, the principal of the Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, will automatically become due and payable and the Administrative Agent shall be deemed to have made a demand for cash collateral to the full extent permitted under Section 2.05(11), without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

SECTION 8.02                     Right to Cure .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 8.01, in the event that Holdings fails (or, but for the operation of this Section 8.02, would fail) to comply with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenant, until the expiration of the tenth Business Day subsequent to the date the Required Financial Statements are required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04(1) or (2) for the applicable fiscal quarter, Holdings shall have the right to issue Permitted Cure Securities for cash or otherwise receive cash contributions to the capital of Holdings (collectively, the “ Cure Right ”) and, upon the receipt by Holdings of such cash (the “ Cure Amount ”) pursuant to the exercise by Holdings of such Cure Right, the Financial Performance Covenant shall be recalculated giving effect to a pro forma adjustment by which Consolidated EBITDA shall be increased with respect to such applicable fiscal quarter and any four-quarter period that contains such quarter, solely for the purpose of measuring the Financial Performance Covenant and not for any other purpose under this Agreement, by an amount equal to the Cure Amount (for the avoidance of doubt, it being understood that there shall be no pro forma or other reduction in indebtedness (including by way of netting of cash)).  The resulting increase to Consolidated EBITDA from the application of a Cure Amount shall not result in any adjustment to Consolidated EBITDA or any other financial definition for any purpose under this Agreement other than for purposes of calculating the Financial Performance Covenant.  In each four fiscal quarter period there shall be at least two fiscal quarters in which the Cure Right is not exercised and the Cure Right may not be exercised more than five times during the term of this Agreement and, for purposes of this Section 8.02, the Cure Amount shall be no greater than the amount required for purposes of complying with the Financial Performance Covenant.  If, after giving effect to the adjustments in this Section 8.02, Holdings shall then be in compliance with the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenant, Holdings shall be deemed to have satisfied the requirements of the Financial Performance Covenant as of the relevant date of determination with the same effect as though there had been no failure to comply therewith at such date, and the applicable breach of the Financial Performance Covenant and any related Default that had occurred shall be deemed cured for the purposes of this Agreement.  After Holdings has delivered a notice to the Administrative Agent to exercise the Cure Right, no extension of credit may be made under the Revolving Facility unless and until the Cure Amount is received by Holdings or the applicable Default of the Financial Performance Covenant is waived pursuant to this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

THE AGENTS

 

SECTION 9.01                     Authorization and Action .

 

(1)                                  Each Lender (in its capacities as a Lender and on behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential counterparties to Hedge Agreements or Cash Management Obligations) hereby irrevocably

 

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appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent (which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction) in the heading of this Agreement and its successors (which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction) to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents (except in respect of French Security Documents) and each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, each of the Lenders hereby grants to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent any required powers of attorney to execute and enforce any Security Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent and/or and the Collateral Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

(2)                                  Without limiting the powers of the Collateral Agent, for the purposes of holding any hypothec granted to the Attorney (as defined below) pursuant to the laws of the Province of Québec to secure the prompt payment and performance of any and all Obligations by any Loan Party, each of the Secured Parties party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent and, to the extent necessary, ratifies the appointment and authorization of the Collateral Agent Agent, to act as the hypothecary representative of the present and future Secured Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec (in such capacity, the “ Attorney ”), and to enter into, to take and to hold on their behalf, and for their benefit, any hypothec, and to exercise such powers and duties that are conferred upon the Attorney under this Agreement and any related deed of hypothec.  The Attorney shall:  (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to the Attorney pursuant to any such deed of hypothec and applicable law, and (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Collatearl Agent mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Secured Parties and Loan Parties.  Any person who becomes a Secured Party shall be deemed to have consented to and confirmed the Attorney as the person acting as hypothecary representative holding the aforesaid hypothecs as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Secured Party, all actions taken by the Attorney in such capacity.  The substitution of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Article 9 also constitute the substitution of the Attorney. The execution by the Attorney of any hypothecary or other agreements or instruments prior to the date of this Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

(3)                                  As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the Lenders with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or

 

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reorganization or relief of debtors; provided , further , that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or directions from the Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or directions have been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Holdings, the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

(4)                                  In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duties other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender or holder of any other Obligation, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties);

 

(b)                                  where the Administrative Agent is required or deemed to act as a trustee in respect of any Collateral over which a security interest has been created pursuant to a Loan Document expressed to be governed by the laws of Luxembourg, Canada, England and Wales, Germany, France, Spain, the Cayman Islands or Finland, the obligations and liabilities of the Administrative Agent to the Secured Parties in its capacity as trustee shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law;

 

(c)                                   to the extent that English law is applicable to the duties of the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Collateral Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, where there are inconsistencies or conflict between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 (UK) and the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000 (UK) , the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act; and

 

(d)                                  nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(5)                                  The Administrative Agent may perform any of and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of and all their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent and shall apply to their

 

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respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

(6)                                  None of the Documentation Agents, Syndication Agent, or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(7)                                  In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Revolving Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.12 (“ Fees ”), 2.13 (“ Interest ”), 2.15 (“ Increased Costs ”), 2.17 (“ Taxes ”) and 9.02 (“ Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. ”)) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.02 (“ Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. ”))

 

(8)                                  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

(9)                                  Each French Revolving Lender and any Issuing Bank who has issued, or may from time to time issue, a French Letter of Credit to a French Borrower hereby appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent to act as agent in its name and on its behalf in connection with the execution and registration, as well as the management and the enforcement of the Liens created pursuant to the French Receivables Assignments, together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions accessory to the mandate of the Collateral Agent. Each French Revolving Lender and any Issuing Bank

 

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who has issued, or may from time to time issue, a French Letter of Credit to a French Borrower gives power to the Collateral Agent to execute in its name and on its behalf (i) each French Receivables Assignment, as the case may be, any additional security document executed pursuant to the provisions of the Finance Documents and (ii) any other document relating to the French Receivables Assignments, whether in respect of the constitution, registration, management, enforcement or release (and each French Revolving Lender and any Issuing Bank who has issued, or may from time to time issue, a French Letter of Credit to a French Borrower, agrees that the Collateral Agent may sign any document relating thereto on their behalf).

 

(10)                           All services rendered in Canada under this Agreement or any other Loan Document to be performed by the Administrative Agent will be performed by a Canadian Qualified Lender.

 

SECTION 9.02                     Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

 

(1)                                  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or in the absence of its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

(2)                                  The Lenders severally agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties (each, an “ Agent Indemnitee ”) (to the extent not reimbursed by Holdings or any Borrower and without limiting the obligation of Holdings or the Borrowers to do so), ratably according to their respective applicable percentage of the Revolving Facility Commitments and/or Revolving Loans in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Revolving Facility Commitments shall have terminated and the Revolving Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such applicable percentage of the Revolving Facility Commitments and/or Revolving Loans immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Revolving Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Term Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

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(3)                                  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by Holdings, the Borrowers or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (vi) compliance by Affiliated Lenders with the terms hereof relating to Affiliated Lenders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by Holdings, the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any Lender as a result of, any determination of any exchange rate or Dollar equivalent.

 

(4)                                  Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any Note as its holder until such Note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.04, (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to Holdings and the Borrowers), independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon any notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

SECTION 9.03                     [Reserved] .

 

SECTION 9.04                     Posting of Communications .

 

(1)                                  Holdings and the Borrowers hereby acknowledge and agree that (a) the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “ Approved Electronic Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any Borrower or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”).

 

(2)                                  Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the

 

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Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization meth-od whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders and each of Holdings and the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders and each of Holdings and the Borrowers hereby approves distribution of the communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(3)                                  THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY DOCUMENTATION AGENT, ANY SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “ APPLICABLE PARTIES ”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

(4)                                  Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(5)                                  Each of the Lenders and each of Holdings and the Borrowers agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies

 

(6)                                  Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that:

 

(a)                                  all the Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “ PUBLIC ” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof;

 

(b)                                  by marking Borrower Materials “ PUBLIC ,” such Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat the

 

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Borrower Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws;

 

(c)                                   all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and

 

(d)                                  the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Borrower Materials shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC” unless Holdings notifies the Administrative Agent that any such document contains MNPI:  (1) the Loan Documents, (2) any notification of changes in the terms of the Loans, (3) any notification of the identity of Disqualified Institutions and (4) all information delivered pursuant to clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 5.04.

 

(7)                                  Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

SECTION 9.05                     The Administrative Agent Individually .  With respect to its Commitments and Loans, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender. The terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Required Lenders. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person were not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 9.06                     Successor Administrative Agent .

 

(1)                                  The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and Holdings, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent (which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank selected from among the Lenders and which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of Holdings (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this Agreement

 

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and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

(2)                                  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders and Holdings, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Security Documents for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights and bound to the obligations set forth in such Security Documents and any other Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Security Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and 9.02 (“ Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. ”), as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the resigned Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

 

SECTION 9.07                     Acknowledgements of Lenders .

 

(1)                                  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

(2)                                  Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Closing Date and by funding its Loans, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Acceptance or any

 

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other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Closing Date.

 

SECTION 9.08                     Collateral Matters .

 

(1)                                  Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.06 (“ Right of Set-off ) or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(2)                                  In furtherance of the foregoing, and except in respect of the French Security Documents, and not in limitation thereof, no Hedge Agreement the obligations under which constitute Specified Hedge Obligations or Cash Management Obligation will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such arrangement in respect of any such Hedge Agreement or Cash Management Obligation shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

 

(3)                                  The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 9.09                     Credit Bidding .  The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent

 

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shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles ( provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 10.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

SECTION 9.10                     Arrangers; Documentation Agents; Syndication Agent .  None of the Arrangers, Documentation Agents or Syndication Agent will have any duties, responsibilities or liabilities hereunder in their respective capacities as such.

 

SECTION 9.11                     Intercreditor Agreement . The Administrative Agent, and the Collateral Agent are authorized by the Lenders and each other Secured Party to, to the extent required by the terms of the Loan Documents, (i) enter into any intercreditor agreement contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) enter into any Security Document, or (iii) make or consent to any filings or take any other actions in connection therewith (and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or other modifications to, such agreements in connection with the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness of such Loan Party that is permitted to be secured pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02 of this Agreement, in order to permit such Indebtedness to be secured by a valid, perfected lien on the Collateral (with such priority as may be designated by such Loan Party, to the extent such priority is permitted by the Loan Documents)), and the parties hereto acknowledge that any intercreditor agreement, Security Document, consent, filing or other action will be binding upon them.  Each Lender and each other Secured Party (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any intercreditor agreement (if entered into) and (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into any intercreditor agreement contemplated by this Agreement or Security Document (and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or other modifications to, such agreements in connection with the

 

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incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness of such Loan Party that is permitted to be secured pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02 of this Agreement, in order to permit such Indebtedness to be secured by a valid, perfected lien on the Collateral (with such priority as may be designated by such Loan Party, to the extent such priority is permitted by the Loan Documents)), and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof.

 

SECTION 9.12                     Special provisions relating to the Agents for Spain .

 

(1)                                  Subject to the relevant compliance with the Spanish applicable laws and notarization formalities, each Secured Party hereby grants full power to the Agents so that each of the Agents (joint and severally - solidariamente), acting through a duly appointed representative, may execute on behalf of itself and each other party, and with self-contracting (autocontratación) powers, including in the event of conflict of interest, the necessary grantings, releases or confirmations of any Lien created under the Spanish Security Documents agreed upon in accordance with the Loan Documents. In particular:

 

(a)                                  notarize or raise into the status of Spanish Public Document any Loan Document or Spanish Security Document;

 

(b)                                  appear before a Notary Public and accept any type of guarantee or security, whether personal or real, granted in favor of the Secured Parties (whether in its own capacity or as agents for other parties) over any and all shares, rights, receivables, goods and chattels, fixing their price for the purposes of an auction and the address for serving of notices and submitting to the jurisdiction of law courts by waiving its own forum, and release such guarantees or security, all of the foregoing under the terms and conditions which the attorney may freely agree, signing the notarial deeds ( escrituras públicas ) or intervened policies ( póliza intervenidas ) that the attorney may deem fit;

 

(c)                                   ratify, if necessary or convenient, any such escrituras públicas or pólizas intervenidas executed by an orally appointed representative in the name or on behalf of the Secured Parties;

 

(d)                                  execute and/or deliver any and all deeds, documents and do any and all acts and things required in connection with the execution of the Spanish Security Documents, and/or the execution of any further notarial deed of amendment ( escritura pública de rectificación o subsanación ) that may be required for the purpose of or in connection with the powers granted in this clause;

 

(e)                                   execute in the name of any of the Secured Parties (whether in its own capacity or as agent for other parties) any novation, amendment or ratification to any Loan Document or Spanish Security Documents and appear before a Notary Public and raise any document into the status of a public document;

 

(f)                                    appoint a Spanish Notary as the Agents deem convenient, for the formalization of whichever public documents that may be necessary in relation to the enforcement of the relevant Spanish Security Documents and formalize them in the name of the relevant Secured Party;

 

(g)                                   request and obtain the copy issued for enforcement purposes ( copia ejecutiva ) of the notarial deed by virtue of which the Lien was created and to such effect, follow the instructions received from the Agents;

 

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(h)                                  take any action or appear in any proceeding in Spain, as may be required by the Agents, as applicable, to enforce the Spanish Lien and Spanish Security Documents; and

 

(i)                                      grant any documents or carry out actions necessary or convenient for the enforcement of the Lien and the Spanish Security Documents under the instructions received from the Agents under this Agreement.

 

(2)                                  It is hereby agreed that, in relation to the Spanish jurisdiction, the relationship of the Secured Parties, as secured parties under the Spanish Security Documents and as parties to the Loan Documents, to the Agents in relation to any Spanish Security Documents shall be construed as one of principal ( comitente ) and agent ( comisionista ). The Agents shall not have, or be deemed to have, assumed any obligations to or fiduciary relationship with, any party to this Agreement other than those for which specific provision is made by the Spanish Security Documents, the Loan Documents and this Agreement.

 

As an exception to the above, to the extent any Secured Party is unable to grant such powers referred to in paragraph (1) above to the Agents or such powers of attorney are not recognized, each such Secured Party undertakes to (i) exercise in conjunction with the Agents and in the same act those powers which otherwise would have been conferred on the Agents or (ii) grant a notarial power of attorney duly notarized and apostilled or legalized (as the case may be) empowering the Agents (or its successor as a result of a change of any Agent) to carry out any of the actions referred to above that may be required in Spain. Such power of attorney shall be granted at the request of the Agents.

 

(3)                                  The guarantees and Liens may be granted under the Spanish Security Documents in favor of each and every Secured Party to secure the Obligations (expressly excluding the Parallel Debt) and shall not be held on trust by the Agents unless expressly permitted by law. Nevertheless, and subject to paragraph (3) above, the Agents shall be entitled to accept the Lien granted under the Spanish Security Documents in the name and behalf of the Secured Parties by virtue of the powers granted in this section 9.12.

 

(4)                                  In the event that, in accordance with the rules referred to in this Section or in the relevant Spanish Security Document, the relevant Secured Parties decided to enforce any Lien the following shall apply:

 

(a)                                  The Agents shall give the Secured Parties a written notice of the decision to enforce any Lien.

 

(b)                                  If necessary, the relevant Secured Parties will grant a notarial power-of-attorney in favor of the Agents to carry out the actions necessary for such enforcement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Should any of the relevant Secured Parties not be able to grant such powers of attorney, it undertakes to appear together with the Agents to formalize any required actions or measures or to ratify as soon as possible the actions performed by the Agents.

 

(c)                                   The Secured Parties undertake to cooperate with the Agents whenever necessary to ensure that enforcement of the Lien is successful.

 

(5)                                  Each Secured Parties empower (including the power of self-contract ( subcontratar ), the power of substitution and sub-empowering (sustitución y subapoderamiento)) and authorises the Agents to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agents under or in connection with the Spanish Security Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions

 

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expressly including appearing before a Spanish public notary to grant or execute any public or private deed related to this mandate and, specifically, those deemed necessary or appropriate according to the mandate received (including, but not limited to, documents of formalization, acknowledgement, confirmation, modification or release, acceptance of any security). Specifically, the Secured Parties hereby empower the Agents to enforce any guarantee or Lien granted in relation to this Agreement in relation to any Spanish Loan Party or any Spanish Security Documents.

 

(6)                                  Each of the Secured Parties undertake to the Agents that, promptly upon request, such Secured Party will ratify and confirm all transactions entered into and other actions by the Agents (or any of its substitutes or delegates) in the proper exercise of the power granted to it hereunder.

 

(7)                                  At the request of the Agents, the Secured Parties undertake to: (i) grant a notarial power of attorney in favor of the Agents for any action to be carried out by the Agents in Spain under the instructions received in accordance with this Agreement; and/or (ii) take any action or appear in any proceeding in Spain, as may be required by the Agents and, to such effect, follow the instructions received from any Agents.

 

SECTION 9.13               Collateral Agent as UK Security Trustee .

 

(1)                                  For the purposes of any Liens created under the UK Security Documents, the following additional provisions shall apply, in addition to the provisions set out in this Article IX or otherwise in this Agreement.

 

(2)                                  In this Section 9.13, the following expressions have the following meanings:

 

(a)                                  Appointee means any receiver, administrator or other insolvency officer appointed in respect of any Loan Party or its assets.

 

(b)                                  “Charged Property means the assets of the Loan Parties subject to a security interest under the UK Security Documents.

 

(c)                                   Delegate means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee).

 

(3)                                  The Secured Parties appoint the Collateral Agent to hold the security interests constituted by the UK Security Documents on trust for the Secured Parties on the terms of the Loan Documents and the Collateral Agent accepts that appointment.

 

(4)                                  The Collateral Agent, its subsidiaries and associated companies may each retain for its own account and benefit any fee, remuneration and profits paid to it in connection with (i) its activities under the Loan Documents; and (ii) its engagement in any kind of banking or other business with any Secured Party.

 

(5)                                  Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Collateral Agent as a trustee or fiduciary of, nor shall the Collateral Agent have any duty or responsibility to, any Secured Party.

 

(6)                                  The Collateral Agent shall have no duties or obligations to any other Person except for those which are expressly specified in the Loan Documents or mandatorily required by applicable law.

 

(7)                                  The Collateral Agent, in consultation with Holdings, may appoint one or more Delegates on such terms (which may include the power to sub-delegate) and subject to such conditions as it thinks

 

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fit, to exercise and perform all or any of the duties, rights, powers and discretions vested in it by the UK Security Documents and shall not be obliged to supervise any Delegate or be responsible to any person for any loss incurred by reason of any act, omission, misconduct or default on the part of any Delegate.

 

(8)                                  The Collateral Agent may (whether for the purpose of complying with any law or regulation of any overseas jurisdiction, or for any other reason) appoint (and subsequently remove) any person to act jointly with the Collateral Agent either as a separate trustee or as a co-trustee on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Collateral Agent thinks fit and with such of the duties, rights, powers and discretions vested in the Collateral Agent by the UK Security Documents as may be conferred by the instrument of appointment of that person.

 

(9)                                  The Collateral Agent shall notify the Lenders of the appointment of each Appointee (other than a Delegate).

 

(10)                           The Collateral Agent may pay reasonable remuneration to any Delegate or Appointee, together with any costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Delegate or Appointee in connection with its appointment.  All such remuneration, costs and expenses shall be treated, for the purposes of this Agreement, as paid or incurred by the Collateral Agent.

 

(11)                           Each Delegate and each Appointee shall have every benefit, right, power and discretion and the benefit of every exculpation (together “ Rights ) of the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee) under the UK Security Documents, and each reference to the Collateral Agent (where the context requires that such reference is to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as security trustee) in the provisions of the UK Security Documents which confer Rights shall be deemed to include a reference to each Delegate and each Appointee.

 

(12)                           Each Secured Party confirms its approval of the UK Security Documents and authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent: (i) to execute and deliver the UK Security Documents; (ii) to exercise the rights, powers and discretions given to the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee) under or in connection with the UK Security Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers and discretions; and (iii) to give any authorizations and confirmations to be given by the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee) on behalf of the Secured Parties under the UK Security Documents.

 

(13)                           The Collateral Agent may accept without inquiry the title (if any) which any person may have to the Charged Property.

 

(14)                           Each other Secured Party confirms that it does not wish to be registered as a joint proprietor of any security interest constituted by a UK Security Document and accordingly authorizes: (a) the Collateral Agent to hold such security interest in its sole name (or in the name of any Delegate) as trustee for the Secured Parties; and (b) the Land Registry (or other relevant registry) to register the Collateral Agent (or any Delegate or Appointee) as a sole proprietor of such security interest.

 

(15)                           On a disposal of any of the Charged Property which is permitted under the Loan Documents, the Collateral Agent shall (at the cost of the Loan Parties) execute any release of the UK Security Documents or other claim over that Charged Property and issue any certificates of non-crystallisation of floating charges that may be required or take any other action that the Collateral Agent considers desirable and/or as requested by Holdings or the Secured Parties.

 

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(16)                           The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for: (i) any defect in or failure of the title (if any) which any person may have to any assets over which security is intended to be created by a UK Security Document; (ii) any loss resulting from the investment or deposit at any bank of moneys which it invests or deposits in a manner permitted by a UK Security Document; (iii) the exercise of, or the failure to exercise, any right, power or discretion given to it by or in connection with any Loan Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Loan Document; or (iv) any shortfall which arises on enforcing a UK Security Document.

 

(17)                           The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to: (i) obtain any authorization or environmental permit in respect of any of the Charged Property or a UK Security Document; (ii) perfect, protect, register, make any filing or give any notice in respect of a UK Security Document (or the order of ranking of a UK Security Document); or (iii) require any further assurances in relation to a UK Security Document.

 

(18)                           In respect of any UK Security Document, the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to: (i) insure, or require any other person to insure, the Charged Property; or (ii) make any enquiry or conduct any investigation into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any insurance existing over such Charged Property.

 

(19)                           In respect of any UK Security Document, the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation or duty to any person for any loss suffered as a result of: (i) the lack or inadequacy of any insurance; or (ii) the failure of the Collateral Agent to notify the insurers of any material fact relating to the risk assumed by them, or of any other information of any kind, unless the Lenders have requested it to do so in writing and the Collateral Agent has failed to do so within fourteen (14) days after receipt of that request.

 

(20)                           Every appointment of a successor Collateral Agent under a UK Security Document shall be by deed.

 

(21)                           Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Collateral Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

(22)                           In the case of any inconsistencies or conflict between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 (UK) and the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000 (UK), the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

 

(23)                           The perpetuity period under the rule against perpetuities if applicable to this Agreement and any UK Security Document shall be 80 years from the date of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE X

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

SECTION 10.01              Notices; Communications .

 

(1)                                  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 10.01(2)), all notices and other communications

 

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provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or e-mail, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, in each case, as follows:

 

(a)                                  if to any Loan Party, the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank as of the Closing Date or the Swingline Lender, to the address, facsimile number, e-mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.01; and

 

(b)                                  if to any other Lender or Issuing Bank, to the address, facsimile number, e-mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrowers).

 

(2)                                  Notices and other communications to the Lenders and any Issuing Bank hereunder may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender or any Issuing Bank pursuant to Article II if such Lender or any Issuing Bank, as applicable, has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent, Holdings or the Borrowers may, in their discretion, agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

(3)                                  Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent and confirmation of transmission received (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 10.01(2) shall be effective as provided in such Section 10.01(2).

 

(4)                                  Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile number, telephone number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile number, telephone number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to Holdings and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (a) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (b) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to Holdings or its securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

 

(5)                                  Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically

 

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(including as set forth in Section 10.17) and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (a) on which Holdings or any Borrower posts such documents or provides a link thereto on Holdings’ website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.01 or (b) on which such documents are posted on Holdings’ behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that Holdings shall notify the Administrative Agent (by facsimile or e-mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents; provided, further , that, upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, Holdings shall also provide a hard copy to the Administrative Agent of any such document; provided, further , that any documents posted for which a link is provided after normal business hours for the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for such recipient.  The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Loan Parties with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

SECTION 10.02              Survival of Agreement .  All representations and warranties made hereunder and in any other Loan Document or other document delivered pursuant hereto or thereto or in connection herewith or therewith shall survive the execution and delivery hereof and thereof.  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties herein, in the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and each Issuing Bank and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Loans, the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents and the issuance of the Letters of Credit, regardless of any investigation made by such Persons or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Loan or L/C Disbursement or any Fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid or any Letter of Credit is outstanding and so long as the Commitments have not been terminated.  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements contained herein, indemnification and reimbursement obligations contained herein (including pursuant to Sections 2.15, 2.17 and 10.05) shall survive the payment in full of the principal and interest hereunder, the expiration of the Letters of Credit and the termination of the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.03              [Reserved] .

 

SECTION 10.04              Successors and Assigns .

 

(1)                                  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), except that (a) no Borrower may assign or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by any Borrower without such consent shall be null and void), and (b) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 10.04 (and any attempted assignment, transfer or delegation in contravention with this Section 10.04 shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, will be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby (including any Affiliate of the Issuing Bank that issues any Letter of Credit), Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (3) of this Section 10.04) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents, any Issuing Bank and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

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(2)                                  (a)Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (2)(b) of this Section 10.04, any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (other than a natural person, a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Institution) (each such non-excluded Person, an “ Assignee ”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and Revolving Loans) at the time owing to it with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of:

 

(i)                                      Holdings; provided that no consent of Holdings shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate or branch of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; provided, further , that such consent shall be deemed to have been given if Holdings has not responded via written notice (including e-mail) within ten Business Days after delivery of a written request therefor by the Administrative Agent; provided, further , that no consent of Holdings shall be required for any assignment by any Arranger (or any Affiliate thereof) pursuant to the initial syndication of the Loans;

 

(ii)                                   the Administrative Agent; provided that, subject to the last paragraph of this Section 10.04, no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate or branch of a Lender or an Approved Fund; and

 

(iii)                                the Swingline Lender and/or Issuing Bank, for any assignment which increases the obligation of the Assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans, as applicable; and

 

(b)                                  Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(i)                                      except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Commitments or Loans, the amount of the Commitments or Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $5.0 million, unless each of Holdings and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that (1) no such consent of Holdings shall be required if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds (with simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Approved Funds being treated as one assignment for purposes of meeting the minimum assignment amount requirement), if any;

 

(ii)                                   the assignee or assigning Lender for each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or, if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); provided that such processing and recordation fee shall not be payable in the case of assignments by any Arranger or any Affiliate of the Arrangers;

 

(iii)                                the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.17;

 

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(iv)                               the Assignee shall, in the Assignment and Acceptance documentation, and to the extent applicable, indicate, for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and without liability to any Loan Party, which of the following categories it falls into with respect to a Spanish Loan Party (if applicable): (i) not a Spanish Qualifying Lender; (ii) a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Lender; (iii) a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Treaty Lender; or (iv) a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is an EU Lender, supplying, as the case may be, the tax forms required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.17(6);

 

(v)                                  the Assignee will not be any Borrower or any of the Borrowers’ Affiliates or Subsidiaries;

 

(vi)                               the assignor shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Note issued to it with respect to the assigned Loan; and

 

(vii)                            Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, no assignment, transfer assignment, transfer or sub-participation in relation to a Loan by a Borrower may be effected to a Lender or sub-participant incorporated, domiciled or acting through a Facility Office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction. In the same way, no Lender may change its Facility Office to a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction. A Lender must notify the Administrative Agent promptly following a change of Facility Office and the Administrative Agent shall notify the Company as soon as is reasonably practicable of having received notice from any Lender of a change in that Lender’s Facility Office.

 

(3)                                  For the purposes of this Section 10.04, “ Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

(a)                                  Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) of this Section 10.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16, 2.17 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance).  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (5) of this Section 10.04 to the extent such participation would be permitted by such Section 10.04(5).

 

(b)                                  The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as the Administrative Agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the Commitments of, and principal amount (and stated interest with respect thereto) of the Loans and Revolving L/C Exposure owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be

 

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available for inspection by Holdings, the Issuing Bank and any Lender (solely with respect to such Lender’s Loans) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

(c)                                   Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), all applicable tax forms, any Note outstanding with respect to the assigned Loan, the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (2)(b)(ii) of this Section 10.04 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (2) of this Section 10.04, the Administrative Agent promptly shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register.  No assignment, whether or not evidenced by a promissory note, shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (3)(c).

 

(4)                                  By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the Assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:  (a) such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and that its Revolving Facility Commitment, and the outstanding balances of its Revolving Loans, in each case, without giving effect to assignments thereof which have not become effective, are as set forth in such Assignment and Acceptance; (b) except as set forth in clause (a) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or the performance or observance by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto; (c) the Assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (d) the Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent Required Financial Statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance; (e) the Assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement; (f) the Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and (g) the Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

(5)                                  (a) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Administrative Agent or, subject to Section 10.04(9), the Borrowers, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of its Commitments and the Loans owing to it); provided that (i) such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged; (ii) such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and (iii) the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, the Issuing Bank and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.  Any agreement pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or

 

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waiver of any provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that (A) such agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to Section 10.04(1)(a) or clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of the first proviso to Section 10.08(2) and (2) directly affects such Participant and (B) no other agreement with respect to amendment, modification or waiver may exist between such Lender and such Participant.  Subject to clause (5)(b) of this Section 10.04, the Borrowers agree that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.15, 2.16 and 2.17 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section 10.04, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.19(2) as if it were an assignee pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section 10.04.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at the Borrowers’ request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with the Borrowers to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.19(2) with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 10.06 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.18(4) as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of the Borrowers, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(b)                                  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.15, 2.16 or 2.17 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from an adoption of or any change in any requirement of law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force by law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation, or unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with Holdings’ prior written consent.  A Participant shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.17 to the extent such Participant fails to comply with Section 2.17(6) or Section 2.17(8) as though it were a Lender.

 

(6)                                  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank and in the case of any Lender that is an Approved Fund, any pledge or assignment to any holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Lender, including to any trustee for, or any other representative of, such holders, and this Section 10.04 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(7)                                  Each Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in paragraph (6) of this Section 10.04.

 

(8)                                  If the Borrowers wish to replace the Loans or Commitments with ones having different terms (which would otherwise have been permitted in accordance with Section 10.08(4) if made as new Loans or Commitments), it shall have the option, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and, where relevant, the Swingline Lender and each Issuing Bank, and subject to at least three Business Days’ advance notice to the Lenders, instead of repaying the Loans or reducing or terminating the Commitments to be replaced, to (i) require the Lenders to assign such Loans or Commitments to the Administrative Agent or its designees and (ii) amend the terms thereof in accordance with Section 10.08 (with such replacement, if applicable, being deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 10.08(4)).  Pursuant to any such assignment, all Loans and Commitments to be replaced shall be purchased at par (allocated among the Lenders in the same manner as would be required if such Loans were being optionally prepaid or such Commitments were being optionally reduced or terminated by the Borrowers), accompanied by payment of any accrued interest and fees thereon and any amounts owing pursuant to Section 10.05(2).  By receiving such purchase price, the Lenders shall automatically be deemed to have assigned the Loans or Commitments pursuant to the terms of the form of Assignment and Acceptance attached hereto as Exhibit A, and accordingly no other action by such Lenders shall be required in connection therewith.  The provisions of this paragraph (8) are intended to facilitate the maintenance of the perfection and priority of existing security interests in the Collateral during any such replacement.

 

(9)                                  (a)No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution to the extent the list thereof has been provided to all Lender as of the date (the “ Trade Date ”) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless Holdings has consented to such assignment in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment or participation).  For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Assignee that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, (x) such Assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by Holdings of an Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such Assignee will not by itself result in such Assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution.  Any assignment in violation of this clause (9)(a) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (9) shall apply.

 

(b)                                  If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without Holdings’ prior written consent in violation of clause (a) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, Holdings may, at its sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) terminate any Commitment of such Disqualified Institution and repay all obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Disqualified Institution in connection with such Commitment, (B) [reserved] and/or (C) require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.04), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Assignees at the lesser of (x) the principal amount thereof and (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations, in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or

 

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participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization, each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such plan of reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such plan of reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such plan of reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the Bankruptcy Court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

(d)                                  The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and the Borrowers hereby expressly authorize the Administrative Agent, to provide the list of Disqualified Institutions to each Lender requesting the same (and each Borrower hereby agrees that any such requesting Lender may share the list of Disqualified Institutions with any potential assignee, transferee or participant); provided that the Lenders shall not be restricted from participating their obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of their Commitments and the Loans owing to them) to Disqualified Institutions if the Administrative Agent has not posted the list of Disqualified Institutions to the Platform.

 

(e)                                   In case any transfer or transfer made under this Section in respect of the French Revolving Facility is made by way of novation, the transferring Lender maintains all its rights and privileges arising under any Security Documents and any Guarantee securing the obligations of any French Loan Party under this Agreement for the benefit of the transferee, in accordance with Articles 1334 of the French Civil Code.

 

(10)                           Specific provisions relating to Spain

 

(a)                                  The Spanish Loan Parties and the other Secured Parties irrevocably agree that, in the event of any transfer and/or assignment pursuant to this agreement the Liens created by, together with all rights and remedies arising under, the Spanish Security Documents entered into by each Spanish Loan Party shall be maintained in full force and effect.

 

(b)                                  For the purposes of article 1,528 of the Spanish Civil Code, the parties agree that, upon the Assignee becoming a Secured Party pursuant to this Agreement, any Spanish Security Documents shall be deemed to have been automatically assigned to the Assignee.

 

(c)                                   At the request and cost of the Assignee and/or the Secured Party, the Assignee, the Secured Party and the Agents (if applicable) shall promptly notarize in Spain the duly completed assignment agreement in a Spanish Public Document and all the powers of attorney granted to the Agents shall be duly ratified. Any tax and cost (including, but not limited to, notarial and registry costs) triggered as result of such will be borne by the Assignee and/or the Secured Party (as agreed between them).

 

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SECTION 10.05              Expenses; Indemnity .

 

(1)                                  If the Transactions are consummated and the Closing Date occurs, each Borrower agrees to pay all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Agents, the Documentation Agents and the Syndication Agent in connection with the syndication of Revolving Facility, preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or by the Agents (and in the case of enforcement of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, each Lender, Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender) in connection with the preparation, execution and delivery, amendment, modification, waiver or enforcement of this Agreement (including expenses incurred in connection with due diligence (including third party expenses) and initial and ongoing Collateral examination to the extent incurred with the reasonable prior approval of the Borrowers or provided for in this Agreement) or in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof, including the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Agents, the Documentation Agents and the Syndication Agent, one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and, in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the indemnified person affected by such conflict informs Holdings of such conflict, one additional firm of counsel for the Agents, the Documentation Agents and the Syndication Agent and, in the case of enforcement of this Agreement, each Lender, Issuing Bank and the Swingline Lender (in the aggregate). In relation to any Spanish Loan Party and any Loan Documents or Spanish Security Documents they incorporate or sign subject to the laws of Spain, the Borrowers and/or the corresponding Spanish Loan Party shall also pay the applicable pre-agreed notary public fees and registry fees whenever due.  For the sake of clarity, notwithstanding the foregoing, as set out in Section 10.04(10), any taxes or costs (including, but not limited to, notarial or registry fees) arising from any transfer or assignment from the Lenders or Secured Parties shall be borne by the relevant Lender or Secured Party but not by the Loan Parties.

 

(2)                                  Each Borrower agrees to indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Documentation Agent, each Syndication Agent, each Lender, each Issuing Bank, the Swingline Lender, each of their respective Affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, controlling Persons, equityholders, partners, members and other representatives and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (limited to reasonable and documented legal fees of a single counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one firm of counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs Holdings of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of an additional counsel for each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated taken as a whole)), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of:

 

(a)                                  the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(b)                                  the use of the proceeds of the Loans; or

 

(c)                                   any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to the Transactions or any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by Holdings, any Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries or Affiliates or creditors or any other Person;

 

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provided that no Indemnitee will be indemnified for any loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense to the extent it:  (i) has been determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties or (y) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnitee or Related Parties under the Loan Documents or (ii) relates to any proceeding between or among Indemnitees other than (A) claims against Agents, Arrangers, Documentation Agents, Syndication Agent or their respective Affiliates, in each case, in their capacity or in fulfilling their role as the agent or agent, arranger, documentation agent, syndication agent, senior managing agent or any other similar role under the Revolving Facility (excluding their role as a Lender) to the extent such Persons are otherwise entitled to receive indemnification under this Section 10.05(2) or (B) claims arising out of any act or omission on the part of Holdings, the Borrowers or their Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(3)                                  Subject to and without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, each Borrower agrees to indemnify each Indemnitee against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of one U.S. and one Canadian firm of counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one firm of counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, an additional counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole) and reasonable, documented and invoiced consultant fees, in each case, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of any claim related in any way to, Environmental Laws and Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, or any actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, under, on or from any property for which Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to be liable under Environmental Laws, regardless of whether such matter is initiated by Holdings, any Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries or Affiliates or creditors or any other Person; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties.

 

(4)                                  Any indemnification or payments required by the Loan Parties under this Section 10.05 shall not apply with respect to (a) Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim or (b) Taxes that are duplicative of any indemnification or payments required by the Loan Parties under Section 2.17 or which would be so duplicative but for any of the exemptions set out in Section 2.17.

 

(5)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Indemnitee nor any Loan Party shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against the Loan Parties or any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Commitment, any Letter of Credit, any Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the indemnity and reimbursement obligations set forth in clauses (1) through (3) of this Section 10.05.  No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

(6)                                  The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the

 

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repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.  All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor accompanied by reasonable documentation with respect to any reimbursement, indemnification or other amount requested.

 

SECTION 10.06              Right of Set-off .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender and each Issuing Bank is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other Indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender or such Issuing Bank to or for the credit or the account of Holdings, any Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party against any and all of the Obligations of Holdings, any Borrower or any Subsidiary Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document held by such Lender or such Issuing Bank, irrespective of whether or not such Lender or such Issuing Bank shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although such Obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each Lender and each Issuing Bank under this Section 10.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of set-off) that such Revolving Lender or such Issuing Bank may have and may be exercised only at the direction of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders.

 

SECTION 10.07              Applicable Law .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FOREIGN SECURITY DOCUMENTS AND PLEDGE AGREEMENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1.01(3)) AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCEPT FOR CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION).

 

SECTION 10.08              Waivers; Amendment .

 

(1)                                  No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent, any Issuing Bank or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of each Agent, each Issuing Bank and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by Holdings, the Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (2) of this Section 10.08, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  No notice or demand on Holdings, any Borrower or any other Loan Party in any case shall entitle such Person to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(2)                                  Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except:

 

(a)                                  as provided in Sections 2.21, 2.22 and 10.20;

 

(b)                                  in the case of the Fee Letter, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each party thereto;

 

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(c)                                   in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, the Borrowers and the Required Lenders, a copy of which shall be promptly provided to the Administrative Agent ( provided that any failure to deliver such copy shall not invalidate such waiver, amendment or modification); and

 

(i)                                      in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each party thereto and the Administrative Agent and consented to by the Required Lenders;

 

provided, however, that, except as provided in Sections 2.21, 2.22 and 10.20, no such agreement will:

 

(ii)                                   decrease, forgive, waive or excuse the principal amount of, or any interest (except in connection with the waiver of the applicability of default interest (which waiver shall be effective with the written consent of the Required Lenders)) on, or extend the final maturity of, or decrease the rate of interest on, any Loan or any L/C Disbursement, or extend the stated expiration of any Letter of Credit beyond the Maturity Date, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely directly affected thereby, except as provided in Section 2.05(3) with respect to the expiration of Letters of Credit (it being acknowledged and agreed that any amendments to or waivers of conditions precedent, Defaults or Events of Default or mandatory prepayments shall not constitute a decrease, forgiveness, waiver or excuse of interest or a principal payment under this clause (i));

 

(iii)                                increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender or decrease, forgive, waive or excuse the Commitment Fees or L/C Participation Fees or other fees of any Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank without the prior written consent of such Lender, Agent or Issuing Bank (it being understood that waivers or modifications of conditions precedent, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default, mandatory prepayments or of a mandatory reduction in the aggregate Commitments shall not constitute an increase of the Commitments of any Lender or a waiver or excuse of any fees);

 

(iv)                               extend any date on which payment of principal or interest (other than default interest) on any Loan or any L/C Disbursement or any Fees is due (it being acknowledged and agreed that any amendments to or waivers of conditions precedent, Defaults or Events of Default or mandatory prepayments shall not constitute an extension of a date on which a payment is due for purposes of this clause (iii)), without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(v)                                  amend the provisions of Section 2.18 of this Agreement or any analogous provision of any of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, in a manner that would by its terms alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby or the relative priorities of such payments, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(vi)                               change the definition of the terms “U.S. Borrowing Base”, “Canadian Borrowing Base”, “French Borrowing Base”, “German Borrowing Base”, “Spanish Borrowing Base”, “U.K. Borrowing Base” or “Aggregate Borrowing Base” or any component definition thereof if as a result thereof the amounts available to be borrowed by the applicable Borrowers would be increased, or increase any of the percentages set forth in the definition of “U.S. Borrowing Base”, “Canadian Borrowing

 

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Base”, “French Borrowing Base”, “German Borrowing Base”, “Spanish Borrowing Base”, “U.K. Borrowing Base” or “Aggregate Borrowing Base” without the prior written consent of the Supermajority Revolving Lenders; provided that the foregoing shall not limit the ability of the Administrative Agent to implement, change or eliminate any Reserves in its Reasonable Credit Judgment as permitted hereunder without the prior written consent of any Lenders;

 

(vii)                            [reserved];

 

(viii)                         amend or modify the provisions of this Section 10.08 or the definitions of the terms “Supermajority Revolving Lenders” or “Required Lenders”, as the case may be, or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of any such required group of Lenders, as the case may be, required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the prior written consent of each Lender;

 

(ix)                               release all or substantially all of the Collateral, or release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantee of the Obligations without the prior written consent of each Lender;

 

(x)                                  increase the aggregate Revolving Facility Commitments, the aggregate U.S./Canadian Revolving Facility Commitments, the aggregate French Revolving Facility Commitments or the aggregate European Revolving Facility Commitments other than as provided in Section 2.21, without the prior written consent of each Revolving Lender; or

 

(xi)                               at any time when there is outstanding more than one tranche of Loans, amend, modify or waive any provision of this Agreement which adversely impacts one or more tranches in a manner different than that which applies to one or more other tranches, without the consent of Lenders holding a majority of each tranche of such adversely affected Loans;

 

provided that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent or an Issuing Bank hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent or such Issuing Bank acting as such at the effective date of such agreement, as applicable.

 

Each Lender shall be bound by any waiver, amendment or modification authorized by this Section 10.08 and any consent by any Lender pursuant to this Section 10.08 shall bind any assignee of such Lender.

 

(3)                                  Without the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Lender or Issuing Bank, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent may (in their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Loan Document) enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of any Loan Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law.

 

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(4)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers may enter into Incremental Facility Amendments in accordance with Section 2.21, Extension Amendments in accordance with Section 2.22, and such Incremental Facility Amendments and Extension Amendments shall be effective to amend the terms of this Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, in each case, without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment or waiver that by its terms affects the rights or duties of Lenders holding Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the rights or duties of Lenders holdings Loans or Commitments of any other Class) will require only the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders.

 

(6)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, technical and conforming modifications to the Loan Documents may be made with the consent of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to the extent necessary to integrate any Incremental Commitments on substantially the same basis as the Revolving Loans.

 

(7)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no consent of any Defaulting Lender will be required other than with respect to any amendment or waiver set forth in clauses (a) through (c) of Section 10.08(2) that directly and adversely affects such Lender.

 

(8)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrowers, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document, and such amendment, modification or supplement shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.  Furthermore, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrowers (without the need to obtain any consent of any Lender), any Loan Document may be amended to add terms that are favorable to the Lenders (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent).

 

(9)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no MIRE Event may be closed until the date that is (a) if there are no Mortgaged Properties in a Flood Zone, thirty (30) Business Days or (b) if there are any Mortgaged Properties in a Flood Zone, forty-five (45) days (in each case, the “Notice Period”), after the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a completed Flood Certificate from a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the applicable Loan Parties of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the applicable Loan Parties that flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the applicable Loan Parties of such notice; and (iii) if required by the Flood Program, evidence of required flood insurance; provided that any such MIRE Event may be closed prior to the Notice Period if the Administrative Agent shall have received confirmation from each applicable Lender that such Lender has completed any necessary flood insurance due diligence to its reasonable satisfaction.

 

SECTION 10.09              Interest Rate Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the applicable interest rate, together with all fees and charges that are treated as interest under applicable law (collectively, the “ Charges ”), as provided for herein or in any other document executed in connection herewith, or otherwise contracted for, charged, received, taken or reserved by any Lender, shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken,

 

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received or reserved by such Lender in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all Charges payable to such Lender, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate; provided that such excess amount shall be paid to such Lender on subsequent payment dates to the extent not exceeding the legal limitation.  In no event will the total interest received by any Lender exceed the amount which it could lawfully have received and any such excess amount received by any Lender will be applied to reduce the principal balance of the Loans or to other amounts (other than interest) payable hereunder to such Lender, and if no such principal or other amounts are then outstanding, such excess or part thereof remaining will be paid to the Borrowers.

 

SECTION 10.10              Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the agreements regarding certain Fees referred to herein constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof.  Any previous agreement among or representations from the parties or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fee Letter shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto and thereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 10.11              WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11.

 

SECTION 10.12              Severability .  In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.  The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

SECTION 10.13              Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one contract, and shall become effective as provided herein.  Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g., “PDF” or “TIFF”) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

 

SECTION 10.14              Headings .  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

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SECTION 10.15              Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process .

 

(1)                                  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof (collectively, “ New York Courts ”), in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (other than with respect to actions in respect of rights under any Security Document governed by laws other than the laws of the State of New York or with respect to any Collateral subject thereto), or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law, and the parties hereto agree that the Agents and Lenders retain the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law and to bring proceedings against any Loan Party in the courts of any other jurisdiction in connection with the exercise of any rights under any Security Documents or the enforcement of any judgment.  Each of the Loan Parties agrees that (a) it will not bring any such action or proceeding in any court other than New York Courts (it being acknowledged and agreed by the parties hereto that any other forum would be inconvenient and inappropriate in view of the fact that more of the Lenders who would be affected by any such action or proceeding have contacts with the State of New York than any other jurisdiction), and (b) in any such action or proceeding brought against any Loan Party in any other court, it will not assert any cross-claim, counterclaim or setoff, or seek any other affirmative relief, except to the extent that the failure to assert the same will preclude such Loan Party from asserting or seeking the same in the New York Courts.

 

(2)                                  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any New York State or federal court.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers the U.S. Borrowers (including any replacement process agent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, each a “ Process Agent ”) (and the U.S. Borrowers hereby accept and agree to serve as Process Agent), in the case of any suit, action or proceeding brought in the United States of America as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document.  Such service may be made by mailing (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid) or delivering a copy of such process to such person in care of any Process Agent at such Process Agent’s address, and each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs each Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf.  Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 10.16              Confidentiality .  Each of the Lenders, each Issuing Bank and each of the Agents agrees (and agrees to cause each of its respective Affiliates) to use all information provided to it by or on behalf of Holdings, the Borrowers or their Restricted Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents or otherwise in connection with the Transactions solely for the purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall not publish, disclose or otherwise divulge such information (other than information that (x) has become generally available to the public other than as a result of an unauthorized disclosure by such party; (y) has been independently developed by such Lender, such Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent without violating this Section 10.16; or (z) was available to such Lender, such Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent from a third party having, to such

 

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Person’s knowledge, no obligations of confidentiality to Holdings, any Borrower or any other Loan Party) and shall not reveal the same other than to its directors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors with a need to know or to any Person that approves or administers the Revolving Facility on behalf of such Lender or any numbering, administration or settlement service providers (so long as each such Person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.16), except:

 

(i)                                      to the extent necessary to comply with law or any legal process or the requirements of any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or of any securities exchange on which securities of the disclosing party or any Affiliate of the disclosing party are listed or traded, in which case (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by any bank accountant or any governmental or regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority) such Person agrees, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform Holdings promptly thereof prior to disclosure;

 

(ii)                                   as part of normal reporting or review procedures to, or examinations by, Governmental Authorities or any bank accountants or auditors or any governmental or regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, in which case (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by any such bank accountant or auditor or any governmental or regulatory authority exercising examination regulatory authority) such Person agrees, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform Holdings promptly thereof prior to disclosure;

 

(iii)                                to its parent companies, Affiliates (and its Affiliates’ directors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors) or auditors (so long as each such Person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.16);

 

(iv)                               in order to enforce its rights under any Loan Document in a legal proceeding;

 

(v)                                  to any pledgee or assignee under Section 10.04(6) or any other prospective or actual Assignee of, or prospective or actual Participant in, any of its rights under this Agreement (so long as such Person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.16);

 

(vi)                               to ratings agencies or the CUSIP Service Bureau on a confidential basis;

 

(vii)                            to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty in Hedge Agreements or such contractual counterparty’s professional advisor (so long as such contractual counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 10.16); and

 

(viii)                         in connection with, and to the extent reasonably necessary for the exercise of any secured creditor remedy under this Agreement or under any other Loan Document.

 

(ix)                               Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such information shall be disclosed to a Disqualified Institution that constitutes a Disqualified Institution at the time of such disclosure without Holdings’ prior written consent.

 

SECTION 10.17              [Reserved] .

 

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SECTION 10.18              Release of Liens and Guarantees .  In the event that any Loan Party conveys, sells, leases, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of all or any portion of any of the Equity Interests or assets of any Loan Party (other than Equity Interests of a Borrower) to a Person that is not (and is not required to become) a Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents or any Loan Party becomes an Excluded Subsidiary or ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder, at the request of Holdings, any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets shall, to the extent permitted under any applicable law, be automatically released and the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by Holdings and at the Borrowers’ expense in connection with such release of any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets, and, in the case of a disposition of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction permitted by the Loan Documents (including through merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise) and as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party would cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary Loan Party’s obligations under this Agreement and the applicable Security Documents shall, to the extent permitted under any applicable law, be automatically terminated and the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to) and at the Borrowers’ expense take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by Holdings to terminate such Subsidiary Loan Party’s obligations under this Agreement and applicable Security Documents.  In addition, the Administrative Agent agrees to take such actions as are reasonably requested by Holdings and at the Borrowers’ expense to terminate the Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents when all the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and Cash Management Obligations in each case that are not then due and payable and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) are paid in full and all Commitments are terminated and all Letters of Credit expired, terminated, cash collateralized or backstopped on terms satisfactory to the Issuing Bank.

 

SECTION 10.19              USA PATRIOT Act Notice .  Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 10.20              Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements .

 

(1)                                  The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any provision of any Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to the discharge in full of all Term Loan Claims (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement), the Loan Parties shall not be required to act or refrain from acting under any Security Document with respect to the Term Loan Priority Collateral in any manner that would result in a “Default” or “Event of Default” (as defined in any Term Loan Document) under the terms and provisions of the Term Loan Documents.  Each Lender hereunder (i) consents to the subordination of Liens on Term Priority Collateral provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement, (ii) agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and (iii) authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as ABL Agent (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement) and on behalf of such Lender.  The foregoing provisions are intended as an inducement to the lenders under the Term Loan Credit Agreement to extend credit and such lenders are intended third party beneficiaries of such provisions and the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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(2)                                  The parties hereto authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any (x) Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement in the form attached hereto or in such other form as may be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (y) any other intercreditor agreement as may be contemplated herein or determined by the Administrative Agent to be consistent herewith, in such form as may be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may from time to time enter into a modification of the Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any other intercreditor agreement, as the case may be, so long as the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that such modification is consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.21              No Liability of the Issuing Banks .  The Borrowers assume all risks of the acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee of any Letter of Credit with respect to its use of such Letter of Credit.  Neither any Issuing Bank nor any of its officers or directors shall be liable or responsible for:  (a) the use that may be made of any Letter of Credit or any acts or omissions of any beneficiary or transferee in connection therewith; (b) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of documents, or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged; (c) payment by such Issuing Bank against presentation of documents that do not comply with the terms of a Letter of Credit, including failure of any documents to bear any reference or adequate reference to the Letter of Credit; or (d) any other circumstances whatsoever in making or failing to make payment under any Letter of Credit, except that the Borrowers shall have a claim against such Issuing Bank, and such Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Borrowers, to the extent of any direct, but not consequential, damages suffered by the Borrowers that the Borrowers prove were caused by (i) such Issuing Bank’s willful misconduct or gross negligence as determined in a final, non-appealable judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction in determining whether documents presented under any Letter of Credit comply with the terms of the Letter of Credit or (ii) such Issuing Bank’s willful failure to make lawful payment under a Letter of Credit after the presentation to it of a draft and certificates strictly complying with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Credit.  In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, such Issuing Bank may accept documents that appear on their face to be in order, without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.

 

SECTION 10.22              No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of Holdings and each Borrower acknowledges and agree that:  (1) (a) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents, the Lenders, and the Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between Holdings and the Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Lenders and the Arrangers, on the other hand; (b) the Borrowers and Holdings have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent they deemed appropriate; and (c) the Borrowers and Holdings are capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (2) (a) each Agent, each lender party hereto, and each Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for any Borrower, Holdings, or any other Person and (b) neither any Agent, any lender, nor any Arranger has any obligation to any Borrower, Holdings or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (3) the Agents, the Arrangers, the lenders party hereto and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Borrowers, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, and neither any Agent, any lender party hereto, nor any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to the Borrowers, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

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SECTION 10.23              Cashless Settlement .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or a portion of its Revolving Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

 

SECTION 10.24              Holdings as Agent for Borrowers .  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Holdings as the borrowing agent and attorney-in-fact for all Borrowers which appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until Administrative Agent shall have received prior written notice signed by each Borrower that such appointment has been revoked and that another Loan Party has been appointed in such role.  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes Holdings (a) to provide Administrative Agent with all notices with respect to Loans and Letters of Credit obtained for the benefit of any Borrower and all other notices and instructions under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and any notice or instruction provided Holdings shall be deemed to be given by Borrowers hereunder and shall bind each Borrower), (b) to receive notices and instructions from the Administrative Agent and Lenders (and any notice or instruction provided by Administrative Agent or any Lender to Holdings in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been given to each Borrower), and (c) to take such action as Holdings deems appropriate on its behalf to obtain Loans and Letters of Credit and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.  It is understood that the handling of the Loan Account and Collateral in a combined fashion, as more fully set forth herein, is done solely as an accommodation to Borrowers in order to utilize the collective borrowing powers of Borrowers in the most efficient and economical manner and at their request, and that Administrative Agent and Lenders shall not incur liability to any Borrower as a result hereof.  Each Borrower expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from the handling of the Loan Accounts and the Collateral in a combined fashion since the successful operation of each Borrower is dependent on the continued successful performance of the integrated group.

 

SECTION 10.25              Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan Document, may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(1)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(2)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(a)                                  a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(b)                                  a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(c)                                   the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

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SECTION 10.26              Judgment Currency .  If, for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court, it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder or any other Loan Document in one currency into another currency, the rate of exchange used shall be that at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Administrative Agent could purchase the first currency with such other currency on the Business Day preceding that on which final judgment is given.  The obligation of the Borrowers in respect of any such sum due from them to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders hereunder or under the other Loan Documents shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency (the “ Judgment Currency ”) other than that in which such sum is denominated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Agreement (the “ Agreement Currency ”), be discharged only to the extent that on the Business Day following receipt by the Administrative Agent of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, the Administrative Agent may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase the Agreement Currency with the Judgment Currency.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is less than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers in the Agreement Currency, the Borrowers agree, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify the Administrative Agent or the Person to whom such obligation was owing against such loss.  If the amount of the Agreement Currency so purchased is greater than the sum originally due to the Administrative Agent in such currency, the Administrative Agent agrees to return the amount of any excess to the Borrowers (or to any other Person who may be entitled thereto under applicable law).

 

SECTION 10.27              No Hardship .  Each French Loan Party and each Lender hereby acknowledges that the provisions of article 1195 of the French Civil Code shall not apply to it with respect to its obligations under the French Revolving Facility and that it shall not be entitled to make any claim under article 1195 of the French Civil Code.

 

SECTION 10.28              Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation .

 

(1)                                  Each Loan Party acknowledges that, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act and other applicable Canadian anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, government sanction and “know your client” laws (collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, “ AML Legislation ”), the Secured Parties may be required to obtain, verify and record information regarding the Loan Parties and their respective directors, authorized signing officers, direct or indirect shareholders or other Persons in control of the Loan Parties, and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Loan Party shall promptly provide all such information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be reasonably requested by any Secured Party or any prospective assignee or participant of a Secured Party, any Issuing Bank or the Administrative Agent, in order to comply with any applicable AML Legislation, whether now or hereafter in existence.

 

(2)                                  If the Administrative Agent has ascertained the identity of any Loan Party or any authorized signatories of any Loan Party for the purposes of applicable AML Legislation, then the Administrative Agent:

 

(a)                                  shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for each Secured Party, and this Agreement shall constitute a “written agreement” in such regard between each Secured Party and the Administrative Agent within the meaning of the applicable AML Legislation;

 

(b)                                  shall provide to each Secured Party copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness; and

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the preceding sentence and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing, each of the Secured Parties agrees that the Administrative Agent has no obligation to ascertain the identity of the Loan Parties or any authorized signatories of the Loan

 

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Parties on behalf of any Secured Party, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from any Loan Party or any such authorized signatory in doing so.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, as Holdings

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES LLC, as a U.S. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, as a U.S. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A AMERICAS LLC, as a U.S. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A CANADA INC., as a Canadian Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A GERMANY GMBH, as a German Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

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By

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A UERDINGEN GMBH, as a German Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

By

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A WASSERCHEMIE GMBH, as a German Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A SPAIN S.L.U., as a Spanish Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN PIGMENTS (UK) LIMITED, as a U.K. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A UK LIMITED, as a U.K. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

258



 

 

BROCKHUES GMBH & CO. KG, as a German Borrower

 

 

 

By: Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH, its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

259



 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent, an Issuing Bank, a Swingline Lender and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Peter S. Predun

 

 

Name: Peter S. Predun

 

 

Title: Executive Director

 

 

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES PLC, N.A., as Lender

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Matthew Sparkes

 

 

Name: Matthew Sparkes

 

 

Title: Authorized Officer

 

 

 

 

CITIBANK EUROPE PLC, as Lender and as an Issuing Bank

 

 

 

By

/s/ Zdenek Turek

 

 

Name: Zdenek Turek

 

 

Title: CEO

 

 

 

CITIBANK, N.A., as Lender

 

 

 

By

/s/ Christopher Marino

 

 

Name: Christopher Marino

 

 

Title: Vice President and Director

 

 

 

BANK OF AMERICA, N.A. (acting through its Canada Branch)

 

 

 

By

/s/ Sylwia Durkiewicz

 

 

Name: Sylwia Durkiewicz

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

 

 

Bank of America Merrill Lynch International Limited

 

 

 

By

/s/ Lee Masters

 

 

Name: Lee Masters

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

 

 

Bank of America, N.A.

 

 

 

By

/s/ Lee Masters

 

 

Name: Lee Masters

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President

 

260



 

 

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA

 

 

 

By

/s/ Annie Carr

 

 

Name: Annie Carr

 

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

HSBC Bank USA, National Association

 

 

 

By

/s/ David A. Mandell

 

 

Name: David A. Mandell

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

 

 

By

/s/ Pierre Noriega

 

 

Name: Pierre Noriega

 

 

Title: Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

 

 

By

/s/ Alexander Camerlain

 

 

Name: Alexander Camerlain

 

 

Title: Attorney-in-Fact

 

 

 

BARCLAYS BANK PLC, as Lender

 

 

 

By

/s/ Christopher M. Aitkin

 

 

Name: Christopher M. Aitkin

 

 

Title: Assistant Vice President

 

 

 

PNC Bank, NA

 

 

 

By

/s/ Scott W. Miller

 

 

Name: Scott W. Miller

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

261


 


 


 

EXHIBITS TO THE VENATOR ABL CREDIT AGREEMENT

 


 

Table of Contents

 

Exhibit A

 

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B

 

Form of Borrowing Base Certificate

Exhibit C

 

Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit D

 

Form of Swingline Borrowing Request

Exhibit E

 

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificates

Exhibit F

 

Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice

Exhibit G

 

Form of Initial Lender Certificate

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

 

1.                                       The Assignor (as defined below) hereby irrevocably sells and assigns, without recourse, to the Assignee (as defined below), and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes, without recourse, from the Assignor, effective as of the Effective Date set forth below (the “ Effective Date ”) (but not prior to the registration of the information contained herein in the Register pursuant to Section 10.04(2)(b) of the ABL Credit Agreement), the interests set forth below (the “ Assigned Interest ”) in the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the ABL Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the amounts and percentages set forth below of (i) the Commitments of the Assignor on the Effective Date and (ii) the Loans owing to the Assignor which are outstanding on the Effective Date. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned

 

A- 1



 

Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

2.                                       By executing and delivering this Assignment and Acceptance, the Assignor and the Assignee shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) the Assignor warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, the Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the ABL Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the ABL Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, or the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or any other person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto or the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or any other person of any of their respective obligations under the ABL Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) the Assignee represents and warrants that (a) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the ABL Credit Agreement, (b) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the ABL Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender; (iv) the Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of the ABL Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 4.02(3) of the ABL Credit Agreement (or delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 of the ABL Credit Agreement), and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on any Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender; (v) the Assignee will independently and without reliance upon any Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents; (vi) the Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (vii) the Assignee ratifies and confirms all declarations and acts given and made by each Agent on its behalf; (viii) the Assignee confirms it is [not] incorporated in, or acting through a Facility Office situated in, a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction; and (ix) the Assignee hereby agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it

 

A- 2



 

as a Lender. From and after the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the ABL Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, to the extent of the interests assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the interests assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

3.                                       Pursuant to Section 10.04(2)(b) of the ABL Credit Agreement, this Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the Administrative Agent together with (i) if required by Section 10.04(2)(b)(ii) of the ABL Credit Agreement, a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, (ii) any forms referred to in Section 2.17 of the ABL Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by such Assignee and (iii) if the Assignee is not already a Lender under the ABL Credit Agreement, a completed Administrative Questionnaire.

 

4                                          This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

5.                                       The Assignee hereby provides that, with respect to any Spanish Borrower, it is [not a Spanish Qualifying Lender] [a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Lender][a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Treaty Lender(1)][a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is an EU Lender].(2)

 

6.                                    The Assignee hereby provides that, with respect to a U.K. Borrower, it is [not a U.K. Qualifying Lender] [a U.K. Qualifying Lender (other than a U.K. Treaty Lender)] [a U.K. Treaty Lender (on the assumption that all procedural formalities have been completed)].(3)

 


(1)              Banks and other financial institutions resident for tax purposes in the United States, entitled to the benefits of the double tax treaty between the United States and Spain, shall, for purposes of certification, have the status of Spanish Treaty Lender (subject to the fulfillment of any conditions required to apply the benefits of such double tax treaty, including the supply of IRS Form 6166) . Other U.S. tax resident lenders not having the status of a bank or other financial institution, nor entitled to the benefits of the U.S.-Spain tax treaty, may not claim Spanish Treaty Lender status.

(2)              Pursuant to Section 2.17(6)(d) of the ABL Credit Agreement, Assignees not resident for tax purposes in Spain shall, as soon as reasonably practical after the execution of this Assignment and Acceptance, supply a tax residence certificate or, as the case may be, a tax treaty form issued by the tax authorities of the jurisdiction of tax residence of such Assignee. Please refer to Section 2.17(6)(d) of the ABL Credit Agreement.

(3)              Delete as applicable. Each Assignee is required to confirm which of these categories it falls within.

 

A- 3



 

7.                                       [The Assignee confirms that the person beneficially entitled to interest payable to that Lender in respect of an advance under a Loan Document is either (a) a company resident in the United Kingdom for United Kingdom tax purposes; or (b) a partnership each member of which is: (i) a company so resident in the United Kingdom; or (ii) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account in computing its chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the U.K. CTA) the whole of any share of interest payable in respect of that advance that falls to it by reason of Part 17 of the U.K. CTA; or (c) a company not so resident in the United Kingdom which carries on a trade in the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment and which brings into account interest payable in respect of that advance in computing the chargeable profits (within the meaning of section 19 of the U.K. CTA) of that company.](4)

 

8.                                       [The Assignee confirms that it holds a passport under the HM Revenue & Customs DT Treaty Passport scheme (reference number [  ·  ](5)) and is tax resident in [  ·  ](6), so that interest payable to it by borrowers is generally subject to full exemption from U.K. withholding tax and that it wishes that scheme to apply to the ABL Credit Agreement.](7)

 

9.                                    The Assignee hereby provides that, with respect to any Borrower, it is [not a Qualifying Lender] [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender)] [a Treaty Lender]. (8)

 


(4)  Include only if Assignee is a U.K. Non-Bank Lender (i.e. falls within paragraph (b) of the definition of “U.K. Qualifying Lender” set out in the ABL Credit Agreement).

 

(5)  Insert HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme reference number.

 

(6)  Insert jurisdiction of tax residence.

 

(7)  Include if Assignee holds a passport under the HMRC DT Treaty Passport scheme and wishes that scheme to apply to the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

(8)  Delete as applicable. Each Assignee is required to confirm which of these categories it falls within.

 

A- 4



 

Date of Assignment:

 

Legal Name of Assignor (“ Assignor ”):

 

Legal Name of Assignee (“ Assignee ”):

 

Assignee’s Address for Notices:

 

 

Effective Date of Assignment:

 

Facility

 

Principal Amount of
Commitments/Loans Assigned(9)

 

Percentage Assigned of
Commitment/Loans (set forth, to
at least 8 decimals, as a
percentage of the Facility and the
aggregate Commitments/Loans of
all Lenders thereunder)

 

[U.S./Canadian][European][ French] Revolving Facility Commitment/Loans

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

Incremental Revolving Facility Commitment/Loans

 

$

 

 

 

%

 

If the Assignee is not already a Lender under the ABL Credit Agreement, the Assignee shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in a form approved by the Administrative Agent in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non-public information about the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow. ]

 


(9)  Amount of Commitments and Loans assigned is governed by Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement.

 

A- 5



 

The terms set forth above are hereby agreed to:

 

Accepted */

 

 

 

[JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

                                   , as Assignor

 

 

as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Title: ](3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                   , as Assignee

 

 

[VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by:

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Title: ](4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as  Swingline Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: ](5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[[ISSUING BANK], as  Swingline Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: ](6)

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Assignment and Acceptance ]

 



 


*/                            To be completed to the extent consents are required under Section 10.04(2) of the Credit Agreement.

 

(3) Consent of the Administrative Agent shall not be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate or branch of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

(4) Consent of Holdings shall not be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund, or, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other person.

 

(5) Consent of Swingline Lender required for any assignment which increases the obligation of the Assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit or Swingline Loans.

 

(6) Consent of Issuing Bank required for any assignment which increases the obligation of the Assignee to participate in exposure under one or more Letters of Credit .

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Assignment and Acceptance ]

 


 


 

EXHIBIT B (10)

 

BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE(11)

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

 

Pursuant to Section 3.05 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the undersigned Responsible Officer of [   ] certifies, in his capacity as a Responsible Officer, and not individually, that the

 


(11)  NTD: All Borrowing base Certificates and Related Notices shall be delivered by Adobe PDF to the following Addresses: (A) brittany.s.stark@jpmorgan.com, (B) ib.cbc@jpmchase.com, (C) covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com, (D) Katherine.L.Hurley@jpmorgan.com, (E) kevin.murray@jpmorgan.com, with supporting Borrowing Base documents submitted in Excel to (A) brittany.s.stark@jpmorgan.com and (B) ib.cbc@jpmchase.com

 

B- 1



 

information provided in Annex A (the Borrowing Base Certificate), it true and correct and based on the accounting records of [   ] and its subsidiaries.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; ]

 

B- 2



 

 

Very Truly Yours,

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, as Holdings

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, as a U.S. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES LLC, as a U.S. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A AMERICAS LLC, as a U.S. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A CANADA INC., as a Canadian Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Vice President

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A UERDINGEN GMBH, as a German Borrower

 

[ Signature Page to Borrowing Base Certificate ]

 



 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A GERMANY GMBH, as a German Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A WASSERCHEMIE GMBH, as a German Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

BROCKHUES GMBH & CO. KG , as a German Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A SPAIN, S.L.U., as a Spanish Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Attorney

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN PIGMENTS (UK) LIMITED, as a U.K. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Director

 

[ Signature Page to Borrowing Base Certificate ]

 



 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A UK LIMITED, as a U.K. Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:

Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HUNTSMAN P&A FRANCE SAS, as a French Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:]

 

 

[ Signature Page to Borrowing Base Certificate ]

 



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC
[  ], 201[ ]

 

This Solvency Certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 4.02(12) of the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

 

I, [   ], hereby certify that I am the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings and that I am knowledgeable of the financial and accounting matters of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries, the ABL Credit Agreement and that, as such, I am authorized to execute and deliver this Solvency Certificate on behalf of Holdings. I further certify, in my capacity as Chief Financial Officer of Holdings, and not individually, as follows:

 

C- 1



 

1.                             Immediately after the consummation of the Venator Consolidation Transaction and the other Transactions to occur on the Closing Date and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of each Loan and other extension of credit to be made on the Closing Date:

 

a)             the fair value of the assets of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

 

b)             the present fair saleable value of the property of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured;

 

c)            H oldings and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated,  contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and

 

d)             Holdings and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

 

2.                             On the Closing Date, none of Holdings or any Borrower intends to, or believes that it or any Subsidiary will, on a consolidated basis, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows. ]

 

C- 2



 

I represent the foregoing information is provided to the best of my knowledge and belief and execute this Solvency Certificate as of the date first written above.

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Chief Financial Officer of

 

 

Venator Materials PLC

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Solvency Certificate ]

 



 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF SWINGLINE BORROWING REQUEST

 

Date:                               ,

 

To:                              JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,(12)

500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01

Newark, DE, 19713

Attn: Joe Aftanis

Fax: 201-639-5215; 12016395215@tls.ldsprod.com

Email: joe.aftanis@jpmorgan.com

 

J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, Loan and Agency Group

25, Bank Street, Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP

Attention: Liz Parsley

Fax: +44 (0)20 7777 2360 ; 12016395145@tls.ldsprod.com

Email: loan_and_agency_london@jpmorgan.com

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower

 


(12)  NTD: Any notice/document that is intended to be posted for all lenders should be sent to the notice addresses provided as well as: covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com.

 



 

together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement, wherever used herein, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the same meanings herein as are prescribed by the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

This notice constitutes a Swingline Borrowing Request, and the undersigned Borrower (the “ Requesting Borrower ”) hereby requests a Borrowing under the ABL Credit Agreement, and in that connection the Requesting Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowing requested hereby:

 

1.                                      The proposed Swingline Borrowing is being requested by the [U.S. Borrower].

 

2.                                      The Business Day of the proposed Swingline Borrowing is:                                  .

 

3.                                      The aggregate amount of the proposed Swingline Borrowing is: $                              .

 

4.                                      The location and number of the Requesting Borrower’s account to which the proceeds of the proposed Swingline Borrowing are to be disbursed is                            .

 

This Swingline Borrowing Request is issued pursuant to and is subject to the Credit Agreement executed as of the date set forth above. The Requesting Borrower hereby represents and warrants that the conditions specified in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement are satisfied.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows. ]

 


(1)  Notification must be received by the Administrative Agent and the Swingline Lender by telephone (confirmed by a Swingline Borrowing Request by telecopy (other than with respect to a request by a U.S. Borrower, which shall be made in writing by hand delivery or other electronic means)), not later than 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the day of the proposed Swingline.

 

(2)  Use this address with respect to any Swingline Loans to the U.S. Borrower.

 



 

 

Very truly yours,

REQUESTING BORROWER:

 

[                                                           ]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Swingline Borrowing Request ]

 



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 



 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

[ Signature Page to Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ]

 



 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the interest in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) or Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereto or successors thereto).  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such

 



 

Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20

 

[ Signature Page to Form of U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate ]

 



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the [participation] in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such [participation], (iii) with respect such [participation], neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) or Section 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

E- 1



 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereto or successors thereto) from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments .

 

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20

 

E- 2



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the ABL Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.17 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of

 

E- 3



 

Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any U.S. Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any U.S. Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

Date:            , 20

 

E- 4



 

EXHIBIT F

 

EUROCURRENCY/CDOR RATE LOAN NOTICE

 

To:                              JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01

Newark, DE, 19713

Attn: Joe Aftanis

Fax: 201-639-5215; 12016395215@tls.ldsprod.com

Email: joe.aftanis@jpmorgan.com

 

J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, Loan and Agency Group

25, Bank Street, Canary Wharf

London E14 5JP

Attention: Liz Parsley

Fax: +44 (0)20 7777 2360 ; 12016395145@tls.ldsprod.com

Email: loan_and_agency_london@jpmorgan.com

 

[   ], [   ]

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Revolving Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ ABL Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.S. Borrowers”  (each individually, as a “ U.S. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.S. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “Canadian Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ Canadian Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Canadian Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “U.K. Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ U.K. Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ U.K. Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “German Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ German Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ German Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “French Borrowers” (each individually, as a “ French Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ French Borrowers ”), the Subsidiaries of Holdings identified on the signature pages thereto as “ Spanish Borrowers ” (each individually, as a “ Spanish Borrower ”, and individually and collectively, jointly and severally, as the “ Spanish Borrowers ”; each Spanish Borrower together with each U.S. Borrower, each Canadian Borrower, each U.K. Borrower, each German Borrower and each French Borrower, are referred to hereinafter each individually, as a “ Borrower ”, and individually and collectively as the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders and Issuing Banks party thereto from time to time, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), as a Swingline Lender (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Swingline Lender ”), and as an Issuing Bank, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the ABL Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

The undersigned Borrower hereby requests (select one):

 

o                                A Borrowing of new Loans

 

F- 1



 

o                                A conversion of Loans made on

 

o                                A continuation of Eurocurrency Rate Loans made on

 

to be made on the terms set forth below:

 

(A)                                Name of the Borrower:

 

(B)                                Class of Borrowing:

 

(C)                                Date of Borrowing or continuation (which is a Business Day):

 

(D)                                Principal amount:

 

(E)                                 Type of Loan:[Eurocurrency Rate Loan][CDOR]

 

(F)                                  [Interest Period and the last day Thereof:](13)

 

(G)                                Location and number of Borrower’s account to which proceeds of Borrowings are to be disbursed:

 

(H)                               Currency of Borrowing:

 

(I)                                    [Outstanding ABR Loans that are requested to be converted to a Eurocurrency Loan or CDOR Rate Loan:]

 


(13)  If a Eurocurrency Loan.

 

F- 2



 

 

Name and Phone Number of Call-Back Contact:

 

The above request complies with the notice requirements set forth in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

The undersigned Borrower hereby represents and warrants to the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that, on the date of this Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice and on the date of the related Borrowing, the conditions to lending specified in paragraphs (2), (3) and (4) of Section 4.01 of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied.

 

[The undersigned Borrower hereby represents and certifies that as of the close of business on the Business Day prior to the date of this notice, the amount of Qualified Cash is $[             ].](14)

 


(14)  NTD: To include to the extent the applicable Borrowing Base includes Qualified Cash.

 

F- 3



 

 

[BORROWER]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

 

 

Title:

 

[ Signature Page to Eurocurrency/CDOR Rate Loan Notice ]

 



 

EXHIBIT G

 

FORM OF INITIAL LENDER CERTIFICATE

 

To: [ JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.] as Administrative Agent, for and on behalf of the Spanish Borrower

 

From: [ Initial Lender ] (the “ Initial Lender ”)

 

Dated:

 

Venator Materials PLC - $300,000,000 Revolving Credit Agreement

 

dated August 8, 2017 (the “ABL Credit Agreement”)

 

1. We refer to the ABL Credit Agreement. This form is provided by the Initial Lender on the Closing Date for the purposes of meeting the requirement set forth pursuant to Section 2.17(6)(i) of the ABL Credit Agreement. Terms defined in the ABL Agreement have the same meaning in this form unless given a different meaning herein.

 

2. We refer to Section 2.17(6)(i)(ii) of the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

3. The Initial Lender confirms that:

 

(a) in respect of a U.K. Borrower, it is [not a U.K. Qualifying Lender] [a U.K. Qualifying Lender (other than a U.K. Treaty Lender)] [a U.K. Treaty Lender]; (15)

 

(b) in respect of a Spanish Borrower, it is:

 

[not a Spanish Qualifying Lender] [a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Lender][a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is a Spanish Treaty Lender(16)][a Spanish Qualifying Lender that is an EU Lender];(17) and

 


(15)       Delete as applicable. Each Lender is required to confirm which of these categories it falls within.

 

(16)       Banks and other financial institutions resident for tax purposes in the United States, entitled to the benefits of the double tax treaty between the United States and Spain, shall, for purposes of certification, have the status of Spanish Treaty Lender (subject to the fulfillment of any conditions required to apply the benefits of such double tax treaty, including the supply of IRS Form 6166) . Other U.S. tax resident lenders not having the status of a bank or other financial institution, nor entitled to the benefits of the U.S.-Spain tax treaty, may not claim Spanish Treaty Lender status.

 

(17)       Pursuant to Section 2.17 (6)(d) of the ABL Credit Agreement, Lenders not resident for tax purposes in Spain shall, as soon as reasonably practical after the execution of the ABL Credit Agreement, supply a tax residence certificate or, as the case may be, a tax treaty form issued by the tax authorities of the jurisdiction of tax residence of such Lender. Please refer to Section 2.17(6)(d) of the ABL Credit Agreement.

 



 

(c) in respect of any other Borrower, it is: [not a Qualifying Lender] [a Qualifying Lender (other than a Treaty Lender)] [a Treaty Lender].(18)

 

4. This form and any non-contractual obligations arising out or in connection with it are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 


(18)  Delete as applicable. Each Lender is required to confirm which of these categories it falls within.

 



 

5. This form has been entered into on the date stated at the beginning of this form.

 

 

[Initial Lender]

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

[ Signature Page to Initial Lender Certficate ]

 



 

Schedule 1.01(1)

 

EXISTING LETTERS OF CREDIT

 

Letter of Credit
References

 

Bank Issuing the
Guarantee

 

Entity

 

Maturity Date

 

Beneficiary

 

Currency

 

Nominal
Amounts

 

Amounts in
USD

 

JPM 258361

 

Banco De Sabadell

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Open-Ended

 

Agencia Estadal de Adm. Tributaria

 

EUR

 

1,500,000.00

 

$

1,677,664.69

 

JPM 392274

 

Banco De Sabadell

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Open-Ended

 

Autoridad Portuaria de Huelva

 

EUR

 

24,000.00

 

$

26,842.64

 

JPM 716108

 

Credit Agricole

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

12/30/2017

 

Prefecture Pas de Calais

 

EUR

 

2,699,000.00

 

$

3,018,678

 

JPM 845023

 

Credit Agricole

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

01/31/2019

 

Prefecture Pas de Calais

 

EUR

 

241,402.20

 

$

269,994.63

 

JPM 857594

 

JPM Frankfurt

 

Huntsman P&A Germany

 

Open-Ended

 

IVG-Immobilien-Management, Hamburg

 

EUR

 

14,572.00

 

$

16,297.95

 

JPM 861977

 

Commerzbank, Frankfurt

 

Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GMBH

 

Open-Ended

 

Jenawasser

 

EUR

 

42,879.55

 

$

47,958.34

 

JPM 866050

 

Natixis, Paris

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Open-Ended

 

Douanes de Metz (Remplace Nancy au 01.12.2010)

 

EUR

 

16,500.00

 

$

18,454.31

 

JPM 874746

 

JPM London

 

Huntsman P&A UK Ltd

 

Open-Ended

 

HM Revenue & Customs

 

GBP

 

£

100,000.00

 

$

128,452.15

 

JPM 875010

 

La Caixa, Barcelona

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Open-Ended

 

La Junta de Andelusia, Sevilla

 

EUR

 

2,500,000.00

 

$

2,796,107.82

 

JPM 884532

 

Natixis, Paris

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Open-Ended

 

Douanes de Metz (Remplace Nancy au 01.12.2010)

 

EUR

 

76,225

 

$

85,253.33

 

JPM 894315

 

La Caixa

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Open-Ended

 

LA CONSEJERIA DEL MEDIO AMBIENTE

 

EUR

 

32,970.00

 

$

36,875.07

 

JPM 895877

 

JPM London

 

Huntsman P&A UK Ltd

 

01/30/2021

 

The Environment Agency

 

GBP

 

£

100,000.00

 

$

128,452.15

 

JPM 903149

 

Societe Generale

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Open-Ended

 

Direction des Douanes Francaises

 

EUR

 

60,000.00

 

$

67,106.59

 

JPM 963384

 

UniCredi SPA, Milano

 

HUNTSMAN PIGMENTS S.p.A

 

Open-Ended

 

Agenzia delle Entrate - The Provincial Tax Commission

 

EUR

 

127,109.33

 

$

142,164.56

 

JPM 712199

 

JPM

 

Chemical Specialties LLC

 

07/18/2018

 

North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Waste Management

 

USD

 

$

446,279.33

 

$

446,279.33

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

8,905,581.55

 

 



 

Schedule 1.01(2)

 

GUARANTY AND SECURITY PRINCIPLES

 

1.                                       Guaranty and Security Principles

 

(a)                                  The guarantees and security to be provided under the Loan Documents will be given in accordance with the security principles set out in this Schedule (the “ Guaranty and Security Principles ”). This Schedule identifies the Guaranty and Security Principles and addresses the manner in which the Guaranty and Security Principles will impact on and determine the extent and terms of the guarantees and security proposed to be provided in relation to the facilities made available under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The Guaranty and Security Principles embody the recognition by all parties that there may be certain legal and practical difficulties in obtaining effective or commercially reasonable guarantees and/or security from Holdings and all relevant Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction in which it has been agreed that guarantees and security will be granted by Holdings and its Subsidiaries. In particular:

 

(i)                                      general legal and statutory limitations, regulatory restrictions, financial assistance, corporate benefit, fraudulent preference, equitable subordination, tax instructions (including, but not limited to, “ transfer pricing ”, “ thin capitalisation ”, “ earnings stripping ”, “ controlled foreign corporation ” and other tax restrictions), “ exchange control restrictions ”, “ capital maintenance ” rules and “ liquidity impairment ” rules, retention of title claims, employee consultation or approval requirements and similar principles may limit the ability of Holdings or a Subsidiary to provide a guarantee or security or may require that the guarantee or security be limited as to amount or otherwise and, if so, the guarantee or security will be limited accordingly, provided that to the extent requested by the Collateral Agent before signing any applicable security or accession document, Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary (as applicable) shall use reasonable endeavours (but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on commercial relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or security document shall be subject to such limit;

 

(ii)                                   a key factor in determining whether or not a guarantee or security will be taken (and in respect of the security, the extent of its perfection and/or registration) is the applicable time and cost (including, but not limited to, adverse effects on taxes, interest deductibility, stamp duty, registration taxes, notarial costs and all applicable legal fees) which will not be disproportionate to the benefit accruing to the Secured Parties of obtaining such guarantee or security;

 



 

(iii)                                unless agreed otherwise, the Subsidiaries will not be required to give guarantees or enter into security documents if they are not wholly owned by Holdings and/or other Subsidiaries or if it is not within the legal capacity of the relevant Subsidiaries or if it would conflict with the fiduciary or statutory duties of their directors or contravene any applicable legal, regulatory or contractual prohibition or restriction or have the potential to result in a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any director or officer of or for Holdings or any Subsidiary, provided that, to the extent requested by the Collateral Agent before signing any applicable security document or accession document, the relevant Subsidiary shall use reasonable endeavours (but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on commercial relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such security document shall be subject to such limit;

 

(iv)                               having regard to the principle in (ii) above, Holdings and the Administrative Agent shall discuss in good faith (having regard to customary practice in applicable jurisdictions) with a view to determining whether certain security can be provided by the relevant Loan Party granting promissory security in favour of the Secured Parties coupled with an irrevocable power of attorney to the Collateral Agent as opposed to a definitive legal mortgage or pledge over the relevant asset;

 

(v)                                  guarantees and security will be limited so that the aggregate of notarial costs and all registration and like taxes and duties relating to the provision of security will not exceed an amount as agreed between Holdings and the Collateral Agent;

 

(vi)                               where a class of assets to be secured includes material and immaterial assets, if the cost of granting security over the immaterial assets is disproportionate to the benefit of such security, security will be granted over the material assets only;

 

(vii)                            it is expressly acknowledged that it may be either impossible or impractical to create security over certain categories of assets in which event security will not be taken over such assets;

 

(viii)                         any asset subject to a legal requirement, contract, lease, licence, instrument, regulatory constraint (including any agreement with any government or regulatory body) or other third party arrangement, which may prevent or condition the asset from being charged, secured or being subject to the applicable security document (including requiring a consent of any third party, supervisory board or works council (or equivalent)) and any asset which, if subject to the applicable security document, would give a third party the right to terminate or otherwise amend any rights, benefits and/or obligations with respect to Holdings or any Subsidiary in respect of the asset or require the relevant chargor to take any action materially adverse to the interests of Holdings and/or its Subsidiaries, in each case

 



 

will be excluded from a guarantee or security document provided that reasonable endeavours (exercised for a specified period of time) to obtain any such consent, release or waiver in respect of such asset shall be used by Holdings and/or the relevant Subsidiaries (as applicable) if the Collateral Agent specifies that the asset is material and Holdings is satisfied that such endeavours will not involve placing commercial relationships with third parties in jeopardy;

 

(ix)                               the giving of a guarantee, the granting of security and the registration and/or the perfection of the security granted will not be required if it would have a material adverse effect on the ability of Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course as otherwise permitted by the Loan Documents (including dealing with the secured assets and all contractual counterparties or amending, waiving or terminating (or allowing to lapse) any rights, benefits or obligations, in each case prior to a Declared Default which is continuing), and any requirement under the Guaranty and Security Principles to seek consent of any person or take or not take any other action shall be subject to this paragraph (ix);

 

(x)                                  any security document will only be required to be notarised if required by law in order for the relevant security to become effective, enforceable or admissible in evidence;

 

(xi)                               no guarantee or security will be required to be given by any acquired person or asset (and no consent shall be required to be sought with respect thereto) which are required to support acquired indebtedness to the extent such acquired indebtedness is permitted by this Agreement to remain outstanding after an acquisition. No member of a target group or other entity acquired pursuant to an acquisition not prohibited under the terms of this Agreement shall be required to become a Guarantor or grant security with respect to the facilities made available under this Agreement if prevented by the terms of the documentation governing that acquired indebtedness or if becoming a Guarantor or the granting of any security would give rise to an obligation (including any payment obligation) under or in relation thereto; no security will be granted over any asset secured for the benefit of any Permitted Debt and/or to the extent constituting Permitted Liens unless specifically required by a Loan Document to the contrary;

 

(xii)                            to the extent possible and unless required by applicable law, there should be no action required to be taken in relation to the guarantees or security when any lender assigns or transfers any of its participation to a new lender (and in the case of Spain, the Parties agree that, pursuant to article 1528 of the Spanish Civil Code, the relevant assignee will automatically become a pledgee upon full or partial assignment to third parties of the pledgees’ contractual position in terms set out in the Loan Documents);

 



 

(xiii)                         no title investigations or other diligence on assets will be required and no title insurance will be required;

 

(xiv)                        security will not be required over any assets subject to security in favour of a third party (provided that such security constitutes a Permitted Lien) if prevented by the terms of such arrangement or any cash constituting regulatory capital (and such assets or cash shall be excluded from any relevant security document);

 

(xv)                           (i) to the extent legally effective, all security will be given in favour of the Collateral Agent and not the secured creditors individually (with the Collateral Agent to hold one set of security documents for all the Secured Parties); (ii) “ parallel debt ” provisions will be used where necessary (and included in this Agreement and/or the Intercreditor Agreement and not the individual security documents); (iii) Spanish Liens shall be given to the Secured Parties individually or through the Collateral Agent (but, in either case, neither Holdings nor or its Subsidiaries shall bear any costs relating to any powers of attorney or Spanish tax numbers which may be required for, or in connection with, the notarisation of the relevant Security Documents), and parallel debt provisions shall be disregarded in respect of Spanish Liens;

 

(xvi)                        guarantees and security will not be required from or over the assets of, any joint venture or similar arrangement, any minority interest or any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned by Holdings and/or other Subsidiaries;

 

(xvii)                     no security may be provided on terms which are inconsistent with the turnover or sharing provisions in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(xviii)                  no guarantee or security shall guarantee or secure any “ Excluded Swap Obligations ” defined in accordance with the LSTA Market Advisory Update dated February 15, 2013 entitled “ Swap Regulations’ Implications for Loan Documentation ”, and any update thereto by the LSTA;

 

(xix)                        other than a general security agreement and related filing, no perfection, filing or other action will be required with respect to assets of a type not owned by Holdings or the Subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding any term of any Loan Document: no loan or other obligation of a US Borrower under any Loan Document may be, directly or indirectly: (i) guaranteed by any controlled foreign corporation (as defined in Section 957(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) (“ CFC ”) or by an entity (a “ FSHCO ”) that has no material assets other than equity interests (or equity interests and indebtedness) of one or more CFCs, or guaranteed by a subsidiary of a CFC or FSHCO; (ii) secured by any assets of a CFC, FSHCO or a subsidiary of a CFC or a FSHCO (including any CFC or FSHCO equity interests held directly or indirectly by a CFC or FSHCO); (iii) secured by a pledge or other

 



 

security interest in any voting stock of any CFC or FSHCO in excess of 65 per cent. of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such CFC or FSHCO (and 100% of the non-voting equity interests); or (iv) guaranteed by any subsidiary or secured by a pledge of or security interest in any subsidiary or other asset, if it would result in material adverse US tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrowers, Holdings and the Administrative Agent.

 

2.                                       Guarantees

 

(a)                                  Subject to the guarantee limitations set out in the Loan Documents and herein, each guarantee will be an upstream, cross-stream and downstream guarantee for all liabilities of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Guaranty and Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction (references to “ security ” to be read for this purpose as including guarantees). Security documents will secure the guarantee obligations of all of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Guaranty and Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                  Luxembourg Guarantee Limitations

 

(i)                                     Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision in the Loan Documents to the contrary, the payment obligations of any Guarantor incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg (hereafter, a “ Luxembourg Guarantor ”) for the obligations of any Borrower which is not a Subsidiary of that Luxembourg Guarantor shall be limited at any time, to an aggregate amount not exceeding ninety-five (95) per cent. of the greater of:

 

(A)                               the Luxembourg Guarantor’s (A) own funds ( capitaux propres ) as determined by Annex 1 of the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 19 December 2015 in relation to, inter alia , article 34 of the Luxembourg law of 19 December 2002 on the Register of Commerce and Companies, on accounting and on annual accounts of the companies, as amended (the “ 2002 Act ”) (the “ Net Assets ”), and (B) the debt owed by such Luxembourg Guarantor to any of its direct or indirect shareholders and to Holdings or any Subsidiary (as determined by Annex 1 of the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 18 December 2015 in relation to, inter alia , article 34 of the 2002 Act, and (C) the subordinated debt ( dettes subordonnées ) (as determined in the general accounting plan (Account 191)) of the relevant Luxembourg Guarantor, and (D) any subordinated debt ( dettes subordonnées ) owed and incurred by such Luxembourg Guarantor in violation of the provisions of this Agreement (the debts referred to in (B), (C) and (D) above being (the “ Luxembourg Subordinated Debt ”)), each as reflected in Luxembourg Guarantor’s last annual accounts available as at the date of this Agreement; and

 



 

(B)                               the Luxembourg Guarantor’s Net Assets and the Luxembourg Subordinated Debt as reflected in its last annual accounts available as at the date the Guarantee is called.

 

(ii)                                  For the purpose of this paragraph 2(b), the Net Assets shall be valued either (i) at the fair market value, or (ii) if no such market value has been determined, in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, and the relevant provisions of the 2002 Act.

 

(iii)                               The limitation set forth above shall not apply to any amounts borrowed under this Agreement and made available, in any form whatsoever, to such Luxembourg Guarantor or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                   French Guarantee Limitations

 

(i)                                     The obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor incorporated under the laws of France (hereafter, a “ French Guarantor ”) under the Loan Documents and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, shall not extend to include any obligations or liabilities which if incurred would constitute a breach of the financial assistance prohibitions within the meaning of article L. 225-216 of the French Code de commerce and/or would constitute a misuse of corporate assets within the meaning of article L. 241-3, L. 242-6 or L. 244-1 of the French Code de commerce or any other law or regulations having the same effect, as interpreted by French courts.

 

(ii)                                  The obligations and liabilities of each French Guarantor under the Loan Documents, and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, for the payment obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document, or in respect of any Cash Management Obligations or in respect of any Specified Hedge Agreement, as the case may be, of any other Loan Parties which are not direct or indirect Subsidiaries of such French Guarantor shall be limited at any time to an amount equal to the aggregate of the proceeds of the Loans to the extent directly or indirectly on-lent by any other Loan Party to that French Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries under intercompany loans (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements) or similar arrangements and outstanding on the date a payment is requested to be made by such French Guarantor under the Guaranty or under any relevant Loan Document (the “ Maximum Guaranteed Amount ”), it being specified that notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, any payment made by such French Guarantor under the Guaranty or under any relevant Loan Document in respect of the payment obligations of any other Loan Party shall immediately reduce pro tanto the outstanding amount of the intra-group loans, or any sums, due by such French Guarantor under such intra-group loan (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements) or similar arrangements referred to above.

 



 

(iii)                               The obligations and liabilities of each French Guarantor under the Loan Documents, and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, for the payment obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document, or in respect of any Cash Management Obligations or in respect of any Specified Hedge Agreement, as the case may be, of each of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries which are or become Loan Party from time to time under the Loan Documents shall cover all amounts incurred by such Subsidiary (x) as Borrower only but not as Guarantor (if they are not Loan Parties incorporated under the laws of France (hereafter, a “ French Loan Party ”)) or (y) as Borrower and/or, subject to the provisions of paragraph (ii) above, Guarantors (if they are French Loan Parties); and

 

(iv)                              for the avoidance of doubt, any payment made by a French Guarantor under paragraph (ii) above shall reduce the Maximum Guaranteed Amount

 

(v)                                 It is acknowledged that no French Guarantor is acting jointly and severally with the other Guarantors and no French Guarantor shall therefore be considered as “ co-débiteur solidaire ” as to its obligations pursuant to the Guarantee given pursuant therewith.

 

For the purpose of this paragraph (c), “Subsidiary” means, in relation to any company, another company which is controlled by it within the meaning of articles L.233-3 of the French Code de commerce .

 

(b)                                 Spanish Guarantee Limitations

 

(i)                                     Regarding the obligations and liabilities of any payment obligations of any Spanish Guarantor under the guarantees granted in connection with Loan Documents (the “ Guarantees ”), each Spanish Guarantor hereby expressly agrees that the scope and provisions of its respective obligations under the Guarantees granted by each of them will not be affected by: (i) the approval or ratification of a composition agreement (“ convenio ”) as a result of the bankruptcy declaration (“ concurso ”) of any of the Borrowers, in accordance with article 135.2 of the Spanish Insolvency Act (“ Ley 22/2003 de 9 de julio, Concursal ); or (ii) the approval or execution of a court-sanctioned out-of-court workout (an homologated refinancing agreement (“ acuerdo de refinanciación homologado ”)) and which may be entered into as a result of a pre-insolvency or insolvency of any of the Borrowers (in any case, prior to the declaration of bankruptcy, whether voluntary or mandatory) under paragraph 9 of the 4th Additional Provision of the Spanish Insolvency Act, to the extent that such Lender has not expressly accepted (by voting in favor or otherwise) the effect contemplated by such composition agreement or court-sanctioned out-of-court workout, as the case may be, of the relevant Borrowers on the scope and provisions of the Guarantees.

 



 

(ii)                                  Unless the Lender expressly agrees (by voting in favor or otherwise) a write-off to the Guarantees, the Guarantees shall secure at any time 100% of the payment obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

3.                                       Governing law and scope

 

(a)                                  The guarantees and security to be provided in respect of the facilities made available under this Agreement in accordance with the Guaranty and Security Principles are only to be given by the Loan Parties and Material Subsidiaries and no security or guarantees shall be required to be given by any joint venture or similar arrangement, any minority interest or any Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by Holdings and/or other Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                  All security (other than share security) will be governed by the law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of the security and no action in relation to security (including any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration) will be required in jurisdictions where the grantor of the security is not incorporated. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (i) share security over any subsidiary will be governed by the law of the place of incorporation of that subsidiary; (ii) any security over an inter-company loan between Holdings or the Borrowers and any of their respective Subsidiaries which on-lends equity contributions or proceeds of any of the facilities made available under this Agreement will be governed by the governing law of such intra-group loan document and, in each case, any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration in connection therewith shall be subject to such jurisdiction and (if applicable) the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant security provider; and (iii) a notice may be served in relation to any security over an intra-group receivables on the relevant Loan Party regardless of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

4.                                       Terms of security documents

 

The following principles will be reflected in the terms of any security taken in connection with the facilities made available under this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  security will not be enforceable until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing;

 

(b)                                  the Secured Parties (or any agent or similar representative appointed by them at the relevant time) will only be able to exercise a power of attorney or set-off granted to them under the terms of the Loan Documents (i) following the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing or (ii) where Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary granting the security has failed to comply with a perfection or further assurance obligation and any applicable grace period thereto has expired;

 

(c)                                   the security documents should only operate to create security rather than to impose new commercial obligations or repeat clauses in other Loan Documents;

 



 

accordingly (i) they should not contain additional representations, undertakings or indemnities (including, without limitation, in respect of insurance, information, maintenance or protection of assets or the payment of fees, costs and expenses) unless these are the same as or consistent with those contained in this Agreement or are required for the creation, perfection or extension of security in accordance with local law; and (ii) nothing in any security document shall (or be construed to) prohibit any transaction, matter or other step (or a grantor of security taking or entering into the same or dealing in any manner whatsoever in relation to any asset (including all rights, claims, benefits, proceeds and documentation, and contractual counterparties in relation thereto) the subject of (or expressed to be the subject of) the security agreement if not prohibited by the terms of the other Loan Documents (and accordingly to such extent, the Collateral Agent shall promptly effect releases, confirmations, consents to deal or similar steps always at the cost of the relevant grantor of the security);

 

(d)                                  no security will be granted over parts, stock, moveable plant, equipment or receivables if it would require labelling, segregation or periodic listing or specification of such parts, stock, moveable plant, equipment or receivables;

 

(e)                                   perfection will not be required in respect of (i) vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title or (ii) letter of credit rights and tort claims (or the local law equivalent);

 

(f)                                    in no event shall control agreements (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) be required with respect to any assets (including deposit or securities accounts) (unless the Loan Documents expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use);

 

(g)                                   security will, where possible and practical, automatically create security over future assets of the same type as those already secured; where local law requires supplemental pledges or notices to be delivered in respect of future acquired assets in order for effective and enforceable security to be created or perfected over that class of asset, such supplemental pledges or notices will be provided only upon request of the Collateral Agent and at intervals no more frequent than annually or at other intervals agreed between Holdings and the Collateral Agent; and

 

(h)                                  each security document must contain a clause which records that if there is a conflict between the security document and the Intercreditor Agreement then (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement will take priority over the provisions of the security document.

 

5.                                       Bank accounts

 

(a)                                  If a Loan Party grants security over its bank accounts it will be free to deal, operate and transact business in relation to those accounts (including opening and closing accounts) until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing

 



 

(unless the Loan Documents expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use). For the avoidance of doubt, (unless the Loan Documents expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use) there will be no “ fixed ” security over bank accounts, cash or receivables or any obligation to have a specific balance, hold or pay cash or receivables in a particular account until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

(b)                                  If required by local law to perfect the security and if possible without disrupting operation of the account, notice of the security will be served on the account bank in relation to applicable accounts within 10 Business Days of the date of the security document (or accession thereto) unless an earlier notice is required for perfection purposes under the relevant local law, and the applicable grantor of the security will use its reasonable endeavours to obtain an acknowledgement of that notice within 10 Business Days of service unless an earlier acknowledgement is required for perfection purposes under the relevant local law. Save in the case of a bank account pledge governed by the laws of Luxembourg, if the grantor of the security has used its reasonable endeavours but has not been able to obtain acknowledgement or acceptance its obligation to obtain acknowledgement will cease on the expiry of that 10 Business Day period (or earlier, only if perfection requires an earlier notice under the relevant local law). Irrespective of whether notice of the security is required for perfection, if the service of notice would prevent Holdings or any Subsidiary from using a bank account in the course of its business (and Holdings or the applicable Subsidiary demonstrates so to the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably)) no notice of security will be served until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

(c)                                   Any security over bank accounts will be subject to any security interests in favour of the account bank which are created either by law or in the standard terms and conditions of the account bank. No grantor of security will be required to change its banking arrangements or standard terms and conditions in connection with the granting of bank account security.

 

(d)                                  If required under applicable local law, security over bank accounts will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

6.                                       Fixed assets

 

If a Loan Party grants security over its material fixed assets it will be free to deal with those assets in the course of its business until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing. No notice, whether to third parties or by attaching a notice to the fixed assets, will be prepared or given until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 



 

7.                                       Insurance policies

 

A Loan Party may grant security over its material insurance policies (excluding any third party liability or public liability insurance and any directors and officers insurance in respect of which claims thereunder may be mandatorily prepaid, provided that the relevant insurance policy allows security to be so granted). Notice of any security interest over insurance policies will only be served on an insurer of the assets of Holdings or its Subsidiaries upon written request of the Collateral Agent, which may only be given after the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

Prior to a Declared Default which is continuing, no loss payee or other endorsement will be made on the insurance policy and no Secured Party will be named as co-insured.

 

8.                                       Intellectual property

 

(a)                                  Subject to paragraph 1(viii) above, no security will be granted over any intellectual property which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant licensing agreement.

 

(b)                                  If security is granted over the relevant material intellectual property, the grantor shall be free to deal with, use, licence and otherwise commercialise those assets in the course of its business (including allowing its intellectual property to lapse if no longer material to its business) until a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

(c)                                   Notice of any security interest over intellectual property will only be served on a third party from whom intellectual property is licensed upon written request of the Collateral Agent, which may only be given after the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing. No intellectual property security will be required to be registered under the law of that security document, the law where the grantor is regulated, at any relevant supra-national registry or at any other relevant register. Security over intellectual property rights will be taken on an “ as is, where is ” basis and neither Holdings nor its Subsidiaries will be required to procure any changes to, or corrections of filings on, external registers.

 

9.                                       Real estate

 

(a)                                  No fixed security shall be granted over real property (unless otherwise agreed or pursuant to Finnish law mortgage (subject to an agreed materiality threshold) or a general or all asset security document (such as a debenture (subject to the rest of these Guaranty and Security Principles) which charges all of the assets of a Loan Party but excluding (i) any unregistered real property which, if subject to any such security would be required to be registered under the relevant land registry laws (provided that such real property shall only be excluded for so long as it remains unregistered), and (ii) any leasehold real property that has 25 years or less to run on the lease or has a rack rent payable.

 

(b)                                  There will be no obligation to investigate title, provide surveys or carry out any other insurance or environmental due diligence.

 



 

(c)                                   There will be no obligation to obtain landlord waivers, collateral access agreements or bailee letters with respect to any location or asset.

 

10.                                Shares

 

(a)                                  Security over shares will be limited to those over a Loan Party.

 

(b)                                  Until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing, the legal title of the shares will remain with the relevant grantor of the security (unless transfer of title on granting such security is customary in the applicable jurisdiction) and any grantor of share security will be permitted to retain and to exercise voting rights and powers in relation to any shares and other related rights charged by it and receive, own and retain all assets and proceeds in relation thereto without restriction or condition provided that any exercise of rights does not materially adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the Security over the shares or cause an Event of Default to occur. With respect to security over shares in a German or French company only, the voting rights will remain with the pledgor even after a Declared Default has occurred, provided, however, that such voting rights may only be exercised in a manner which does not materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the Security over the shares.

 

(c)                                   Where customary and/or applicable as a matter of law, following a request by the Collateral Agent, on, or as soon as reasonably practicable following execution of the security or accession document, the applicable share certificate (or other documents evidencing title to the relevant shares) and a stock transfer form executed in blank (or applicable law equivalent) will be provided to the Collateral Agent upon its request.

 

In this Schedule, “ Declared Default ” means the giving of notice by the Administrative Agent under Section 8.01(i)(A).

 



 

Schedule 1.01(3)

 

FOREIGN SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

A.                                     Foreign Security Document to be Delivered on the Closing Date

 

1.               A Luxembourg law governed share pledge agreement between Venator Materials PLC as pledgor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent and Venator Finance S.à r.l. as company in relation to the shares of Venator Finance S.à r.l.

2.               An English law governed charge over shares and investments between Venator Finance S.à r.l. as pledgor, Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited as company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent, in relation to the shares of Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited and certain notes issued by Venator Materials Plc.

3.               An English law governed debenture between each UK Loan Party as chargors and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to all assets (subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles) of the UK Loan Parties.

4.               An English law governed share charge between Tioxide Americas (Holdings) LLC as chargor, Tioxide Group as company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to the shares of Tioxide Group.

5.               An English law governed book debts and accounts charge between Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. and Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH as chargors, Huntsman P&A UK Limited as company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to certain book debts and English bank accounts of Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. and Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH.

6.               A German law governed security assignment agreement over trade receivables, intercompany loans and insurance receivables between Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

7.               A German law governed security transfer agreement over current assets between Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

8.               Certain German law governed first ranking account pledge agreements between Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH, Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG, Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH, Silo Pigmente GmbH, Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH and, in each case, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

9.               Certain German law governed first ranking share (or interest) pledge agreements between Huntsman Spin UK Limited, Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH, Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG, Huntsman P&A Uerdingen GmbH, Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GmbH, Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH, Silo Pigmente GmbH, Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH, Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH and, in each case, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

10.        A Canadian law Collateral Agreement between Huntsman P&A Canada Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

11.        A Quebec law deed of hypothec between Huntsman P&A Canada Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A..

 



 

B.                                     Foreign Security Documents to be Delivered within 90 days of the Closing Date (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed by Administrative Agent)

 

Governing
Law

 

Proposed Security
Agreement

 

Security Provider(s)

 

Assets secured

Spanish law

 

Ordinary pledge without registration over shares in Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. favor of the Common Collateral Agent with collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

The shares in Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. as described in the pledge

Spanish law

 

Ordinary pledge without registration over material bank accounts in favor of the Common Collateral Agent with collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Material bank accounts of Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. as described in the pledge

Spanish law

 

Ordinary pledge without registration over trade receivables in favour of the Common Collateral Agent with collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Trade receivables owed to Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. as described in the pledge

 



 

C.                                     Foreign Security Documents to be Delivered within 150 days of the Closing Date (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed by Administrative Agent)

 

Governing
Law

 

Proposed Security
Agreement

 

Security Provider(s)

 

Assets secured

French law

 

Assignment by way of security ( cession Dailly à titre de garantie ) of accounts receivables together with the related initial transfer form ( bordereau Dailly )

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Accounts receivables

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Holliday France SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Holliday Pigments International SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Holliday Pigments SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over securities accounts with respect to Huntsman P&A France SAS’s shares in Holliday France SAS, Holliday Pigments International SAS and Holliday Pigments SAS, together with each related statement of pledge ( déclaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers ) signed by Huntsman P&A France SAS, subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Shares and securities

 



 

Governing
Law

 

Proposed Security
Agreement

 

Security Provider(s)

 

Assets secured

French law

 

If applicable, pledge over securities account with respect to Huntsman P&A UK Limited’s shares in Hunstman P&A France SAS together with the related statement of pledge ( déclaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers ) signed by Huntsman P&A UK Limited, subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement,

 

Huntsman P&A UK Limited

 

Shares and securities

French law

 

Pledge over securities account with respect to Huntsman Spin UK Limited’s shares in Hunstman P&A France SAS together with the related statement of pledge ( déclaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers ) signed by Huntsman Spin UK Limited, subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

Shares and securities

English law

 

Book debts and accounts charge

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Certain book debts and an English bank account of Huntsman P&A France SAS

 



 

Schedule 1.01(4)

 

UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES

 


None.

 



 

Schedule 1.01(5)

 

SPECIFIED ACCOUNT DEBTORS

 

1. PPG Industries

2. AkzoNobel

 



 

Schedule 2.01

 

COMMITMENTS AND ISSUING BANKS

 

Letters of Credit

 

Lender

 

US/Canada

 

Euro

 

France

 

Total Letter of Credit
Commitments

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.(1)

 

$

1,000,000

 

$

15,000,000

 

$

10,000,000

 

$

26,000,000

 

Citibank Europe PLC

 

 

$

10,000,000

 

 

$

10,000,000

 

Bank of America N.A.(2)

 

$

7,000,000

 

 

 

$

7,000,000

 

Barclays Bank Plc

 

 

 

 

 

HSBC Bank USA, National Association

 

 

 

 

 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

 

$

7,000,000

 

 

 

$

7,000,000

 

PNC Bank, NA

 

 

 

 

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

$

15,000,000

 

$

25,000,000

 

$

10,000,000

 

$

50,000,000

 

 

Revolving Facility Commitments

 

Lender

 

US/Canada

 

Euro

 

France

 

Total Revolving Facility
Commitments

 

JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A.(3)

 

$

10,000,000

 

$

30,000,000

 

$

10,000,000

 

$

50,000,000

 

Citibank, N.A.

 

$

10,000,000

 

 

 

$

10,000,000

 

Citibank Europe PLC

 

 

$

30,000,000

 

$

10,000,000

 

$

40,000,000

 

Bank of America N.A.(4)

 

$

20,000,000

 

$

25,000,000

 

 

$

45,000,000

 

Barclays Bank Plc

 

$

20,000,000

 

$

25,000,000

 

 

$

45,000,000

 

HSBC Bank USA, National Association

 

$

20,000,000

 

$

25,000,000

 

 

$

45,000,000

 

Goldman Sachs Bank USA

 

$

20,000,000

 

$

25,000,000

 

 

$

45,000,000

 

PNC Bank, NA

 

$

10,000,000

 

 

 

$

10,000,000

 

Royal Bank of Canada

 

$

10,000,000

 

 

 

$

10,000,000

 

Total

 

$

120,000,000

 

$

160,000,000

 

$

20,000,000

 

$

300,000,000

 

 


(1)  Commitments may be provided by J.P. Morgan Securities PLC

(2)  Commitments may be provided by Bank of America Merill Lynch International Limited and/or  Bank of America N.A., Canada Branch

(3)  Commitments may be provided by J.P. Morgan Securities PLC

(4)  Commitments may be provided by Bank of America Merill Lynch International Limited and/or Bank of America N.A., Canada Branch

 



 

Schedule 3.04

 

GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.06(2)

 

POSSESSION UNDER LEASE

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.07(1)

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

Entity Name

 

Jurisdiction

 

Ownership

Venator Materials PLC

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman International (Netherlands) B.V.

Huntsman Pigments and Trading Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

100% Huntsman Specialties Australia Pty Ltd

Huntsman Specialties Australia Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

100% Huntsman Pigments (UK) Limited

Huntsman Materials Belgium BVBA

 

Belgium

 

100% Huntsman Pigments Holdings UK Limited

Huntsman P&A Canada Inc.

 

Canada

 

100% Huntsman (UK) Limited

Huntsman P&A Investments LLC

 

Cayman Islands

 

100% Tioxide Group

Huntsman Pigments Taicang Company Ltd

 

China

 

100% Huntsman Pigments Far East Limited

Sachtleben Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited

 

China

 

100% Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

Huntsman P&A Finland Oy

 

Finland

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Holliday France S.A.S.

 

France

 

100% Huntsman P&A France SAS

Holliday Pigments International S.A.S.

 

France

 

100% Huntsman P&A France SAS

Holliday Pigments S.A.S.

 

France

 

100% Huntsman P&A France SAS

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

France

 

99.99% Huntsman Spin UK Limited
0.01% Huntsman P&A UK Limited

Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Huntsman P&A Uerdingen GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH

Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Silo Pigmente GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG

 

Germany

 

10% Silo Pigmente GmbH
89.939% Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH

Huntsman Pigments Far East Limited

 

Hong Kong

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Pigments Hong Kong Limited

 

Hong Kong

 

100% Huntsman Pigments Far East Limited

Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

 

Italy

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Pigments S.p.A.

 

Italy

 

100% Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

Luxembourg

 

100% Venator Materials PLC

Huntsman P & A Asia Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as Tioxide (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.)

 

Malaysia

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Textile Effects Singapore Pte. Ltd.

 

Singapore

 

100% Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited

Huntsman Investments South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

 

South Africa

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman P&A Africa (Pty) Limited

 

South Africa

 

100% Huntsman Investments South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

 



 

Entity Name

 

Jurisdiction

 

Ownership

Holliday Chemical España S.A.U.

 

Spain

 

100% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Spain

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Oligo S.A.

 

Spain

 

75% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Creambay Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman (UK) Limited

Excalibur Realty UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Pigments (UK) Limited

Huntsman Materials UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited

Huntsman Nominees (UK) Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Tioxide Group

Huntsman P&A UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman (UK) Limited

Huntsman Pigments Holdings UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Pigments (UK) Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Creambay Limited

Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Venator Finance S.à r.l.

Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited

Huntsman (UK) Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Inorganic Pigments Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Creambay Limited

Tioxide Group

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Tioxide Americas (Holdings) LLC

Tioxide Group Services Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman P&A UK Limited

Chemical Specialties LLC

 

USA - North Carolina

 

100% Venator Materials LLC

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

100% Venator Materials LLC

Tioxide Americas (Holdings) LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

100% Venator Materials LLC

Venator Materials LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

100% Venator Materials PLC

Viance, LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

50.001% Chemical Specialties LLC

 



 

Schedule 3.07(2)

 

EQUITY INTERESTS

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.12

 

TAXES

 

USA

 

1.               Huntsman International LLC’s and its subsidiaries are currently under audit for income taxes in North Carolina, New York, Illinois and Michigan.

 

Europe, the Middle East and Africa

 

2.               Tax returns for Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH, Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH, Huntsman P&A Uerdingen GmbH, Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GmbH and Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH for the fiscal year ended 2015 have not been filed.

 



 

Schedule 3.14

 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.16

 

OWNED MATERIAL REAL PROPERTY

 

Street Address

 

City, State, Country

 

Zip Code/
Postal Code

Titaanitie 1

 

Pori, Finland

 

28840

Dr. Rudolf-Sachtleben Strasse 4

 

Duisburg, Germany

 

47198

1895 Doug Barnard Parkway

 

Augusta, Georgia, USA

 

30906

Los Angeles Plant 3700 East Olympic Blvd

 

Los Angeles, California, USA

 

90023

 

Good faith fair market determination based on replacement value.

 



 

Schedule 3.19

 

INSURANCE

 

See attached.

 



 

Schedule 3.21

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 4.02(11)

 

LOCAL COUNSEL OPINIONS

 

 

 

Firm

 

Jurisdiction(s)

1.

 

NautaDutilh Avocats Luxembourg S.à r.l., as Luxembourg counsel to the Loan Parties

 

Luxembourg law opinion (capacity) with respect to Loan Documents to be entered into by Venator Finance S.à r.l.

2.

 

Norton Rose Fulbright Luxembourg S.C.S., as Luxembourg counsel to the Lenders

 

Luxembourg law opinion (enforceability) with respect to Loan Documents governed by Luxembourg law to be entered into by Venator Finance S.à r.l.

3.

 

1.               Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, as English counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

English law opinion (capacity and enforceability of English law Security Documents) for the UK Loan Parties

4.

 

2.               Latham & Watkins LLP, Madrid, as Spanish counsel to the Loan Parties

 

Spanish law opinion (capacity)

5.

 

3.               Cuatrecasas, as Spanish counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

Spanish law opinion (jurisdiction and choice of law opinion of US law Loan Documents entered into by the Spanish Loan Party)

6.

 

4.               Latham & Watkins LLP, Frankfurt, as German counsel to the Loan Parties

 

German law opinion (capacity, authority and power of the German Loan Parties to enter into the Loan Documents to which they are party)

7.

 

5. Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Frankfurt, as German counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

German law opinion (validity and enforceability of the German law Security Documents )

8.

 

6. Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, as Canadian counsel to the Loan Parties

 

Canadian law opinion (capacity and enforceability)

 



 

Schedule 5.16

 

POST-CLOSING MATTERS

 

The items set forth on Schedule 1.01(3)(B) and Schedule 1.01(3)(C).

 

 

 

Jurisdiction

 

Item

 

Delivery Date
or, in each case, such later 
date as may be agreed by 
Administrative Agent

1.

 

Luxembourg

 

Shareholders’ register of Venator Finance S.à r.l. evidencing the registration of the share pledge over the shares of Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the Luxembourg law governed share pledge agreement

2.

 

France

 

A certificate of the legal representative or an authorized signatory of each relevant French Loan Party certifying:

 

(a) that attached thereto is a true, accurate and complete copy of (i) the up-to-date articles of association ( statuts ) of the French Loan Party; (ii) a copy of a Kbis extract, an insolvency certificate ( certificat de non-faillite ) and lien searches ( état des privilèges et nantissements ) dated no more than 15 days prior to the accession date;

 

(b) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the relevant body of such French Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the accession date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect;

 

(c) if applicable, that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the power of attorney granted by the legal representative of the French Loan Party authorizing one or several persons to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which the relevant French Loan Party is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the accession date and certifying that such power of attorney has not been modified, rescinded or amended and is in full force and effect;

 

On the date of and before the execution by each relevant French Loan Party of (i) the relevant Joinder Agreement to the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the French law security documents listed in Schedule 1.01(3)(C)

 



 

 

 

 

 

(d) that attached thereto are specimen signatures of the persons authorized to execute the Transaction Documents to which the relevant French Loan Party is a party on behalf of the French Loan Party; and

 

(e) that the guaranteeing and/or securing, in the guarantee limits set forth in Schedule 1.01(2) to the Term Loan Credit Agreement to the extent applicable, as appropriate, of the Obligations, would not cause any guarantee, security or similar limit binding on any French Loan Party to be exceeded.

 

 

3.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholders accounts ( comptes d’actionnaires ) of Huntsman P&A France SAS evidencing (i) the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman Spin UK Limited over shares of Huntsman P&A France SAS and, if applicable, (ii) the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A UK Limited over shares of Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman Spin UK Limited and, if applicable, the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A UK Limited

4.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholder account ( compte d’actionnaire ) of Holliday France SAS evidencing the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A France SAS over the shares of Holliday France SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A France SAS

5.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholder account ( compte d’actionnaire ) of Holliday Pigments SAS evidencing the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A France SAS over the shares of Holliday Pigments SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A France SAS

6.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholder account ( compte d’actionnaire ) of Holliday Pigments International SAS evidencing the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A France SAS over the shares of Holliday Pigments International SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A France SAS

7.

 

France

 

French law opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (Paris), as French counsel to the Administrative Agent, as to, inter alia, the validity and enforceability of the French law governed Security Documents

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those French-law security documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(C)

 



 

8.

 

France

 

French law opinion of Latham & Watkins AARPI (Paris), as French counsel to the Loan Parties, as to, inter alia, the capacity of French Loan Parties to enter into the Loan Documents to which they are a party

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those French-law security documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(C)

9.

 

Germany

 

The transfer of shares in Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH from Huntsman Investments (Netherlands) B.V. to Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

On or before August 31, 2017

10.

 

Germany

 

The new shareholder’s list of Huntsman (Holdings) GmbH reflecting the new shareholding of Huntsman Spin UK Limited shall be filed with the commercial register and a copy of such new shareholder’s list shall be provided to the Collateral Agent

 

On or before August 31, 2017

11.

 

England and Wales

 

Registration of particulars of each Security Document granted by a UK Loan Party at Companies House in England and Wales in accordance with Part 25 (Company Charges) of the Companies Act 2006 (UK) or any regulations relating to the registration of charges made under, or applying the provisions of, the Companies Act 2006 (UK) and payment of associated fees

 

Within 21 days of the date of the relevant Security Document

12.

 

England and Wales

 

A copy of resolutions signed by all the holders of the issued shares in:

 

·                   Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited;

·                   Huntsman Spin UK Limited;

·                   Huntsman P&A UK Limited;

·                   Huntsman (UK) Limited;

·                   Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited; and

·                   Tioxide Group,

 

in each case, authorizing any necessary amendments to the relevant UK Loan Party’s articles of association.

 

Within 30 days following the Closing Date

13.

 

England and Wales

 

An original signed and dated share certificate and original signed, undated stock transfer form in respect of the entire issued share capital in:

 

·                   Huntsman (UK) Limited owned by Huntsman Spin UK Limited; and

·                   Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited owned by Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

As soon as reasonably practicable following (a) receipt of the stamped stock transfer form in respect of the relevant share transfer from HM Revenue and Customs, or (b) adjudication by HM Revenue and Customs that the relevant share transfer is exempt from stamp duty.

14.

 

Spain

 

Latham & Watkins LLP, Madrid, as Spanish counsel to the Loan Parties — Spanish law

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under

 



 

 

 

 

 

opinion (capacity) on the Spanish law Security Documents.

 

those Spanish law Security Documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(B)

15.

 

Spain

 

Cuatrecasas, as Spanish counsel to the Administrative Agent — Spanish law opinion (enforceability of Spanish law Security Documents)

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those Spanish law Security Documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(B)

16.

 

United States

 

(i) Joinder to the Credit Agreement by Huntsman P&A France SAS, (ii) Supplement to the Guaranty by Huntsman P&A France SAS, Holliday France S.A.S., Holliday Pigments International S.A.S. and Holliday Pigments S.A.S. and (iii) Joinder Agreement to the Intercreditor Agreement by Huntsman P&A France SAS, Holliday France S.A.S., Holliday Pigments International S.A.S. and Holliday Pigments S.A.S.

 

Within 180 days following the Closing Date

17.

 

United States

 

Insurance certificates evidencing coverage under liability and property insurance policies, together with endorsements, in each case to the extent required pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Credit Agreement

 

Within 90 days following the Closing Date

18.

 

United States

 

Regarding any Mortgage required in connection with any Owned Material Real Property located in the United States, satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 5.10(2)

 

Within 90 days following the Closing Date

19.

 

United States

 

Reasonable steps to correct defects in the chain of title of the registered and applied-for United States Intellectual Property owned by the U.S. Loan Parties to the extent required pursuant to Section 4.05(2) to the U.S. Collateral Agreement

 

Within 60 days following the Closing Date

20.

 

Canada

 

Registration of the Canadian Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) and correction of ownership information in existing CIPO registrations.

 

Within 30 days after the Closing Date

21.

 

All applicable jurisdictions

 

Enter into Blocked Account Agreements with respect to those Deposit Accounts as specified in, and to the extent required by, Section 5.11 of the Credit Agreement

 

Within 90 days after the Closing Date

 



 

Schedule 6.01(4)

 

INDEBTEDNESS

 

Restricted Subsidiary

 

Description

 

Amount

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Seller based financing — water steam plant

 

$

700,000

 

Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

 

Capital Lease — CHP Plant

 

$

6,700,000

 

Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

 

Seller based financing — CHP plant

 

$

3,800,000

 

Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

 

Capital Lease — Duisburg

 

$

500,000

 

Holliday Pigments S.A.S.

 

AGL (water agency) Loan

 

$

300,000

 

 

Indebtedness of Venator Materials PLC owing to Huntsman International LLC in an aggregate principal amount equal to the balance sheet cash of Venator Materials PLC and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.

 



 

Schedule 6.02(2)

 

LIENS

 

1.               Mortgage in favor of the Finnish Customs authority over real property located in Titaanitie 1, 28840 Pori, Finland, in the amount of €907,200.

 

2.               The following liens:

 

Debtor

 

Secured 
Party

 

Description of Assets

 

Filing Number

 

Filing 
Jurisdiction

 

Filing Date

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Air Liquide Industrial US LP

 

Certain personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2007 3000022

 

Delaware

 

08/07/2007

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Atlas Copco Customer Finance USA LLC

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2014 1755412

 

Delaware

 

05/05/2014

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Atlas Copco Customer Finance USA LLC

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2014 2919405

 

Delaware

 

07/23/2014

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2016 0900389

 

Delaware

 

02/15/2016

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

First Western Bank & Trust DBA All Lines Leasing

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2016 1258639

 

Delaware

 

03/02/2016

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2016 1813326

 

Delaware

 

03/28/2016

Chemical Specialties LLC

 

John Crane Inc.

 

Inventory and other goods provided by John Crane Inc. as listed on the financing statement

 

20080032501B

 

North Carolina

 

04/07/2008

 



 

Schedule 6.04

 

INVESTMENTS

 

(a)          All investments in the entities listed on Schedule 3.07(1).

 

(b)          Venator Materials PLC holds, directly or indirectly, joint venture interests as follows:

 

Entity Name

 

Jurisdiction

 

Ownership

Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG

 

Germany

 

89.939% Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH
10.000% Silo Pigmente GmbH

Viance, LLC

 

United States

 

50.001% Chemical Specialties LLC

Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P

 

United States

 

50% Huntsman P&A Investments LLC

Oligo S.A.

 

Spain

 

75% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Mineral Feed, S.L.

 

Spain

 

50% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Pacific Iron Products Sdn Bhd

 

Malaysia

 

50% Huntsman P&A Asian Sdn Bhd

Nuodex Italiana S.r.l.

 

Italy

 

33.33% Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

Changshu Rockwood Pigments Co., Ltd.

 

China

 

25% Inorganic Pigments Limited

 



 

Schedule 6.07

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 10.01

 

NOTICE INFORMATION; ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S OFFICE

 

The Borrower and the other Loan Parties:

 

Titanium House

Hanzard Drive

Wynyard Park

Stockton-on-Tees TS22 5FD

United Kingdom

Attention:  Russ R. Stolle

Facsimile:  +44 (0)1740 608241

Email:  russ_stolle@venatorcorp.com

 

The Administrative Agent:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

Loan and Agency Services Group

500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01

Newark, DE, 19713

Attn: Joe Aftanis

Email: joe.aftanis@jpmorgan.com

Fax: 201-639-5215; 12016395215@tls.ldsprod.com

 

With a copy to:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

383 Madison Avenue, Floor 24

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Katherine Hurley

Email: katherine.l.hurley@jpmorgan.com

 

Administrative Agent with respect to any Borrowing, Letter of Credit or LC Disbursement denominated in Euros or Sterling:

 

J.P. Morgan Europe Limited

Loans and Agency Group, 25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London

E145JP, United Kingdom, Fax No. +44 20 7777 2360

Email: loan_and_agency_london@jpmorgan.com

 

With a copy to:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 



 

383 Madison Avenue, Floor 24

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Katherine Hurley

Email: katherine.l.hurley@jpmorgan.com

 

Notices to be provided to all Lenders : to covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com

 

In addition to the applicable recipients above, notices with respect to Borrowing Base Certificates and any related notices to the following addresses:

 

(A) brittany.s.stark@jpmorgan.com

(B) ib.cbc@jpmchase.com

(C) covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com and

(D) Katherine.L.Hurley@jpmorgan.com

 

Notices containing supporting documentation relating to Borrowing Base :

 

(A) brittany.s.stark@jpmorgan.com and

(B) ib.cbc@jpmchase.com

 


Exhibit 10.6

 

Execution Version

 

 

TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

 

dated as of August 8, 2017,

 

among

 

VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L. and

VENATOR MATERIALS LLC,

as Borrowers,

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC,

as Holdings

 

THE LENDERS PARTY HERETO,

 

and

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent,

 


 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. ,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, and

SUNTRUST BANK
as Bookrunners and Arrangers,

 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. ,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA, and

SUNTRUST BANK,
as Syndication Agents,

and

 



 

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC. ,
BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.,

BARCLAYS BANK PLC,

HSBC SECURITIES (USA) INC.,

GOLDMAN SACHS BANK USA,

PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA,

SUNTRUST BANK and

COMMERZBANK AG,
as Documentation Agents

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

 

 

SECTION 1.01.

Defined Terms

2

SECTION 1.02.

Terms Generally

67

SECTION 1.03.

Accounting Terms; GAAP

68

SECTION 1.04.

Effectuation of Transfers

69

SECTION 1.05.

Currencies

69

SECTION 1.06.

Required Financial Statements

69

SECTION 1.07.

Certain Calculations and Tests

69

SECTION 1.08.

Disqualified Institutions

70

SECTION 1.09.

Joint and Several

71

SECTION 1.09.

Joint and Several

71

SECTION 2.01.

Term Loans and Borrowings

75

SECTION 2.02.

Request for Borrowing

75

SECTION 2.03.

Funding of Borrowings

76

SECTION 2.04.

Interest Elections

77

SECTION 2.05.

Promise to Pay; Evidence of Debt

78

SECTION 2.06.

Repayment of Term Loans

79

SECTION 2.07.

Optional Prepayment of Term Loans

80

SECTION 2.08.

Mandatory Prepayment of Term Loans

80

SECTION 2.09.

Fees

84

SECTION 2.10.

Interest

85

SECTION 2.11.

Alternate Rate of Interest

85

SECTION 2.12.

Increased Costs

86

SECTION 2.13.

Break Funding Payments

87

SECTION 2.14.

Taxes

88

SECTION 2.15.

Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs

92

SECTION 2.16.

Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders

95

SECTION 2.17.

Illegality

97

SECTION 2.18.

Incremental Facilities

97

SECTION 2.19.

Other Term Loans

101

SECTION 2.20.

Extensions of Term Loans

102

SECTION 2.21.

Repricing Event

103

 

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

 

 

SECTION 3.01.

Organization; Powers

104

SECTION 3.02.

Authorization

104

SECTION 3.03.

Enforceability

105

 

i



 

SECTION 3.04.

Governmental Approvals

105

SECTION 3.05.

Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases

106

SECTION 3.06.

Subsidiaries

106

SECTION 3.07.

Litigation; Compliance with Laws

106

SECTION 3.08.

Federal Reserve Regulations

107

SECTION 3.09.

Investment Company Act

107

SECTION 3.10.

Use of Proceeds

107

SECTION 3.11.

Tax Returns

107

SECTION 3.12.

No Material Misstatements

108

SECTION 3.13.

Environmental Matters

108

SECTION 3.14.

Security Documents

109

SECTION 3.15.

Location of Real Property and Leased Premises

110

SECTION 3.16.

Solvency

110

SECTION 3.17.

No Material Adverse Effect

111

SECTION 3.18.

Insurance

111

SECTION 3.19.

USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA; OFAC; Anti-Terrorism

111

SECTION 3.20.

Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc.

112

SECTION 3.21.

Employee Benefit Plans

113

SECTION 3.22.

EEA Financial Institution

113

SECTION 3.22.

EEA Financial Institution

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions of Lending

 

 

 

SECTION 4.01.

Conditions Precedent to Funding

114

 

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

 

 

SECTION 5.01.

Existence; Businesses and Properties

120

SECTION 5.02.

Insurance

120

SECTION 5.03.

Taxes

121

SECTION 5.04.

Financial Statements, Reports, etc.

122

SECTION 5.05.

Litigation and Other Notices

125

SECTION 5.06.

Compliance with Laws

125

SECTION 5.07.

Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections

126

SECTION 5.08.

Use of Proceeds

126

SECTION 5.09.

Compliance with Environmental Laws

126

SECTION 5.10.

Further Assurances; Additional Security

127

SECTION 5.11.

Credit Ratings

131

SECTION 5.12.

Lender Calls

132

SECTION 5.12.

Lender Calls

 

 

ii



 

SECTION 5.13.

Post-Closing Matters

133

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Negative Covenants

 

 

 

SECTION 6.01.

Indebtedness

133

SECTION 6.02.

Liens

139

SECTION 6.03.

Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

144

SECTION 6.04.

Investments, Loans and Advances

144

SECTION 6.05.

Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions

147

SECTION 6.06.

Restricted Payments

150

SECTION 6.07.

Transactions with Affiliates

154

SECTION 6.08.

Business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries

157

SECTION 6.09.

Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc.

157

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

[Reserved]

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Events of Default

 

 

 

SECTION 8.01.

Events of Default

160

SECTION 8.02.

Events of Default Prior to Acquisition

164

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

The Agents

 

 

 

SECTION 9.01.

Authorization and Action

164

SECTION 9.02.

Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

168

SECTION 9.03.

Posting of Communications

170

SECTION 9.04.

The Administrative Agent Individually

172

SECTION 9.05.

Successor Administrative Agent

172

SECTION 9.06.

Acknowledgements of Lenders

173

SECTION 9.07.

Collateral Matters

174

SECTION 9.09.

Credit Bidding

175

SECTION 9.09.

Intercreditor Agreement

176

 

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

Spanish Formalities

 

iii



 

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Miscellaneous

 

 

 

SECTION 10.01.

Notices; Communications

182

SECTION 10.02.

Survival of Agreement

184

SECTION 10.03.

Binding Effect

184

SECTION 10.04.

Successors and Assigns

184

SECTION 10.05.

Expenses; Indemnity

196

SECTION 10.06.

Right of Set-off

198

SECTION 10.07.

Applicable Law

199

SECTION 10.08.

Waivers; Amendment

199

SECTION 10.09.

Interest Rate Limitation

202

SECTION 10.10.

Entire Agreement

203

SECTION 10.11.

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

203

SECTION 10.12.

Severability

203

SECTION 10.13.

Counterparts

204

SECTION 10.14.

Headings

204

SECTION 10.15.

Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process

204

SECTION 10.16.

Confidentiality

205

SECTION 10.18.

Release of Liens and Guarantees

206

SECTION 10.19.

USA PATRIOT Act Notice

207

SECTION 10.20.

Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation

207

SECTION 10.21.

Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements

208

SECTION 10.22.

No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility

208

SECTION 10.22.

Cashless Settlement

209

SECTION 10.24.

Judgment Currency

209

SECTION 10.23.

Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions

209

 

iv



 

Exhibits and Schedules

 

 

Exhibit A

Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B

Form of Solvency Certificates

Exhibit C

Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit D

Form of Interest Election Request

Exhibit E

Form of Affiliate Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit F

U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

Schedule 1.01(1)

Unrestricted Subsidiaries

Schedule 1.01(2)

Guaranty and Security Principles

Schedule 1.01(3)

Foreign Security Documents

Schedule 2.01

Initial Term Loan Commitments

Schedule 3.04

Governmental Approvals

Schedule 3.05(2)

Possession Under Lease

Schedule 3.06(1)

Subsidiaries

Schedule 3.06(2)

Equity Interests

Schedule 3.11

Taxes

Schedule 3.13

Environmental Matters

Schedule 3.15

Owned Material Real Property

Schedule 3.18

Insurance

Schedule 3.20

Intellectual Property

Schedule 4.01(3)

Local Counsel Opinions

Schedule 5.16

Post-Closing Matters

Schedule 6.01(4)

Indebtedness

Schedule 6.02(2)

Liens

Schedule 6.04

Investments

Schedule 6.07

Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 10.01

Notice Information

 

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TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, this “ Agreement ” or the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ US Borrower ” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party hereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

 

RECITALS

 

(1)                                  Huntsman International LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Huntsman ”), which, prior to the Closing Date, shall be the direct or indirect parent of Holdings, intends to separate its Pigments and Additives Business from the remaining business and assets of Huntsman through a series of transactions that will result in the Pigments and Additives Business being owned by Holdings, in each case consummated in one or more transactions on or prior to the Closing Date (the “ Venator Consolidation Transactions ”);

 

(2)                                  On the Closing Date, Huntsman or its Subsidiaries will offer all or a portion of its capital stock in Holdings an underwritten public offering (other than a public offering pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-4 or Form S-8) pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Act (the “ Initial Venator Distribution Transaction ”);

 

(3)                                  In connection with the consummation of the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, (a) the Initial Term Loan Lenders have agreed to extend credit to the Borrowers in the form of Initial Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $375 million, (b) certain financial institutions have agreed to extend credit to certain of the Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings in the form of revolving loans, swingline loans and letters of credit under the ABL Credit Agreement in an aggregate principal amount of up to $300 million, and (c) the Borrowers will issue senior unsecured notes pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture in an aggregate principal amount of up to $375 million;

 

(4)                                  On the Closing Date, the Borrowers intend to apply credit extended under this Agreement, the Senior Notes and the ABL Credit Agreement to (i) pay fees, costs and expenses incurred by Huntsman, Holdings, and their respective Subsidiaries in connection with the Venator Consolidation Transactions, the Initial Term Loan Facility, the Senior Notes and the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, (ii) make the Special Closing Date Payments (directly or indirectly) and (iii) for general corporate purposes.

 



 

AGREEMENT

 

In consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

 

Definitions

 

SECTION 1.01.            Defined Terms .

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified below:

 

ABL Agent ” means JPMCB, in its capacity as administrative agent and collateral agent in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement, together with its successors and assigns in such capacity.

 

ABL Credit Agreement ” means (i) asset-based revolving credit agreement, to be entered into as of the Closing Date, among Holdings, the Borrowers, the borrowers party thereto, the lenders party thereto and the ABL Agent, as such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (ii) any other credit agreement, loan agreement, note agreement, promissory note, indenture or other agreement or instrument evidencing or governing the terms of any Indebtedness or other financial accommodation that has been incurred to refinance (subject to the limitations set forth herein (including by reference to the Intercreditor Agreement)) in whole or in part the Indebtedness and other obligations out-standing under (x) the credit agreement referred to in clause (i) or (y) any subsequent ABL Credit Agreement, unless such agreement or instrument expressly provides that it is not intended to be and is not an ABL Credit Agreement hereunder. Any reference to the ABL Credit Agreement hereunder shall be deemed a reference to any ABL Credit Agreement then in existence.

 

ABL Extended Revolving Commitments ” means “ Extended Loans ” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

ABL Facility ” means the “ Revolving Facility ” and any “ Incremental Facility ,” each as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

ABL Loan Documents ” means the ABL Credit Agreement and the other “ Loan Documen ts” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement, as each such document may be amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified.

 

ABL Obligations ” means the “ Obligations ” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

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ABL Priority Collateral ” means the “ ABL Priority Collateral ” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

ABL Priority Collateral Asset Sale ” means any Asset Sale that consists of or includes the disposition of ABL Priority Collateral outside the ordinary course of business.

 

ABL Security Documents ” means the “ Security Documents ” as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

ABR ” means, for any day, a rate per annum equal to the greatest of:

 

(1)                                  the NYFRB Rate in effect on such day plus ½ of 1%;

 

(2)                                  the Prime Rate in effect on such day;

 

(3)                                  the Adjusted LIBO Rate plus  1.00%; and

 

(4)                                  solely in respect of Initial Term Loans, 1.00%;

 

provided that for the purpose of this definition, any change in the ABR due to a change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate shall be effective from and including the effective date of such change in the Prime Rate, the NYFRB Rate or the Adjusted LIBO Rate, respectively.

 

ABR Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of ABR Loans.

 

ABR Loan ” means any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the ABR.

 

Additional Lender ” means the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders and investors (other than natural persons) that become Lenders in connection with an Incremental Term Loan or Other Term Loan; provided that no Disqualified Institution may be an Additional Lender.

 

Adjusted LIBO Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any Interest Period, an interest rate per annum equal to the greater of (1) the LIBO Rate in effect for such Interest Period multiplied by the Statutory Reserve Rate applicable to such Eurocurrency Borrowing, if any, and (2) solely in respect of the Initial Term Loans, 0.00%.

 

Administrative Agent ” means JPMCB, in its capacity as administrative agent for itself and the Lenders hereunder, and any duly appointed successor in such capacity.

 

Administrative Agent Fees ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.09(1).

 

Administrative Questionnaire ” means an Administrative Questionnaire in a form supplied by the Administrative Agent.

 

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Affiliate ” means, when used with respect to a specified Person, another Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, Controls or is Controlled by or is under common Control with the Person specified.

 

Affiliate Assignment and Acceptance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(10)(b).

 

Affiliated Lender ” shall mean a Non-Debt Fund Affiliate or a Debt Fund Affiliate.

 

Agent Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.02(2).

 

Agents ” means the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, in their respective capacities as such.

 

Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Annual Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(1).

 

Anti-Corruption Laws ” means all laws, rules, and regulations of any jurisdiction applicable Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries from time to time concerning or relating to bribery or corruption.

 

Anti-Terrorism Laws ” means any applicable law relating to terrorism, trade sanctions programs and embargoes, money laundering or bribery, including Canadian Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Legislation, and any regulation, or order promulgated, issued or enforced pursuant to such laws by an applicable Governmental Authority, all as amended, supplemented or replaced from time to time.

 

Applicable Margin ” means:

 

(1)                                  with respect to any Initial Term Loans, (a) for ABR Loans, 2.00% and (b) for Eurocurrency Loans, 3.00%%;

 

(2)                                  with respect to any Incremental Term Loans, the “Applicable Margin” set forth in the Incremental Facility Amendment establishing the terms thereof;

 

(3)                                  with respect to any Other Term Loans, the “Applicable Margin” set forth in the Refinancing Amendment establishing the terms thereof; and

 

(4)                                  with respect to any Extended Term Loans, the “Applicable Margin” set forth in the Extension Amendment establishing the terms thereof.

 

Applicable Parties ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(3).

 

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Approved Electronic Platform ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(1).

 

Approved Fund ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(2).

 

Arranger ” means each of JPMCB, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, PNC Bank, National Association, Royal Bank of Canada and SunTrust Bank.

 

Asset Sale ” means any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) to any Person of any asset or assets (including by way of a Sale-Leaseback Transaction) of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

Asset Sale Proceeds Account ” means one or more deposit accounts or securities accounts (as such terms are defined in the Uniform Commercial Code) containing only the Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales or any Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds, any investments thereof in Cash Equivalents and the proceeds thereof, pending the application of such Net Cash Proceeds in accordance with Section 2.08(1), which accounts have been pledged to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, on a first-priority basis pursuant to documentation in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent.

 

Assignee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(2).

 

Assignment and Acceptance ” means an assignment and acceptance entered into by a Lender and an Assignee, and accepted by the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers (if required by Section 10.04), substantially in the form of Exhibit A or such other form that is approved by the Administrative Agent and reasonably satisfactory to the Borrowers.

 

Available Amount ” means, as of any date, an amount, not less than zero, determined on a cumulative basis, equal to the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1)                                  $25 million; plus

 

(2)                                  50% of Consolidated Net Income for the period (treated as one accounting period) from the Closing Date to the end of the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, plus

 

(3)                                  the cumulative amount of cash proceeds and the fair market value of property (other than cash) received by the Borrowers or any Parent Entity in connection with the sale or issuance of Equity Interests of the Borrowers or any Parent Entity after the Closing Date and on or prior to such date (including upon exercise of warrants or options or in connection with a Permitted Acquisition or other Permitted Investment) which, with respect to proceeds or property received in connection with the sale or issuance of Equity Interests of a Parent Entity (other than Holdings), have been contributed to the capital of Holdings or exchanged for Equity Interest of Holdings, other than the proceeds of

 

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Disqualified Stock, Excluded Contributions, Cure Amounts and equity used to incur Contribution Indebtedness; plus

 

(4)                                  100% of the aggregate amount of cash contributions to the capital of Holdings and the fair market value of property other than cash contributed to the capital of Holdings after the Closing Date, other than the proceeds of Disqualified Stock, Excluded Contributions, Cure Amounts and equity used to incur Contribution Indebtedness; plus

 

(5)                                  100% of the aggregate principal amount of any Indebtedness (including the liquidation preference or maximum fixed repurchase price, as the case may be, of any Disqualified Stock) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary issued after the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness (including Disqualified Stock) issued to Holdings, the Borrowers or a Restricted Subsidiary), which has been converted into or exchanged for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stocks) of the Borrowers or any Parent Entity; plus

 

(6)                                  100% of the aggregate amount of cash (and the fair market value of property other than cash) received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date from (a) the sale (other than to the Borrowers or any Subsidiary) of the Equity Interests of any Unrestricted Subsidiary or (b) any dividend or other distribution (including any payment on intercompany Indebtedness) by any such Unrestricted Subsidiary; plus

 

(7)                                  in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary, the lesser of (a) the fair market value of the Investments of the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, transfer or liquidation (or of the assets transferred or conveyed, as applicable) and (b) the fair market value of the original Investments by the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries in such Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case, as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith; plus

 

(8)                                  any mandatory prepayment declined by a Lender; minus

 

(9)                                  the use of such Available Amount since the Closing Date.

 

Available Incremental Term Loan Facility Amount ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(3).

 

Bail-In Action ” means the exercise of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by the applicable EEA Resolution Authority in respect of any liability of an EEA Financial Institution.

 

Bail-In Legislation ” means, with respect to any EEA Member Country implementing Article 55 of Directive 2014/59/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council

 

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of the European Union, the implementing law for such EEA Member Country from time to time which is described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds ” means the cash proceeds of Asset Sales involving aggregate consideration of $5 million or less.

 

Beneficial Owner ” has the meaning given to that term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will not be deemed to have beneficial ownership of any securities that such “person” has the right to acquire or vote only upon the happening of any future event or contingency (including the passage of time) that has not yet occurred.  The terms “ Beneficially Owns ,” “ Beneficially Owned ” and “ Beneficial Ownership ” have a corresponding meaning.

 

Board ” means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the United States of America.

 

Board of Directors ” means, as to any Person, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such Person, or if such Person is owned or managed by a single entity, the board of directors, board of managers or other governing body of such entity, and the term “ directors ” means members of the Board of Directors.

 

Borrowers ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.  Unless the context requires otherwise, each reference herein or in any other Loan Document to a determination may be a Borrower or the Borrowers, means and is a reference to a determination by Holdings.

 

Borrower Materials ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(1).

 

Borrowing ” means a group of Term Loans of a single Type made on a single date under a single Term Facility and, in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, as to which a single Interest Period is in effect.

 

Borrowing Request ” means a request by the Borrowers in accordance with the terms of Section 2.02 and substantially in the form of Exhibit C or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent).

 

Budget ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(5).

 

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City and Luxembourg are authorized or required by law to close; provided that when used in connection with a Eurocurrency Loan, the term “Business Day” also excludes any day on which banks are not open for dealings in deposits in the London interbank market.

 

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Canadian Anti-Money Laundering & Anti-Terrorism Legislation ” means the Criminal Code , R.S.C. 1985, c. C-46, The Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act , S.C. 2000, c. 17 (the “ Proceeds of Crime Act ”) and the United Nations Act , R.S.C. 1985, c. U-2 or any similar Canadian legislation, together with all rules, regulations and interpretations thereunder or related thereto including, without limitation, the Regulations Implementing the United Nations Resolutions on the Suppression of Terrorism and the United Nations Al-Qaida and Taliban Regulations promulgated under the United Nations Act.

 

Canadian Blocked Person ” means any Person that is a “designated person”, “politically exposed foreign person” or “terrorist group” as described in any Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws.

 

Canadian Defined Benefit Plan ” shall mean a pension plan for the purposes of any applicable pension benefits standards statute or regulation in Canada, which contains a “defined benefit provision,” as defined in subsection 147.1(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

 

Canadian Economic Sanctions and Export Control Laws ” means any Canadian laws, regulations or orders governing transactions in controlled goods or technologies or dealings with countries, entities, organizations, or individuals subject to economic sanctions and similar measures, including the Special Economic Measures Act (Canada), the United Nations Act (Canada), the Freezing Assets of Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Canada), Part II.1 of the Criminal Code (Canada) and the Export and Import Permits Act (Canada), and any related regulations.

 

Canadian Pension Plan ” shall mean a pension plan that is covered by the applicable pension standards laws of any jurisdiction in Canada including the PBA and the Income Tax Act (Canada) and that is either (a) maintained or sponsored by a Canadian Subsidiary for employees or (b) maintained pursuant to a collective bargaining agreement, or other arrangement under which more than one employer makes contributions and to which any Canadian Subsidiary is making or accruing an obligation to make contributions or has within the preceding five years made or accrued such contributions.

 

Capital Expenditures ” means, for any period, the aggregate of all expenditures incurred by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period that, in accordance with GAAP, are or should be included in “additions to property, plant or equipment” or similar items reflected in the consolidated statement of cash flows of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for such period.

 

Capital Lease Obligations ” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under any lease of (or other similar arrangement conveying the right to use) real or personal property, or a combination thereof, which obligations are required to be classified and accounted for as capital leases on a balance sheet of such Person under GAAP and, for purposes hereof, the amount of such obligations at any time will be the capitalized amount thereof at such time determined in accordance with GAAP.

 

Capital Stock ” means:

 

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(1)                                  in the case of a corporation or a company, corporate stock or share capital;

 

(2)                                  in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

 

(3)                                  in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and

 

(4)                                  any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

 

Captive Insurance Company ” means a Subsidiary of the Borrowers created solely for providing self-insurance for Holdings and its Subsidiaries and engaging in no other activities other than activities ancillary thereto and necessary for the maintenance of corporate existence.

 

Cash Equivalents ” means:

 

(1)                                  Dollars, Canadian dollars, Japanese yen, pounds sterling, euros or any other national currency of any participating member of the European Union or, in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, any local currencies held by it from time to time in the ordinary course of business and not for speculation;

 

(2)                                  direct obligations of the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any member of the European Union or any agency thereof, in each case, with maturities not exceeding two years;

 

(3)                                  time deposits, eurodollar time deposits, certificates of deposit and money market deposits, in each case, with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition thereof, and overnight bank deposits, in each case, with any commercial bank having capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than $250.0 million;

 

(4)                                  repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in clauses (2) and (3) above and clause (6) below entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (3) above;

 

(5)                                  commercial paper or variable or fixed rate notes maturing not more than one year after the date of acquisition issued by a corporation rated at least “P-1” by Moody’s or “A-1” by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(6)                                  securities with maturities of two years or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, having one of the two highest

 

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rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(7)                                  Indebtedness issued by Persons with a rating of at least “A 2” by Moody’s or “A” by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency), in each case, with maturities not exceeding one year from the date of acquisition, and marketable short-term money market and similar securities having a rating of at least “P-2” or “A-2” from either Moody’s or S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(8)                                  Investments in money market funds with average maturities of 12 months or less from the date of acquisition that are rated “Aaa3” by Moody’s and “AAA” by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency);

 

(9)                                  instruments equivalent to those referred to in clauses (1) through (8) above denominated in any foreign currency comparable in credit quality and tenor to those referred to above customarily utilized in the countries where any such Restricted Subsidiary is located or in which such Investment is made; and

 

(10)                           shares of mutual funds whose investment guidelines restrict 95% of such funds’ investments to those satisfying the provisions of clauses (1) through (9) above.

 

CFC ” means any “controlled foreign corporation” within the meaning of Section 957 of the Code owned by a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

A “ Change in Control ” will be deemed to occur if, at any time,

 

(1)                                  any person or “group” (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such Person and its subsidiaries and any Person or entity acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or administrator of any such plan), other than the Permitted Holders, acquires Beneficial Ownership of Voting Stock of Holdings representing more than 40% of the aggregate ordinary voting power for the election of directors represented by the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of Holdings (determined on a fully diluted basis but without giving effect to contingent voting rights that have not yet vested), unless the Permitted Holders otherwise have the right (pursuant to contract, proxy or otherwise), directly or indirectly, to designate, nominate or appoint (and do so designate, nominate or appoint) a majority of the Board of Directors of the Borrower;

 

(2)                                  Holdings ceases to Beneficially Own, directly or indirectly, 100% of the issued and outstanding Equity Interests of any Borrower, other than as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder.

 

Change in Law ” means:

 

(1)                                  the adoption of any law, rule or regulation after the Closing Date;

 

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(3)                                  any change in law, rule or regulation or in the interpretation or application thereof by any Governmental Authority after the Closing Date; or

 

(4)                                  compliance by any Lender (or, for purposes of Section 2.12(2), by any Lending Office of such Lender or by such Lender’s holding company, if any) with any written request, guideline or directive (whether or not having the force of law) of any Governmental Authority, made or issued after the Closing Date; provided that, notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (a) the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated thereunder or issued in connection therewith and (b) all requests, rules, guidelines or directives promulgated by the Bank for International Settlements, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (or any successor or similar authority) or the United States of America or foreign regulatory authorities, in each case pursuant to Basel III, in each case will be deemed to be a “Change in Law,” regardless of the date enacted, adopted, promulgated or issued.

 

Charges ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09.

 

Clariant ” means Clariant Ltd, a Swiss corporation, and any successors thereto.

 

Class ” means, with respect to a Term Facility, (a) when used with respect to Lenders, the Lenders under such Term Facility, and (b) when used with respect to Term Loans, Borrowings or Commitments, Term Loans, Borrowings or Commitments under such Term Facility.

 

Closing Date ” means the date on which the conditions precedent set forth in Section 4.01 are satisfied (or waived in accordance with Section 10.08 ).

 

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (unless as specifically provided otherwise).

 

Collateral ” means all property that is subject to any Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties (including in accordance with Section 6 ( Parallel Debt, Covenants to pay the Common Collateral Agent) of the Intercreditor Agreement) pursuant to any Security Document; provided, however, that the Collateral (other than any assets subject to an English law floating charge) shall not include (i) any US Excluded Assets or (ii) any assets that would be excluded pursuant to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

Collateral Agent ” means JPMCB, in its capacity as Collateral Agent for itself and the other Secured Parties (including in accordance with Section 6 ( Parallel Debt, Covenants to pay the Common Collateral Agent) of the Intercreditor Agreement), and any duly appointed successor in that capacity.

 

COMI ” means the centre of main interests (as that term is used in Article 3(1) of the EU Insolvency Regulation).

 

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Commitments ” means, the Initial Term Loan Commitment, and any commitments in respect of any Incremental Term Loan, Extended Term Loan or Other Term Loan.

 

Commodity Exchange Act ” means the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.), as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.

 

Connection Income Taxes ” means Other Connection Taxes that are imposed on or measured by net income (however denominated) or that are franchise Taxes or branch profits Taxes.

 

Consolidated Debt ” means, as of any date, the sum (without duplication) of all Indebtedness (other than letters of credit or bank guarantees, to the extent undrawn) consisting of Capital Lease Obligations, Indebtedness for borrowed money, Disqualified Stock and Indebtedness in respect of the deferred purchase price of property or services of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and all Guarantees of the foregoing, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Consolidated EBITDA ” means, for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of Holdings for such period:

 

(1)                                  increased , in each case to the extent deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (and without duplication), by:

 

(a)                                  provision for taxes based on income, profits or capital, including state, franchise, excise and similar taxes and foreign withholding taxes paid or accrued, including any penalties and interest relating to any tax examinations, and state taxes in lieu of business fees (including business license fees) and payroll tax credits, income tax credits and similar tax credits, and including an amount equal to the amount of tax distributions actually made to the holders of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity in respect of such period (in each case, to the extent attributable to the operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries), which will be included as though such amounts had been paid as income taxes directly by Holdings; plus

 

(b)                                  cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation) on any Disqualified Stock of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(c)                                   Consolidated Interest Expense; plus

 

(d)                                  all depreciation and amortization charges and expenses; plus

 

(e)                                   all

 

(i)                                      losses, charges and expenses relating to the Transactions;

 

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(ii)                                   transaction fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the consummation of any transaction that is out of the ordinary course of business (or any transaction proposed but not consummated) permitted under this Agreement, including equity issuances, investments, acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, mergers, option buyouts and the incurrence, modification or repayment of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under this Agreement (including any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof) or any amendments, waivers or other modifications under the agreements relating to such Indebtedness or similar transactions; and

 

(iii)                                without duplication of any of the foregoing, non-operating or non-recurring professional fees, costs and expenses for such period; plus

 

(f)                                    any expense or deduction attributable to minority Equity Interests of third parties in any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings; plus

 

(g)                                   the amount of management, monitoring, consulting, transaction and advisory fees (including termination fees) and related indemnities, charges and expenses paid or accrued to or on behalf of any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) or any of the Permitted Holders, in each case, to the extent permitted by Section 6.07; plus

 

(h)                                  earn-out obligations incurred in connection with any Permitted Acquisition or other Investment and paid or accrued during such period; plus

 

(i)                                      all charges, costs, expenses, accruals or reserves in connection with the rollover, acceleration or payout of Equity Interests held by officers or employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and all losses, charges and expenses related to payments made to holders of options or other derivative Equity Interests in the common equity of any Parent Entity in connection with, or as a result of, any distribution being made to equityholders of such Person or any of its direct or indirect parents, which payments are being made to compensate such option holders as though they were equityholders at the time of, and entitled to share in, such distribution; plus

 

(j)                                     all non-cash losses, charges and expenses, including any write-offs or write-downs; provided that if any such non-cash charge represents an accrual or reserve for potential cash items in any future four-fiscal quarter period (i) Holdings may determine not to add back such non-cash charge in the period for which Consolidated EBITDA is being calculated and (ii) to the extent Holdings does decide to add back such non-cash charge, the cash payment in respect thereof in such future four-fiscal quarter period will be subtracted from Consolidated EBITDA for such future four-fiscal quarter period; plus

 

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(k)                                  without duplication, cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies in connection with all events and transactions described in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis” ( provided that, in all such cases, any such addbacks that are pro forma cost savings, operating expense reductions and cost synergies shall be subject to the limitations described in the definition of “Pro Forma Basis”); plus

 

(l)                                      non-recurring incremental costs arising out of the temporary interruption of the supply of goods to Holdings and its Subsidiaries; plus

 

(m)                              charges resulting from the write-off of capital expenditures arising from the cancellation of project or design plans; and

 

(2)                                  decreased , without duplication and to the extent increasing such Consolidated Net Income for such period, by non-cash gains (excluding any non-cash gains that represent the reversal of any accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges that were deducted (and not added back) in the calculation of Consolidated EBITDA for any prior period ending after the Closing Date).

 

For the purposes of determining the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio for any relevant period, Consolidated EBITDA shall be deemed to equal (a) $32.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2016, (b) $35.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2016, (c) $49.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2016 and (d) $72.0 million for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017 (it being understood that such amounts are subject to adjustments, as and to the extent otherwise contemplated in this Agreement, any calculation on a Pro Forma Basis).

 

Consolidated First Lien Net Debt ” means, as of any date, all Consolidated Debt as of such date that is (x) secured by a Lien on the Term Priority Collateral that is pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations or (y) secured by a Lien on the ABL Priority Collateral that is senior to or pari passu with the Lien securing the Obligations, plus Capital Lease Obligations, minus all Unrestricted Cash as of such date, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that for purposes of calculating the amount of Consolidated First Lien Net Debt with respect to any Indebtedness being incurred in reliance on compliance with any financial ratio-based incurrence test, Unrestricted Cash will not include any proceeds received from such Indebtedness.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Obligations and the Indebtedness in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement (excluding undrawn commitments thereunder) will constitute Consolidated First Lien Net Debt.

 

Consolidated Interest Expense ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the sum, without duplication, of:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income (including pay-in-kind

 

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interest payments, amortization of original issue discount, the interest component of Capital Lease Obligations and net payments and receipts (if any) pursuant to Hedge Agreements relating to interest rates (other than in connection with the early termination thereof) but excluding any non-cash interest expense attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of hedging obligations, all amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees, and all discounts, commissions, fees and other charges associated with any Receivables Facility); plus

 

(2)                                  consolidated capitalized interest of the referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, whether paid or accrued; plus

 

(3)                                  any amounts paid or payable in respect of interest on Indebtedness the proceeds of which have been contributed to the referent Person and that has been Guaranteed by the referent Person; less

 

(4)                                  interest income of the referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period;

 

provided that when determining Consolidated Interest Expense in respect of any four-quarter period ending prior to the first anniversary of the Closing Date, Consolidated Interest Expense will be calculated by multiplying the aggregate Consolidated Interest Expense accrued since the Closing Date by 365 and then dividing such product by the number of days from and including the Closing Date to and including the last day of such period.  For purposes of this definition, interest on Capital Lease Obligations will be deemed to accrue at the interest rate reasonably determined by Holdings to be the rate of interest implicit in such Capital Lease Obligations in accordance with GAAP.

 

Consolidated Net Income ” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the net income (or loss) of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (with such net income (or loss) being calculated after deducting the amounts for such period described in clause (1)(a) of the definition of “Consolidated EBITDA”, if any) and before any deduction for preferred stock dividends; provided that:

 

(1)                                  all net after-tax extraordinary, nonrecurring or unusual gains, losses, income, expenses and charges, and in any event including, without limitation, all restructuring, severance, relocation, retention, consolidation, integration or other similar charges and expenses, contract termination costs, litigation costs, excess pension charges, system establishment charges, start-up or closure or transition costs, expenses related to any reconstruction, decommissioning, recommissioning or reconfiguration of fixed assets for alternative uses, fees, expenses or charges relating to curtailments or modifications to pension and post-retirement employee benefit plans in connection with the Transactions or otherwise, expenses associated with strategic initiatives, facilities shutdown and opening and pre-opening costs and expenses (including pre-opening and opening of facilities and all income, loss, charges and expenses associated with facilities closed in any period, or

 

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 scheduled for closure within 12 months of the date on which Consolidated Net Income is being calculated), and any fees, expenses, charges or change in control payments related to the Transactions or otherwise (including any transition-related expenses incurred before, on or after the Closing Date), will be excluded;

 

(2)                                  all net after-tax income, loss, expense or charge from abandoned, closed or discontinued operations and any net after-tax gain or loss on the disposal of abandoned, closed or discontinued operations will be excluded;

 

(3)                                  all net after-tax gain, loss, expense or charge attributable to business dispositions and asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by Holdings) will be excluded;

 

(4)                                  all net after-tax income, loss, expense or charge attributable to the early extinguishment or cancellation of Indebtedness, Hedge Agreements or other derivative instruments will be excluded;

 

(5)                                  all non-cash gain, loss, expense or charge attributable to the movement in the mark-to-market valuation of Hedge Agreements or other derivative instruments will be excluded;

 

(6)                                  (a) the net income for such period of any Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary of the referent Person, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, will be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments are or are permitted to be paid in cash (or converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period; and (b) the net income for such period will include any ordinary course dividends, distributions or other payments in cash received from any such Person during such period in excess of the amounts included in clause (a) hereof;

 

(7)                                  the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period will be excluded;

 

(8)                                  the effects of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting adjustments (including the effects of such adjustments pushed down to the referent Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries) resulting from the application of purchase accounting, fair value accounting or recapitalization accounting in relation to any acquisition consummated before or after the Closing Date, and the amortization, write-down or write-off of any amounts thereof, net of taxes, will be excluded;

 

(9)                                  all non-cash impairment charges and asset write-ups, write-downs and write-offs will be excluded;

 

(10)                           all non-cash expenses realized in connection with or resulting from stock option plans, employee benefit plans or agreements or post-employment benefit plans or agreements, or grants or sales of stock, stock appreciation or similar rights, stock options, restricted stock, preferred stock or other similar rights will be excluded;

 

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(11)                           any costs or expenses incurred in connection with the payment of dividend equivalent rights to option holders pursuant to any management equity plan, stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement or post-employment benefit plan or agreement will be excluded;

 

(12)                           accruals and reserves for liabilities or expenses that are established or adjusted as a result of the Transactions within 18 months after the Closing Date will be excluded;

 

(13)                           all amortization and write-offs of deferred financing fees, debt issuance costs, commissions, fees and expenses and expensing of any bridge, commitment or other financing fees, will be excluded;

 

(14)                           any currency translation gains and losses related to changes in currency exchange rates (including remeasurements of Indebtedness and any net loss or gain resulting from Hedge Agreements for currency exchange risk), will be excluded;

 

(15)                           [reserved];

 

(16)                           expenses and lost profits with respect to liability or casualty events or business interruption will be disregarded to the extent covered by insurance and actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that there exists reasonable evidence that such amount will in fact be reimbursed by the insurer, but only to the extent that such amount (a) has not been denied by the applicable carrier in writing and (b) is in fact reimbursed within 365 days of the date on which such liability was discovered or such casualty event or business interruption occurred (with a deduction for any amounts so added back that are not reimbursed within such 365-day period); provided that any proceeds of such reimbursement when received will be excluded from the calculation of Consolidated Net Income to the extent the expense or lost profit reimbursed was previously disregarded pursuant to this clause (16);

 

(17)                           losses, charges and expenses that are covered by indemnification or other reimbursement provisions in connection with any asset disposition will be excluded to the extent actually reimbursed, or, so long as such Person has made a determination that a reasonable basis exists for indemnification or reimbursement, but only to the extent that such amount is in fact indemnified or reimbursed within 365 days of such determination (with a deduction in the applicable future period for any amount so added back to the extent not so indemnified or reimbursed within such 365 days);

 

(18)                           [reserved]; and

 

(19)                           non-cash charges for deferred tax asset valuation allowances will be excluded.

 

Consolidated Total Assets ” means, as of any date, the total assets of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, determined based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

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Consolidated Total Net Debt ” means, as of any date, the Consolidated Debt as of such date minus all Unrestricted Cash as of such date, in each case, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis; provided that for purposes of calculating the Consolidated Total Net Debt with respect to any Indebtedness being incurred in reliance on compliance with any financial ratio-based incurrence test, Unrestricted Cash will not include any proceeds received from such Indebtedness.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Obligations and the Indebtedness in respect of the ABL Credit Agreement (excluding undrawn commitments thereunder) will constitute Consolidated Total Net Debt.

 

continuing ” means, with respect to any Default or Event of Default, that such Default or Event of Default has not been cured or waived.

 

Contribution Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01(16).

 

Contribution Notice ” means a contribution notice issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 38 or section 47 of the Pensions Act 2004 (UK).

 

Control ” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms “ Controlling ” and “ Controlled ” will have correlative meanings, it being specified that the “ Control ” of the French Loan Parties and their Affiliates will be determined in accordance with article L.233-3 of the French Code de commerce .

 

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness ” means secured or unsecured Indebtedness of a Borrower in the form of one or more series of term loans or notes; provided that:

 

(1)                                  such Indebtedness is incurred or otherwise obtained (including by means of the extension or renewal of existing Indebtedness) in exchange for, or to extend, renew, replace or refinance, in whole or part (and such exchange, extension, renewal, replacement or refinancing occurs substantially concurrently with such incurrence or obtainment), Indebtedness (“ Refinanced Debt ”) that is either Term Loans or other Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(2)                                  such Indebtedness is in an original aggregate principal amount not greater than the principal amount of the Refinanced Debt ( plus the amount of unpaid accrued or capitalized interest and premiums thereon (including tender premiums), underwriting discounts, original issue discount, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses);

 

(3)                                  the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Indebtedness is equal to or longer than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Refinanced Debt, and the final

 

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maturity date of such Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness may not be earlier than the Latest Maturity Date;

 

(4)                                  such Indebtedness may participate on a pro rata basis or on a less than pro rata basis (but not on a greater than pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory prepayments hereunder provided that in no event shall such Indebtedness be permitted to be voluntarily or mandatorily prepaid prior to the repayment in full of all Term Facilities, unless accompanied by a ratable prepayment of each Term Facility hereunder;

 

(5)                                  such Indebtedness is not secured by any assets or property of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary that does not constitute Collateral (subject to customary exceptions for cash collateral in favor of an agent, letter of credit issuer or similar “fronting” lender);

 

(6)                                  such Indebtedness is not guaranteed by any Subsidiary of Holdings other than a Subsidiary Loan Party;

 

(7)                                  if such Indebtedness is secured:

 

(a)                                  the Liens securing such Refinancing Indebtedness have a Lien priority equal to or junior to the Refinanced Debt;

 

(b)                                  the security agreements relating to such Indebtedness are substantially similar to or the same as the Security Documents (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings);

 

(c)                                   if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(d)                                  if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans, a Debt Representative, acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness, has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(8)                                  the terms and conditions of such Indebtedness are (x) on customary market terms at the incurrence thereof or (y) substantially identical to, or, taken as a whole, no more favorable to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than, those applicable to such Refinanced Debt as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings; provided that Holdings will promptly deliver to the Administrative Agent final copies of the definitive credit documentation relating to such Indebtedness (unless Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is bound by a confidentiality obligation with respect thereto, in which case Holdings will deliver a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such Indebtedness in lieu thereof); provided that this clause (8) will not apply to:

 

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(a)                                  terms addressed in the preceding clauses (1) through (7);

 

(b)                                  (i) interest rate, fees, funding discounts and other pricing terms; (ii) redemption, prepayment or other premiums; (iii) optional prepayment terms; and (iv) redemption terms;

 

(c)                                   subordination terms; and

 

(d)                                  covenants or other provisions applicable only to periods after the Latest Maturity Date at the time of incurrence of such Indebtedness;

 

provided that a certificate of a Responsible Officer delivered to the Administrative Agent at least five Business Days prior to the incurrence of such Indebtedness (or such short period as may be agreed by the Administrative Agent), together with a reasonably detailed description of the material terms and conditions of such resulting Indebtedness or drafts of the documentation relating thereto, stating that Holdings has determined in good faith that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement, shall be conclusive evidence that such terms and conditions satisfy the foregoing requirement unless the Administrative Agent notifies Holdings within such five Business Day (or shorter) period that it disagrees with such determination (including a reasonable description of the basis upon which it disagrees).

 

Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

 

Cure Amount ” means the amount of cash contributions to the capital of the Borrowers made pursuant to Section 8.02 of the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

Current Assets ” means, as of any date, all assets (other than Cash Equivalents or other cash equivalents) that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as “current assets” (other than amounts related to current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits), determined based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Current Liabilities ” means, as of any date, all liabilities that would, in accordance with GAAP, be classified on a consolidated balance sheet of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as “current liabilities,” other than:

 

(1)                                  the current portion of any Indebtedness;

 

(2)                                  accruals of Consolidated Interest Expense (excluding Consolidated Interest Expense that is due and unpaid);

 

(3)                                  accruals for current or deferred Taxes based on income or profits;

 

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(4)                                  accruals, if any, of transaction costs resulting from the Transactions; and

 

(5)                                  accruals of any costs or expenses related to (a) severance or termination of employees prior to the Closing Date or (b) bonuses, pension and other post-retirement benefit obligations;

 

in each case, determined based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Debt Fund Affiliate ” shall mean any Affiliate of Holdings (other than Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrowers) that is primarily engaged in, or advises funds or other investment vehicles that are engaged in, making, purchasing, holding or otherwise investing in commercial loans, bonds and similar extensions of credit or securities in the ordinary course and that exercises investment discretion independent from Holdings.

 

Debt Representative ” means, with respect to any Indebtedness that is secured on a pari passu basis with, or on a junior basis to, the Term Loans, the trustee, administrative agent, collateral agent, security agent or similar agent under the indenture or agreement pursuant to which such Indebtedness is issued, incurred or otherwise obtained, as the case may be, and each of their successors in such capacities.

 

Debtor Relief Laws ” means the Title 11 of the United States Code, the Insolvency Act 1986 (UK), the EU Insolvency Regulation, the provisions of the Livre VI and other relevant provisions related thereto of the French Code de commerce, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada) and the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) and all other liquidation, conservatorship, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, moratorium, rearrangement, administration, receivership, insolvency, reorganization, or similar debtor relief laws of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, France, Germany, Spain, Finland or other applicable jurisdictions from time to time in effect.

 

Default ” means any event or condition which, but for the giving of notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

 

Defaulting Lender ” means (1) any Lender whose acts or failure to act, whether directly or indirectly, constitutes a Lender Default and (2) any Lender that has become the subject of a Bail-in Action.

 

Designated Non-Cash Consideration ” means the fair market value of non-cash consideration received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with an Asset Sale that is designated as Designated Non-Cash Consideration pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of cash or Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration.

 

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Disinterested Director ” means, with respect to any Person and transaction, a member of the Board of Directors of such Person who does not have any material direct or indirect financial interest in or with respect to such transaction.

 

Disqualified Institution ” means (a) competitors of Holdings, Huntsman and their respective subsidiaries, in each case identified in writing by the Borrowers to the Administrative Agent from time to time (at any time when JPMCB is serving as Administrative Agent, by e-mail to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com), (b) financial institutions previously designated in writing by Holdings to the Administrative Agent on or prior to June 20, 2017 and (c) any affiliates of any such competitors or institutions reasonably identifiable as affiliates solely on the basis of the similarity of their names (other than bona fide fixed income investors or debt funds) or identified by the Borrowers in writing to the Administrative Agent from time to time (at any time when JPMCB is serving as Administrative Agent, by e-mail to JPMDQ_Contact@jpmorgan.com) (it being understood that any update pursuant to clause (a) or clause (c) above shall not become effective until the business day following the Administrative Agent’s receipt of such notice, and, in any event, shall not apply retroactively or to any entity that (i) has previously acquired commitments, loans or participation otherwise permitted under the Term Facility, (ii) is party to a pending trade with respect to commitments, loans or participation under the Term Facility as of the date of such notice or (iii) that becomes a competitor of Huntsman or Holdings or their respective subsidiaries before becoming a Disqualified Institution).

 

Disqualified Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, any Equity Interests of such Person that, by their terms (or by the terms of any security or other Equity Interests into which they are convertible or for which they are redeemable or exchangeable at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the happening of any event or condition:

 

(1)                                  mature or are mandatorily redeemable (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise (except as a result of a change of control or asset sale so long as any rights of the holders thereof upon the occurrence of a change of control or asset sale are subject to the prior repayment in full of the Term Loans and all other Obligations that are accrued and payable and the termination of the Commitments);

 

(2)                                  are redeemable at the option of the holder thereof (other than solely for Qualified Equity Interests), in whole or in part;

 

(3)                                  provide for the scheduled payments of dividends in cash; or

 

(4)                                  either mandatorily or at the option of the holders thereof, are or become convertible into or exchangeable for Indebtedness or any other Equity Interests that would constitute Disqualified Stock, in each case, prior to the date that is 91 days after the earlier of:

 

(a)                                  the Latest Maturity Date; and

 

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(b)                                  the date on which the Term Loans and all other Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements that are not then due and payable and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) are repaid in full and the Commitments are terminated;

 

provided that only the portion of the Equity Interests that so mature or are mandatorily redeemable, are so convertible or exchangeable or are so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such date will be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided , further , that if such Equity Interests are issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of Holdings or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Equity Interests will not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because they may be required to be repurchased by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability; and provided , further , that any class of Equity Interests of such Person that by its terms authorizes such Person to satisfy its obligations thereunder by delivery of Equity Interests that is not Disqualified Stock will not be deemed to be Disqualified Stock.

 

Distressed Person ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “Lender-Related Distress Event.”

 

Documentation Agents ” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, PNC Bank, National Association, Royal Bank of Canada, SunTrust Bank and Commerzbank AG, each in its capacity as the Documentation Agent.

 

Dollars ” or “ $ ” means lawful money of the United States of America.

 

Domestic Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings that is organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, and “ Domestic Subsidiaries ” means any two or more of them.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Domestic Subsidiaries will mean Domestic Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Dutch Auction ” means an auction of Term Loans conducted:

 

(1)                                  pursuant to Section 10.04(10) to allow an Affiliated Lender to acquire Term Loans at a discount to par value and on a pro rata basis; or

 

(2)                                  pursuant to Section 10.04(14) to allow a Purchasing Borrower Party to prepay Term Loans at a discount to par value and on a pro rata basis,

 

in each case, in accordance with the applicable Dutch Auction Procedures.

 

Dutch Auction Procedures ” means, with respect to a purchase of Term Loans in a Dutch Auction, Dutch auction procedures as reasonably agreed upon by the applicable

 

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Affiliated Lender or Purchasing Borrower Party, as the case may be, and the Administrative Agent.

 

EEA Financial Institution ” means (a) any institution established in any EEA Member Country which is subject to the supervision of an EEA Resolution Authority, (b) any entity established in an EEA Member Country which is a parent of an institution described in clause (a) of this definition, or (c) any institution established in an EEA Member Country which is a subsidiary of an institution described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition and is subject to consolidated supervision with its parent.

 

EEA Member Country ” means any of the member states of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

 

EEA Resolution Authority ” means any public administrative authority or any person entrusted with public administrative authority of any EEA Member Country (including any delegee) having responsibility for the resolution of any EEA Financial Institution.

 

Engagement Letter ” means that certain Engagement Letter, dated as of June 20, 2017, by and among the Borrowers, JPMCB, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA.

 

Enterprise Transformative Event ” means any merger, acquisition or Investment, in any such case by the Borrowers, any Restricted Subsidiary, Holdings or any of the direct or indirect parent companies of Holdings that is either (a) not permitted by the terms of any Loan Document immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction or (b) if permitted by the terms of the Loan Documents (prior to giving effect to any amendments) immediately prior to the consummation of such transaction, would not provide Holdings, the Borrowers and their Restricted Subsidiaries with adequate flexibility under the Loan Documents for the continuation and/or expansion of their combined operations following such consummation, as reasonably determined by Holdings acting in good faith.

 

Environment ” means the indoor and outdoor environment, including ambient and indoor air, surface water and groundwater (including potable water, navigable water and wetlands), the land surface or subsurface strata, and natural resources such as flora and fauna.

 

Environmental Laws ” means all applicable laws (including common law), statutes, rules, regulations, codes, ordinances, orders, binding agreements and final, binding decrees or judgments, in each case, promulgated or entered into by or with any Governmental Authority, relating in any way to the Environment, preservation or reclamation of natural resources, the generation, management, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, any harmful or deleterious substance or to occupational health and safety matters (to the extent relating to the Environment or exposure to harmful or deleterious substances).

 

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Equity Interests ” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

 

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as the same may be amended from time to time, and any final regulations promulgated and the rulings issued thereunder.

 

ERISA Affiliate ” means any trade or business (whether or not incorporated) that, together with Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Code or, solely for purposes of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code, is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Code.

 

ERISA Event ” means:

 

(1)                                  a Reportable Event, or the requirements of Section 4043(b) of ERISA apply, with respect to a Plan;

 

(2)                                  a withdrawal by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, any ERISA Affiliate from a Plan subject to Section 4063 of ERISA during a plan year in which it was a substantial employer (as defined in Section 4001(a)(2) of ERISA) or a cessation of operations by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, any ERISA Affiliate that is treated as a termination under Section 4062(e) of ERISA;

 

(3)                                  a complete or partial withdrawal by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, any ERISA Affiliate from a Multiemployer Plan, receipt of written notification by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings the Borrowers, any ERISA Affiliate concerning the imposition of Withdrawal Liability or written notification that a Multiemployer Plan is, or is expected to be, insolvent within the meaning of Title IV of ERISA or endangered or in critical status within the meaning of Section 305 of ERISA;

 

(4)                                  the provision by a Plan administrator or the PBGC of notice of intent to terminate a Plan, to appoint a trustee to administer a Plan, the treatment of a Plan or Multiemployer Plan amendment as a termination under Sections 4041 or 4041A of ERISA or the commencement of proceedings by the PBGC to terminate a Plan or Multiemployer Plan;

 

(5)                                  the incurrence by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Holdings or the Borrowers, any ERISA Affiliate of any liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, other than for the payment of plan contributions or PBGC premiums due but not delinquent under Section 4007 of ERISA;

 

(6)                                  the application for a minimum funding waiver under Section 302(c) of ERISA with respect to a Plan;

 

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(7)                                  the imposition of a lien under Section 303(k) of ERISA with respect to any Plan; and

 

(8)                                  a determination that any Plan is in “at risk” status (within the meaning of Section 303 of ERISA).

 

EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule ” means the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule published by the Loan Market Association (or any successor person), as in effect from time to time.

 

EU Insolvency Regulation ” means the Council of the European Union Regulation 1346/2000/EC on insolvency proceeds and the Council of the European Union Regulation 2015/848 on insolvency proceedings.

 

Eurocurrency Borrowing ” means a Borrowing comprised of Eurocurrency Loans.

 

Eurocurrency Loan ” means any Term Loan bearing interest at a rate determined by reference to the Adjusted LIBO Rate.

 

Event of Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01.

 

Excess Cash Flow ” means, for any Excess Cash Flow Period, the Consolidated Net Income of Holdings for such period, minus , without duplication:

 

(1)                                  repayments, prepayments and other cash payments made with respect to the principal of any Indebtedness or the principal component of any Capital Lease Obligations of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (excluding voluntary and mandatory prepayments of Term Loans, voluntary prepayments of Indebtedness described in Section 2.08(2)(b) and prepayments of other revolving Indebtedness (except to the extent accompanied by a corresponding reduction in commitments), but including all premium, make-whole or penalty payments paid in cash (to the extent such payments were not already deducted in calculating Consolidated Net Income and are not otherwise prohibited under this Agreement)); provided that a mandatory prepayment of Indebtedness will only be deducted pursuant to this clause (1) to the extent not already deducted in the computation of Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales; minus

 

(2)                                  (a) cash payments made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period in respect of Capital Expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions, Investments and Restricted Payments (excluding Restricted Payments made pursuant to Section 6.06(15), and Investments made pursuant to Sections 6.04(3), (5), (7) and (14)(to the extent made in one or more Restricted Subsidiaries)) and (b) cash payments that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary is required to make in respect of Capital Expenditures, Permitted Acquisitions and Investments within 365 days after the end of such period pursuant to binding obligations entered into prior to or during such period; provided that amounts described in this clause (b) will not reduce Excess Cash Flow in subsequent periods and, to the extent not so paid, will increase Excess Cash Flow in the subsequent period; minus

 

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(3)                                  cash payments made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period in respect of (a) long-term liabilities other than Indebtedness or (b) items for which an accrual or reserve was established in a prior period; minus

 

(4)                                  (a) cash payments made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period in respect of Taxes (including distributions to any Parent Entity in respect of Taxes), to the extent such payments exceed the amount of tax expense deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income, and (b) cash payments that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary will be required to make in respect of Taxes (including distributions to any Parent Entity in respect of Taxes) within 180 days after the end of such period; provided that amounts described in this clause (b) will not reduce Excess Cash Flow in subsequent periods; minus

 

(5)                                  all cash payments and other cash expenditures made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period (a) with respect to items that were excluded in the calculation of such Consolidated Net Income pursuant to clauses (1) through (19) of the definition of Consolidated Net Income or (b) that were not expensed during such period in accordance with GAAP; minus

 

(6)                                  all non-cash credits included in calculating such Consolidated Net Income (including insured or indemnified losses referred to in clauses (16) and (17) of Consolidated Net Income to the extent not reimbursed in cash during such period); minus

 

(7)                                  an amount equal to the sum of (a) the increase in the Working Capital of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period, if any, plus (b) the increase in long-term accounts receivable of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, if any (other than any such increases contemplated by clauses (a) and (b) of this clause (7) that are directly attributable to acquisitions of a Person or business unit by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries during such period);  minus

 

(8)                                  any extraordinary or nonrecurring cash charges, expenses or losses during such period, plus

 

(9)                                  all non-cash charges, losses and expenses of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that were deducted in calculating such Consolidated Net Income; plus

 

(10)                           all cash payments received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary during such period pursuant to Hedge Agreements that were not treated as revenue or net income under GAAP; plus

 

(11)                           an amount equal to the sum of (a) the decrease in Working Capital of Holdings during such period, if any, plus (b) the decrease in long-term accounts receivable of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, if any; plus

 

(12)                           any extraordinary or nonrecurring gain realized in cash during such period; plus

 

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(13)                           all amounts referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above to the extent funded with the proceeds of the issuance or the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than proceeds of revolving loans), the sale or issuance of Equity Interests or any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of, or any sale, transfer or other disposition to any Person of, any assets.

 

Excess Cash Flow Period ” means each fiscal year of Holdings.

 

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Excluded Contributions ” means, as of any date, the aggregate amount of the net cash proceeds and Cash Equivalents, together with the aggregate fair market value (determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) of other assets that are used or useful in a business permitted under Section 6.08, received by Holdings after the Closing Date from:

 

(1)                                  contributions to its common equity capital; or

 

(2)                                  the sale of Capital Stock of Holdings;

 

in each case, designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings on the date such contribution is made or such Capital Stock is sold, less the aggregate amount of Investments made pursuant to Section 6.04(28) in each case prior to such date; provided that the proceeds of Disqualified Stock, Cure Amounts and any net cash proceeds that are used prior to such date (A) to make Restricted Payments under Section 6.06(1) or Section 6.06(2)(b), (B) to make an Investment under Section 6.04(3), a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(15) or a payment in respect of Junior Financing under Section 6.09(2)(a), in each case utilizing the Available Amount or (C) for Contribution Indebtedness, will not be treated as Excluded Contributions.

 

Excluded Indebtedness ” means all Indebtedness (other than Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness) permitted under Section 6.01.

 

Excluded Subsidiary ” means any:

 

(1)                                  Immaterial Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                  Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings;

 

(3)                                  Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                  CFC;

 

(5)                                  FSHCO;

 

(6)                                  Subsidiary of a CFC or FSHCO;

 

(7)                                  Subsidiary that is not either (i) a Domestic Subsidiary or (ii) organized under the laws of a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction;

 

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(8)                                  Subsidiary if acting as a Guarantor, or its Guarantee, would, and only so long as it would, (a) be prohibited by law or regulation or by any contractual obligation existing on the (but not incurred in anticipation of) Closing Date or on the date such subsidiary is acquired or organized (as long as, in the case of an acquisition of a subsidiary, such prohibition did not arise as part of such acquisition) or (b) require a governmental or regulatory consent, approval, license or authorization (unless such consent, approval, license or authorization has been received);

 

(9)                                  Subsidiary that is a Captive Insurance Company, not-for-profit Subsidiary or Subsidiary which is a special purpose entity for securitization transaction (including any Receivables Subsidiary) or like special purposes; and

 

(10)                           any Subsidiary that would be excluded by the Guaranty and Security Principles;

 

in each case, unless Holdings determines in its sole discretion, upon notice to the Administrative Agent, that any of the foregoing Persons (other than a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (other than Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG)) should not be an Excluded Subsidiary; provided that in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary not organized in a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction, the jurisdiction of such Foreign Subsidiary is acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion unless the Guarantee to be provided by such Foreign Subsidiary is consistent with the credit support provided by the other Guarantors (or as otherwise may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion). Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Restricted Subsidiary may be an Excluded Subsidiary in circumstances where Holdings and the Administrative Agent reasonably agree that any of the cost, difficulty, burden or consequences of such Restricted Subsidiary providing a Guarantee of the Obligations is excessive in relation to the value afforded thereby.

 

Excluded Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any Swap Obligation if, and to the extent that, all or a portion of the guarantee of such Guarantor of, or the grant by such Guarantor of a security interest to secure, such Swap Obligation (or any Guarantee thereof) is or becomes illegal under the Commodity Exchange Act or any rule, regulation or order of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (or the application or official interpretation of any thereof) by virtue of such Guarantor’s failure for any reason to constitute an “eligible contract participant” as defined in the Commodity Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder at the time the guarantee of such Guarantor or the grant of such security interest becomes effective with respect to such Swap Obligation.  If a Swap Obligation arises under a master agreement governing more than one swap, such exclusion shall apply only to the portion of such Swap Obligation that is attributable to swaps for which such Guarantee or security interest is or becomes illegal.

 

Excluded Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient of any payment to be made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder, or, with respect to clause (4) below, on account of any obligation of a French Guarantor:

 

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(1)                                  Taxes imposed on or measured by its net income (however denominated) or franchise Taxes imposed in lieu of net income Taxes, and branch profits Taxes, in each case, (a) imposed as a result of such Recipient being organized under the laws of, or having its principal office or, in the case of any Lender, its applicable Lending Office located in, the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (or any political subdivision thereof) or (b) that are Other Connection Taxes;

 

(2)                                  any U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed on amounts payable hereunder to or for the account of a Recipient under any law applicable at the time such Recipient becomes a party to this Agreement (other than pursuant to an assignment request by the Borrower under Section 2.16), (or in the case of a Lender, under any law applicable at the time such Lender changes its Lending Office), except to the extent that the Recipient’s assignor (if any), at the time of assignment (or such Lender immediately before it changed its Lending Office), was entitled to receive additional amounts from the applicable Loan Party with respect to such withholding Tax pursuant to Section 2.14(1) or Section 2.14(3);

 

(3)                                  Taxes that are attributable to such Recipient’s failure to comply with Section 2.14(5) or Section 2.14(6);

 

(4)                                  any Taxes imposed by France on amounts payable to a Lender if such Taxes are imposed solely because this payment is made to (i) an account opened in the name of or for the benefit of that Lender in a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction or (ii) a Lender acting through a Lending Office (or the office of the Administrative Agent) situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction;

 

(5)                                  any Taxes imposed under FATCA; and

 

(6)                                  any Taxes under the laws of Germany arising solely due to the fact that the Obligations are secured (directly or indirectly) by real estate located in Germany ( inländische Grundstücke ) or any domestic rights treated as real property under German Civil Law ( inländische Rechte die den Vorschriften des Bürgerlichen Rechts über Grundstücke unterliegen ) within the meaning of section 49 para. 1 no. 5 lit. c) aa) Income Tax Act ( Einkommensteuergesetz — EStG ).

 

Existing Huntsman Indebtedness ” means (i) that certain Credit Agreement, dated as of August 16, 2005 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date) by and among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto, and JPMCB, as administrative agent and collateral agent, (ii) the notes due 2020 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2012 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto, (iii) the notes due 2021 issued pursuant that that certain Indenture, dated as of December 23, 2013 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing

 

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Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto, (iv) the notes due 2022 issued pursuant to that certain Indenture, dated as of November 13, 2014 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto and (v) those certain senior notes due 2025 issued pursuant to the terms of that certain Indenture, dated as of March 31, 2015 (as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time prior to the Closing Date), among Huntsman, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, and any supplemental or additional indenture entered into with respect thereto.

 

Extended Term Loan Installment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(2).

 

Extended Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(1).

 

Extending Term Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(1).

 

Extension ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(1).

 

Extension Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(2).

 

Extension Offer ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.20(1).

 

FATCA ” means Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code, as of the date of this Agreement (or any amended or successor version that is substantively comparable and not materially more onerous to comply with), any current or future regulations or official interpretations thereof, any agreements entered into pursuant to Section 1471(b)(1) of the Code, any intergovernmental agreement with respect to the foregoing, and any fiscal or regulatory legislation, rules or practices adopted pursuant to any intergovernmental agreement entered into in connection with the implementation of such Sections of the Code.

 

FCPA ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 3.19(3).

 

Federal Funds Rate ” means, for any day, the rate calculated by the NYFRB based on such day’s federal funds transactions by depositary institutions, as determined in such manner as the NYFRB shall set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as the federal funds rate, provided that if the Federal Funds Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

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Fee Letter ” means the Fee Letter, dated June 20, 2017 ( as amended, restated, modified or otherwise supplemented from time to time) by and among the Borrowers, JPMCB, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc. and Goldman Sachs Bank USA.

 

Fees ” means the Administrative Agent Fees and all other fees set forth in the Fee Letter or as otherwise agreed payable to a Lender, the Administrative Agent, or any Arranger, in each case, with respect to Term Loans.

 

Finance Parties ” means the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Arrangers, the Documentation Agent and the Lenders.

 

Financial Covenant Default ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 8.01(6).

 

Financial Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the chief financial officer, president, principal accounting officer, director of financial services, treasurer, assistant treasurer or controller of such Person or any other senior officer or director with equivalent responsibilities.

 

Financial Support Direction ” shall mean a financial support direction issued by the Pensions Regulator under section 43 of the Pensions Act 2004 (UK).

 

First Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means a “pari passu” intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Upon the request of the Borrower, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent will execute and deliver a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the Loan Parties and one or more Debt Representatives for Indebtedness permitted hereunder that is permitted to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans.

 

First Lien Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of Consolidated First Lien Net Debt as of such date to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarter period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Fixed Amounts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(b).

 

Flood Certificate ” means a completed “Life-of-Loan”, “Standard Flood Hazard Determination Form” of the Federal Emergency Management Agency or any successor Governmental Authority performing a similar function (together with a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance duly executed by the applicable property owner relating thereto).

 

Flood Program ” means the National Flood Insurance Program created by the U.S. Congress pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, the Flood Disaster Protection Act of 1973, the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 1994, the Flood Insurance

 

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Reform Act of 2004 and the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, in each case as amended from time to time, and any successor statutes, together with all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing, supplementing, implementing or interpreting any of the foregoing, as amended and modified from time to time.

 

Flood Zone ” means areas having special flood hazards as described in the Flood Program.

 

Foreign Lender ” means any Lender that is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than the United States of America.  For purposes of this definition, the United States of America, each state thereof and the District of Columbia will be deemed to constitute a single jurisdiction.

 

Foreign Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary that is not a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

French Guarantor ” means a Guarantor incorporated in France.

 

French Loan Party ” means any Loan Party incorporated in France.

 

French Security Document ” means the documents referred to as such in Schedule 1.01(3) or Schedule 5.16 and any other any Security Document governed by French law to be entered into by a Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement.

 

FSHCO ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings, substantially all of the assets of which consist of Equity Interests or Indebtedness of one or more CFCs.

 

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect from time to time, including those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession (but excluding the policies, rules and regulations of the SEC applicable only to public companies).

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary above or in the definition of Capital Lease Obligations or Capital Expenditures, in the event of a change under GAAP (or the application thereof) requiring any leases to be capitalized that are not required to be capitalized as of the Closing Date, only those leases that would result or would have resulted in Capital Lease Obligations or Capital Expenditures on the Closing Date (assuming for purposes hereof that they were in existence on the Closing Date) will be considered capital leases and all calculations under this Agreement will be made in accordance therewith.

 

German Loan Party” means any Loan Party that qualifies as a resident party domiciled in Germany ( Inländer ) within the meaning of Section 2 paragraph 15 of the German Foreign Trade Act ( Außenwirtschaftsgesetz ) (including its directors, managers, officers, agents and employees).

 

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Governmental Authority ” means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local, national, transnational, foreign or other governmental department, commission, board, tribunal, bureau, ministry, court, agency, authority, instrumentality or regulatory, legislative, judicial or arbitral body, or other law, rule or regulation-making entity, or any entity or officer exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any government or any court.

 

Guarantee ” of or by any Person (the “guarantor”) means:

 

(1)                                  any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the guarantor guaranteeing or having the economic effect of guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation payable or performable by another Person (the “primary obligor”) in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, and including any obligation of the guarantor, direct or indirect:

 

(a)                                  to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take or pay or otherwise) or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the purchase of) any security for the payment of such Indebtedness or other obligations;

 

(b)                                  to purchase or lease property, securities or services for the purpose of assuring the owner of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof;

 

(c)                                   to maintain working capital, equity capital or any other financial statement condition or liquidity of the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay such Indebtedness or other obligation;

 

(d)                                  entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the holders of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such holders against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); or

 

(e)                                   as an account party in respect of any letter of credit, bank guarantee or other letter of credit guaranty issued to support such Indebtedness or other obligation; or

 

(2)                                  any Lien on any assets of the guarantor securing any Indebtedness (or any existing right, contingent or otherwise, of the holder of Indebtedness to be secured by such a Lien) of any other Person, whether or not such Indebtedness or other obligation is assumed by the guarantor;

 

provided , that the term “Guarantee” will not include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary course of business or customary and reasonable indemnity obligations in effect on the Closing Date or entered into in connection with any acquisition or disposition of assets permitted by this Agreement (other than such obligations with respect to Indebtedness).

 

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The amount of any Guarantee will be deemed to be an amount equal to the stated or determinable amount of the Indebtedness in respect of which such Guarantee is made or, if not stated or determinable, the maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect thereof (assuming such Person is required to perform thereunder) as determined by such Person in good faith, subject to any local limitations as set forth in this Agreement or in the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

Guarantor ” means (1) Holdings; (2) the Lux Borrower (solely with respect to Obligations of the US Borrower); (3) the US Borrower (solely with respect to Obligations of the Lux Borrower); (4) each Subsidiary Loan Party and (5) each Parent Entity or Restricted Subsidiary (other than any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary) that Holdings may elect in its sole discretion, from time to time, upon written notice to the Administrative Agent, to cause to Guarantee the Obligations; provide d that, in the case of this clause (5), the Guarantee and the security interest provided by such Person is consistent with the credit support provided by the other Guarantors (or as otherwise may be acceptable to the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion), in each case subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

Guaranty ” means the guaranty made by Holdings and the other Guarantors in favor of the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties, dated as of the Closing Date, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Guaranty and Security Principles ” means the Guaranty and Security Principles set forth on Schedule 1.01(2) .

 

Hazardous Materials ” means all pollutants, contaminants, wastes, chemicals, materials, substances and constituents, including explosive or radioactive substances or petroleum or petroleum byproducts or distillates, friable asbestos or friable asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls or radon gas, in each case, that are regulated or would reasonably be expected to give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.

 

Hedge Agreement ” means any agreement with respect to any swap, forward, future or derivative transaction or option or similar agreement involving, or settled by reference to, one or more rates, currencies, commodities, equity or debt instruments or securities, or economic, financial or pricing indices or measures of economic, financial or pricing risk or value or any similar transaction or any combination of these transactions, in each case, not entered into for speculative purposes; provided that no phantom stock or similar plan providing for payments only on account of services provided by current or former directors, officers, employees or consultants of Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries will be a Hedge Agreement.

 

Holdings ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Huntsman ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Huntsman-Clariant Merger ” means the merger of Huntsman Corporation with a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clariant.

 

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Huntsman Release ” means the termination of all guarantees, commitments and other obligations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries under the Existing Huntsman Indebtedness and the termination and release of all Liens related thereto.

 

Immaterial Subsidiary ” means, as of any date, any Subsidiary that (i) did not, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holdings for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), have assets with a value in excess of 2.5% of the Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 2.5% of total revenues of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; and (ii) taken together with all Immaterial Subsidiaries as of the last day of the most recent fiscal quarter of Holdings for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered (or were required to be delivered), did not have assets with a value in excess of 5.0% of Consolidated Total Assets or revenues representing in excess of 5.0% of total revenues of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis for such four-quarter period.

 

Impacted Interest Period ” has the meaning assigned to it in the definition of “LIBO Rate.”

 

Incremental Equivalent Term Debt ” means Indebtedness of a Borrower in the form of term loans or notes, which Indebtedness is either unsecured or secured on a pari passu basis with or junior basis to the Term Loans; provided that:

 

(1)                                  the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness on any date that such Indebtedness is incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(1) shall be subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2.18(3);

 

(2)                                  the final maturity date of such Incremental Equivalent Term Debt may not be earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans (and in the case of any junior secured or unsecured Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, the final maturity date may not be earlier than the date that is 91 days after the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans);

 

(3)                                  the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Equivalent Term Debt may be no shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans;

 

(4)                                  except for any of the following that are applicable only to periods following the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans, the covenants, events of default, subsidiary guarantees and other terms for such Indebtedness or commitments (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, interest rates (including through fixed interest rates), interest rate margins, rate floors, fees, funding discounts, original issue discounts and redemption or prepayment terms and premiums), when taken as a whole, are determined by Holdings in good faith (i) to be on customary market terms or (ii) not to be materially more restrictive on Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the terms of this Agreement, when taken as a whole;

 

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(5)                                  if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, such Indebtedness (a) solely consists of notes and (b) a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(6)                                  if such Indebtedness is secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Incremental Equivalent Term Debt will include any Registered Equivalent Notes issued in exchange therefor.

 

Incremental Facility ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(1).

 

Incremental Facility Amendment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(5).

 

Incremental Lenders ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(5).

 

Incremental Term Loan Installment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(2).

 

Incremental Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(1).

 

Incremental Yield ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.18(8)(b).

 

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person, without duplication:

 

(1)                                  all obligations of such Person for borrowed money;

 

(2)                                  all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments;

 

(3)                                  all obligations of such Person under conditional sale or title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such Person;

 

(4)                                  all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, to the extent the same would be required to be shown as a long-term liability on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP;

 

(5)                                  all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person;

 

(6)                                  all net payments that such Person would have to make in the event of an early termination, on the date Indebtedness of such Person is being determined, in respect of outstanding Hedge Agreements;

 

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(7)                                  the principal component of all obligations, contingent or otherwise, of such Person as an account party in respect of letters of credit and bank guarantees;

 

(8)                                  the principal component of all obligations of such Person in respect of bankers’ acceptances;

 

(9)                                  all Guarantees by such Person of Indebtedness described in clauses (1) through (8) above;

 

(10)                           to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); and

 

(11)                           the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock (excluding accrued dividends that have not increased the liquidation preference of such Disqualified Stock);

 

provided that Indebtedness will not include:

 

(a)                                  trade payables, accrued expenses and intercompany liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)                                  prepaid or deferred revenue arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

(c)                                   purchase price holdbacks arising in the ordinary course of business in respect of a portion of the purchase prices of an asset to satisfy unperformed obligations of the seller of such asset; or

 

(d)                                  earn-out obligations until such obligations are not paid after becoming due and payable.

 

The Indebtedness of any Person will include the Indebtedness of any partnership in which such Person is a general partner, other than to the extent that the instrument or agreement evidencing such Indebtedness expressly limits the liability of such Person in respect thereof.

 

Indemnified Taxes ” means (1) all Taxes other than Excluded Taxes imposed on or with respect to any payment made by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party under any Loan Document; and (2) to the extent not otherwise described in clause (1), Other Taxes.

 

Indemnitee ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.05(2).

 

Initial Term Loan Commitments ” means with respect to each Lender, the commitment of such Lender to make Initial Term Loans as set forth on Schedule 2.01(1).  On the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of Initial Term Loan Commitments is $300 million.

 

Initial Term Loan Facility ” means the term loan facility consisting of Initial Term Loans made to the Borrowers.

 

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Initial Term Loan Lender ” means each financial institution listed on Schedule 2.01 (other than any such Person that has ceased to be a party hereto pursuant to an Assignment and Acceptance in accordance with Section 10.04), as well as any Person that becomes a Lender hereunder pursuant to Section 10.04 by assignment of any Initial Term Loans.

 

Initial Term Loans ” means the term loans made to the Borrowers on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 2.01.

 

Initial Venator Distribution Transaction ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Intellectual Property Rights ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the US Collateral Agreement.

 

Intellectual Property Security Agreements ” shall mean (i) any “Intellectual Property Security Agreement” as defined in the US Collateral Agreement and each other intellectual property security agreement or supplement thereto executed and delivered pursuant to Section 5.10 or Schedule 1.01(3)  (as such schedule may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the Guaranty and Security Principles).

 

Intercreditor Agreement ” means the Intercreditor Agreement, to be entered into as of the Closing Date, by and among the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent and JPMCB, as administrative agent and collateral agent under the ABL Credit Agreement, Holdings and the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Loan Parties, as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Interest Coverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of (1) the Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent period of four consecutive fiscal quarters for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, to (2) the sum of (a) the Consolidated Interest Expense of Holdings for such period, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis and in each case, paid or payable in cash, and (b) all cash dividend payments (excluding items eliminated in consolidation and payments on account of tax distributions) on any series of Disqualified Stock of Holdings or preferred stock of any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, made during such period.

 

Interest Election Request ” means a request by a Borrower to convert or continue a Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04.

 

Interest Payment Date ” means (1) with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan, the last day of the Interest Period applicable to the Borrowing of which such Term Loan is a part and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing with an Interest Period of more than three months’ duration, each day that would have been an Interest Payment Date had successive Interest Periods of three months’ duration been applicable to such Borrowing; (2) with respect to any ABR Loan, the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter of Holdings; and (3) to the extent necessary to create a fungible Class of Term Loans and solely with respect to the first Interest

 

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Payment Date of a new Class of Term Loans, on any Business Day that any additional Term Loans are incurred.

 

Interest Period ” means, as to any Eurocurrency Borrowing, the period commencing on the date of such Borrowing or on the last day of the immediately preceding Interest Period applicable to such Borrowing, as applicable, and ending on the numerically corresponding day (or, if there is no numerically corresponding day, on the last day) in the calendar month that is one, two, three or six months thereafter (or, if agreed by all Lenders, 12 months or such shorter interest period), as the applicable Borrower may elect, or the date any Eurocurrency Borrowing is converted to an ABR Borrowing in accordance with Section 2.04 or repaid or prepaid in accordance with Section 2.06, 2.07 or 2.08; provided that:

 

(1)                                  if any Interest Period would end on a day other than a Business Day, such Interest Period will be extended to the next succeeding Business Day unless such next succeeding Business Day would fall in the next calendar month, in which case such Interest Period will end on the next preceding Business Day;

 

(2)                                  any Interest Period that begins on the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on a day for which there is no numerically corresponding day in the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period) will end on the last Business Day of the calendar month at the end of such Interest Period; and

 

(3)                                  no Interest Period will extend beyond the applicable Maturity Date.  Interest will accrue from and including the first day of an Interest Period to but excluding the last day of such Interest Period.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, solely with respect to the initial Interest Period for a new Class of Term Loans, such Interest Period may be adjusted by the Administrative Agent to the extent necessary to create a fungible Class of Term Loans.

 

Interpolated Screen Rate ” means, with respect to any Eurocurrency Loan denominated in any currency for any Interest Period, the rate per annum (rounded to the same number of decimal places as the Screen Rate) determined by the Administrative Agent (which determination shall be conclusive and binding absent manifest error) to be equal to the rate that results from interpolating on a linear basis between: (a) the Screen Rate for the longest period for which the Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that is shorter than the Impacted Interest Period; and (b) the Screen Rate for the shortest period (for which that Screen Rate is available for the applicable currency) that exceeds the Impacted Interest Period, in each case, at such time.

 

Investment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

 

Investment Grade Rating ” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P (or reasonably equivalent ratings of another internationally recognized rating agency).

 

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Investment Grade Securities ” means:

 

(1)                                  securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the U.S. government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);

 

(2)                                  securities that have an Investment Grade Rating, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(3)                                  corresponding instruments in countries other than the United States customarily utilized for high quality investments and in each case with maturities not exceeding two years from the date of acquisition; and

 

(4)                                  investments in any fund that invests at least 95.0% of its assets in investments of the type described in clauses (1) and (2) above which fund may also hold immaterial amounts of cash pending investment and/or distribution.

 

Joint Venture ” means (a) any Person which would constitute an “equity method investee” of the Borrowers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries and (b) any Person in whom the Borrowers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries beneficially owns any Equity Interest that is not a Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary).

 

JPMCB ” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

Junior Financing ” means (1) any Indebtedness permitted to be incurred hereunder that is contractually subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations or secured by Liens that are contractually subordinated to the Liens securing the Obligations (other than the ABL Obligations), (2) any unsecured Indebtedness for borrowed money (other than unsecured Indebtedness in a principal amount not exceeding $15 million in the aggregate over the term of this Agreement) or (3) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of any of the foregoing.

 

Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement ” means a “junior lien” intercreditor agreement reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  Upon the request of Holdings, the Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent will execute and deliver a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement with the Loan Parties and one or more Debt Representatives for Indebtedness permitted hereunder that is permitted to be secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans.

 

Latest Maturity Date ” means, as of any date of determination, the latest Maturity Date of the Term Facilities in effect on such date.

 

LCA Election ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(a).

 

LCA Test Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.07(a).

 

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Legal Reservations ” means:

 

(1)                                  the principle that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, pre-insolvency proceedings (including, insofar as it refers to Spanish Loan Parties, transactions that may derive from articles 5 bis, 71 and 71 bis, as well as Additional Provision 4th of the Spanish Insolvency Law), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles (whether enforcement is sought by proceedings in equity or at law);

 

(2)                                  the time barring of claims under any applicable law of any Relevant Jurisdiction, the possibility that an undertaking to assume liability for or indemnify a person against non-payment of stamp duty may be void, the possibility that a court may strike out provisions of a contract as being invalid for reasons of oppression, undue influence or similar reasons and defenses of set-off or counterclaim and similar principles, rights, defenses and limitations under the laws of any applicable jurisdiction;

 

(3)                                  the principle that in certain circumstances Liens granted by way of fixed charge may be re-characterized as a floating charge or that Liens purported to be constituted as an assignment may be re-characterized as a charge;

 

(4)                                  the principle that additional interest imposed pursuant to any relevant agreement may be held to be unenforceable on the grounds that it is a penalty and therefore void;

 

(5)                                  the principle that a court may not give effect to an indemnity for legal costs incurred by an unsuccessful litigant;

 

(6)                                  the principle that the creation or purported creation of a Lien over any contract or agreement which is subject to a prohibition on transfer, assignment or charging may be void, ineffective or invalid and may give rise to a breach of the contract or agreement over which a Lien has purportedly been created;

 

(7)                                  implied covenants of good faith and fair dealing;

 

(8)                                  similar principles, rights and defenses under the laws of any Relevant Jurisdiction; and

 

(9)                                  any other matters which are set out as qualifications or reservations as to matters of law of general application in the legal opinions delivered pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Lender ” means each Initial Term Loan Lender and any Additional Lender.

 

Lender Default ” means:

 

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(1)                                  the refusal (which has not been retracted) or failure of any Lender to make available its portion of any Borrowing, unless such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and Holdings in writing that such failure is the result of such Lender’s good faith determination that a condition precedent to funding (each of which conditions precedent, together with any applicable default, shall be specifically identified in such writing) has not been satisfied;

 

(2)                                  any Lender has notified Holdings or the Administrative Agent that it does not intend to comply with its funding obligations or has made a public statement to that effect with respect to its funding obligations under the Term Facility or under other similar agreements in which it commits to extend credit;

 

(3)                                  any Lender has, or has a direct or indirect parent company that has, become the subject of a Bail-In Action; or

 

(4)                                  the admission by any Lender in writing that it is insolvent or such Lender becoming subject to a Lender-Related Distress Event.

 

Lender-Related Distress Event ” means, with respect to any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls a Lender (each, a “ Distressed Person ”), as the case may be, a voluntary or involuntary case with respect to such Distressed Person under any debt relief law, or a custodian, conservator, administrator, receiver or similar official is appointed for such Distressed Person or any substantial part of such Distressed Person’s assets, or such Distressed Person or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Distressed Person is subject to a forced liquidation or Bail-In Action, or such Distressed Person makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors or is otherwise adjudicated as, or determined by any Governmental Authority having regulatory authority over such Distressed Person or its assets to be, insolvent or bankrupt; provided that a Lender-Related Distress Event will not be deemed to have occurred solely by virtue of the ownership or acquisition of any Equity Interests in any Lender or any Person that directly or indirectly controls such Lender by a Governmental Authority or an instrumentality thereof.

 

Lending Office ” means, as to any Lender, the applicable branch, office or Affiliate of such Lender designated by such Lender to make Term Loans.

 

Letter of Credit ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the ABL Credit Agreement.

 

LIBO Rate ” means with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, the Screen Rate at approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, two Business Days prior to the commencement of such Interest Period; provided that if the Screen Rate shall not be available at such time for such Interest Period (an “ Impacted Interest Period ”) with respect to the applicable currency then the LIBO Rate shall be the Interpolated Screen Rate.

 

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Lien ” means, with respect to any asset (1) any mortgage, deed of trust, lien, hypothecation, pledge, charge, license, security interest or similar encumbrance in or on such asset; or (2) the interest of a vendor or a lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or title retention agreement (or any financing lease having substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing) relating to such asset; provided that in no event will an operating lease, any capital lease in respect of Real Property permitted hereunder or an agreement to sell be deemed to constitute a Lien.

 

Limited Condition Acquisition ” means any acquisition, including by way of merger, by Holdings or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries permitted pursuant to the Loan Documents whose consummation is not conditioned on the availability of, or on obtaining, third party financing.

 

Loan Documents ” means this Agreement, the Guaranty, the Security Documents, the Intercreditor Agreement, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, any Note and, solely for the purposes of Sections 3.01, 3.02, and 8.01(3) hereof, the Fee Letter.

 

Loan Parties ” means Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiary Loan Parties.

 

Luxembourg ” means the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

 

Luxembourg Loan Party ” means Lux Borrower and any other Loan Party incorporated in Luxembourg.

 

Margin Stock ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Regulation U.

 

Material Adverse Effect ” means a material adverse effect on:

 

(1)                                  the business, financial condition or results of operations, in each case, of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (taken as a whole);

 

(2)                                  the ability of the Borrowers and the Guarantors (taken as a whole) to perform their payment obligations under the Loan Documents; or

 

(3)                                  the rights and remedies of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders (taken as a whole) under the Loan Documents.

 

Material Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary Loan Party in an aggregate outstanding principal amount exceeding $50 million.

 

Material Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary other than an Immaterial Subsidiary.

 

Maturity Date ” means, as the context may require:

 

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(1)                                  with respect to all Initial Term Loans, the date that occurs seven years after the Closing Date;

 

(2)                                  with respect to any Incremental Term Loans, the final maturity date specified therefor in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment;

 

(3)                                  with respect to any Other Term Loans, the final maturity date specified therefor in the applicable Refinancing Amendment; and

 

(4)                                  with respect to any Extended Term Loans, the final maturity date specified therefor in the applicable Extension Amendment.

 

Maximum Liability ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 1.09.

 

Maximum Rate ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.09.

 

MIRE Event ” means if there are any Mortgaged Properties at such time, any increase, extension or renewal of any of the Commitments or Loans (including an Incremental Loan or any other incremental credit facilities hereunder, but excluding (i) any continuation or conversion of borrowings, (ii) the making of any Loan or (iii) the issuance, renewal or extension of Letters of Credit).

 

MNPI ” means any material Nonpublic Information regarding Holdings and the Subsidiaries that has not been disclosed to the Lenders generally (other than Lenders who elect not to receive such information).  For purposes of this definition “material Nonpublic Information” means Nonpublic Information that would reasonably be expected to be material to a decision by any Lender to assign or acquire any Term Loans or to enter into any of the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

 

Mortgaged Properties ” means, all Owned Material Real Property, as to which the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties shall be granted a Lien pursuant to the Mortgages.

 

Mortgages ” means each of the mortgages, deeds of trust and deeds to secure debt or other security document made by any Loan Party, reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, in favor of, or for the benefit of, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, as the same may be amended, supplemented, replaced or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

Multiemployer Plan ” means a multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA to which Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate (other than one considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Code Section 414) is making or accruing an obligation to make

 

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contributions, or has within any of the preceding five plan years made or accrued an obligation to make contributions.

 

Net Cash Proceeds ” means the aggregate cash proceeds (using the fair market value of any Cash Equivalents) received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of any Asset Sale (including any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, and including any proceeds received as a result of unwinding any related Hedge Agreements in connection with such transaction but excluding the assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other consideration received in any other non-cash form), net of the direct cash costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Non-Cash Consideration (including legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required to be paid as a result of such transaction that is secured by a Permitted Lien that is prior or senior to the Lien securing the Obligations, any costs associated with unwinding any related Hedge Agreements in connection with such transaction and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries after such sale or other disposition thereof, including pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction; provided that such reserved amounts will be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds to the extent and at the time of any reversal thereof (to the extent not applied to the satisfaction of any applicable liabilities in cash in a corresponding amount).  For purposes of Section 2.08(1), no cash proceeds realized in connection with an Asset Sale will be deemed to be Net Cash Proceeds unless such Asset Sale involves aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million.

 

New York Courts ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.15(1).

 

No MNPI Representation ” means, with respect to any Person, a customary representation that such Person is not in possession of any MNPI.

 

Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction ” means, with respect to a French Guarantor, a “non-cooperative state or territory” ( Etat ou territoire non coopératif ) as set out in the list referred to in Article 238-0 A of the French tax code ( Code Général des Impôts ), as such list may be amended from time to time.

 

Non-Debt Fund Affiliate ” shall mean any Affiliate of Holdings (other than Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Borrowers) that is not a Debt Fund Affiliate.

 

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Non-Consenting Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.16(3).

 

Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap ” means the sum of (x) $225 million, (y) the aggregate principal amount of any voluntary prepayments of Term Loans made pursuant to Section 2.07 and (z) the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans purchased pursuant to Section 10.04(14) by any Purchasing Borrower Party, in each case of (y) and (z), to the extent not funded with the proceeds of long-term Indebtedness.

 

Note ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.05(5).

 

NYFRB ” means the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

 

NYFRB Rate ” means, for any day, the greater of (a) the Federal Funds Rate in effect on such day and (b) the Overnight Bank Funding Rate in effect on such day (or for any day that is not a Business Day, for the immediately preceding Business Day); provided that if none of such rates are published for any day that is a Business Day, the term “NYFRB Rate” means the rate for a federal funds transaction quoted at 11:00 a.m. on such day received to the Administrative Agent from a Federal funds broker of recognized standing selected by it; provided, further , that if any of the aforesaid rates shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to be zero for purposes of this Agreement.

 

Obligations ” means:

 

(1)                                  all amounts owing to any Agent or any Lender pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, including all interest and expenses accrued or accruing (or that would, absent the commencement of an insolvency or liquidation proceeding, accrue) after the commencement by or against any Loan Party of any proceeding under Title 11 of the United States Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended, or any other federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, administration, receivership or similar law naming such Loan Party as the debtor in such proceeding, in accordance with and at the rate specified in this Agreement, whether or not the claim for such interest or expense is allowed or allowable as a claim in such proceeding; and

 

(2)                                  from and after the Closing Date, any Specified Hedge Obligations;

 

provided that:

 

(a)                                  any Specified Hedge Obligations will be secured and Guaranteed pursuant to the Security Documents only to the extent that, and for so long as, the other Obligations are so secured and Guaranteed;

 

(b)                                  any release of Collateral or Guarantors  effected in the manner permitted by this Agreement or any Security Document will not require the consent of any Qualified Counterparty pursuant to any Loan Document; and

 

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(c)                                   Obligations shall not, in any event, include any Excluded Swap Obligation.

 

OFAC ” means the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.

 

Original Term Loan Installment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(1).

 

Other Connection Taxes ” means, with respect to any Recipient, Taxes imposed as a result of a present or former connection between such Recipient and the jurisdiction imposing such Tax (other than connections arising solely from such Recipient having executed, delivered, become a party to, performed its obligations under, received payments under, received or perfected a security interest under, engaged in any other transaction pursuant to or enforced any Loan Document, or sold or assigned an interest in any Term Loan or Loan Document).

 

Other First Lien Indebtedness ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.08(1)(c).

 

Other Taxes ” means any and all present or future stamp, court or documentary, intangible, recording, filing or similar Taxes that arise from any payment made under, from the execution, delivery, performance, enforcement or registration of, from the receipt or perfection of a security interest under, or otherwise with respect to, any Loan Document, except any such Taxes that are Other Connection Taxes imposed with respect to an assignment (other than an assignment made pursuant to Section 2.16(2)) and Taxes due as a result of registration or other action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender where such registration or action is not: (a) necessary to maintain, preserve, establish, enforce, perfect or protect the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents; or (b) required by any competent tax administration or supervisory body.

 

Other Term Loan Installment Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.06(2).

 

Other Term Loans ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 2.19(1).

 

Overnight Bank Funding Rate ” means, for any day, the rate comprised of both overnight federal funds and overnight eurocurrency borrowings by U.S.-managed banking offices of depository institutions, as such composite rate shall be determined by the NYFRB as set forth on its public website from time to time, and published on the next succeeding Business Day by the NYFRB as an overnight bank funding rate (from and after such date as the NYFRB shall commence to publish such composite rate).

 

Owned Material Real Property ” means any Real Property owned in fee by any of the Loan Parties that has a fair market value (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) of $15 million or more, other than (i) any Real Property that is a US Excluded Asset, (ii) that would be excluded from the Collateral pursuant to the Guaranty and

 

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Security Principles, (iii) Real Property located at 302 Midway Road, Freeport, TX 77541 or (iv) as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent.

 

Parent Entity ” means any direct or indirect parent of the Borrowers, including, for the avoidance of doubt, Holdings.

 

Participant ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(4)(a).

 

Participant Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(4)(a).

 

Payment Office ” means s the office of the Administrative Agent located at 500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01, Newark, DE 19713-2107, Attention of Joe Aftanis (Telephone: 302-552-0847, Fax: 12016395215@tls.ldsprod.com), or such other office as the Administrative Agent may hereafter designate to the Borrowers and the Lenders from time to time.

 

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation referred to and defined in ERISA, or any successor thereto.

 

Pensions Regulator ” means the body corporate called the Pensions Regulator established under Part I of the Pensions Act 2004 (UK).

 

Perfection Certificate ” means the Perfection Certificate with respect to the US Loan Parties in a form substantially similar to that delivered on the Closing Date.

 

Permitted Acquisition ” means any acquisition of all or substantially all the assets of, or a majority of the Equity Interests in, or merger, consolidation or amalgamation with, a Person or division or line of business of a Person (or any subsequent investment made in a Person, division or line of business previously acquired in a Permitted Acquisition) if (1) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Investment or would result therefrom; and (2) immediately after giving effect thereto, with respect to acquisitions of entities that do not become Subsidiary Loan Parties, the aggregate fair market value of all Investments made in such entities since the Closing Date (with all such Investments being valued at their original fair market value and without taking into account subsequent increases or decreases in value) will not exceed the greater of (a) $65 million and (b) 2.6% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such acquisition is made.

 

Permitted Amendment ” means any Incremental Facility Amendment, Refinancing Amendment or Extension Amendment.

 

Permitted Debt ” has the meaning assigned thereto in Section 6.01.

 

Permitted Holders ” means each of:

 

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(1)                                  (i) Huntsman Corporation and (ii) after the consummation of the Huntsman-Clariant Merger, Clariant, and, in each case, any of their Affiliates and successors-in-interest; and

 

(2)                                  any group (within the meaning of Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act) of which the Persons described in clause (1) above are members; provided that, without giving effect to the existence of such group or any other group, the Persons described in clause (1), collectively, beneficially own Voting Stock representing 50% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Holdings then held by such group.

 

Permitted Investment ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.04.

 

Permitted Liens ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.02.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, defease or refund (collectively, “ Refinance ”) the Indebtedness being Refinanced (or previous refinancings thereof constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness); provided that:

 

(1)                                  the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount (or accreted value, if applicable) of the Indebtedness so Refinanced ( plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts or original issue discount, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses);

 

(2)                                  the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is greater than or equal to the shorter of (a) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (b) the Weighted Average Life to Maturity that would result if all payments of principal on the Indebtedness being Refinanced that were due on or after the date that is one year following the Latest Maturity Date were instead due on the date that is one year following the Latest Maturity Date; provided that no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in reliance on this subclause (b) will have any scheduled principal payments due prior to the Latest Maturity Date in excess of, or prior to, the scheduled principal payments due prior to such Latest Maturity Date for the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

(3)                                  if the Indebtedness being Refinanced is subordinated in right of payment to any Obligations under this Agreement, such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to such Obligations on terms at least as favorable to the Lenders (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) as those contained in the documentation governing the Indebtedness being Refinanced;

 

(4)                                  no Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may have different obligors, or greater Guarantees or security, than the Indebtedness being Refinanced; provided that, with respect to a Refinancing of the ABL Obligations, the Liens on the Collateral, if any, securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will be on terms not materially less

 

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favorable to the Lenders than those contained in the documentation governing the ABL Credit Agreement, as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(5)                                  the terms and conditions (including, if applicable, as to collateral) of any such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are either (i) substantially identical to or less favorable to the providers of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness, taken as a whole, than the terms and conditions of the Indebtedness being Refinanced (except for any such terms that are applicable only to periods following the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans) or (ii) when taken as a whole (other than interest rate, prepayment premiums and redemption premiums), not more restrictive to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries than those set forth in this Agreement or are customary for similar indebtedness in light of current market conditions;

 

(6)                                  in the case of a Refinancing of Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans with Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(7)                                  in the case of a Refinancing of Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with, or on a junior basis to, the Term Loans with Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a junior basis, to the Term Loans, a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness has become party to or is otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement and, if applicable, the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(8)                                  in the case of a Refinancing of the ABL Obligations, the Liens on the Collateral, if any, securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or another intercreditor agreement that is substantially consistent with, and no less favorable to the Lenders in any material respect than, the Intercreditor Agreement as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings and as certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings.

 

Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness may not be incurred to Refinance Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a junior basis to the Term Loans with Indebtedness that is secured by the Collateral on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans.

 

Indebtedness constituting Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness will not cease to constitute Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness as a result of the subsequent extension of the Latest Maturity Date after the date of original incurrence thereof.

 

Person ” means any natural person, corporation, business trust, joint venture, association, company, partnership, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, government, individual or family trust, Governmental Authority or other entity of whatever nature.

 

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Pigments and Additives Business ” means the titanium dioxide and performance additives businesses and related assets of Huntsman and its Subsidiaries.

 

Plan ” means any “employee pension benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA (other than a Multiemployer Plan) that is (1) subject to the provisions of Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA; and (2) either (a) sponsored or maintained (at the time of determination or at any time within the five years prior thereto) by Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate or (b) in respect of which Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate is (or, if such plan were terminated, would under Section 4069 of ERISA be deemed to be) an “employer” as defined in Section 3(5) of ERISA.

 

PPSA ” means mean the Personal Property Security Act (Ontario) and the Regulations and Orders made thereunder, as from time to time in effect, provided, however, if attachment, perfection or priority of Collateral Agent’s security interests in any Collateral are governed by the personal property security laws of any jurisdiction other than Ontario, PPSA shall mean those personal property security laws in such other jurisdiction for the purposes of the provisions hereof relating to such attachment, perfection or priority and for the definitions related to such provisions.

 

Prime Rate ” means the rate of interest per annum publicly announced from time to time by JPMCB as its prime rate in effect at its office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York; each change in the Prime Rate shall be effective from and including the date such change is publicly announced as being effective.

 

Pro Forma Basis ” or “ Pro Forma ” means, with respect to the calculation of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or any other calculation under any applicable provision of the Loan Documents, as of any date, that (1) pro forma effect will be given to the Transactions, any Permitted Acquisition or Investment, any issuance, incurrence, assumption or permanent repayment of Indebtedness (including Indebtedness issued, incurred or assumed as a result of, or to finance, any relevant transaction and for which any such financial ratio or other calculation is being calculated), all sales, transfers and other dispositions or discontinuance of any Subsidiary, line of business, division or store, or any conversion of a Restricted Subsidiary to an Unrestricted Subsidiary or of an Unrestricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary and restructuring, strategic and other cost savings initiatives, in each case that have occurred during the four consecutive fiscal quarter period of Holdings being used to calculate such financial ratio (the “ Reference Period ”), or subsequent to the end of the Reference Period but prior to such date or prior to or simultaneously with the event for which a determination under this definition is made (including any such event occurring at a Person who became a Restricted Subsidiary after the commencement of the Reference Period), as if each such event occurred on the first day of the Reference Period, and (2) pro forma effect will be given to factually supportable and identifiable pro forma cost savings related to operational efficiencies, strategic initiatives or purchasing improvements and other synergies, in each case, reasonably expected by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries to be realized based upon actions reasonably expected to be taken within 18 months of the date of such calculation (without duplication of the amount of actual benefit realized during such period from such

 

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actions), which cost savings, improvements and synergies can be reasonably computed, as certified in writing by a Financial Officer of Holdings; provided that any such pro forma adjustments in respect of such cost savings, improvements and synergies (other than with respect to the Transactions) shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated EBITDA (before giving effect to all such adjustments) for any four-quarter period; provided, further than such 20% cap shall not apply to Holdings’ cost savings program that was publicly announced prior to the Effective Date in an amount not to exceed $60 million.

 

Process Agent ” has the meaning specified in Section 10.15.

 

Projections ” means all projections (including financial estimates, financial models, forecasts and other forward-looking information) furnished to the Lenders or the Administrative Agent by or on behalf of Holdings or any of the Subsidiaries on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

Public Lender ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 9.03(1).

 

Purchasing Borrower Party ” means Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings that becomes an Assignee or Participant pursuant to Section 10.04(14).

 

Qualified Counterparty ” means any counterparty to any Specified Hedge Agreement that, at the time such Specified Hedge Agreement was entered into or on the Closing Date, was an Agent, an Arranger, a Lender or an Affiliate of the foregoing, whether or not such Person subsequently ceases to be an Agent, an Arranger, a Lender or an Affiliate of the foregoing.

 

Qualified Equity Interests ” means any Equity Interests other than Disqualified Stock.

 

Qualified Receivables Financing ” means any Receivables Financing of a Receivables Subsidiary that meets the following conditions:

 

(1)                                  the Board of Directors of Holdings has determined in good faith that such Qualified Receivables Financing (including financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions) is, in the aggregate, economically fair and reasonable to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(2)                                  all sales or contributions of accounts receivable and related assets by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to the Receivables Subsidiary are made at fair market value (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings); and

 

(3)                                  the financing terms, covenants, termination events and other provisions thereof will be market terms (as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) and may include Standard Securitization Undertakings.

 

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The grant of a security interest in any accounts receivable of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Receivables Subsidiary) to secure any Indebtedness will not be deemed a Qualified Receivables Financing; provided , however , that a grant of a security interest in such accounts receivable to perfect the transfer of an ownership interest in such accounts receivable to a Receivables Subsidiary shall not be considered a grant to secure any Indebtedness.

 

Quarterly Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(2).

 

Ratio Debt ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.01.

 

Real Property ” means, collectively, all right, title and interest (including any leasehold estate) in and to any and all parcels of or interests in real property owned in fee or leased, subleased or licensed by any Loan Party, together with, in each case, all easements, hereditaments and appurtenances relating thereto, and all improvements and appurtenant fixtures incidental to the ownership, lease, sublease or license thereof.

 

Receivables Facility ” means one or more receivables financing facilities, as amended, supplemented, modified, extended, renewed, restated, refunded, replaced or refinanced from time to time, the Indebtedness of which is non-recourse (except for standard representations, warranties, covenants and indemnities made in connection with such facilities) to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary sells or contributes its accounts receivable to either (1) a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary; or (2) a Receivables Subsidiary that in turn sells its accounts receivable to a Person that is not a Restricted Subsidiary or borrows against such accounts receivable.

 

Receivables Financing ” means any transaction or series of transactions that may be entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiaries may sell, convey, contribute or otherwise transfer to:

 

(1)                                  a Receivables Subsidiary (in the case of a transfer by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Receivables Subsidiary); and

 

(2)                                  any other Person (in the case of a transfer by a Receivables Subsidiary), or may grant a security interest in, any accounts receivable (whether now existing or arising in the future) of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, and any assets related thereto including all collateral securing such accounts receivable, all contracts and all guarantees or other obligations in respect of such accounts receivable, proceeds of such accounts receivable and other assets which are customarily transferred or in respect of which security interests are customarily granted in connection with asset securitization transactions involving accounts receivable and any Hedge Agreements entered into by Holdings or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such accounts receivable.

 

Receivables Repurchase Obligation ” means any obligation of a seller to repurchase receivables transferred by such seller in a Qualified Receivables Financing, which

 

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obligation arises as a result of a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant or otherwise, including as a result of a receivable or portion thereof becoming subject to any asserted defense, dispute, off-set or counterclaim of any kind as a result of any action taken by, any failure to take action by or any other event relating to the seller.

 

Receivables Subsidiary ” means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (or another Person formed solely for the purposes of engaging in a Qualified Receivables Financing with Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary and to which Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary transfers accounts receivable and related assets) which engages in no activities other than in connection with the financing of accounts receivable of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries, all proceeds thereof and all rights (contractual or other), collateral and other assets relating thereto, and any business or activities incidental or related to such business, and which is designated by the Board of Directors of Holdings (as provided below) as a Receivables Subsidiary and:

 

(1)                                  no portion of the Indebtedness or any other obligations (contingent or otherwise):

 

(a)                                  is guaranteed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (excluding guarantees of obligations (other than the principal of, and interest on, Indebtedness) pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, including servicing performance guarantees);

 

(b)                                  is recourse to or obligates Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in any way other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings, including servicing performance guarantees; or

 

(c)                                   subjects any property or asset of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, contingently or otherwise, to the satisfaction thereof, other than pursuant to Standard Securitization Undertakings;

 

(2)                                  with which neither Holdings nor any Restricted Subsidiary has any material contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding other than on terms which Holdings reasonably believes to be no less favorable to Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that might be obtained at the time from Persons that are not Affiliates of Holdings; and

 

(3)                                  to which neither Holdings nor any other Restricted Subsidiary has any obligation to maintain or preserve such entity’s financial condition or cause such entity to achieve certain levels of operating results.

 

Any such designation by the Board of Directors of Holdings will be evidenced to the Administrative Agent by filing with the Administrative Agent a certified copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors of Holdings giving effect to such designation and a certificate of a Responsible Officer of Holdings certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing conditions.

 

Recipient ” means the Administrative Agent and any Lender, as applicable.

 

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Refinance ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the definition of “ Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness ,” and the terms “ Refinanced ” and “ Refinancing ” will have correlative meanings.

 

Refinancing Amendment ” means an amendment to this Agreement (and, as necessary, each other Loan Document) executed by each of (1) the Borrowers and Holdings; (2) the Administrative Agent; and (3) each Lender that agrees to provide any portion of the Other Term Loans in accordance with Section 2.19.

 

Register ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(2)(d).

 

Registered Equivalent Notes ” means, with respect to any notes originally issued in a Rule 144A or other private placement transaction under the Securities Act, substantially identical notes (having the same Guarantees and collateral provisions) issued by either Borrower in a dollar-for-dollar exchange therefor pursuant to an exchange offer registered with the SEC.

 

Regulation T ” means Regulation T of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation U ” means Regulation U of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Regulation X ” means Regulation X of the Board as from time to time in effect and all official rulings and interpretations thereunder or thereof.

 

Reinvestment Deferred Amount ” means, with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the aggregate amount of Net Cash Proceeds received by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary in connection therewith that are not applied to prepay the Term Loans as a result of the delivery of a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Event ” means any Asset Sale in respect of which Holdings has delivered a Reinvestment Notice.

 

Reinvestment Notice ” means a written notice executed by a Responsible Officer of Holdings stating that Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary intends and expects to use an amount of funds not to exceed the amount of Net Cash Proceeds of an Asset Sale to restore, rebuild, repair, construct, improve, replace or otherwise acquire assets used or useful in Holdings’ or a Restricted Subsidiary’s business.

 

Reinvestment Prepayment Amount ” means, with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the Reinvestment Deferred Amount relating thereto less any amount expended by Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary prior to the relevant Reinvestment Prepayment Date to restore, rebuild, repair, construct, improve, replace or otherwise acquire assets used or useful in Holdings’ or a Restricted Subsidiary’s business.

 

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Reinvestment Prepayment Date ” means, with respect to any Reinvestment Event, the date occurring one year after such Reinvestment Event or, if Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary has entered into a legally binding commitment within one year after such Reinvestment Event to restore, rebuild, repair, construct, improve, replace or otherwise acquire assets used or useful in Holdings’ or a Restricted Subsidiary’s business, the date occurring two years after such Reinvestment Event.

 

Related Parties ” means, with respect to any specified Person, (1) such Person’s controlled Affiliates and the respective directors, officers and employees of such Person and such Persons’ controlled Affiliates and (2) the agents, advisors and other representatives of such Person and such Person’s controlled Affiliates in each case acting on behalf of, or at the express instructions of, such Person or such Person’s controlled Affiliates.

 

Release ” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, emanating or migrating in, into, upon, onto or through the Environment.

 

Relevant Jurisdiction ” means, in relation to a Loan Party:

 

(a) the jurisdiction under whose laws that Loan Party is incorporated or organized as at the date of this Agreement or as at the date on which that Loan Party becomes party to this Agreement (as the case may be);

 

(b) any jurisdiction where it conducts its business; and

 

(c) any jurisdiction where any asset subject to or intended to be subject to the Liens to be created by it is situated.

 

Reportable Event ” means any reportable event as defined in Section 4043(c) of ERISA or the regulations issued thereunder, other than those events as to which the 30 day notice period referred to in Section 4043(c) of ERISA has been waived, with respect to a Plan (other than a Plan maintained by an ERISA Affiliate that is considered an ERISA Affiliate only pursuant to subsection (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code).

 

Repricing Event ” means (1) any prepayment of the Initial Term Loans with the proceeds of, or any conversion of such Initial Term Loans into, any new or replacement tranche of debt financing bearing interest at yield that is less than the yield applicable to such Class of Term Loans and (2) any amendment to the Initial Term Loan Facility that, directly or indirectly, reduces the yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans (in each case, calculating such yield consistent with the methodology for calculating the “yield” of the Initial Term Loans and any “Incremental Yield” pursuant to the terms of Section 2.18(8)); provided that no Repricing Event will be deemed to occur in connection with (x) a transaction not consummated for the primary purpose of lowering of the yield applicable to the Initial Term Loans (as determined in good faith by Holdings) or (y) a Change in Control or Enterprise Transformative Event.

 

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Required Financial Statements ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.04(2).

 

Required Lender Consent Items ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(13)(c).

 

Required Lenders ” means, at any time, Lenders having Term Loans outstanding and unused Commitments that, taken together, represent more than 50.0% of the sum of all Term Loans outstanding and Commitments at such time.  The Term Loans and Commitments of any Defaulting Lender will be disregarded in determining Required Lenders; provided that subject to the Borrowers’ right to replace Defaulting Lenders as set forth herein, Defaulting Lenders will be included in determining Required Lenders with respect to:

 

(1)                                  any amendment that would disproportionately affect the obligation of the Borrowers to make payment of the Term Loans or Commitments of such Defaulting Lender as compared to other Lenders holding the same Class of Term Loans or Commitments;

 

(2)                                  any amendment relating to:

 

(a)                                  increases in the Commitment of such Defaulting Lender;

 

(b)                                  reductions of principal, interest, fees or premium applicable to the Class of Term Loans held by such Defaulting Lender or Commitments of such Defaulting Lender; and

 

(c)                                   extensions of final maturity or the due date of any amortization, interest, fee or premium payment applicable to the Class of Term Loans held by such Defaulting Lender or Commitments of such Defaulting Lender; and

 

(3)                                  matters requiring the approval of each Lender under subclauses (v) and (vi) of Section 10.08(2).

 

Required Percentage ” means, with respect to any Excess Cash Flow Period, the percentage set forth in the table below based on Total Net Leverage Ratio determined as of the last day of such Excess Cash Flow Period:

 

Total Net Leverage Ratio

 

Required Percentage

 

Greater than 2.70 to 1.00

 

50.00

%

Less than or equal to 2.70 to 1.00 but greater than 2.20 to 1.00

 

25.00

%

Less than or equal to 2.20 to 1.00

 

0.00

%

 

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Responsible Officer ” means, with respect to any Loan Party, the chief executive officer, president, vice president, statutory director, secretary, assistant secretary or any Financial Officer of such Loan Party (or any other officer or director with equivalent duties) or any other individual designated in writing to the Administrative Agent by an existing Responsible Officer of such Loan Party as an authorized signatory of any certificate or other document to be delivered hereunder, including any person authorized by a power of attorney.  Any document delivered hereunder that is signed by a Responsible Officer of a Loan Party will be conclusively presumed to have been authorized by all necessary corporate, partnership or other action on the part of such Loan Party and such Responsible Officer will be conclusively presumed to have acted on behalf of such Loan Party.  Unless the context requires otherwise, each reference herein and in any other Loan Document to a Responsible Officer of a Borrower means and is a reference to a Responsible Officer of Holdings.

 

Restricted Payments ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 6.06.

 

Restricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of a Person other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary of such Person.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Restricted Subsidiaries will mean the Restricted Subsidiaries of Holdings (including the Borrowers).

 

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services or any successor entity thereto.

 

Sale-Leaseback Transaction ” shall mean any arrangements with any Person providing for the leasing by Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of real or personal property which has been or is to be sold or transferred by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary to such Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by such Person in connection therewith.

 

Sanctioned Country ” means a country or territory which is itself the subject or target of a comprehensive economic or financial sanctions program maintained by any Sanctions Authority under any Anti-Terrorism Law, including, without limitation, as of the date of this Agreement, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba (except in respect of Canadian Subsidiaries), Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.

 

Sanctioned Person ” means (a) any Person listed in any sanctions list maintained by any Sanctions Authority, (b) a Canadian Blocked Person, (c) any Person operating, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country, or (d) any Person owned or controlled by any such Person set forth in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above.

 

Sanctions ” means all economic or financial sanctions or trade embargoes imposed, administered or enforced from time to time by any Sanctions Authority.

 

Sanctions Authority ” means the United States, Canada, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (and its member states), the United Kingdom and the respective governmental institutions of any of the foregoing, including, without limitation, Her

 

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Majesty’s Treasury, OFAC, the U.S. Department of State, and any other agency of the U.S. or Canadian government.

 

Screen Rate ” means, for any day and time, with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing for any applicable currency and for any Interest Period, the London interbank offered rate as administered by ICE Benchmark Administration (or any other Person that takes over the administration of such rate for such applicable currency for a period equal in length to such Interest Period as displayed on such day and time on pages LIBOR01 or LIBOR02 of the Reuters screen that displays such rate (or, in the event such rate does not appear on a Reuters page or screen, on any successor or substitute page on such screen that displays such rate, or on the appropriate page of such other information service that publishes such rate from time to time as selected by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that if the Screen Rate shall be less than zero, such rate shall be deemed to zero for the purposes of this Agreement.

 

SEC ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor thereto.

 

Secured Parties ” means the collective reference to the Administrative Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Lenders and any Qualified Counterparty.

 

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Security Documents ” means the collective reference to the US Collateral Agreement, the Mortgages, the Intellectual Property Security Agreements, those certain foreign security and pledge agreements listed on Schedule 1.01(3) , (as such schedule may be amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with the Guaranty and Security Principles), and each of the security agreements and other instruments and documents executed and delivered by any Loan Party pursuant thereto or pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Senior Notes ” means the notes due 2025 issued by the Borrowers pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture.

 

Senior Notes Documents ” means the Senior Notes, the Senior Notes Indenture and all other documents evidencing, guaranteeing or otherwise governing the terms of the Senior Notes.

 

Senior Notes Indenture ” means that certain Indenture, dated as of July 14, 2017, among the Borrowers, the guarantors party thereto and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee (as amended, restated, supplemented, or otherwise modified from time to time) and any supplemental indenture or additional indenture to be entered into with respect to the Senior Notes.

 

Shared Dollar Basket ” means, at any time, the greater of (a) $150 million and (b) 6.0% of Consolidated Total Assets at such time, minus the aggregate amount of (a) Investments which have been made prior to such time since the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.04(29) and which remain outstanding immediately prior to such time, (b) Restricted

 

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Payments which have been made prior to such time since the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.06(17) and (c) payments with respect to any Junior Financing which have been made prior to such time since the Closing Date in reliance on Section 6.09(2)(c).

 

Spain ” means the Kingdom of Spain.

 

Spanish Civil Code ” means the Spanish Civil Code approved by Royal Decree on 24 July 1889, as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Civil Procedure Law ” means Law 1/2000 of 7 January ( Ley 1/2000, de 7 de enero, de Enjuiciamiento Civil ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Companies Act ” means Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010 ( Real Decreto Legislativo 1/2010, de 2 de julio, por el que se aprueba el texto refundido de la Ley de Sociedades de Capital ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Insolvency Law ” means the Spanish Insolvency Law 22/2003, dated 9 July ( Ley 22/2003, de 9 de julio, Concursal ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Loan Party ” means any Loan Party incorporated under the laws of Spain.

 

Spanish Public Document ” means, a “ documento público ”, being either an “ escritura pública ” or a “ póliza o efecto intervenido por fedatario público ”.

 

Spanish Royal Decree 5/2005 ” means the Royal Decree Law 5/2005 of 11 March 2005 of urgent reforms for the productivity and for the improvement of the public sector contracting ( Real Decreto Ley 5/2005, de 11 de marzo, de reformas urgentes para el impulso de la productividad y para la mejora de la contratación pública ), as amended from time to time.

 

Spanish Security Documents ” means the documents referred to as such in Schedule 1.01(3) and any other Security Document governed by the laws of Spain to be entered into by a Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement.

 

Special Closing Date Payments ” means Restricted Payments and/or cash payments to Huntsman and its Subsidiaries or other distributions in cash in respect of, or redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination in respect of any indebtedness owing to Huntsman and its Subsidiaries in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the net proceeds of the Term Loans and the Senior Notes.

 

Specified Event of Default ” means any Event of Default under Section 8.01(2), 8.01(3) (solely with respect to payments of interest and Fees), 8.01(8) or 8.01(9).

 

Specified Foreign Jurisdiction ” means Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, the United Kingdom and Finland.

 

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Specified Hedge Agreement ” means any Hedge Agreement entered into or assumed between or among Holdings, the Borrowers or any other Subsidiary and any Qualified Counterparty and designated by the Qualified Counterparty and Holdings in writing to the Administrative Agent as a “Specified Hedge Agreement” under this Agreement (but only if such Hedge Agreement has not been designated as a “Specified Hedge Agreement” under the ABL Credit Agreement) and it being understood that one notice of such designation with respect to a specified ISDA Master Agreement may designate all transactions thereunder as being a “Specific Hedging Agreement”, without the need for separate notices for each individual transaction thereunder).

 

Specified Hedge Obligations ” means all amounts owing to any Qualified Counterparty under any Specified Hedge Agreement.

 

Specified Transaction ” means any Investment (including any Limited Condition Acquisition), disposition, incurrence or repayment of Indebtedness, Restricted Payment, Subsidiary designation, Incremental Facility that by the terms of this Agreement requires such test to be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis”; provided that any increase in the Commitments (including, for this purpose, any Commitment in respect of any Incremental Term Loan or Extended Term Loan) above the amount of Commitments in effect on the Closing Date, for purposes of this “Specified Transaction” definition, shall be deemed to be fully drawn; provided , further , that, at Holdings’ election, any such Specified Transaction (other than a Restricted Payment) having an aggregate value of less than $5 million shall not be calculated on a “Pro Forma Basis.”

 

Specified UK Plans ” means the Tioxide Europe Ltd Pension Plan, the Huntsman Global Pension Scheme and the Tioxide Europe Ltd Non-Qualified Plan.

 

Standard Securitization Undertakings ” means representations, warranties, covenants, indemnities and Guarantees of performance entered into by Holdings or any Subsidiary of Holdings that a Responsible Officer of Holdings has determined in good faith to be customary in a Receivables Financing including those relating to the servicing of the assets of a Receivables Subsidiary, it being understood that any Receivables Repurchase Obligation will be deemed to be a Standard Securitization Undertaking.

 

Statutory Reserve Rate ” means a fraction (expressed as a decimal), the numerator of which is the number one and the denominator of which is the number one minus the aggregate of the maximum reserve percentage (including any marginal, special, emergency or supplemental reserves) expressed as a decimal established by the Board to which the Administrative Agent is subject with respect to the Adjusted LIBO Rate, for eurocurrency funding (currently referred to as “Eurocurrency Liabilities” in Regulation D of the Board).  Such reserve percentage shall include those imposed pursuant to such Regulation D.  Eurocurrency Loans shall be deemed to constitute eurocurrency funding and to be subject to such reserve requirements without benefit of or credit for proration, exemptions or offsets that may be available from time to time to any Lender under such Regulation D or any comparable

 

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regulation.  The Statutory Reserve Rate shall be adjusted automatically on and as of the effective date of any change in any reserve percentage.

 

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which (1) Equity Interests having ordinary voting power (other than Equity Interests having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency) to elect a majority of the Board of Directors of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity are at the time owned by such Person; or (2) more than 50.0% of the Equity Interests are at the time owned by such Person.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Subsidiaries will mean Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Subsidiary Loan Parties ” means (1) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrowers) on the Closing Date (other than any Excluded Subsidiary); and (2) each Wholly Owned Subsidiary (other than any Excluded Subsidiary) of Holdings that becomes, or is required to become, a party to the US Collateral Agreement or any other Security Document after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5.10.

 

Swap Obligation ” means, with respect to any Guarantor, any obligation to pay or perform under any agreement, contract or transaction that constitutes a “swap” within the meaning of section 1a(47) of the Commodity Exchange Act.

 

Syndication Agents ” means Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Bank of America, N.A., Barclays Bank PLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, PNC Bank, National Association, Royal Bank of Canada and SunTrust Bank, each in its capacity as the Syndication Agent.

 

Taxes ” means any and all present or future taxes, levies, imposts, duties, deductions, withholdings (including backup withholding) or similar charges imposed by any Governmental Authority and any and all interest and penalties related thereto.

 

Term Facility ” means the facility and commitments utilized in making Term Loans hereunder.  On the Closing Date, the sole Term Facility is the Initial Term Loan Facility.  Following the establishment of any Incremental Term Loans (other than an increase to an existing Term Facility), Other Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, such Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans or Extended Term Loans will be considered a separate Term Facility hereunder.

 

Term Loan Credit Agreement ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the preamble of this Agreement.

 

Term Loan Installment Date ” means, as the context requires, an Original Term Loan Installment Date, an Incremental Term Loan Installment Date, an Other Term Loan Installment Date or an Extended Term Loan Installment Date.

 

Term Loan Representative ” means “ Term Loan Representative ” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

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Term Loans ” means the Initial Term Loans, any Incremental Term Loans, any Other Term Loans and any Extended Term Loans, collectively (or if the context so requires, any of them individually).

 

Term Priority Collateral ” means “ Term Loan Priority Collateral ” as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

Title Company ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10(2)(b).

 

Title Policy ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 5.10(2)(b).

 

Total Net Leverage Ratio ” means, as of any date, the ratio of Consolidated Total Net Debt as of such date to Consolidated EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarter period for which Required Financial Statements have been delivered, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Trade Date ” has the meaning assigned to such term in Section 10.04(8)(a).

 

Transaction Documents ” means the ABL Loan Documents, the Senior Notes Documents and the Loan Documents.

 

Transactions ” means, collectively, the transactions contemplated to occur pursuant to the Transaction Documents, including:

 

(1)                                  the consummation of Venator Consolidation Transactions;

 

(1)                                  the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the Security Documents and the initial borrowings hereunder;

 

(2)                                  the execution and delivery of the ABL Loan Documents, the creation of the Liens pursuant to the ABL Security Documents and the initial borrowings under the ABL Credit Agreement;

 

(3)                                  the execution and delivery of the Senior Notes Documents and the issuance of the Senior Notes;

 

(4)                                  the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction;

 

(5)                                  the Huntsman Release;

 

(6)                                  the Special Closing Date Payment; and

 

(7)                                  the payment of all fees, costs and expenses in connection with the foregoing.

 

Type ” means, when used in respect of any Term Loan or Borrowing, the Rate by reference to which interest on such Term Loan or on the Term Loans comprising such Borrowing is determined.  For purposes hereof, the term “Rate” means Adjusted LIBO Rate or ABR, as applicable.

 

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UK ” means the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

 

UK Loan Party ” means any Loan Party incorporated in England and Wales.

 

UK Security Documents ” means the documents referred to as such in Schedule 1.01(3) and any other Security Document governed by English law to be entered into by a Loan Party pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement.

 

Uniform Commercial Code ” or “ UCC ” means the Uniform Commercial Code as the same may from time to time be in effect in the State of New York or the Uniform Commercial Code (or similar code or statute) of another jurisdiction, to the extent it may be required to apply to any item or items of Collateral.

 

Unrestricted Cash ” means, as of any date, all cash and Cash Equivalents of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries as of such date that would not appear as “restricted” on the Required Financial Statements, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, determined based upon the most recent quarter-end financial statements available internally as of the date of determination, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

Unrestricted Subsidiary ” means any Subsidiary of Holdings specified on Schedule 1.01(1)  as of the Closing Date and any other Subsidiary of Holdings (other than the Borrowers) designated by Holdings as an Unrestricted Subsidiary hereunder after the Closing Date by written notice to the Administrative Agent, unless in each case such Subsidiary has been subsequently re-designated as a Restricted Subsidiary by Holdings hereunder; provided that Holdings will only be permitted to so designate a new Unrestricted Subsidiary after the Closing Date or subsequently re-designate any such Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary (by written notice to the Administrative Agent) if:

 

(1)                                  no Event of Default is continuing; provided , that if such Subsidiary is being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, at Holdings’ option, the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date;

 

(2)                                  such designation or re-designation would not cause an Event of Default; and

 

(3)                                  compliance with a maximum Total Net Leverage Ratio of 3.20 to 1.00, determined on a Pro Forma Basis; provided , that if such Subsidiary is being designated as an Unrestricted Subsidiary in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, at Holdings’ option, the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date.

 

The designation of any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary will constitute an Investment for purposes of Section 6.04.  The redesignation of any Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary will be deemed to be an incurrence at the time of such designation of Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and the Liens on the assets of such Unrestricted Subsidiary, in each case outstanding on the date of such redesignation.

 

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USA PATRIOT Act ” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (Title III of Pub. L. No. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)).

 

U.S. Person ” means any Person that is a “United States Person” as defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code.

 

US Borrower ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

US Collateral Agreement ” means the Term Loan Collateral Agreement dated as of the Closing Date, among the Loan Parties that are Domestic Subsidiaries and the Collateral Agent, as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

 

US Excluded Assets ” means “ Excluded Assets ” as defined in the US Collateral Agreement.

 

US Excluded Equity Interests ” means “ Excluded Equity Interests ” as defined in the US Collateral Agreement.

 

US Loan Parties ” means the US Borrower and each Subsidiary Loan Party that is a Domestic Subsidiary.

 

US Pledged Collateral ” means “ Pledged Collateral ” as defined in the US Collateral Agreement.

 

Venator Consolidation Transactions ” has the meaning assigned to such term in the recitals hereto.

 

Voting Stock ” means, as of any date, the Capital Stock of any Person that is at the time entitled to vote (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

 

Weighted Average Life to Maturity ” means, when applied to any Indebtedness as of any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying (a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payment of principal (excluding nominal amortization), including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof by (b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest 1/12) that will elapse between such date and the making of such payment; by (2) the then outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness.

 

Wholly Owned Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, a subsidiary of such Person, all of the Equity Interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares or nominee or other similar shares required pursuant to applicable law) are owned by such Person or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary of such Person.  Unless otherwise indicated in this Agreement, all references to Wholly Owned Subsidiaries will mean Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

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Withdrawal Liability ” means liability to a Multiemployer Plan as a result of a complete or partial withdrawal from such Multiemployer Plan, as such terms are defined in Part I of Subtitle E of Title IV of ERISA.

 

Working Capital ” means, with respect to Holdings and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis as of any date of determination, Current Assets at such date of determination minus Current Liabilities at such date of determination; provided that, for purposes of calculating Excess Cash Flow, increases or decreases in Working Capital will be calculated without regard to any changes in Current Assets or Current Liabilities as a result of (a) reclassification after the Closing Date in accordance with GAAP of assets or liabilities, as applicable, between current and non-current or (b) the effects of purchase accounting.

 

Write-Down and Conversion Powers ” means, with respect to any EEA Resolution Authority, the write-down and conversion powers of such EEA Resolution Authority from time to time under the Bail-In Legislation for the applicable EEA Member Country, which write-down and conversion powers are described in the EU Bail-In Legislation Schedule.

 

SECTION 1.02.            Terms Generally .  The definitions set forth or referred to in Section 1.01 will apply equally to both the singular and plural forms of the terms defined.  Whenever the context may require, any pronoun will include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter forms.  Unless the context requires otherwise,

 

(1)                                  the words “include,” “includes” and “including” will be deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation;”

 

(2)                                  in the computation of periods of time from a specified date to a later specified date, the word “from” means “from and including;” the words “to” and “until” each mean “to but excluding” and the word “through” means “to and including;”

 

(3)                                  the word “will” will be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word “shall;”

 

(4)                                  the word “incur” will be construed to mean incur, create, issue, assume, become liable in respect of or suffer to exist (and the words “incurred” and “incurrence” will have correlative meanings);

 

(5)                                  any reference to any Person will be construed to include such Person’s legal successors and permitted assigns; and

 

(6)                                  the words “asset” and “property” will be construed to have the same meaning and effect.

 

All references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules will be deemed references to Articles and Sections of, and Exhibits and Schedules to, this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires.  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any reference in this Agreement to any Loan Document or organizational document of the Loan Parties means such document as amended, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time (subject

 

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to any restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth herein or in any other Loan Document).  Any reference to any law will include all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending, replacing or interpreting such law and any reference to any law or regulation means, unless otherwise specified, such law or regulation as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time.  Whenever this Agreement refers to the “knowledge” of any Loan Party, such reference will be construed to mean the knowledge of the chief executive officer, president, chief financial officer, treasurer or controller or other Financial Officer or Responsible Officer of such Person.

 

For purposes of any Collateral located in the Province of Quebec or charged by any deed of hypothec (or any other Loan Document) and for all other purposes pursuant to which the interpretation or construction of a Loan Document may be subject to the laws of the Province of Quebec or a court or tribunal exercising jurisdiction in the Province of Québec, (q) “personal property” shall be deemed to include “movable property”, (r) “real property” shall be deemed to include “immovable property”, (s) “tangible property” shall be deemed to include “corporeal property”, (t) “intangible property” shall be deemed to include “incorporeal property”, (u) “security interest” and “mortgage” shall be deemed to include a “hypothec”, (v) all references to filing, registering or recording under the UCC or the PPSA shall be deemed to include publication under the Civil Code of Québec, (w) all references to “perfection” of or “perfected” Liens shall be deemed to include a reference to the “opposability” of such Liens to third parties, (x) any “right of offset”, “right of setoff” or similar expression shall be deemed to include a “right of compensation”, (y) “goods” shall be deemed to include “corporeal movable property” other than chattel paper, documents of title, instruments, money and securities, and (z) an “agent” shall be deemed to include a “mandatary”.

 

SECTION 1.03.            Accounting Terms; GAAP .  Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, all terms of an accounting or financial nature will be construed in accordance with GAAP, as in effect from time to time; provided that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, all accounting or financial terms used herein will be construed, and all financial computations pursuant hereto will be made, without giving effect to any election under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification 825-10 (or any other Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification having a similar effect) to value any Indebtedness or other liabilities of Holdings or any Subsidiary at “fair value,” as defined therein.  In the event that any Accounting Change (as defined below) occurs and such change results in a change in the method of calculation of financial covenants, standards or terms in this Agreement, then upon the written request of Holdings or the Administrative Agent (acting upon the request of the Required Lenders), Holdings, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders will enter into good faith negotiations in order to amend such provisions of this Agreement so as to equitably reflect such Accounting Change with the desired result that the criteria for evaluating Holdings’ financial condition will be the same after such Accounting Change as if such Accounting Change had not occurred; provided that provisions of this Agreement in effect on the date of such Accounting Change will remain in effect until the effective date of such amendment.  “ Accounting Change ” means (1) any change in accounting principles required by the promulgation of any rule, regulation, pronouncement or opinion by the Financial Accounting Standards Board of the American

 

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Institute of Certified Public Accountants or (2) any change in the application of GAAP by Holdings.

 

SECTION 1.04.            Effectuation of Transfers .  Each of the representations and warranties of Holdings and the Borrowers contained in this Agreement (and all corresponding definitions) is made after giving effect to the Transactions on the Closing Date, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

SECTION 1.05.            Currencies .  Unless otherwise specifically set forth in this Agreement, monetary amounts are in Dollars.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, no Default or Event of Default will arise as a result of any limitation or threshold set forth in Dollars being exceeded solely as a result of changes in currency exchange rates.

 

SECTION 1.06.            Required Financial Statements .  With respect to the determination of the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or under any other applicable provision of the Loan Documents (including the definition of Immaterial Subsidiary) made on or prior to the date on which Required Financial Statements have been delivered for the first fiscal quarter ending after the Closing Date, such calculation will be determined for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the Closing Date, and calculated on a Pro Forma Basis.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, for purposes of determining compliance with any test contained in this Agreement with respect to any period during which any Specified Transaction occurs, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio, the Total Net Leverage Ratio, the Interest Coverage Ratio or under any other applicable provision of the Loan Documents (including the definition of Immaterial Subsidiary) shall be calculated with respect to such period and such Specified Transaction on a Pro Forma Basis.

 

SECTION 1.07.            Certain Calculations and Tests .

 

(a)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any Loan Document to the contrary, in connection with a Specified Transaction undertaken in connection with the consummation of a Limited Condition Acquisition, when:

 

(i)                        determining compliance with any provision of this Agreement which requires the calculation of the First Lien Leverage Ratio, Total Leverage Ratio or the Interest Coverage Ratio;

 

(ii)                     determining compliance with representations, warranties, defaults or Events of Default; and

 

(iii)                  testing availability under baskets set forth in this agreement (including baskets measured as a percentage of Consolidated Total Assets);

 

the date of determination of whether any such action is permitted hereunder shall, at the option of Holdings (Holdings’ election to exercise such option in connection with any Limited Condition Acquisition, an “ LCA Election ”), be deemed to be the date the definitive agreements

 

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for such Limited Condition Acquisition are entered into (the “ LCA Test Date ”) and if, after such ratios and other provisions are measured on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect to such Limited Condition Acquisition and the other Specified Transactions to be entered into in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) as if they occurred at the beginning of the four consecutive fiscal quarter period being used to calculate such financial ratio ending prior to the LCA Test Date, Holdings could have taken such action on the relevant LCA Test Date in compliance with such ratios and provisions, such provisions shall be deemed to have been complied with.  For the avoidance of doubt, (x) if any of such ratios are exceeded as a result of fluctuations in such ratio (including due to fluctuations in Consolidated EBITDA of Holdings) at or prior to the consummation of the relevant Limited Condition Acquisition, such ratios and other provisions will not be deemed to have been exceeded as a result of such fluctuations solely for purposes of determining whether the Limited Condition Acquisition is permitted hereunder and (y) such ratios and other provisions shall not be tested at the time of consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition or related Specified Transactions.  If Holdings has made an LCA Election for any Limited Condition Acquisition, then in connection with any subsequent calculation of any ratio or basket availability with respect to any other Specified Transaction on or following the relevant LCA Test Date and prior to the earlier of the date on which such Limited Condition Acquisition is consummated or the date that the definitive agreement for such Limited Condition Acquisition is terminated or expires without consummation of such Limited Condition Acquisition, any such ratio or basket shall be calculated on a Pro Forma Basis assuming such Limited Condition Acquisition and other transactions in connection therewith (including any incurrence of Indebtedness and the use of proceeds thereof) have been consummated.

 

(b)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with respect to any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement under any covenant that does not require compliance with a financial ratio or test (including, without limitation, pro forma compliance with any First Lien Net Leverage Ratio test, Total Net Leverage Ratio test and/or any Interest Coverage Ratio test) (any such amounts, the “ Fixed Amounts ”) substantially concurrently with any amounts incurred or transactions entered into (or consummated) in reliance on a provision of this Agreement under the same covenant as such Fixed Amount that requires compliance with any such financial ratio or test (any such amounts, the “ Incurrence Based Amounts ”), it is understood and agreed that the Fixed Amounts being substantially concurrently incurred (other than, in the case of any Fixed Amounts contained in Section 6.01 or Section 6.02, any refinancings of any Indebtedness that was previously incurred) and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the revolving facility under the ABL Credit Agreement (and any cash proceeds thereof) shall be disregarded in the calculation of the financial ratio or test applicable to the Incurrence-Based Amounts in connection with such substantially concurrent incurrence, except that incurrences of Indebtedness and Liens constituting Fixed Amounts and any substantially concurrent borrowings under the revolving facility under the ABL Credit Agreement shall be taken into account for purposes of any Incurrence Based Amounts under any covenant other than Incurrence Based Amounts contained in Section 6.01 or Section 6.02.

 

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SECTION 1.08.            Disqualified Institutions .

 

Notwithstanding anything in the Loan Documents to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible (or have any liability) for, or have any duty to ascertain, inquire into, monitor or enforce, compliance with the provisions thereof relating to Disqualified Institutions.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Administrative Agent shall not (1) be obligated to ascertain, monitor or inquire as to whether any Lender or participant or prospective Lender or participant is a Disqualified Institution or (2) have any liability with respect to or arising out of any assignment or participation of Term Loans or commitments, or disclosure of confidential information, to any Disqualified Institution.  The list of Disqualified Institutions shall be available to Lenders upon request.

 

SECTION 1.09.            Joint and Several .  The obligations of the Borrowers hereunder and under the Loan Documents shall be joint and several, regardless of which of such Persons receives proceeds of any of the Term Loans or the manner in which the Administrative Agent and/or any Lender accounts for such Term Loans or other extensions of credit on its books and records.  If the obligations of any Borrower in respect of the other Borrowers pursuant to this Section 1.09 would otherwise be held or determined pursuant to any insolvency proceeding to be avoidable, invalid or unenforceable, the amount of such Borrower’s liability shall, without any further action by such other Borrowers or any of the Guarantors or the Lenders, be automatically limited and reduced to the highest amount that is valid and enforceable as determined in such proceeding (the “ Maximum Liability ”).  This Section with respect to the Maximum Liability is intended solely to preserve the rights of the Lenders to the maximum extent not subject to avoidance under applicable law, and no Borrower, nor any Guarantor or any other Person shall have any right or claim under this Section with respect to such Maximum Liability, except to the extent necessary so that the obligations of any Borrower hereunder shall not be rendered voidable under applicable law.  Each Borrower agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 1.09 may at any time and from time to time exceed its Maximum Liability without impairing its obligations hereunder or affecting the rights and remedies of the Lenders hereunder, provided that, nothing in this sentence shall be construed to increase any Borrower’s obligations hereunder beyond its Maximum Liability.

 

SECTION 1.10.            Luxembourg terms .  In this Agreement, where it relates to a Luxembourg Loan Party, a reference to:

 

(a)                                  the articles or certificate of incorporation or formation includes the articles of association ( statuts ) or the restated articles of association (statuts coordonnés ), as the case may be;

 

(b)                                  an officer, secretary, manager or director includes a gérant or administrateur ;

 

(c)                                   a winding-up, dissolution or administration includes a Luxembourg Loan Party:

 

(i)                                      being declared bankrupt ( faillite déclarée );

 

(ii)                                   being subject to a judicial liquidation ( liquidation judiciaire );

 

(iii)                                having filed for controlled management ( gestion contrôlée );

 

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(d)                                  a moratorium includes a reprieve from payment ( sursis de paiement ) or a concordat préventif de faillite ;

 

(e)                                   a liquidator, trustee in bankruptcy, judicial custodian, compulsory manager, receiver, administrator receiver, administrator or similar officer includes any:

 

(i)                                      juge-commissaire or insolvency receiver ( curateur ) appointed under the Luxembourg Commercial Code;

 

(ii)                                   liquidateur appointed under Articles 141 to 151 (inclusive) of the Luxembourg law dated 10 August 1915 on commercial companies, as amended (the Luxembourg Companies’ Act );

 

(iii)                                juge-commissaire or liquidateur appointed under Article 203 of the Luxembourg Companies’ Act;

 

(iv)                               commissaire appointed under the Grand-Ducal decree of 24 May 1935 on the controlled management regime or under Articles 593 to 614 (inclusive) of the Luxembourg Commercial Code; and

 

(f)                                    juge délégué appointed under the Luxembourg act of 14 April 1886 on the composition with creditors to avoid bankruptcy, as amended.

 

SECTION 1.11.            French terms

 

In this Agreement, where it relates to a French Loan Party, a reference to:

 

(a)                                  an “administration”, “insolvency”, “dissolution” or “winding-up” includes (i) a French Loan Party is unable or admits inability to pay any of its debts (in full or a substantial part) as they fall due or suspends making payments on any of its debts (in full or a substantial part) when they become due, (ii) a French Loan Party is or becomes in cessation des paiements within the meaning of article L.631-1 of the French Code de commerce or encounters difficulties that it is not able to overcome within the meaning of article L.620-1 of the French Code de commerce , or becomes insolvent under any applicable insolvency law or (iii) a moratorium is declared in respect of any indebtedness of a French Loan Party or a French Loan Party is subject to alert procedure ( procédure d’alerte ) by its statutory auditors in accordance with article L.234-1, L.234-2 or L.612-3 of the French Code de commerce;

 

(b)                                  an “attachment” includes a saisie ;

 

(c)                                   a “consolidation” or an “amalgation” includes in relation to any company any contribution of part of its business in consideration of shares ( apport partiel d’actifs ) and any demerger ( scission ) implemented in accordance with articles L.236 1 to L.236 24 of the French Code de commerce ;

 

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(d)                                  “financial assistance” has the meaning stated in article L.225-216 of the French Code de commerce or in any other foreign law on financial assistance that is mandatorily applicable to a French Loan Party;

 

(e)                                   “gross negligence” includes faute lourde ;

 

(f)                                    a “guarantee” means any type of sûreté personnelle ;

 

(g)                                   “insolvency proceeding” means (i) any corporate action or legal proceeding is taken by a French Loan Party in relation to (A) the suspension of payments, a moratorium of all or any indebtedness, dissolution, the opening of proceedings for sauvegarde (including, for the avoidance of doubt, sauvegarde accélérée and sauvegarde financière accélérée ), redressement judiciaire or liquidation judiciaire or reorganisation (in the context of a mandat ad hoc or of a conciliation or otherwise) of a French Loan Party other than a solvent liquidation or reorganisation, (B) the appointment of a liquidator, receiver, administrator, administrative receiver, temporary administrator, mandataire ad-hoc , conciliateur or other person exercising similar functions in respect of a French Loan Party or in respect of all or any of their respective assets, except in relation to the appointment of a liquidator in case of an amicable dissolution ( liquidation amiable ) of a French Loan Party, or (C) the enforcement of any Lien over any assets of any member of the group occurs and such enforcement is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) a French Loan Party commences proceedings for the appointment of a mandataire ad hoc or the opening of a procedure of conciliation in accordance with articles L. 611-3 to L. 611-15 of the French Code de commerce, (iii) a judgment opening proceedings for sauvegarde (including, for the avoidance of doubt, sauvegarde accélérée and sauvegarde financière accélérée ), redressement judiciaire or liquidation judiciaire or ordering a cession totale ou partielle de l’entreprise is rendered in relation to a French Loan Party in accordance with articles L.620-1 to L.670-8 of the French Code de commerce, (iv) any procedure, judgment or step is taken, which has effects that are substantially the same as those referred to in paragraphs (i) through (iii) above

 

(h)                                  a “matured obligation” means any créanse certaine, liquide et exigible ;

 

(i)                                      “merger’ includes any fusion implemented in accordance with articles L.236 1 to L.236 24 of the French Code de commerce ;

 

(j)                                     “trustee, fiduciary and fiduciary duty” has in each case the meaning given to such term under any applicable law;

 

(k)                                  a “person being unable to pay its debts” means that person being in a state of cessation des paiements in accordance with the French Code de commerce ;

 

(l)                                      a “receiver” includes an administrateur judiciaire , a mandataire ad hoc  or a conciliateur ;

 

(m)                              “wilful misconduct” means dol .

 

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SECTION 1.12.            Spanish terms.

 

In this Agreement, where it relates to a Spanish Loan Party or Spanish Security Documents, a reference to:

 

(a)                                  a “winding-up”, “administration” or “insolvency” or “dissolution” means a liquidación, disolución, procedimiento concursal, concurso as defined in Spanish Insolvency Law or the declaration of insolvency ( declaración de concurso ), including any solicitud de inicio del procedimiento de concurso voluntario , the request of declaration of insolvency by a third party ( solicitud de concurso por acreedores ) which results in the declaration of insolvency proceedings by the relevant court ( declaración de concurso necesario ) and “insolvency proceeding” means a declaración de concurso , necessary or voluntary ( necesario o voluntario ) and any step or proceeding related to a concurso under the Spanish Insolvency Act in connection with or as a result of any financial difficulty (excluding when such proceeding is made with any Lender) (including, without limitation, any petition filed under article 5 bis or article 231 of the Spanish Insolvency Law excluding when such proceeding is made with any Lender);

 

(b)                                  “liquidator”, “receiver”, “administrative receiver” or “administrator” means mediador concursal, administrador del concurso, administración concursal or any other person or entity performing the same function;

 

(c)                                   a “composition”, “compromise”, “assignment” or similar arrangement with any creditor means a convenio or acuerdo extrajudicial de refinanciación for the purposes of Spanish Insolvency Law;

 

(d)                                  a “compulsory manager”, “receiver” or “administrator” means an administrador concursal, liquidador or any other person appointed as a result of any proceedings described in paragraphs (a) to (c) above;

 

(e)                                   “financial assistance” has the meaning stated in Chapter VI of Title IV of the Spanish Companies Act or in any other foreign law on financial assistance that is mandatorily applicable to a Spanish Loan Party;

 

(f)                                    a “guarantee” means any garantía, aval or garantía a primer requerimiento ;

 

(g)                                   a “matured obligation” means any crédito líquído, vencido y exigible ;

 

(h)                                  a “person being unable to pay its debts” means that person being in a state of concurso as defined in Spanish Insolvency Law;

 

(i)                                      a grant, creation or transfer of a “security interest” or a “collateral” means any in rem or garantía real and any transfer by way of security (including any financial collateral under Spanish law including the security granted under Spanish Royal Decree 5/2005);

 

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(j)                                     “trustee”, “fiduciary” and “fiduciary duty” has in each case the meaning given to such term under any applicable law;

 

(k)                                  “set-off” would include to the extent legally possible the rights to compensate under Spanish Royal Decree 5/2005; and

 

(l)                                      “wilful misconduct” means dolo .

 

ARTICLE II

 

The Credits

 

SECTION 2.01.            Term Loans and Borrowings .

 

(1)                                  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Initial Term Loan Lender severally agrees to make to the Borrowers the Initial Term Loans denominated in Dollars equal to such Initial Term Loan Lender’s Initial Term Loan Commitment on the Closing Date.  The failure of any Lender to make any Term Loan required to be made by it will not relieve any other Lender of its obligations hereunder; provided that the Commitments of the Lenders are several and no Lender will be responsible for any other Lender’s failure to make Term Loans as required.  Amounts paid or prepaid in respect of Term Loans may not be reborrowed.

 

(2)                                  Subject to Sections 2.04(7) and 2.11, each Borrowing will be comprised entirely of ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans as any of the Borrowers may request in accordance herewith.  Each Lender at its option may make any ABR Loan or Eurocurrency Loan by causing any domestic or foreign branch or Affiliate of such Lender to make such Term Loan; provided that any exercise of such option will not affect the obligation of the Borrowers to repay such Term Loan in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and such Lender will not be entitled to any amounts payable under Section 2.12 or 2.14 solely in respect of increased costs resulting from, and existing at the time of, such exercise.

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, the Borrowers will not be entitled to request, or to elect to convert or continue, any Borrowing if the Interest Period requested with respect thereto would end after the Maturity Date.

 

SECTION 2.02.            Request for Borrowing .

 

Any of the Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent a Borrowing Request not later than:  (a) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day prior to the anticipated date of Borrowing (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) or (b) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days prior to the anticipated date of Borrowing (or such later time as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), requesting that the Lenders make Term Loans on such date of Borrowing.  The Borrowing Request must specify:

 

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(1)                                  the principal amount of the Term Loans of each Class to be borrowed;

 

(2)                                  the requested date of the Borrowing (which will be a Business Day);

 

(3)                                  the Type of the Term Loans of each Class to be borrowed;

 

(4)                                  in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the initial Interest Period to be applicable thereto, which will be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period;” and

 

(5)                                  the location and number of such Borrower’s account to which funds are to be disbursed.

 

If no election as to the Type of Borrowing is specified in the applicable Borrowing Request, then the Borrowing shall be an ABR Borrowing.  If no Interest Period with respect to any Eurocurrency Borrowing is specified in the applicable Borrowing Request, then such Borrower will be deemed to have selected an Interest Period of one-month’s duration.  Upon receipt of such Borrowing Request, the Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender thereof.  The proceeds of the Term Loans requested under this Section 2.02 will be disbursed by the Administrative Agent in immediately available funds by wire transfer to such bank account or accounts as designated by such Borrower in the Borrowing Request.

 

SECTION 2.03.            Funding of Borrowings .

 

(1)                                  Each Lender will make each Term Loan to be made by it hereunder on the proposed date thereof by wire transfer of immediately available funds by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date of such Borrowing, to the account of the Administrative Agent most recently designated by it for such purpose by notice to the Lenders.  The Administrative Agent will make such Term Loans available to the Borrower thereunder by promptly crediting the amounts so received, in like funds, to an account of such Borrower as specified in the Borrowing Request (or as otherwise directed by the Borrower).

 

(2)                                  Unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from a Lender prior to the proposed date of any Borrowing that such Lender will not make available to the Administrative Agent such Lender’s share of such Borrowing, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Lender has made such share available on such date in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Section 2.03 and may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to such Borrower a corresponding amount.  In such event, if a Lender has not in fact made its share of the applicable Borrowing available to the Administrative Agent, then the applicable Lender and such Borrower severally agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, forthwith on demand (without duplication) such corresponding amount with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is made available to such Borrower to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent at (a) in the case of such Lender, the greater of (i) the Federal Funds Rate and (ii) a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation or (b) in the case of such Borrower, the interest rate applicable to ABR Loans at such time.  If such Lender pays such amount to

 

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the Administrative Agent then such amount will constitute such Lender’s Term Loan included in such Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.04.            Interest Elections .

 

(1)                                  Each Borrowing initially will be of the Type specified in the applicable Borrowing Request and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, will have an initial Interest Period as specified in such Borrowing Request.  Thereafter, the Borrower thereunder may elect to convert such Borrowing to a different Type or to continue such Borrowing and, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, may elect Interest Periods therefor, all as provided in this Section 2.04.  Such Borrower may elect different options with respect to different portions of the affected Borrowing, in which case each such portion will be allocated ratably among the Lenders holding the Term Loans comprising such Borrowing, and the Term Loans comprising each such portion will be considered a separate Borrowing; provided that the Term Loans comprising any Borrowing will be in an aggregate principal amount that is an integral multiple of $500,000 and not less than $1,000,000; provided , further , that there shall not be more than twelve Eurocurrency Borrowings outstanding hereunder at any time.

 

(2)                                  To make an election pursuant to this Section 2.04 following the initial date of Borrowing, such Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent of such election by telephone (a) in the case of an election to convert to or continue a Eurocurrency Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, three Business Days before the effective date of such election or (b) in the case of an election to convert to or continue an ABR Borrowing, not later than 1:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of such election ( provided that , notwithstanding the foregoing, to make an election to convert any Eurocurrency Borrowing to an ABR Borrowing prior to the end of the effective Interest Period of such Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrower must notify the Administrative Agent not later than 1:00 p.m., three Business Days before the effective date of such election.  Each such telephonic Interest Election Request will be confirmed promptly by hand delivery, facsimile transmission or e-mail to the Administrative Agent of a written Interest Election Request substantially in the form of Exhibit D (or such other form as may be approved by the Administrative Agent (including any form on an electronic platform or electronic transmission system as shall be approved by the Administrative Agent)) and signed by such Borrower.

 

(3)                                  Each telephonic and written Interest Election Request will be irrevocable and will specify the following information:

 

(a)                                  the Borrowing to which such Interest Election Request applies and, if different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing (in which case the information to be specified pursuant to clauses (c) and (d) below will be specified for each resulting Borrowing);

 

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(b)                                  the effective date of the election made pursuant to such Interest Election Request, which will be a Business Day;

 

(c)                                   whether the resulting Borrowing is to be an ABR Borrowing or a Eurocurrency Borrowing; and

 

(d)                                  if the resulting Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing, the Interest Period to be applicable thereto after giving effect to such election, which will be a period contemplated by the definition of “Interest Period.”

 

(4)                                  If any such Interest Election Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing but does not specify an Interest Period, then such Borrower will be deemed to have selected a Eurocurrency Borrowing having an Interest Period of one month’s duration.

 

(5)                                  Promptly following receipt of an Interest Election Request, the Administrative Agent will advise each applicable Lender of the details thereof and of such Lender’s portion of each resulting Borrowing.

 

(6)                                  If such Borrower fails to deliver a timely Interest Election Request with respect to a Eurocurrency Borrowing prior to the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto, then, unless such Borrowing is repaid as provided herein, at the end of such Interest Period such Borrowing will be automatically converted into an ABR Borrowing.

 

(7)                                  Any portion of a Borrowing maturing or required to be repaid in less than one month may not be converted into or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing.

 

(8)                                  Notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Administrative Agent, at the written request (including a request through electronic means) of the Required Lenders, so notifies such Borrower, then, so long as such Event of Default is continuing, (a) no outstanding Borrowing may be converted to or continued as a Eurocurrency Borrowing and (b) unless repaid, each Eurocurrency Borrowing will be converted to an ABR Borrowing at the end of the Interest Period applicable thereto.

 

SECTION 2.05.            Promise to Pay; Evidence of Debt .

 

(1)                                  Each Borrower hereby unconditionally promises to pay to the Administrative Agent for the account of each Lender the then unpaid principal amount of each Term Loan of such Lender as provided in Section 2.06.

 

(2)                                  Each Lender will maintain in accordance with its usual practice an account or accounts evidencing the Indebtedness of each Borrower to such Lender resulting from each Term Loan made by such Lender, including the amounts of principal and interest payable and paid to such Lender from time to time hereunder.

 

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(3)                                  The Administrative Agent will maintain accounts in which it will record (a) the amount of each Term Loan made hereunder, the Type thereof and the Interest Period (if any) applicable thereto, (b) the amount of any principal or interest due and payable or to become due and payable from each Borrower to each Lender hereunder and (c) any amount received by the Administrative Agent hereunder for the account of the Lenders and each Lender’s share thereof.

 

(4)                                  The entries made in the accounts maintained pursuant to paragraph (2) or (3) of this Section 2.05 will be prima facie evidence of the existence and amounts of the obligations recorded therein; provided that the failure of any Lender or the Administrative Agent to maintain such accounts or any error therein will not in any manner affect the obligation of each Borrower to repay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

(5)                                  Any Lender may request that Term Loans made by it be evidenced by a promissory note (a “ Note ”).  Upon the written request of any Lender (including a request made through the Administrative Agent), the applicable Borrower shall promptly execute and deliver to such Lender a Note payable to such Lender, which shall evidence such Lender’s Loans in addition to such accounts or records. The Term Loans evidenced by such Note and interest thereon will at all times (including after assignment pursuant to Section 10.04) be represented by one or more Notes in such form payable to the payee named therein (or, if requested by such payee, to such payee and its registered assigns).

 

SECTION 2.06.            Repayment of Term Loans .

 

(1)                                  The Borrowers will repay to the Administrative Agent for the ratable account of the Lenders of each applicable Class on the last Business Day of each fiscal quarter of Holdings, commencing with the last Business Day of the first full fiscal quarter of Holdings ending after the Closing Date (each such date being referred to as an “ Original Term Loan Installment Date ”), an aggregate principal amount equal to 0.25% of the aggregate principal amount of the Initial Term Loans outstanding on the Closing Date, which payments will be reduced as a result of the application of prepayments of Term Loans in accordance with the order of priority set forth in Section 2.07 or 2.08, as applicable;

 

(2)                                  (a) In the event that any Incremental Term Loans are made, the Borrowers will repay Borrowings consisting of Incremental Term Loans on the dates (each an “ Incremental Term Loan Installment Date ”) and in the amounts set forth in the applicable Incremental Facility Amendment, (b) in the event that any Other Term Loans are made, the Borrowers will repay Borrowings consisting of Other Term Loans on the dates (each an “ Other Term Loan Installment Date ”) and in the amounts set forth in the applicable Refinancing Amendment and (c) in the event that any Extended Term Loans are made, the Borrowers will repay Borrowings consisting of Extended Term Loans on the dates (each an “ Extended Term Loan Installment Date ”) and in the amounts set forth in the applicable Extension Amendment; and

 

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(3)                                  to the extent not previously paid, all outstanding Term Loans will be due and payable on the applicable Maturity Date;

 

together, in each case, with accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be paid to but excluding the date of such payment.

 

SECTION 2.07.            Optional Prepayment of Term Loans .  The Borrowers may at any time and from time to time prepay the Initial Term Loans and/or any other Term Loans of any Class, in whole or in part, without premium or penalty (except as provided in Section 2.21 and subject to Section 2.13), in an aggregate principal amount, (1) in the case of Eurocurrency Loans, that is an integral multiple of $1.0 million and not less than $5.0 million, and (2) in the case of ABR Loans, that is an integral multiple of $1.0 million and not less than $5.0 million, or, in each case, if less, the amount outstanding.  Each Borrower will notify the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile transmission or e-mail) of such election not later than 11:00 a.m., New York City time, (a) in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, three Business Days before the anticipated date of such prepayment and (b) in the case of an ABR Borrowing, one Business Day before the anticipated date of such prepayment.  Each such notice of prepayment will specify the prepayment date and the principal amount of each Borrowing (or portion thereof) to be prepaid.  All prepayments under this Section 2.07 will be accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment.  Any such notice may be revocable or conditioned on a refinancing of all or any portion of the applicable Term Facility.  Any optional prepayments of Initial Term Loans and/or other Term Loans of any Class pursuant to this Section 2.07 will be applied to the remaining scheduled amortization payments of such applicable Class of Term Loans as directed by each Borrower (or in the absence of such direction, in direct order of maturity, to the amortization payments of such applicable Class of Term Loans) and will be applied ratably to the Term Loans of such Class included in the prepaid Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.08.            Mandatory Prepayment of Term Loans .

 

(1)                                  The Borrowers will apply all Net Cash Proceeds received after the Closing Date in an Asset Sale made pursuant to Section 6.05(2) (other than any ABL Priority Collateral Asset Sale) to prepay Term Loans within ten Business Days following receipt of such Net Cash Proceeds, unless Holdings has delivered a Reinvestment Notice on or prior to such tenth Business Day; provided that:

 

(a)                                  if any Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, on or prior to the tenth Business Day following receipt thereof, such Net Cash Proceeds will be deposited in an Asset Sale Proceeds Account;

 

(b)                                  subject to the other provisions of this Section 2.08(1), on each Reinvestment Prepayment Date the Borrowers will apply an amount equal to the Reinvestment Prepayment Amount with respect to the relevant Reinvestment Event to the prepayment of the Term Loans (together with accrued interest thereon); and

 

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(c)                                   if at the time that any such prepayment would be required, the Borrowers is required to, or to offer to, repurchase, redeem, repay or prepay Indebtedness secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans (any such Indebtedness, “ Other First Lien Indebtedness ”), then the Borrowers may apply such Net Cash Proceeds to redeem, repurchase, repay or prepay all Classes of Term Loans and Other First Lien Indebtedness on a pro rata basis (determined on the basis of the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans and Other First Lien Indebtedness at such time);

 

provided , further , that the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds allocated to the Other First Lien Indebtedness will not exceed the amount of such Net Cash Proceeds required to be allocated to the Other First Lien Indebtedness pursuant to the terms thereof, and the remaining amount, if any, of such Net Cash Proceeds will be allocated to the prepayment of the Term Loans (in accordance with the terms hereof) and to the repurchase or repayment of Other First Lien Indebtedness on a pro rata basis, and the amount of the prepayment of the Term Loans that would have otherwise been required pursuant to this clause (1) will be reduced accordingly; provided , further , that to the extent the holders of Other First Lien Indebtedness decline to have such Indebtedness repurchased, redeemed, repaid or prepaid with such Net Cash Proceeds, the declined amount of such Net Cash Proceeds will promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days after the date of such rejection) be applied to prepay the Term Loans in accordance with the terms hereof (to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds would otherwise have been required to be so applied if such Other First Lien Indebtedness was not then outstanding).

 

(2)                                  Commencing with the fiscal year ending December 31, 2018, not later than 90 days after the end of each Excess Cash Flow Period, Holdings will calculate Excess Cash Flow for such Excess Cash Flow Period and will apply the following amount to the prepayment of Term Loans:

 

(a)                                  the Required Percentage of such Excess Cash Flow; minus

 

(b)                                  the amount of any voluntary prepayments during such Excess Cash Flow Period or on or prior to the 90th day after the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period, including prepayments of Term Loans under Section 10.04(14) ( provided that any such reduction under this clause (b) shall be limited to the actual amount of such cash payment) of:

 

(i)                                      Term Loans (including Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans and Extended Term Loans);

 

(ii)                                   loans under the ABL Credit Agreement (to the extent accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the commitments);

 

(iii)                                Other First Lien Indebtedness (and, in the case of any revolving indebtedness, to the extent accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the commitments); and

 

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(iv)                               Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any of the foregoing Indebtedness (or Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness described in this clause (iv)), in each case that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans (and, in the case of any revolving indebtedness, to the extent accompanied by a corresponding reduction in the commitments);

 

in each case, to the extent not financed with the proceeds of the issuance or the incurrence of Indebtedness (other than proceeds of revolving loans); provided that any such voluntary prepayment that is made on or prior to the 90th day after the end of such Excess Cash Flow Period (or 120th day in the case of the first Excess Cash Flow Period) will not reduce Excess Cash Flow for the next succeeding Excess Cash Flow Period pursuant to this clause (b).

 

Not later than the date on which Holdings is required to deliver financial statements with respect to the end of each Excess Cash Flow Period under Section 5.04(1), Holdings will deliver to the Administrative Agent a certificate signed by a Financial Officer of Holdings setting forth the amount, if any, of Excess Cash Flow for such fiscal year and the calculation thereof in reasonable detail.

 

(3)                                  The Borrowers will apply 100% of the net cash proceeds received after the Closing Date from the incurrence, issuance or sale by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any Indebtedness that is not Excluded Indebtedness to the prepayment of Term Loans, on or prior to the date which is five Business Days after the receipt of such net cash proceeds.

 

(4)                                  [Reserved].

 

(5)                                  [Reserved].

 

(6)                                  [Reserved]

 

(7)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Section 2.08 to the contrary, any Lender may elect, by notice to the Administrative Agent by telephone (confirmed by hand delivery, facsimile transmission or e-mail) at least two Business Days prior to the required prepayment date, to decline all or any portion of any mandatory prepayment of its Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08 (other than clause (3) of this Section 2.08), in which case the aggregate amount of the prepayment that would have been applied to prepay Term Loans but was so declined will be retained by the Borrowers and applied for any permitted purpose hereunder.  Such prepayments will be applied on a pro rata basis to the then outstanding Term Loans of all Classes being prepaid irrespective of whether such outstanding Term Loans are ABR Loans or Eurocurrency Loans; provided that the amount of such mandatory prepayment will be applied first to Term Loans that are ABR Loans to the full extent thereof before application to Term Loans that are Eurocurrency Loans in a manner that minimizes the amount of any payments required to be made by the Borrower pursuant to Section 2.13.

 

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(8)                                  The Borrowers will deliver to the Administrative Agent, at the time of each prepayment required under this Section 2.08, (a) a certificate signed by a Financial Officer of such Borrowers setting forth in reasonable detail the calculation of the amount of such prepayment and (b) to the extent practicable, at least three Business Days prior written notice of such prepayment.  Each notice of prepayment shall specify the prepayment date, the Type of each Term Loan being prepaid and the principal amount of each Term Loan (or portion thereof) to be prepaid.  Prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08 will be made without premium or penalty, accompanied by accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount to be prepaid to but excluding the date of payment, and applied as directed by the Borrowers or, absent such direction, to reduce scheduled amortization payments of Term Loans under Section 2.06(1) in direct order of maturity; provided that any prepayment of Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans or Extended Term Loans will be applied in the order specified in the applicable Permitted Amendment.  No payments under Section 2.13 will be required in connection with a prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08.  In the event of any prepayment of Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08 at a time when Term Loans of more than one Class remain outstanding, the aggregate amount of such prepayment will be allocated between each Class of Term Loans pro rata based on the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Term Loans of each such Class (except as otherwise provided in the applicable Permitted Amendment, in each case with respect to the applicable Class of Term Loans).

 

(9)                                  With respect to any prepayment required in this Section 2.08, notwithstanding any provisions of this Section 2.08 to the contrary,

 

(a)                                  to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to this Section 2.08 is prohibited or delayed by (i) applicable local law (including laws related to financial assistance, corporate benefit, thin capitalization, capital maintenance, liquidity maintenance and similar legal principles, and in respect of restrictions on upstreaming of cash intra-group and the fiduciary and statutory duties of the Board of Directors of the applicable Restricted Subsidiaries) from being repatriated to the relevant Borrower(s) or (ii) material organizational document restrictions (other than with respect to Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries), the portion of such Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to prepay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.08, but may be retained by the Borrowers or the applicable Subsidiary for so long, but only so long, as the applicable local law or restriction will not permit repayment or repatriation to the relevant Borrower(s), as applicable.  Once such repatriation or repayment of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow is permitted under the applicable local law or restriction (and the Borrowers hereby agree to use all commercially reasonable efforts to overcome or eliminate any such restrictions on repatriation and/or minimize any such costs of prepayment and/or use the other cash sources of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries to make the relevant prepayment), such repatriation or repayment will be effected promptly and such

 

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repatriated or repaid Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08 to the extent provided herein; provided that, in the case of a local law restriction on repatriation, each Borrower hereby agrees, and will cause any applicable Subsidiary, to promptly take all commercially reasonable actions required by applicable local law to permit any such repatriation; or

 

(b)                                  to the extent that a Responsible Officer of Holdings has reasonably determined in good faith that repatriation or repayment of any of or all the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow giving rise to a prepayment event pursuant to this Section 2.08 would have an adverse tax cost consequence or be prohibited due to such material organizational document restrictions as a result of minority ownership or applicable law, the Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow so affected will not be required to be applied to prepay Term Loans at the times provided in this Section 2.08, but may be retained by the applicable Borrower or the applicable Subsidiary without being repatriated or repaid, as applicable; provided that, once such repatriation or repayment of any of such affected Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow would no longer be prohibited or have such adverse tax consequences, such repatriation or repayment will be effected promptly and such repatriated or repaid Net Cash Proceeds or Excess Cash Flow will be promptly applied (net of additional taxes payable or reserved against as a result thereof) to the prepayment of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 2.08 to the extent provided herein.

 

For purposes of this Section 2.08(9), references to “law” mean, with respect to any Person, (1) the common law and any federal, state, local, foreign, multinational or international statutes, laws, treaties, judicial decisions, standards, rules and regulations, guidances, guidelines, ordinances, rules, judgments, writs, orders, decrees, codes, plans, injunctions, permits, concessions, grants, franchises, governmental agreements and governmental restrictions (including administrative or judicial precedents or authorities), in each case whether now or hereafter in effect, and (2) the interpretation or administration thereof by, and other determinations, directives, requirements or requests of, any Governmental Authority, in each case whether or not having the force of law and that are applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

 

SECTION 2.09.            Fees .

 

(1)                                  The Borrowers agree to pay to the Administrative Agent, for its own account, the “Term Loan Administration Fee” set forth in the applicable fee letter among the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the times and on the terms specified therein (the “ Administrative Agent Fees ”).

 

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(2)                                  All Fees will be paid on the dates due and payable, in immediately available funds, to the Administrative Agent at the Payment Office for distribution, if and as appropriate, among the Lenders.  Once paid, none of the Fees will be refundable under any circumstances.  No payment of fees will be made by a French Loan party on an account opened with a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 2.10.            Interest .

 

(1)                                  The Term Loans comprising each ABR Borrowing will bear interest at the ABR plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(2)                                  The Term Loans comprising each Eurocurrency Borrowing will bear interest at the Adjusted LIBO Rate for the Interest Period in effect for such Borrowing plus the Applicable Margin.

 

(3)                                  Following the occurrence and during the continuation of a Specified Event of Default, the Borrowers will pay interest on overdue amounts hereunder at a rate per annum equal to (i) in the case of overdue principal of, or interest on, any Term Loan, 2.00% plus the rate otherwise applicable to such Term Loan as provided in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 2.10 or (ii) in the case of any other overdue amount, 2.00% plus the rate applicable to ABR Loans as provided in clause (1) of this Section 2.10.

 

(4)                                  Default interest (if unpaid) arising on an overdue amount will be compounded with the overdue amount only if, within the meaning of article 1343-2 of the French Code civil , such interest is due by a French Loan Party for a period of at least one year.

 

(5)                                  Accrued interest on each Term Loan will be payable in arrears (i) on each Interest Payment Date for such Term Loan and (ii) on the applicable Maturity Date; provided that (A) interest accrued pursuant to paragraph (3) of this Section 2.10 will be payable on demand, (B) in the event of any repayment or prepayment of any Term Loan, accrued interest on the principal amount repaid or prepaid will be payable on the date of such repayment or prepayment and (C) in the event of any conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan prior to the end of the current Interest Period therefor, accrued interest on such Term Loan will be payable on the effective date of such conversion.

 

(6)                                  All interest hereunder will be computed on the basis of a year of 360 days, except that interest computed by reference to the ABR at times when the ABR is based on the prime rate, will be computed on the basis of a year of 365 days (or 366 days in a leap year), and, in each case, will be payable for the actual number of days elapsed (including the first day but excluding the last day).  The applicable ABR, Adjusted LIBO Rate or LIBO Rate will be determined by the Administrative Agent, and such determination will be conclusive absent manifest error.

 

SECTION 2.11.            Alternate Rate of Interest .  If prior to the commencement of any Interest Period for a Eurocurrency Borrowing:

 

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(1)                                  the Administrative Agent determines (which determination will be conclusive absent manifest error) that adequate and reasonable means do not exist for ascertaining the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period; or

 

(2)                                  the Administrative Agent is advised by the Required Lenders that the Adjusted LIBO Rate or the LIBO Rate, as applicable, for such Interest Period will not adequately and fairly reflect the cost to such Lenders of making or maintaining their Term Loans included in such Borrowing for such Interest Period;

 

then the Administrative Agent will give notice thereof to the Borrowers and the applicable Lenders by telephone, facsimile transmission or e-mail as promptly as practicable thereafter and, until the Administrative Agent notifies the Borrowers and the Lenders that the circumstances giving rise to such notice no longer exist, (a) any Interest Election Request that requests the conversion of any applicable Borrowing to, or continuation of any such Borrowing as, a Eurocurrency Borrowing will be ineffective and such Borrowing will be converted to or continued as on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto an ABR Borrowing and (b) if any Borrowing Request requests a Eurocurrency Borrowing, such Borrowing will be made as an ABR Borrowing.

 

SECTION 2.12.            Increased Costs .

 

(1)                                  If any Change in Law:

 

(a)                                  imposes, modifies or deems applicable any reserve, special deposit or similar requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or credit extended by, any Lender (except any such reserve requirement reflected in the Adjusted LIBO Rate);

 

(b)                                  imposes on any Lender or the London interbank market any other condition (other than Taxes) affecting this Agreement or Eurocurrency Loans made by such Lender; or

 

(c)                                   subjects any Recipient to any Taxes (other than (i) Indemnified Taxes, (ii) Taxes described in clauses (2) through (5) of the definition of Excluded Taxes and (iii) Connection Income Taxes) on its loans, loan principal, letters of credit, commitments or other obligations, or deposits, reserves, other liabilities or capital attributable thereto;

 

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the cost to such Lender of making or maintaining any Eurocurrency Loan (or of maintaining its obligation to make any such Term Loan) or to reduce the amount of any sum received or receivable by such Lender hereunder (whether of principal, interest or otherwise), then the Borrowers will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender for such additional costs incurred or reduction suffered.

 

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(2)                                  If any Lender determines that any Change in Law regarding capital or liquidity requirements has or would have the effect of reducing the rate of return on such Lender’s capital or on the capital of such Lender’s holding company, if any, as a consequence of this Agreement or the Term Loans made by such Lender, to a level below that which such Lender or such Lender’s holding company could have achieved but for such Change in Law (taking into consideration such Lender’s policies and the policies of such Lender’s holding company with respect to capital adequacy or liquidity), then from time to time the Borrower will pay to such Lender such additional amount or amounts as will compensate such Lender or such Lender’s holding company for any such reduction suffered.

 

(3)                                  A certificate of a Lender setting forth the amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Lender or its holding company, as applicable, as specified in paragraph (1) or (2) of this Section 2.12 will be delivered to the Borrowers and will be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower will pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

 

(4)                                  Promptly after any Lender has determined that it will make a request for increased compensation pursuant to this Section 2.12, such Lender will notify the Borrowers thereof.  Failure or delay on the part of any Lender to demand compensation pursuant to this Section 2.12 will not constitute a waiver of such Lender’s right to demand such compensation; provided that the Borrowers will not be required to compensate a Lender pursuant to this Section 2.12 for any increased costs or reductions incurred more than 180 days prior to the date that such Lender notifies the Borrowers of the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions and of such Lender’s intention to claim compensation therefor; provided , further , that if the Change in Law giving rise to such increased costs or reductions is retroactive, then the 180 day period referred to above will be extended to include the period of retroactive effect thereof.

 

SECTION 2.13.            Break Funding Payments .  Except as otherwise set forth herein, the Borrowers will compensate each Lender for the actual out-of-pocket loss, cost and expense (excluding loss of anticipated profits) attributable to the following events:

 

(1)                                  the payment of any principal of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of an Interest Period applicable thereto (including as a result of an Event of Default);

 

(2)                                  the conversion of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto;

 

(3)                                  the failure to borrow, convert, continue or prepay any Eurocurrency Loan on the date specified in any notice delivered pursuant hereto; or

 

(4)                                  the assignment of any Eurocurrency Loan other than on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto as a result of a request by the Borrowers pursuant to Section 2.16.

 

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A certificate of any Lender setting forth in reasonable detail any amount or amounts that such Lender is entitled to receive pursuant to this Section 2.13 will be delivered to the Borrowers and will be conclusive absent manifest error.  The Borrower will pay such Lender the amount shown as due on any such certificate within ten days after receipt thereof.

 

SECTION 2.14.            Taxes .

 

(1)                                  Any and all payments by or on account of any obligation of any Loan Party hereunder will be made free and clear of and without deduction for any Taxes, except as required by applicable law; provided that if any Taxes are required to be deducted under any applicable law from such payments (as determined in the good faith discretion of the Loan Party or the applicable withholding agent), then (a) such Loan Party (or other applicable withholding agent) will make such deductions; (b) such Loan Party (or other applicable withholding agent) will timely pay the full amount deducted to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law, and (c) if such Tax is an Indemnified Tax, the sum payable by the Loan Party will be increased as necessary so that after all required deductions have been made (including deductions applicable to additional sums payable under this Section 2.14) the Administrative Agent or any Lender, as applicable, receives an amount equal to the amount it would have received had no such deductions been made.

 

(2)                                  In addition, the Loan Parties will pay any Other Taxes to the relevant Governmental Authority in accordance with applicable law or at the option of the Administrative Agent timely reimburse it for the payment of such Other Taxes, except for Other Taxes due as  a result of registration or other action by the Administrative Agent or any Lender where such registration or action is not:

 

(a)                                  necessary to maintain, preserve, establish, enforce, perfect or protect the rights of the Administrative Agent or any Lender under the Loan Documents; or

 

(b)                                  required by any competent tax administration or supervisory body.

 

(3)                                  The Loan Parties will indemnify the Administrative Agent and each Lender, within ten days after written demand therefor, for the full amount of any Indemnified Taxes payable or paid by the Administrative Agent or such Lender on or with respect to any payment by or on account of any obligation of such Loan Party hereunder (including Indemnified Taxes imposed or asserted on or attributable to amounts payable under this Section 2.14) and any reasonable expenses arising therefrom or with respect thereto, whether or not such Indemnified Taxes were correctly or legally imposed or asserted by the relevant Governmental Authority.  A certificate as to the amount of such payment or liability delivered to such Loan Party by a Lender, or by the Administrative Agent on its own behalf or on behalf of a Lender, will be conclusive absent manifest error. The limitations set out in the Guaranty shall apply mutatis mutandis.

 

(4)                                  As soon as practicable after any payment of Indemnified Taxes by a Loan Party to a Governmental Authority pursuant to this Section 2.14, such Loan Party will deliver to the

 

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Administrative Agent the original or a certified copy of a receipt issued by such Governmental Authority evidencing such payment, a copy of the return reporting such payment or other evidence of such payment reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.

 

(5)

 

(a)                                  Any Lender that is entitled to an exemption from or reduction of withholding Tax with respect to payments made under any Loan Document will deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, at the time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent (and in any event at least 30 days before the payment subject to such withholding is due), such properly completed and executed documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will permit such payments to be made without withholding or at a reduced rate of withholding.  In addition, any Lender, if reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent, will deliver such other documentation prescribed by applicable law or reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as will enable the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine whether or not such Lender is subject to backup withholding or information reporting requirements.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the preceding two sentences, the completion, execution and submission of such documentation (other than such documentation set forth in Sections 2.14(5)(b), 2.14(5)(c) and 2.14(6) below) will not be required if in the Lender’s reasonable judgment such completion, execution or submission would subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense or would materially prejudice the legal or commercial position of such Lender.

 

(b)                                  Without limiting the effect of Section 2.14(5)(a) above, each Lender that is a U.S. Person will deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent on or prior to the date on which such Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-9 certifying that such Lender is exempt from U.S. federal backup withholding tax.

 

(c)                                   Without limiting the effect of Section 2.14(5)(a) above, each Foreign Lender will, to the extent it is legally entitled to do so, deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (in such number of copies as shall be requested by the recipient) on or prior to the date on which such Foreign Lender becomes a Lender under this Agreement (and from time to time thereafter upon the reasonable request of the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent), copies of whichever of the following is applicable:

 

(i)                                      duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereof or

 

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successors thereto), claiming eligibility for benefits of an income tax treaty to which the United States of America is a party;

 

(ii)                                   duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8ECI (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto);

 

(iii)                                in the case of a Foreign Lender claiming the benefits of the exemption for portfolio interest under Section 871(h) or 881(c) of the Code, (A) a certificate substantially in the form of the applicable Exhibit F to the effect that such Foreign Lender is not:

 

(x)                                  a “bank” within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;

 

(y)                                  a “10 percent shareholder” of the US Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) or 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code; or

 

(z)                                   a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code; and

 

(B) duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto);

 

(iv)                               duly completed copies of Internal Revenue Service Form W-8IMY, together with forms and certificates described in clauses (i) through (iii) above (and any additional Form W-8IMYs) and, if applicable Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, as may be required; provided that if the Foreign Lender is a partnership and one or more direct or indirect partners of such Foreign Lender are claiming the benefits of the portfolio interest exemption, such Foreign Lender may provide a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit F-4 on behalf of each such direct and indirect partner; or

 

(v)                                  any other form prescribed by applicable law as a basis for claiming exemption from or a reduction in United States federal withholding tax duly completed together with such supplementary documentation as may be prescribed by applicable law to permit the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent to determine the withholding or deduction required to be made.

 

In addition, each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, the Lender shall, following written request by the relevant Borrower or the Administrative Agent within a reasonable time frame before such an expiration, obsolescence or inaccuracy occurs, will update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

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(6)                                  If a payment made to a Recipient under any Loan Document would be subject to U.S. federal withholding Tax imposed by FATCA if such Recipient were to fail to comply with the applicable reporting requirements of FATCA (including those contained in Section 1471(b) or 1472(b) of the Code, as applicable), such Recipient will deliver to the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent at the time or times prescribed by law and at such time or times reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent such documentation prescribed by applicable law (including as prescribed by Section 1471(b)(3)(C)(i) of the Code) and such additional documentation reasonably requested by the Borrowers or the Administrative Agent as may be necessary for the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent to comply with their obligations under FATCA and to determine that such Recipient has complied with such Recipient’s obligations under FATCA or to determine the amount to deduct and withhold from such payment.  Solely for purposes of this clause (6), “FATCA” will include any amendments made to FATCA after the date of this Agreement.

 

Each Lender agrees that if any form or certification it previously delivered expires or becomes obsolete or inaccurate in any respect, it will update such form or certification or promptly notify the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent in writing of its legal inability to do so.

 

(7)                                  If the Administrative Agent or any Lender determines, in its sole discretion exercised in good faith, that it has received a refund of any Taxes as to which it has been indemnified by a Loan Party or with respect to which such Loan Party has paid additional amounts pursuant to this Section 2.14, it will pay over promptly an amount equal to such refund to such Loan Party (but only to the extent of indemnity payments made, or additional amounts paid, by such Loan Party under this Section 2.14 with respect to the Taxes giving rise to such refund), net of all out-of-pocket expenses of the Administrative Agent or such Lender (including any Taxes imposed with respect to such refund), and without interest (other than any interest paid by the relevant Governmental Authority with respect to such refund); provided that such Loan Party, upon the request of the Administrative Agent or such Lender, agrees to repay as soon as reasonably practicable the amount paid over to such Loan Party pursuant to this Section 2.14(7) ( plus any penalties, interest or other charges imposed by the relevant Governmental Authority) to the Administrative Agent or such Lender in the event the Administrative Agent or such Lender is required to repay such refund to such Governmental Authority.  This Section 2.14(7) will not be construed to require the Administrative Agent or any Lender to make available its Tax returns (or any other information relating to its Taxes which it deems, in good faith, to be confidential) to the Loan Parties or any other Person.

 

(8)                                  Each party’s obligations under this Section 2.14 will survive the resignation or replacement of the Administrative Agent or any assignment of rights by, or the replacement of, a Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all obligations under any Loan Document.

 

(9)                                  For purposes of this Section 2.14, the term “applicable law” includes FATCA.

 

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SECTION 2.15.            Payments Generally; Pro Rata Treatment; Sharing of Set-offs .

 

(1)                                  Unless otherwise specified, (a) the Borrowers will make each payment required to be made by it hereunder (whether of principal, interest, fees or otherwise) prior to 2:00 p.m., New York City time, at the Payment Office, except that payments pursuant to Sections 2.12, 2.14 and 10.05 will be made directly to the Persons entitled thereto; and (b) each such payment will be made, on the date when due, in immediately available funds, without condition or deduction for any defense, recoupment, set-off or counterclaim.  Any amounts received after such time on any date may, in the discretion of the Administrative Agent, be deemed to have been received on the next succeeding Business Day for purposes of calculating interest thereon.  The Administrative Agent will distribute any such payments received by it for the account of any other Person to the appropriate recipient promptly following receipt thereof and will make settlements with the Lenders with respect to other payments at the times and in the manner provided in this Agreement.  Except as otherwise provided herein, if any payment hereunder is due on a day that is not a Business Day, the date for payment will be extended to the next succeeding Business Day, and, in the case of any payment accruing interest, interest thereon will be payable for the period of such extension.  Any payment required to be made by the Administrative Agent hereunder will be deemed to have been made by the time required if the Administrative Agent, at or before such time, has taken the necessary steps to make such payment in accordance with the regulations or operating procedures of the clearing or settlement system used by the Administrative Agent to make such payment.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this paragraph (1), no payment under the Loan Documents shall be made by a French Loan Party on an account opened with a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction.

 

(2)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  If (x) at any time insufficient funds are received by and available to the Administrative Agent from the Borrowers to pay fully all amounts of principal, interest and fees then due from such Borrower hereunder or (y) at any time an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and the Administrative Agent will receive proceeds of Term Priority Collateral in connection with the exercise of remedies, such funds will be applied in the following order of priority (subject to the application of proceeds provisions contained in the Intercreditor Agreement):

 

(i)                                      first , to all amounts owing to the Collateral Agent or the Administrative Agent pursuant to any of the Loan Documents in its capacity as such in respect of (1) the preservation of Collateral or its security interest in the Collateral or (2) with respect to enforcing the rights of the Secured Parties under the Loan Documents;

 

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(ii)                                   second , to the extent proceeds remain after the application pursuant to preceding clause (i), to all other amounts owing to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent pursuant to any of the Loan Documents in its capacity as such;

 

(iii)                                third , to the extent proceeds remain after the application pursuant to preceding clauses (i) through (ii), to an amount equal to the outstanding Obligations;

 

(iv)                               fourth , to the extent proceeds remain after the application pursuant to preceding clauses (i) through (iii), inclusive, and following the payment in full of the Obligations, to the relevant Loan Party, their successors or assigns, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may otherwise direct or as otherwise required by the Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(b)                                  If any payment to any Secured Party pursuant to this Section 2.15(2) of its pro rata share of any distribution would result in overpayment to such Secured Party, such excess amount shall instead be distributed in respect of the unpaid Obligations of the other Secured Parties, with each Secured Party whose Obligations have not been paid in full to receive an amount equal to such excess amount multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the unpaid Obligations of such Secured Party and the denominator of which is the unpaid Obligations of all Secured Parties entitled to such distribution.

 

(c)                                   Subject to the terms of the Intercreditor Agreement, all payments required to be made pursuant to the Loan Documents shall be made to the Administrative Agent for the account of such Secured Parties or as the Administrative Agent may otherwise direct in accordance with the Loan Documents.

 

(d)                                  For purposes of applying payments received in accordance with this Section 2.15(2), the Collateral Agent will be entitled to rely upon (a) the Administrative Agent and (b) the applicable Secured Parties with respect to payments of Specified Hedge Agreements (which the Administrative Agent and each other Secured Party agrees (or shall agree) to provide upon request of the Collateral Agent) of the outstanding Obligations owed to the Secured Parties.

 

(e)                                   Subject to the other limitations (if any) set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents, it is understood that the Loan Parties will remain liable (as and to the extent set forth in herein except to the extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the Collateral Agent’s gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct) to the extent of any deficiency between the amount of the proceeds of the Collateral and the aggregate amount of the Obligations of the Loan Parties.

 

(f)                                    It is understood and agreed by each Loan Party that the Collateral Agent will have no liability for any determinations made by it in this Section 2.15(2) except to the

 

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extent that any of the foregoing are found by a final and non-appealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from its own gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.  Each Loan Party also agrees that the Collateral Agent may (but shall not be required to), at any time and in its sole discretion, and with no liability resulting therefrom, petition a court of competent jurisdiction regarding any application of Collateral in accordance with the requirements hereof and of each Intercreditor Agreement, and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled to wait for, and may conclusively rely on, any such determination.

 

(g)                                   Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Collateral Agent will not be required to marshal the Collateral or any guarantee of the Obligations or to resort to the Collateral or any such Guarantee in any particular order.

 

(3)                                  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, if any Lender, by exercising any right of set-off or counterclaim or otherwise, obtains payment in respect of any principal of or interest on any of its Class of Term Loans resulting in such Lender receiving payment of a greater proportion of the aggregate amount of its Class of Term Loans than the proportion received by any other Lender in such Class, then the Lender receiving such greater proportion will purchase (for cash at face value) participations in the Term Loans of such Class of other Lenders in such Class to the extent necessary so that the benefit of all such payments will be shared by the Lenders in such Class ratably in accordance with the aggregate amount of principal of and accrued interest on their respective Term Loans of such Class; provided that (a) if any such participations are purchased and all or any portion of the payment giving rise thereto is recovered, such participations will be rescinded and the purchase price restored to the extent of such recovery, without interest, and (b) the provisions of this paragraph (3) will not be construed to apply to any payment made by the Borrowers pursuant to and in accordance with the express terms of this Agreement (including the application of funds arising from the existence of a Defaulting Lender or a Disqualified Institution) or any payment obtained by a Lender as consideration for the assignment of or sale of a participation in any of its Term Loans to any assignee or participant.  Each Borrower consents to the foregoing and agrees, to the extent it may effectively do so under applicable law, that any Lender acquiring a participation pursuant to the foregoing arrangements may exercise against the Borrower rights of set-off and counterclaim with respect to such participation as fully as if such Lender were a direct creditor of the Borrowers in the amount of such participation.

 

(4)                                  Unless the Administrative Agent has received notice from the Borrower prior to the date on which any payment is due to the Administrative Agent for the account of the Lenders hereunder that such Borrower will not make such payment, the Administrative Agent may assume that such Borrower has made such payment on such date in accordance herewith and may, in reliance upon such assumption, distribute to the Lenders the amount due.  In such event, if such Borrower has not in fact made such payment, then each of the Lenders severally agrees to repay to the Administrative Agent forthwith on demand the

 

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amount so distributed to such Lender with interest thereon, for each day from and including the date such amount is distributed to it to but excluding the date of payment to the Administrative Agent, at the greater of the Federal Funds Rate and a rate determined by the Administrative Agent in accordance with banking industry rules on interbank compensation.

 

(5)                                  If any Lender fails to make any payment required to be made by it pursuant to Section 2.03(1) or 2.15(3), then the Administrative Agent may, in its discretion (notwithstanding any contrary provision hereof), apply any amounts thereafter received by the Administrative Agent for the account of such Lender to satisfy such Lender’s obligations under Section 2.03(1) or 2.15(3), as applicable, until all such unsatisfied obligations are fully paid.

 

(6)                                  Any Secured Party is not obliged to share any amount recovered from a Spanish Loan Party which is declared insolvent, with any other Secured Party which is regarded as a related party ( persona especialmente relacionada ) to that Spanish Loan Party under the Spanish Insolvency Law.

 

SECTION 2.16.            Mitigation Obligations; Replacement of Lenders .

 

(1)                                  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, or if any amount payable under a Loan Document by a French Guarantor on behalf of a Borrower becomes not deductible from that French Guarantor’s taxable income for French tax purposes by reason of that amount being paid or accrued to a Finance Party incorporated, domiciled, established or acting through a Facility Office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction or paid to an account opened in the name of or for the benefit of that Finance Party in a financial institution situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction, then such Lender or Finance Party, as the case may be, will, in consultation with the relevant Loan Party, take all reasonable steps to mitigate any such consequences, including, but not limited to, designating a different Lending Office for funding or booking its Term Loans hereunder or assigning its rights and obligations hereunder to another of its offices, branches or Affiliates if such designation or assignment (a) would eliminate or reduce amounts payable pursuant to Section 2.12 or 2.14, as applicable, in the future or avoid such non-tax deductibility for French income tax purposes and (b) would not subject such Lender to any material unreimbursed cost or expense and would not otherwise be disadvantageous to such Lender in any material respect.  Such Borrower hereby agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses incurred by any Lender in connection with any such designation or assignment.

 

(2)                                  If any Lender requests compensation under Section 2.12 or is a Defaulting Lender, or if the Borrowers are required to pay any Indemnified Taxes or additional amount to any Lender or any Governmental Authority for the account of any Lender pursuant to Section 2.14, then each Borrower may, at its sole expense, upon notice to such Lender

 

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and the Administrative Agent, either (a) prepay such Lender’s outstanding Term Loans hereunder in full on a non- pro rata basis without premium or penalty (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 10.04(2)(b)(ii)) or (b) require such Lender to assign and delegate, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in Section 10.04), all its interests, rights and obligations under this Agreement to an assignee that will assume such obligations (which assignee may be another Lender, if a Lender accepts such assignment); provided that (i) in the case of clause (b) above, the Borrowers have received the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent, which consent will not unreasonably be withheld, if a consent by the Administrative Agent would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of Term Loans to such assignee, (ii) such Lender has received payment of an amount equal to the outstanding principal of its Term Loans, accrued interest thereon, accrued fees and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, from the assignee (to the extent of such outstanding principal and accrued interest and fees) or the Borrower (in the case of all other amounts) and (iii) in the case of any such assignment resulting from a claim for compensation under Section 2.12 or payments required to be made pursuant to Section 2.14, such assignment will result in a reduction in such compensation or payments thereafter.  Nothing in this Section 2.16 will be deemed to prejudice any rights that the Borrowers may have against any Lender that is a Defaulting Lender.

 

(3)                                  If any Lender (such Lender, a “ Non-Consenting Lender ”) has failed to consent to a proposed amendment, waiver, discharge or termination that, pursuant to the terms of Section 10.08, requires the consent of such Lender and with respect to which the Required Lenders have granted their consent, then the Borrowers will have the right (unless such Non-Consenting Lender grants such consent) at their sole expense, to either (a) prepay such Lender’s outstanding Term Loans hereunder in full on a non- pro rata basis without premium or penalty (including with respect to the processing and recordation fee referred to in Section 10.04(2)(b)(ii)) or (b) replace such Non-Consenting Lender by deeming such Non-Consenting Lender to have assigned its Term Loans and its Commitments hereunder to one or more assignees reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent if a consent by the Administrative Agent would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of Term Loans to such Assignee; provided that (i) all Obligations of the Borrowers owing to such Non-Consenting Lender (including accrued Fees and any amounts due under Section 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 or 2.21) being removed or replaced will be paid in full to such Non-Consenting Lender concurrently with such removal or assignment and (ii) in the case of clause (b) above, the replacement Lender will purchase the foregoing by paying to such Non-Consenting Lender a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon.  No action by or consent of the Non-Consenting Lender will be necessary in connection with such removal or assignment, in the case of clause (b) above, which shall be immediately and automatically effective upon payment of such purchase price.  In connection with any such assignment, the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent, such Non-Consenting Lender and the replacement Lender will otherwise comply with Section 10.04; provided that if such Non-Consenting Lender does not comply with Section 10.04 within three Business

 

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Days after such Borrower’s request, compliance with Section 10.04 will not be required to effect such assignment.

 

SECTION 2.17.            Illegality .  If any Lender reasonably determines that any change in law has made it unlawful, or if any Governmental Authority has asserted after the Closing Date that it is unlawful, for any Lender or its applicable Lending Office to make or maintain any Eurocurrency Loans, then, upon notice thereof by such Lender to the applicable Borrower through the Administrative Agent, any obligations of such Lender to make or continue Eurocurrency Loans or to convert ABR Borrowings to Eurocurrency Borrowings will be suspended until such Lender notifies the Administrative Agent and the applicable Borrower that the circumstances giving rise to such determination no longer exist.  Upon receipt of such notice, the applicable Borrower will upon demand from such Lender (with a copy to the Administrative Agent), either convert all Eurocurrency Borrowings of such Lender to ABR Borrowings, either on the last day of the Interest Period therefor, if such Lender may lawfully continue to maintain such Eurocurrency Borrowings to such day, or immediately, if such Lender may not lawfully continue to maintain such Term Loans.  Upon any such prepayment or conversion, the Borrowers will also pay accrued interest on the amount so prepaid or converted.

 

SECTION 2.18.            Incremental Facilities .

 

(1)                                  Notice .  At any time and from time to time, on one or more occasions, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Borrowers may, by notice to the Administrative Agent, increase the aggregate principal amount of any outstanding Class of Term Loans or add one or more additional Classes of term loans under the Loan Documents (the “ Incremental Term Loans; ” each such increase or tranche, an “ Incremental Facility ”).

 

(2)                                  Ranking .  Incremental Term Loans may, at the discretion of the Borrowers, be secured or unsecured.  If Incremental Term Loans are secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans, a Debt Representative, acting on behalf of the holders of such Incremental Term Loans, will become party or otherwise subject to the provisions of a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.  Any Incremental Facility that is unsecured or secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans shall be documented pursuant to a separate facility agreement subject to the terms of this Section 2.18, including, as may be necessary under applicable law, pursuant to lower ranking security, which will contractually rank pari passu with the other Security Documents pursuant to the Intercreditor Agreement, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.

 

(3)                                  Size .  The principal amount of Incremental Facilities incurred pursuant to this Section 2.18 and Incremental Equivalent Term Debt incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(1) will not exceed, in the aggregate, an amount equal to the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap; provided that the Borrowers may incur additional Incremental Facilities and Incremental Equivalent Term Debt without regard to the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap so long as (a) with respect to any such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt to be secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio (determined on the date on which the applicable Incremental

 

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Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt is incurred (and after giving effect to such incurrence but without including the proceeds thereof in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting) and after giving effect to any acquisition or other transaction consummated in connection with the incurrence of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, but excluding undrawn commitments under the ABL Credit Agreement) is equal to or less than 1.50 to 1.00; and (b) with respect to any such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt to be secured on a junior basis to the Term Loans, subordinated in right of payment to the Term Loans or unsecured and pari passu in right of payment with the Term Loans, the Total Net Leverage Ratio (determined on the date on which the applicable Incremental Facilities or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt is incurred (and after giving effect to such incurrence but without including the proceeds thereof in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting) and after giving effect to any acquisition or other transaction consummated in connection with the incurrence of such Incremental Facility or Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, but excluding undrawn commitments under the ABL Credit Agreement) is equal to or less than 3.20 to 1.00 (collectively, the “ Available Incremental Term Loan Facility Amount ”).

 

If the Borrowers incur indebtedness under the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap on the same date that they incur indebtedness under the Available Incremental Term Loan Facility Amount, then the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio or the Total Net Leverage Ratio, as applicable, with respect to the amounts incurred under the Available Incremental Term Loan Facility Amount will be calculated without including any incurrence under the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap.  Unless the Borrowers elect otherwise, each Incremental Facility shall be deemed incurred first under the Available Incremental Term Loan Facility Amount to the extent permitted, with the balance incurred under the Non-Ratio Based Incremental Facility Cap.

 

Each tranche of Incremental Term Loans will be in an integral multiple of $1.0 million and in an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10.0 million (or such lesser minimum amount approved by the Administrative Agent in its reasonable discretion); provided that such amount may be less than the applicable minimum amount or integral multiple amount if such amount represents all the remaining availability under the Available Incremental Term Loan Facility Amount.

 

(4)                                  Incremental Lenders .  Incremental Term Loans may be provided by any existing Lender (it being understood that no existing Lender will have an obligation to provide Incremental Term Loans) or any Additional Lender; provided that the Administrative Agent shall have consented (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) to any Additional Lender’s providing such Incremental Term Loans if such consent by the Administrative Agent would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of Term Loans to such Additional Lender.

 

(5)                                  Incremental Facility Amendments .  Each Incremental Facility that is secured on a pari passu basis with the Obligations hereunder will become effective pursuant to an amendment (each, an “ Incremental Facility Amendment ”) to this Agreement and, as

 

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appropriate, the other Loan Documents, executed by each Borrower, each Lender or Additional Lender providing such Incremental Facility (the “ Incremental Lenders ”) and the Administrative Agent.  Each Incremental Facility that is unsecured or secured on a junior lien basis shall be documented outside of this Credit Agreement and, if secured on a junior lien basis, shall be subject to a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Incremental Facility Amendment.  Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Incremental Facility Amendment, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as applicable, will be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Incremental Facility and the Incremental Term Loans evidenced thereby.

 

(6)                                  Conditions .  The availability of Incremental Term Loans will be subject solely to the following conditions:

 

(a)                                  no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date such Incremental Term Loans are incurred or would exist immediately after giving effect thereto; provided , that if the Incremental Facility is being incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, (i) the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date and (ii) on the date such Incremental Facility is incurred (or commitments in respect thereof are provided), no Specified Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would exist immediately after giving effect thereto;

 

(b)                                  the representations and warranties in the Loan Documents will be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties will be accurate in all respects) immediately prior to, and immediately after giving effect to, the incurrence of such Incremental Term Loans; provided , that if the Incremental Facility is being incurred in connection with a Limited Condition Acquisition, the date of determination of such condition shall be the LCA Test Date; and

 

(c)                                   such other conditions (if any) as may be required by the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans, unless such other conditions are waived by such Incremental Lenders.

 

(7)                                  Terms .  The terms of each tranche of Incremental Term Loans will be as agreed between the Borrowers and the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans; provided that:

 

(a)                                  the final maturity date of such Incremental Term Loans will be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans;

 

(b)                                  the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Incremental Term Loans will be no shorter than the longest remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans;

 

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(c)                                   such Incremental Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments of the Term Loans; and

 

(d)                                  subject to clauses (a) and (b) above, the amortization schedules applicable to such Incremental Term Loans will be as determined by the Borrowers and the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans.

 

(8)                                  Pricing .

 

(a)                                  Subject to clause (b) below, the interest rate, fees and original issue discount for any Incremental Term Loans will be as determined by the Borrowers and the Incremental Lenders providing such Incremental Term Loans;

 

(b)                                  If the yield (as determined below) on any such Incremental Term Loans incurred on or prior to the date that is twelve months after the Closing Date on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans (such yield, the “ Incremental Yield ”) exceeds the yield (as determined below) on any Initial Term Loans incurred on or before the Closing Date by more than 50 basis points, then the interest margins for such Initial Term Loans will automatically be increased to a level such that the yield on such Initial Term Loans will be 50 basis points below the Incremental Yield on such Incremental Term Loans, incurred on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans.  Any increase in yield on any Class of Term Loans required pursuant to this Section 2.18(8) and resulting from the application of an Adjusted LIBO Rate or ABR “floor” on any Incremental Term Loans will be effected solely through an increase in such “floor” (or an implementation thereof, as applicable) in respect of such Class of Term Loans.  In determining whether the Incremental Yield on Incremental Term Loan on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans exceeds the yield on any Initial Term Loans incurred on or before the Closing Date by more than 50 basis points, (A) such determination will take into account interest margins (and any coupon payable, if applicable), minimum Adjusted LIBO Rate, minimum ABR, upfront fees and original issue discount on such Initial Term Loans or such other Indebtedness, with upfront fees and original issue discount being equated to interest margins or coupon based on an assumed four-year life to maturity, but will exclude any arrangement, syndication, structuring, ticking, commitment, placement, underwriting, or other fees payable in connection therewith that is (A) with respect to ticking or commitment fees, are paid only to arrangers or underwriting lenders or, (B) otherwise, not customarily shared among the applicable lenders or holders of such Indebtedness on a pro rata basis and (B) (x) with respect to the Initial Term Loans incurred on the Closing Date, to the extent the LIBO Rate on the closing date of the Incremental Facility is less than any LIBO Rate floor then applicable to such Initial Term Loans, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the applicable rate for such Initial Term Loans solely for the purposes of determining whether an increase in the interest margins for such Initial Term Loans shall be required and (y) with respect to any

 

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Incremental Term Loans, to the extent that the LIBO Rate or any equivalent definition thereof on the closing date of the Incremental Facility is less than any interest rate floor, if any, applicable to the Incremental Term Loans, the amount of such difference shall be deemed added to the applicable rate for such Incremental Term Loans solely for the purposes of determining the Incremental Yield; provided , that for purposes of calculating the LIBO Rate or any such equivalent definition for this clause (B), such rate shall be for the same interest period, which shall be determined by the Borrower from the interest periods available to it under this Agreement and such Indebtedness respectively.

 

(9)                                  Use of Proceeds .  The proceeds of the Incremental Term Loans shall be used for general corporate purposes of Holdings, the Borrowers and its Subsidiaries (including, without limitation, Investments (including acquisitions), Capital Expenditures, Restricted Payments, refinancings and any other transactions not prohibited hereunder).

 

SECTION 2.19.            Other Term Loans .

 

(1)                                  Other Term Loans .  Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness may, at the election of the Borrowers, take the form of new Term Loans under an additional Term Facility hereunder (“ Other Term Loans ”) pursuant to a Refinancing Amendment.

 

(2)                                  Refinancing Amendments .  The effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment will be subject only to the satisfaction on the date thereof of such of the conditions set forth in Section 4.01 as may be requested by the providers of Other Term Loans.  The Administrative Agent will promptly notify each Lender as to the effectiveness of each Refinancing Amendment.  Each of the parties hereto hereby agrees that, upon the effectiveness of any Refinancing Amendment, this Agreement will be deemed amended to the extent (but only to the extent) necessary to reflect the existence and terms of the Other Term Loans incurred pursuant thereto (including any amendments necessary to treat the Term Loans subject thereto as Other Term Loans).

 

(3)                                  Required Consents .  Any Refinancing Amendment may, without the consent of any Person other than the Administrative Agent, the Borrowers and the Lenders or Additional Lenders providing Other Term Loans, effect such amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as may be necessary or appropriate, in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers, to effect the provisions of this Section 2.19.  This Section 2.19 supersedes any provisions in Section 10.08 to the contrary.

 

(4)                                  Providers of Other Term Loans .  Any Lender approached to provide all or a portion of Other Term Loans may elect or decline, in its sole discretion, to provide such Other Term Loans (it being understood that there is no obligation to approach any existing Lenders to provide Other Term Loans).  The consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) will be required in respect of any Person providing Other Term Loans if such consent would be required under Section 10.04 for an assignment of Term Loans to such Person.

 

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SECTION 2.20.            Extensions of Term Loans .

 

(1)                                  Extension Offers .  Pursuant to one or more offers (each, an “ Extension Offer ”) made from time to time by the Borrowers to all Lenders of Term Loans with a like Maturity Date, the Borrowers may extend the Maturity Date of Term Loans and otherwise modify the terms of Term Loans pursuant to the terms set forth in the relevant Extension Offer (each, an “ Extension ,” and each group of Term Loans so extended, as well as the original Term Loans not so extended, being a “ tranche ”).  Each Extension Offer will specify the minimum amount of Term Loans with respect to which an Extension Offer may be accepted, which will be an integral multiple of $1.0 million and an aggregate principal amount that is not less than $10.0 million (or (a) if less, the aggregate principal amount of such Term Loans or (b) such lesser minimum amount as is approved by the Administrative Agent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), and will be made on a pro rata basis to all Lenders of Term Loans with a like Maturity Date.  If the aggregate outstanding principal amount of Term Loans (calculated on the face amount thereof) in respect of which Lenders have accepted an Extension Offer exceeds the maximum aggregate principal amount of Term Loans offered to be extended pursuant to an Extension Offer, then the Term Loans of such Lenders will be extended ratably up to such maximum amount based on the respective principal amounts (but not to exceed actual holdings of record) with respect to which such Lenders have accepted such Extension Offer.  There is no requirement that any Extension Offer or Extension Amendment (defined as follows) be subject to any “most favored nation” pricing provisions.  Each Lender accepting an Extension Offer is referred to herein as an “ Extending Term Lender ,” and the Term Loans held by such Lender accepting an Extension Offer is referred to herein as “ Extended Term Loans .”

 

(2)                                  Extension Amendments .  The Lenders hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into amendments to this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (an “ Extension Amendment ”) with the Borrowers as may be necessary in order to establish new tranches in respect of Term Loans extended pursuant to an Extension Offer and such technical amendments as may be necessary or appropriate in the reasonable opinion of the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers in connection with the establishment of such new tranches.  This Section 2.20 supersedes any provisions in Section 10.08 to the contrary.  Except as otherwise set forth in an Extension Offer, there will be no conditions to the effectiveness of an Extension Amendment. Extensions will not constitute a voluntary or mandatory payment or prepayment for purposes of this Agreement. Nonetheless, as regards any documents executed in Spain, if legally required to do so, the Lenders shall grant a specific power of attorney in favor of the Agents, duly notarized and apostilled or legalized (as applicable), in order to authorize the Agents to execute any such additional documents or amendments that is necessary to reflect the Extension Amendment or shall otherwise appear before the notary together with the Agents to execute any such documents.

 

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(3)                                  Terms of Extension Offers and Extension Amendments .  The terms of any Extended Term Loans will be set forth in an Extension Offer and as agreed between the Borrowers and the Extended Term Lenders accepting such Extension Offer; provided that:

 

(a)                                  the final maturity date of such Extended Term Loans will be no earlier than the Latest Maturity Date of the Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer;

 

(b)                                  the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of such Extended Term Loans will be no shorter than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer;

 

(c)                                   such Extended Term Loans may participate on a pro rata basis or a less than pro rata basis (but not greater than a pro rata basis) in any voluntary or mandatory repayments or prepayments of Term Loans;

 

(d)                                  such Extended Term Loans are not secured by any assets or property that does not constitute Collateral;

 

(e)                                   such Extended Term Loans are not guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the Borrowers other than a Subsidiary Loan Party; and

 

(f)                                    except as to pricing terms (interest rate, fees, funding discounts and prepayment premiums) and maturity, the terms and conditions of such Extended Term Loans are substantially identical to (including as to ranking and priority), or, taken as a whole, no more favorable to the lenders or holders providing such Indebtedness than, those applicable to the Term Loans subject to such Extension Offer, as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of the Borrower.

 

Any Extended Term Loans will constitute a separate tranche of Term Loans from the Term Loans held by Lenders that did not accept the applicable Extension Offer.

 

(4)                                  Required Consents .  No consent of any Lender or any other Person will be required to effectuate any Extension, other than the consent of the Administrative Agent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), the Borrowers and the applicable Extending Term Lender.  The transactions contemplated by this Section 2.20 (including, for the avoidance of doubt, payment of any interest, fees or premium in respect of any Extended Term Loans on such terms as may be set forth in the relevant Extension Offer) will not require the consent of any other Lender or any other Person, and the requirements of any provision of this Agreement (including Sections 2.08 and 2.15) or any other Loan Document that may otherwise prohibit any such Extension or any other transaction contemplated by this Section 2.20 will not apply to any of the transactions effected pursuant to this Section 2.20.

 

SECTION 2.21.            Repricing Event .  In the event that, prior to December 29, 2017, any Borrowers refinance or makes any prepayment of, or amends the terms of, of the Initial Term Loans in connection with any Repricing Event (or causes of the Initial Term Loans

 

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to be mandatorily assigned pursuant to the terms of Section 2.16(3) or 10.04(7) hereof, in each case, in connection with a Repricing Event), the Borrowers will pay to the Administrative Agent, for the ratable account of each applicable Lender, a payment of 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of any such Term Loans so refinanced, prepaid or amended (or subject to mandatory assignment), as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Representations and Warranties

 

(a) On the Closing Date and on the date of any subsequent Borrowing of Loans (but excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any continuation of any Interest Period or conversion of any Type of loans hereunder) hereunder, each of the Borrowers, with respect to itself and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries, and Holdings hereby represent and warrant to each Agent and to each of the Lenders, that:

 

SECTION 3.01.            Organization; Powers .  Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and each Restricted Subsidiary:

 

(1)                                  is a partnership, limited liability company, unlimited liability company, company, corporation, or trust duly organized, validly existing or incorporated and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or incorporation (to the extent such status or an analogous concept applies to such an organization);

 

(2)                                  has all requisite power and authority to own its property and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted;

 

(3)                                  is qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the failure to so qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(4)                                  has the power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations under each of the Loan Documents and each other agreement or instrument contemplated thereby to which it is a party and, in the case of the Borrowers, to borrow and otherwise obtain credit hereunder.

 

SECTION 3.02.            Authorization .  The execution, delivery and performance by the Loan Parties of each of the Loan Documents to which it is a party, the Borrowings hereunder and the Transactions to be consummated on the Closing Date:

 

(1)                                  have been duly authorized by all corporate, stockholder, partnership, limited liability company or other applicable action required to be taken by the Loan Parties; and

 

(2)                                  will not:

 

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(a)                                  violate:

 

(i)                                      any provision (A) of law, statute, rule or regulation, or (B) of the certificate or articles of incorporation or association or other constitutive documents (including any partnership, limited liability company or operating agreement or by-laws) of any Loan Party;

 

(ii)                                   any applicable order of any court or any rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority; or

 

(iii)                                any provision of any indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument to which any Loan Party is a party or by which any of them or any of their property is or may be bound;

 

(b)                                  be in conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute (alone or with notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to a right of or result in any cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation (including any payment) or to a loss of a material benefit under, any such indenture, certificate of designation for preferred stock, agreement or other instrument; or

 

(c)                                   result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any property or assets of any Loan Party, other than the Liens created by the Loan Documents and Permitted Liens;

 

except with respect to clause (a)(i)(B) of this Section 3.02(2), as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.03.            Enforceability .  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and the Borrowers and constitutes, and each other Loan Document when executed and delivered by each Loan Party that is party thereto will constitute, a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Loan Party enforceable against each such Loan Party in accordance with its terms, subject to any applicable Legal Reservations and any other perfection requirements specifically set out in the Security Documents.

 

SECTION 3.04.            Governmental Approvals .  No action, consent or approval of, registration or filing with or any other action by any Governmental Authority or third party is or will be required in connection with the extensions of credit hereunder or with the execution, delivery, performance, validity or enforceability of the Loan Documents, the perfection or maintenance of the Liens created under the Security Documents or the exercise by the Administrative Agent or any Lender of its rights under the Loan Documents or the remedies in respect of the Collateral, except for:

 

(1)                                  the filings referred to in Section 3.14 and in the Security Documents;

 

(2)                                  filings as may be required under the Exchange Act and applicable stock exchange rules in connection therewith;

 

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(3)                                  such as have been made or obtained and are in full force and effect;

 

(4)                                  such actions, consents and approvals the failure of which to be obtained or made would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(5)                                  filings or other actions listed on Schedule 3.04.

 

SECTION 3.05.            Title to Properties; Possession Under Leases .

 

(1)                                  Each of Holdings, Borrowers and the Subsidiary Loan Parties has good and valid fee simple title to, or valid leasehold interests in, or easements or licenses or other limited property interests in, all of its Real Properties and valid title to its personal property and assets, in each case, except for Permitted Liens or defects in title that do not materially interfere with its ability to conduct its business as currently conducted or to utilize such properties and assets for their intended purposes, in each case, except where the failure to have such title, interest, easement, license or right would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  All such properties and assets are free and clear of Liens, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(2)                                  Neither Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries has defaulted under any lease to which it is a party, except for such defaults as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.  Each of Holdings’ and the Restricted Subsidiaries’ leases is in full force and effect, except leases in respect of which the failure to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.05(2), on the Closing Date Holdings and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such leases, other than leases in respect of which the failure to enjoy peaceful and undisturbed possession would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.06.            Subsidiaries .

 

(1)                                  Schedule 3.06(1) sets forth as of the Closing Date the name and jurisdiction of incorporation, formation or organization of Holdings, the Borrowers and each Restricted Subsidiary and, as to each Restricted Subsidiary, the percentage of each class of Equity Interests owned by Holdings or by any other Subsidiary of Holdings.

 

(2)                                  As of the Closing Date, except as set forth on Schedule 3.06(2), there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, or similar rights, agreements or commitments relating to any Equity Interests owned or held by Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary.

 

SECTION 3.07.            Litigation; Compliance with Laws .

 

(1)                                  There are no actions, suits or proceedings at law or in equity or by or on behalf of any Governmental Authority or in arbitration now pending, or, to the knowledge of Holdings

 

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or any Borrower, threatened in writing against or affecting Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary or any business, property or rights of any such Person, in each case, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(2)                                  To the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrowers, none of Holdings, any Restricted Subsidiary or their respective properties or assets is in violation of (nor will the continued operation of their material properties and assets as currently conducted violate) any law, rule or regulation (including any zoning, building, ordinance, code or approval, or any building permit) or any restriction of record or agreement affecting any property, or is in default with respect to any judgment, writ, injunction or decree of any Governmental Authority, where such violation or default would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.08.            Federal Reserve Regulations .

 

(1)                                  None of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock.

 

(2)                                  No part of the proceeds of any Term Loan will be used, whether directly or indirectly, and whether immediately, incidentally or ultimately, (i) to purchase or carry Margin Stock or to extend credit to others for the purpose of purchasing or carrying Margin Stock or to refund Indebtedness originally incurred for such purpose or (ii) for any purpose that entails a violation of, or that is inconsistent with, the provisions of the Regulations of the Board, including Regulations T, U or X.

 

SECTION 3.09.            Investment Company Act .  None of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Guarantor is an “investment company” as defined in, or subject to regulation under, the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

SECTION 3.10.            Use of Proceeds .  The Borrowers shall only use the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans to make payments in respect of the Transactions.

 

SECTION 3.11.            Tax Returns .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11:

 

(1)                                  Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries has filed or caused to be filed all federal, state, local and non-U.S. Tax returns required to have been filed by it; and

 

(2)                                  Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries has timely paid or caused to be timely paid (a) all Taxes shown to be due and payable by it (taking into account any applicable extension) on the returns referred to in clause (1) of this Section 3.11 and (b) all other Taxes or assessments (or made adequate provision (in accordance with GAAP or in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign

 

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Subsidiary, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in such Restricted Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of organization) for the payment of all Taxes due) with respect to all periods or portions thereof ending on or before the Closing Date, which Taxes, if not paid or adequately provided for, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, in each case except Taxes or assessments that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary (as the case may be) has set aside on its books adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP.

 

SECTION 3.12.            No Material Misstatements .

 

(1)                                  All written factual information and written factual data (other than the Projections, estimates and information of a general economic or industry specific nature) concerning Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary that has been made available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, directly or indirectly, by or on behalf of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole and after giving effect to all supplements and updates provided thereto, is correct in all material respects and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not materially misleading in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made.

 

(2)                                  The Projections that have been made available to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders by or on behalf of Holdings or the Borrowers in connection with the Transactions, when taken as a whole, have been prepared in good faith based upon assumptions that are believed by Holdings or the Borrowers to be reasonable at the time made and at the time delivered to the Administrative Agent or the Lenders, it being understood by the Administrative Agent and the Lenders that:

 

(a)                                  the Projections are merely a prediction as to future events and are not to be viewed as facts;

 

(b)                                  the Projections are subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the control of Holdings, the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(c)                                   no assurance can be given that any particular Projections will be realized; and

 

(d)                                  actual results may differ and such differences may be material.

 

SECTION 3.13.            Environmental Matters .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.13 or as to matters that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect:

 

(1)                                  Holdings, the Borrowers and each of the Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance with all, and have not violated any, Environmental Laws (including having obtained and

 

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complied with all permits, licenses, authorizations and other approvals required under any Environmental Law for the operation of its business);

 

(2)                                  neither Holdings, the Borrowers nor any Restricted Subsidiary has received notice of or is subject to any pending, or to Holdings or any Borrower’s knowledge, threatened action, suit or proceeding alleging a violation of, or liability under, any Environmental Law or regarding Hazardous Materials that remains outstanding or unresolved;

 

(3)                                  no Hazardous Material is located at, on or under any property currently or, to Holdings or any Borrower’s knowledge, formerly owned, operated or leased by Holdings or any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary and no Hazardous Material has been generated, owned, treated, stored, handled or controlled by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or transported to or Released at any location which, in each case, described in this clause (3), is in violation of Environmental Laws or would reasonably be expected to result in liability to Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

 

(4)                                  there are no agreements in which Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary has assumed or undertaken responsibility for any known or reasonably anticipated liability or obligation of any other Person arising under or relating to Environmental Laws or relating to Hazardous Materials.

 

SECTION 3.14.            Security Documents .

 

(1)                                  The US Collateral Agreement and each other Security Document are effective upon the execution thereof to create in favor of the Collateral Agent (for the benefit of the Secured Parties) legal and valid Liens on the Collateral described therein, subject to the Legal Reservations; and, with respect to (i) the UK Loan Parties when registration of particulars of each Security Document granted by a UK Loan Party at Companies House in England and Wales in accordance with Part 25 (Company Charges) of the Companies Act 2006 (UK) or any regulations relating to the registration of charges made under, or applying the provisions of, the Companies Act 2006 (UK) and payment of associated fees; and (ii) the US Loan Parties when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule III to the US Collateral Agreement is properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, and the US Pledged Collateral described in the US Collateral Agreement is delivered to the Collateral Agent, together with duly executed and prepared stock powers, the Liens on the Collateral granted pursuant to the US Collateral Agreement will constitute fully perfected Liens on all right, title and interest of the US Loan Parties in such Collateral in which (and to the extent) a security interest can be perfected under Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code and the United States Copyright Act, in each case prior to and superior in right of the Lien of any other Person (except for Permitted Liens);and (iii) the French Loan Parties, upon execution of the necessary statement of pledge (declaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers) in respect of any French law pledge over

 

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shares, and, upon filling of the share pledge at the relevant company register to the extent necessary depending on the type of shares pledged.

 

(2)                                  With respect to the US Loan Parties, when financing statements in appropriate form are filed in the offices specified on Schedule III to the US Collateral Agreement and the US Collateral Agreement or a summary thereof and the Intellectual Property Security Agreements are properly filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office, as applicable, the Liens on the Collateral granted pursuant to the US Collateral Agreement shall constitute fully perfected Liens on all right, title and interest of the Loan Parties thereunder in the domestic Intellectual Property Rights, in each case prior and superior in right to the Lien of any other Person (except for Permitted Liens) (it being understood that subsequent recordings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office may be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered trademarks and patents, trademark and patent applications, and will be necessary to perfect a Lien on registered copyrights, in each case acquired by the US Loan Parties after the Closing Date).

 

(3)                                  Notwithstanding anything herein (including this Section 3.14) or in any other Loan Document to the contrary, other than with respect to Equity Interests of a Foreign Subsidiary organized in a Specified Foreign Jurisdiction with respect to which security interest has been granted pursuant to a Security Document, neither Holdings, the Borrowers nor any other Loan Party makes any representation or warranty as to the effects of perfection or non-perfection, the priority or the enforceability of any pledge of or security interest in any Equity Interests of any Foreign Subsidiary, or as to the rights and remedies of the Agents or any Lender with respect thereto, under foreign law.

 

SECTION 3.15.            Location of Real Property .   Schedule 3.15 correctly identifies, in all material respects, as of the Closing Date, all Owned Material Real Property owned in fee by the Loan Parties.  As of the Closing Date, the Loan Parties own in fee all the Real Property set forth on Schedule 3.15.

 

SECTION 3.16.            Solvency .  On the Closing Date, after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of the Term Loans:

 

(1)                                  the Fair Value of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities;

 

(2)                                  the Present Fair Salable Value of the assets of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole exceeds their Liabilities;

 

(3)                                  Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole do not have Unreasonably Small Capital; and

 

(4)                                  Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as a whole will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature.

 

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For purposes of this Section 3.16, (a) “ Fair Value ” of the assets of any Persons means the amount at which the assets (both tangible and intangible), in their entirety, of such Persons taken as a whole would change hands between a willing buyer and a willing seller, within a commercially reasonable period of time, each having reasonable knowledge of the relevant facts, with neither being under any compulsion to act; (b) “ Present Fair Salable Value ” of the assets of any Persons means the amount that could be obtained by an independent willing seller from an independent willing buyer if the assets of such Persons taken as a whole are sold with reasonable promptness in an arm’s-length transaction under present conditions for the sale of comparable business enterprises insofar as such conditions can be reasonably evaluated; (c) “ Liabilities ” of any Persons means the recorded liabilities (including contingent liabilities that would be recorded in accordance with GAAP) of such Persons taken as a whole, as of the Closing Date after giving effect to the consummation of the Transactions, in each case determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied; (d) “ will be able to pay their Liabilities as they mature ” for any Persons means, , such Persons taken as a whole will have sufficient assets and cash flow to pay their Liabilities as those liabilities mature or (in the case of contingent Liabilities) otherwise become payable, in light of business conducted or anticipated to be conducted by such Persons as reflected in the projected financial statements and in light of the anticipated credit capacity; and (e) “ do not have Unreasonably Small Capital ” for any Persons means such Persons taken as a whole, after consummation of the Transactions, is a going concern and has sufficient capital to reasonably ensure that it will continue to be a going concern.

 

SECTION 3.17.            No Material Adverse Effect .  Since the end of the most recent fiscal year of Holdings ended at least 90 days prior to the Closing Date, there has been no event that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 3.18.            Insurance .  Schedule 3.18 sets forth a true, complete and correct description of all material insurance maintained by or on behalf of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary as of the Closing Date.  As of such date, such insurance is in full force and effect.

 

SECTION 3.19.            USA PATRIOT Act; FCPA; OFAC; Anti-Terrorism .

 

(1)                                  To the extent applicable, each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries are in compliance, in all material respects, with the USA PATRIOT Act, FCPA and all applicable Anti-Terrorism Laws that are applicable to such Person.

 

(2)                                  None of (i) the Loan Parties or any director, officer, or employee of the Loan Parties, or (ii) to the knowledge of any Loan Party, any agent that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the Term Facility established hereby of the Loan Parties is a Person that is: (a) a Sanctioned Person; or (b) located, organized or resident in a Sanctioned Country.

 

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(3)                                  No part of the proceeds of the Term Loans will be used by Holdings, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, directly or, to the knowledge of Holdings, any Borrower or any of their respective Subsidiaries, indirectly, (a) for any payments to any governmental official or employee, political party, official of a political party, candidate for political office or anyone else acting in an official capacity, in order to obtain, retain or direct business or obtain any improper advantage, in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (“ FCPA ”), (b) to fund any activities or business of or with any Sanctioned Person or in any Sanctioned Country, or (c) in any manner that would result in a violation of any applicable Anti-Terrorism Law or Sanctions by Holdings, the Borrowers or their respective Subsidiaries.

 

(4)                                  (i) Holdings and the Borrowers have implemented and maintain in effect policies and procedures designed to reasonably ensure compliance by Holdings, the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects, (ii)  Holdings, the Borrowers and their respective Subsidiaries and their respective officers and directors and to the knowledge of Holdings, its employees and agents, are in compliance with applicable Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects and are not knowingly engaged in any activity that would reasonably be expected to result in any Borrower being designated as a Sanctioned Person, (iii) none of (a) Holdings the Borrower, any Subsidiary or any of their respective directors, officers or employees, or (b) to the knowledge of Holdings, any agent of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary that will act in any capacity in connection with or benefit from the credit facility established hereby, is a Sanctioned Person.

 

(5)                                  The representations and warranties given in this Section 3.19 shall not be made by nor apply to any German Loan Party in so far as they would violate or expose any German Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under any anti-boycott or blocking law, regulation or statute that is in force from time to time and applicable to such entity (including without limitation EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 and Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes ( Außenwirtschaftsverordnung — AWV )).

 

SECTION 3.20.            Intellectual Property; Licenses, Etc .  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20:

 

(1)                                  except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, Holdings and each Restricted Subsidiary owns, or possesses the right to use, all Intellectual Property Rights that are used in or reasonably necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Liens, and without conflict with the rights of any other Person;

 

(2)                                  except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the operation of the respective businesses of Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries nor their use of any Intellectual Property Rights, product, process, method,

 

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substance, part or other material now held for use, employed, sold or offered by any Borrower or the Restricted Subsidiaries is infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating Intellectual Property Rights of any Person;

 

(3)                                  no claim or litigation regarding any of the foregoing is pending or, to the knowledge of Holdings or any Borrower, threatened; and

 

(4)                                  except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, to the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrowers, no Person is infringing the Intellectual Property Rights owned by Holdings nor any of the Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 3.21.            Employee Benefit Plans .  Each Plan is in compliance in all material respects with its terms and the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder.  No ERISA Event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that, when taken together with all other such ERISA Events, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the present value of all accumulated benefit obligations under all Plans (based on the assumptions used for purposes of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 87) did not, as of the date of the most recent financial statements reflecting such amounts, exceed the fair market value of the assets of such Plans, in the aggregate.

 

SECTION 3.22.            EEA Financial Institution .  No Loan Party is an EEA Financial Institution.

 

SECTION 3.23.            Pensions .

 

(1)                                  To the knowledge of Holdings and the Borrowers, any pension schemes operated by or maintained for the benefit of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries and/or any of their employees are to the extent required by applicable law fully funded if failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(2)                                  The Canadian Subsidiaries are in compliance with the requirements of the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario) and other federal or provincial laws with respect to each Canadian Pension Plan, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.  No fact or situation that may reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect exists in connection with any Canadian Pension Plan.  As of the Closing Date, none of the Canadian Subsidiaries maintain, administer, contribute or have any liability in respect of any Canadian Defined Benefit Plans or, in the last 5 years, have ever contributed, maintained or administered any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan governed by the Pension Benefits Act (Ontario).   No lien has arisen, choate or inchoate, in respect of any Canadian Borrower, Canadian Guarantor or their Subsidiaries or their property in connection with any Canadian Pension Plan (save for contribution amounts not yet due).

 

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(3)                                  Except with respect to the Specified UK Plans, no UK Loan Party: (a) is or has at any time been an employer (as defined for the purposes of sections 38 to 51 of the Pensions Act 2004) of an occupational pension scheme that which is not a money purchase scheme (both terms as defined in the Pensions Scheme Act 1993); or (b) is or has at any time been “connected” with or an “associate” (as those terms are used in sections 38 and 43 of the Pensions Act 2004) of such an employer to the extent that it could result in a Contribution Notice or Financial Support Direction being issued to a UK Loan Party which has a Material Adverse Effect; and no UK Loan Party has been issued with a Financial Support Direction or Contribution Notice in respect of any UK defined benefit pension plan.

 

SECTION 3.24.            Centre of Main Interests and Establishments .  If its jurisdiction of organization is a member of the European Union, its COMI is, for the purposes of the EU Insolvency Regulation, situated in its jurisdiction of organization and it has no “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the EU Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 3.25.            Borrowing Notice .  Prior to the making of the Initial Term Loan on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received a Notice of Borrowing meeting the requirements of Section 2.02.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Conditions of Lending

 

SECTION 4.01.            Conditions Precedent to Closing Date .  The agreement of each Lender to make Term Loans on the Closing Date is subject solely to the satisfaction or waiver by the Administrative Agent, prior to or substantially concurrently with the making of the Term Loans on the Closing Date, of the following conditions precedent:

 

(1)                                  Loan Documents .  The Administrative Agent shall have received:

 

(a)                                  this Agreement, dated as of the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by Holdings and each Borrower.

 

(b)                                  the US Collateral Agreement, the Intercreditor Agreement and (except as set forth on Schedule 1.01(3) or Schedule 5.16) each other Loan Document, in each case, dated as of the Closing Date, duly executed and delivered by each of the Loan Parties party thereto.

 

(2)                                  Borrowing Request .  On or prior to the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received one or more Borrowing Requests.

 

(3)                                  Financial Statements .  The Administrative Agent shall have received (a) the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flows of Holdings for each fiscal quarter (except for any such fiscal quarter ending as of the end of a fiscal

 

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year) ended after December 31, 2016 and at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, (b) the audited consolidated balance sheets of Holdings as of December 31, 2016 and the related statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2016 and (c) a pro forma consolidated balance sheet of Holdings (after giving effect to the Transactions) based on the historical balance sheet of Holdings as of the last day of the most recently completed fiscal quarter ended at least 45 days prior to the Closing Date, prepared so as to give effect to the Transactions as if the Transactions had occurred as of such date, which need not be prepared in compliance with Regulation S-X of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or include adjustments for purchase accounting, which in each case may be consistent with the financial statements set forth on the Form S-1 filed with the SEC with respect to the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction.

 

(4)                                  Fees .  Payment of (a) the upfront fee in respect of the Initial Term Loans and the administrative fee required to be paid pursuant to the Fee Letter, it being understood that such upfront fee may be netted against the proceeds of the Initial Term Loans and (b) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid on the Closing Date pursuant to the Engagement Letter, in each case to the extent invoiced at least 3 Business Days prior to the Closing Date (or such later date as Holdings may reasonably agree).

 

(5)                                  Closing Date Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of a Responsible Officer of each Loan Party (other than any French Loan Party, Luxembourg Loan Party, Spanish Loan Party and German Loan Party) dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is (i) a true and complete copy of the charter, certificate of incorporation, certificate of incorporation on change of name or other similar organizational or constitutional document of such Loan Party, and each amendment thereto, certified (as of a date reasonably near the Closing Date and only where customary in the applicable jurisdiction) as being a true and correct copy thereof by the Secretary of State or other applicable Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is organized and (ii) a true and correct copy of its bylaws, memorandum and articles of association or operating, management, partnership or similar agreement (to the extent applicable) and that such documents or agreements have not been amended since the date of the last amendment thereto;

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto is a certificate of good standing (or subsistence) with respect to such Loan Party (other than any UK Loan Party) from the Secretary of State or other applicable Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which such Loan Party is organized (to the extent customarily provided and available in the jurisdiction of organization of such Loan Party);

 

(c)                                   that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or equivalent body in the relevant jurisdiction of such

 

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Loan Party including if required by law in any applicable jurisdiction, a copy of the resolutions of its shareholders meeting) of such Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the Closing Date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect;

 

(d)                                  in respect of any Finnish Loan Party, a true and complete copy of resolutions of the shareholder(s) of such Finnish Loan Party approving and endorsing the resolutions of the Board of Directors of such Finnish Loan Party referenced in (c) above;

 

(e)                                   as to the incumbency and specimen signature of each Responsible Officer executing this Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document (together with a certificate of another officer as to the incumbency and specimen signature of the Responsible Officer executing the certificate pursuant to this Section 4.01(5)); and

 

(f)                                    in the case of a UK Loan Party whose shares are the subject of a Lien in favour of the Collateral Agent (i) a certificate of that UK Loan Party certifying that no “warning notice” or “restrictions notice” (in each case as defined in Schedule 1B of the  Companies Act 2006) has been issued in respect of those shares, together with a copy of the “PSC register” (within the meaning of section 790C(10) of the Companies Act 2006) of that UK Loan Party, which is certified by a Responsible Officer of that UK Loan Party to be correct, complete and not amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement, or (ii) a certificate of that UK Loan Party certifying that such UK Loan Party is not required to comply with Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006.

 

(6)                                  Closing Date Certificate for German Loan Parties .  With respect to any German Loan Party, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized signatory of such German Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is a true copy of (i) an electronic excerpt from the commercial register ( Handelsregisterauszug ) of recent date; (ii) a copy of the articles of association ( Satzung ) or partnership agreement ( Gesellschaftsvertrag ) and (iii) a copy of the list of the shareholders ( Gesellschafterliste ) (if applicable) relating to such German Loan Party;

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the shareholders of such German Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the Closing Date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect; and

 

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(c)                                   that attached thereto are specimen signatures of the persons authorized to execute this Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document on behalf of the German Loan Party.

 

(7)                                  Closing Date Certificate for Luxembourg Loan Parties .  With respect to any Luxembourg Loan Party, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized signatory of such Luxembourg Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                        that attached hereto is an up-to-date copy of an excerpt issued by the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (the “ RCS ”) one Business Day prior to the signature of this Agreement in respect of the Lux Borrower;

 

(b)                        that attached hereto is a complete and up-to-date copy of the articles of incorporation of the Lux Borrower which articles are in full force and effect.

 

(c)                         that attached hereto is a copy of a certificate of non-registration of a judicial decision in respect of the Company issued by the RCS two Business Days prior to the signature of this Agreement, stating that as of one Business Day prior to the signature of this Agreement, no judicial decision pursuant to which the Lux Borrower would be subject to one of the judicial proceedings referred to therein including, but not limited to, bankruptcy ( faillite ), controlled management ( gestion contrôlée ), reprieve from payments ( sursis de paiement ) or composition with creditors ( concordat préventif de la faillite ), has been registered with the RCS by application of article 13, items 2 to 12 and article 14 of the Luxembourg law of 19 December 2002 on the RCS and on the accounting and annual accounts of undertakings, as amended;

 

(d)                        that attached hereto is a complete copy of the resolutions  duly adopted by or on behalf of the Lux Borrower approving and authorizing the entry by the Lux Borrower into the Loan Documents and the performance of its obligations thereunder, which resolutions are in full force and effect;

 

(e)                         that each copy document listed above is correct, complete and in full force and effect and has not been amended or superseded as at a date no earlier than the date of this Agreement;

 

(f)                          that the persons whose name appear on an Exhibit  are the duly elected, qualified and acting directors of the Lux Borrower, and the signatures set forth opposite their respective name are the true and genuine signature of such managers; and

 

(g)                         that the borrowing, guaranteeing or securing, as the case may be, by the Lux Borrower, as a result of its entry into the Loan Documents and the performance of its obligations thereunder, will not cause any borrowing, guaranteeing, security or similar limit binding on it to be exceeded.

 

(h)                        that the Lux Borrower is not subject to bankruptcy ( faillite ), insolvency, voluntary

 

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or judicial liquidation ( liquidation volontaire ou judiciaire ), composition with creditors ( concordat préventif de la faillite ), reprieve from payment ( sursis de paiement ), controlled management ( gestion contrôlée ), or similar proceedings; that the Lux Borrower is not subject to , to the best of its knowledge,  conservatory measures such as attachment order ( saisie conservatoire ) or garnishment ( saisie attribution or saisie arrêt ) and that no application, petition, order or resolution has been made, or taken by the Lux Borrower or by, to the best of its knowledge, any other person for the appointment of a commissaire , curateur , liquidateur or similar officer for its administration, winding-up or similar proceedings.

 

(8)                                  Closing Date Certificate for Spanish Loan Parties .  With respect to any Spanish Loan Party, the Administrative Agent shall have received a certificate of an authorized signatory of such Spanish Loan Party dated the Closing Date and certifying:

 

(a)                                  that attached thereto is a true copy of (i) an up-to-date complete literal certificate ( certificación literal completa ) issued by the relevant Commercial Registry and (ii) (if applicable) a copy of any documents which should be registered with the Commercial Registry and are pending to be registered, if any;

 

(b)                                  that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted and notarized by the Board of Directors (or the relevant body including if required by law a copy of the resolutions of its shareholders meeting duly notarized) of such Spanish Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Loan Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the Closing Date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect; and

 

(c)                                   that attached thereto are specimen signatures of the persons authorized to execute this Agreement and each other applicable Loan Document on behalf of the Spanish Loan Party.

 

(9)                                  Legal Opinions .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a customary legal opinion of (i) Latham & Watkins LLP, special New York and Delaware counsel to the Loan Parties and (ii) customary legal opinions of each counsel set forth on Schedule 4.01(3).

 

(10)                           Know Your Customer and Other Required Information .  The Administrative Agent shall have received at least three business days prior to the Closing Date all documentation and other information about the Loan Parties as has been reasonably requested in writing at least 10 days prior to the Closing Date by the Arrangers that they reasonably determine is required by regulatory authorities under applicable “know your customer” and anti-money laundering rules and regulations, including without limitation the PATRIOT Act and the Proceeds of Crime Act.

 

(11)                           Solvency Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a solvency certificate substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B.

 

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(12)                           Transactions .  The following transactions have been consummated or will be consummated substantially concurrently with the borrowing of the Initial Term Loans hereunder:

 

(a)                                  the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction;

 

(b)                                  the Senior Notes Documents to be executed on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto and the Borrowers shall have received at least $375 million in gross proceeds from the issuance of the Senior Notes;

 

(c)                                   the ABL Loan Documents required by the terms of the ABL Credit Agreement to be executed on or prior to the Closing Date shall have been duly executed and delivered by each Loan Party party thereto; and

 

(d)                                  the Huntsman Release.

 

(13)                           Pledged Equity Interests; Pledged Notes .  Except set forth on Schedule 1.01(3)  or Schedule 5.12 or as otherwise agreed by the Administrative Agent, to the extent included in the Collateral and required to be pledged pursuant to the Security Documents on the Closing Date, the Administrative Agent shall have received the certificates representing the Equity Interests (if such Equity Interests are certificated) of the Loan Parties and the other outstanding Equity Interests (if such Equity Interests are certificated) owned by each Loan Party, in each case together with an undated stock power or stock transfer form for each such certificate executed in blank by a duly authorized officer of the pledgor thereof, to the extent applicable.

 

(14)                           Perfection Certificate .  The Administrative Agent shall have received a completed Perfection Certificate with respect to the US Loan Parties dated as of the Closing Date and signed by a Responsible Officer of Holdings.

 

(15)                           No Material Adverse Effect .  There have not been any changes, circumstances, events or effects that, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(16)                           Representations and Warranties .  The representations and warranties in Article III hereof shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for representations and warranties that are already qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects after giving effect to such qualification).

 

There are no conditions, implied or otherwise, to the making of Term Loans on the Closing Date other than as set forth in the preceding clauses (1) through (16) and upon satisfaction or waiver by the Administrative Agent of such conditions the Initial Term Loans will be made by the Initial Term Loan Lenders.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Affirmative Covenants

 

Holdings and the Borrowers covenant and agree with each Lender that so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent in writing, Holdings and each Borrower will, and will cause its Restricted Subsidiaries, to:

 

SECTION 5.01.            Existence; Businesses and Properties .

 

(1)                                  Do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its legal existence, except:

 

(a)                                  in the case of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Borrower), where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(b)                                  in connection with a transaction permitted under Section 6.05.

 

(2)                                  (a) Do or cause to be done all things necessary to lawfully obtain, preserve, renew, extend and keep in full force and effect the permits, franchises, authorizations, Intellectual Property Rights, licenses and rights with respect thereto necessary to the normal conduct of its business and (b) at all times maintain and preserve all property necessary to the normal conduct of its business and keep such property in good repair, working order and condition (ordinary wear and tear and casualty and condemnation excepted) and from time to time make, or cause to be made, all needful and proper repairs, renewals, additions, improvements and replacements thereto necessary in order that the business carried on in connection therewith, if any, may be properly conducted at all times, in each case, except:

 

(i)                                      as expressly permitted by this Agreement;

 

(ii)                                   such as may expire, be abandoned or lapse in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(iii)                                where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.02.            Insurance .

 

(1)                                  Maintain, with insurance companies reasonably believed to be financially sound and reputable, or through self-insurance (other than insurance of property loss, damage, and business interruption), insurance in such amounts and against such risks as are customarily maintained by similarly situated companies engaged in the same or similar

 

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businesses operating in the same or similar locations, and cause the Collateral Agent to be listed as a co-loss payee (and mortgagee in the case of owned Real Property) on property policies (including for casualty losses) and as an additional insured on liability policies in each case, with respect to jurisdictions outside of the United States, to the extent available and customary in such jurisdictions.  Holdings will furnish to the Administrative Agent or Collateral Agent, upon reasonable request, information in reasonable detail as to the insurance so maintained.

 

(2)                                  Use commercially reasonable efforts to: (a) if insurance is procured from insurance companies, obtain certificates and endorsements (or in the case of insurance held by any UK Loan Party, insurance broker’s letters) reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent with respect to property and casualty insurance; (b) cause each insurance policy referred to in this Section 5.02 and procured from an insurance company to provide that it shall not be cancelled (x) by reason of nonpayment of premium except upon not less than 10 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent (giving the Administrative Agent the right to cure defaults in the payment of premiums) or (y) for any other reason except upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice thereof by the insurer to the Administrative Agent; and (c) deliver to the Administrative Agent, prior to the cancellation of any such policy of insurance, a copy of a renewal or replacement policy (or other evidence of renewal of a policy previously delivered to the Administrative Agent, including an insurance binder) together with evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent of payment of the premium therefor.

 

(3)                                  The transfer of shares in Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH from Huntsman Investments (Netherlands) B.V. to Huntsman Spin UK Limited shall be completed on or before August 31, 2017 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).

 

(4)                                  The new shareholder’s list of Huntsman (Holdings) GmbH reflecting the new shareholding of Huntsman Spin UK Limited shall be filed with the commercial register on or before August 31, 2017 and a copy of such new shareholder’s list shall be provided to the Collateral Agent on or before August 31, 2017 (or such later date as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion).

 

SECTION 5.03.            Taxes .  Pay and discharge promptly when due all material Taxes imposed upon it or its income or profits or in respect of its property, before the same becomes delinquent or in default; provided that such payment and discharge will not be required with respect to any Tax if (1) the validity or amount thereof is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and (2) Holdings, the Borrowers or any affected Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, has set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP (or in the case of any such Restricted Subsidiary that is a Foreign Subsidiary, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in effect from time to time in such Restricted Subsidiary’s jurisdiction of organization) with respect thereto.

 

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SECTION 5.04.            Financial Statements, Reports, etc .  Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly furnish such information to the Lenders):

 

(1)                                  Within 120 days following the end of the first fiscal year ended after the Closing Date, and within 90 days following the end of each fiscal year thereafter, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity showing the financial position of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal year and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal year and, in each case, starting with the following fiscal year, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations, cash flows and owners’ equity will be audited by independent public accountants of recognized national standing, or such other accountants as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the ABL Facility or the Term Facility occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or anticipated (but not actual) financial covenant non-compliance under the ABL Facility); provided that any such statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting from the actual inability to satisfy a financial covenant in the ABL Facility shall be treated as a Financial Covenant Default for the purposes of Article VIII) to the effect that such consolidated financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP (the applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to this clause (1) being the “ Annual Financial Statements ”);

 

(2)                                  Within 75 days following the end of the first fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date, and within 60 days following the end of the second fiscal quarter ended after the Closing Date (unless in each case such fiscal quarter is the last fiscal quarter of a fiscal year, in which case this clause (2) does not apply to such last fiscal quarter), and, thereafter, within 45 days following the end of each of the first three fiscal quarters of each fiscal year, a consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows showing the financial position of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries as of the close of such fiscal quarter and the consolidated results of its operations during such fiscal quarter and, in each case, the then-elapsed portion of the fiscal year and, starting with the second fiscal year after the Closing Date, setting forth in comparative form the corresponding figures for the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year, which consolidated balance sheet and related statements of operations and cash flows will be certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings on behalf of Holdings as fairly presenting, in all material respects, the financial position and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, subject to normal year-end audit adjustments and the absence of footnotes (the applicable financial statements delivered pursuant to this clause (2) being the “ Quarterly Financial

 

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Statements ” and, together with the Annual Financial Statements, the “ Required Financial Statements ”);

 

(3)                                  concurrently with any delivery of Required Financial Statements, a certificate of a Financial Officer of the Company:

 

(a)                                  certifying that no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, specifying the nature and extent thereof and any corrective action taken or proposed to be taken with respect thereto; and

 

(b)                                  in the case of Annual Financial Statements only, certifying (x) a list of all Immaterial Subsidiaries, that each Subsidiary set forth on such list individually qualifies as an Immaterial Subsidiary and that all such Subsidiaries in the aggregate do not exceed the limitation set forth in clause (ii) of the definition of the term “Immaterial Subsidiary” and (y) a list of all Unrestricted Subsidiaries at such time and that each Subsidiary set forth on such list qualifies as an Unrestricted Subsidiary;

 

(4)                                  [reserved];

 

(5)                                  within 120 days following the end of the first fiscal year ended after the Closing Date, and within 90 days following the end of each full fiscal year ended thereafter, a consolidated annual budget for such fiscal year in the form customarily prepared by Holdings (the “ Budget ”), which Budget will in each case be accompanied by the statement of a Financial Officer of Holdings on behalf of Holdings to the effect that the Budget is based on assumptions believed by Holdings to be reasonable as of the date of delivery thereof;

 

(6)                                  upon the reasonable request of the Collateral Agent, concurrently with the delivery of the Annual Financial Statements, an updated Perfection Certificate (or, to the extent such request relates to specified information contained in the Perfection Certificate, such information), or in the case of any non-US Loan Party, updated information relating to the Collateral consistent with such information provided on the Closing Date, in each case, reflecting all changes since the date of the information most recently received pursuant to this paragraph (6) or Section 5.10;

 

(7)                                  promptly, from time to time, such other information regarding the operations, business affairs, pension profile and financial condition of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary, in each case, as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request (for itself or on behalf of any Lender); and

 

(8)                                  promptly upon the reasonable request of the Administrative Agent (so long as the following are obtainable using commercially reasonable measures), copies of any documents described in Section 101(k)(1) of ERISA that Holdings or any of its ERISA Affiliates may request with respect to any Multiemployer Plan; provided that if Holdings

 

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or any of its ERISA Affiliates has not requested such documents from the administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan, Holdings or the applicable ERISA Affiliate shall be in compliance with this Section 5.04(8) by promptly making a request for such documents or notices from such administrator or sponsor and providing copies of such documents and notices to the Administrative Agent promptly after receipt thereof from the applicable administrator or sponsor of the applicable Multiemployer Plan.

 

Anything to the contrary notwithstanding, the obligations in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 5.04 may be satisfied with respect to financial information of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries by furnishing (1) the applicable financial statements of any other Parent Entity or (2) Holdings’ (or any such other Parent Entity’s), as applicable, Form 10-K or 10-Q, as applicable, filed with the SEC; provided that with respect to each of the foregoing clauses (1) and (2), (a) to the extent such information relates to another Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Entity, on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, and (b) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(1), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing, or such other accountants as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants (which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the ABL Facility or the Term Facility occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or anticipated (but not actual) financial covenant non-compliance under the ABL Facility); provided that any such statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting from the actual inability to satisfy a financial covenant in the ABL Facility shall be treated as a Financial Covenant Default for the purposes of Article VIII) (it being understood and agreed that if, in compliance with this paragraph, (x) Holdings provides audited financial statements of another Parent Entity and related report and opinion of accountants with respect thereto in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(1), no such audited financial information, opinion or report shall be required with respect to Holdings, (y) Holdings provides unaudited financial statements such Parent Entity in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(2), no such unaudited financial information shall be required with respect to Holdings and (z) Holdings provides a Budget of such Parent Entity in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(5), no such Budget shall be required with respect to Holdings; provided that for the avoidance of doubt, with respect to the foregoing clauses (x), (y) and (z), (i) to the extent such information relates to a Parent Entity, such information is accompanied by consolidating information that explains in reasonable detail the differences between the information relating to such Parent Entity, on the one hand, and the information relating to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a standalone basis, on the other hand, and (ii) to the extent such information is in lieu of information required to be provided under Section 5.04(1), such materials are accompanied by a report and opinion of independent public accountants of recognized national standing, or such other accountants as are reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, and accompanied by an opinion of such accountants

 

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(which opinion shall not be subject to any “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception (other than a “going concern” statement, explanatory note or like qualification or exception resulting solely from an upcoming maturity date under the ABL Facility or the Term Facility occurring within one year from the time such opinion is delivered or anticipated or actual financial covenant non-compliance under the ABL Facility))).  The obligations in clauses (1) and (2) of this Section 5.04 may be satisfied by delivery of financial information of Holdings and its Subsidiaries so long as such financial statements include a reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, of the financial condition and results of operations of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of Holdings.

 

Documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5.04 may be delivered electronically in accordance with Section 10.01(5).

 

SECTION 5.05.            Litigation and Other Notices .  Furnish to the Administrative Agent (which will promptly thereafter furnish to the Lenders) written notice of the following promptly after any Responsible Officer of Holdings obtains actual knowledge thereof:

 

(1)                                  any Default or Event of Default, specifying the nature and extent thereof and the corrective action (if any) proposed to be taken with respect thereto;

 

(2)                                  the filing or commencement of, or any written threat or notice of intention of any Person to file or commence, any action, suit or proceeding, whether at law or in equity or by or before any Governmental Authority or in arbitration, against Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries as to which an adverse determination is reasonably probable and which, if adversely determined, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and

 

(3)                                  the occurrence of any ERISA Event that, together with all other ERISA Events that have occurred, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.06.            Compliance with Laws .  Comply with all laws, rules, regulations and orders of any Governmental Authority applicable to it or its property (including ERISA, FCPA, OFAC, the Proceeds of Crime Act and the PATRIOT Act), except where the failure to do so, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; provided that this Section 5.06 will not apply to laws related to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 5.03. The Borrower will maintain in effect and enforce policies and procedures designed to reasonably ensure compliance by the Borrower, its Subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents with Anti-Corruption Laws and applicable Sanctions in all material respects.

 

Furthermore, this undertaking shall not apply to any German Loan Party in so far as they would violate or expose any German Loan Party or any of its Subsidiaries or any director, officer or employee thereof to any liability under any anti-boycott or blocking law,

 

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regulation or statute that is in force from time to time and applicable to such entity (including without limitation EU Regulation (EC) 2271/96 and Section 7 of the German Foreign Trade Ordinance (Verordnung zur Durchführung des Außenwirtschaftsgesetzes ( Außenwirtschaftsverordnung — AWV )).

 

SECTION 5.07.            Maintaining Records; Access to Properties and Inspections .  (i) Keep proper books of record and account in which full, true and correct entries (in all material respects) are made of all dealings and transactions in relation to its business and activities and (ii) permit any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent to visit and inspect the financial records and the properties of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary at reasonable times, upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings, and as often as reasonably requested, to make extracts from and copies of such financial records, and permit any Persons designated by the Administrative Agent, upon reasonable prior notice to Holdings to discuss the affairs, finances and condition of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary with the officers thereof and independent accountants therefor (subject to such accountant’s policies and procedures); provided that the Administrative Agent may not exercise such rights more often than one time during any calendar year unless an Event of Default is continuing; and provided , further , that when an Event of Default is continuing, the Administrative Agent or any Lender (or any of their respective representatives or independent contractors) may do any of the foregoing at the expense of Holdings at any time during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance notice.

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement (including Sections 5.04(7), 5.05, 5.07 and 5.12) or any other Loan Document, none of the Loan Parties or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries will be required to disclose, permit the inspection, examination or making copies or abstracts of, or discussion of, any document, information or other matter with any competitor to Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries or that (1) constitutes non-financial trade secrets or non-financial proprietary information, (2) in respect of which disclosure is prohibited by law or any binding agreement or is subject to attorney-client or similar privilege or constitutes attorney work product, provided that in the event that any information is not provided in reliance on this clause (2), Holdings shall provide notice to the Administrative Agent that such information is being withheld and Holdings shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to communicate, to the extent feasible, the applicable information in a way that would not violate the applicable agreement or risk waiver of such privilege or (3) creates an unreasonably excessive expense or burden on Holdings or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 5.08.            Use of Proceeds .  Use (in the case of the Initial Term Loans) the proceeds of the Term Loans to make payments in respect of the Transactions.

 

SECTION 5.09.            Compliance with Environmental Laws .  Comply, and make reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons occupying any Real Property  to comply, with all Environmental Laws applicable to the operations or the Real Property, and obtain and renew and comply with, and make reasonable efforts to cause all lessees and other Persons occupying any Real Property to obtain and renew and comply with, all authorizations, permits, licenses, and other approvals required pursuant to Environmental Law for the operations or the

 

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Real Property, except, in each case, to the extent the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

SECTION 5.10.            Further Assurances; Additional Security .

 

(1)                                  If (a) a Restricted Subsidiary (other than an Excluded Subsidiary) of Holdings is formed or acquired after the Closing Date or (b) an Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary that is not an Excluded Subsidiary, within five Business Days after the date such Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired or such Unrestricted Subsidiary is redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, notify the Collateral Agent thereof and, within 60 days after the date such Restricted Subsidiary is formed or acquired (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion), Holdings will or will cause such Restricted Subsidiary to (and in the case of any Foreign Subsidiary, subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles):

 

(i)                                      subject to any relevant guarantee limitation, deliver a joinder to the Guaranty substantially in the form specified therein, duly executed on behalf of such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(ii)                                   with respect a Domestic Subsidiary, deliver a joinder to the US Collateral Agreement substantially in the form specified therein, and with respect to any Foreign Subsidiary, appropriate Security Documents (or amendments, supplements or joinders to appropriate Security Documents) substantially similar to other Loan Parties organized in the same jurisdiction, in each case, duly executed on behalf of such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(iii)                                to the extent required by and subject to the exceptions set forth in the applicable Security Documents (including, with respect to US Loan Parties, US Excluded Equity Interests), pledge the outstanding Equity Interests  owned by such Restricted Subsidiary, and cause each Loan Party owning any Equity Interests issued by such Restricted Subsidiary to pledge such outstanding Equity Interests, and deliver all certificates (if any) or, in respect of a pledge governed by French law and as applicable, certified copies of the relevant registre de mouvements de titres and comptes d’actionnaires representing such Equity Interests, together with stock powers, stock transfer forms or other instruments of transfer with respect thereto endorsed in blank, to the Collateral Agent (or a designated bailee thereof); provided , that notwithstanding the foregoing or in any Loan Document to the contrary, no actions will be required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction in order to create or perfect any security interest in any Equity Interests.

 

(iv)                               to the extent required by and subject to the exceptions set forth in this Section 5.10 or the Security Documents, deliver to the Collateral Agent

 

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(or a designated bailee thereof) Uniform Commercial Code financing statements or equivalent financing statements in any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary and such other documents reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to create the Liens intended to be created under the Security Documents and perfect such Liens to the extent required by the Security Documents; and

 

(v)                                  except as otherwise contemplated by this Section 5.10 or any Security Document, obtain all consents and approvals required to be obtained by it in connection with (A) the execution and delivery of all Security Documents (or supplements thereto) to which it is a party and the granting by it of the Liens thereunder and (B) the performance of its obligations thereunder.

 

(2)                                  If any Loan Party (a) acquires fee simple title in Real Property located in the United States after the Closing Date or (b) enters a joinder pursuant to Section 5.10(1)(i) hereof and owns fee simple title in Real Property located in the United States, then, in each case (and with respect to any non-US Loan Party, subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles), within 45 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such acquisition or entry of a joinder (as applicable), such Loan Party shall notify the Collateral Agent thereof of such acquired or owned Real Property located in the United States (as applicable) and (i) no earlier than 45 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such notice is given to the Collateral Agent and (ii) no later than 90 days (or such longer period as the Administrative Agent may agree in its sole discretion) after such acquisition or entry of a joinder (as applicable) shall:

 

(a)                                  cause any such acquired or owned Owned Material Real Property (as applicable) located in the United States to be subjected to a Mortgage securing the Obligations;

 

(b)                                  (A) obtain fully paid American Land Title Association Lender’s Extended Coverage title insurance policies in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Collateral Agent, with endorsements (including zoning endorsements where available) and in an amount not less than the fair market value of each Mortgaged Property that is owned in fee insuring the fee simple title to each of the fee owned Mortgaged Properties vested in the applicable Loan Party and insuring the Collateral Agent that the relevant Mortgage creates a valid and enforceable first priority Lien on the Mortgaged Property encumbered thereby, each of which title policy (“ Title Policy ”) (1) shall include all endorsements reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent and available in the related jurisdiction and (2) shall provide for affirmative insurance and such reinsurance as the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, all of the foregoing in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent; (B) evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent that the applicable Loan Party has (1) delivered to the title

 

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company (the “ Title Company ”) all certificates and affidavits reasonably required by the Title Company in connection with the issuance of the applicable Title Policy and (2) paid to the Title Company or to the appropriate Governmental Authorities all expenses and premiums of the Title Company and all other sums required in connection with the issuance of the Title Policies including, without limitation, all recording, stamp and intangible taxes payable in connection with recording the Mortgages in the applicable real property records; and (C) a title report issued by the Title Company with respect thereto, together with copies of all recorded documents listed as exceptions to title or otherwise referred to therein, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(c)                                   obtain (i) American Land Title Association/National Society of Professional Surveyors land title surveys, dated no more than 60 days before the date of their delivery to the Collateral Agent, certified to the Collateral Agent and the issuer of the Title Policies in a manner reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or (ii) if applicable, previously obtained ALTA/NSPS land title surveys and affidavits of “no-change” with respect to each such survey, such surveys and affidavits to be sufficient to issue Title Policies to the Collateral Agent without any standard survey exceptions and with customary survey related endorsements and other coverages including, without limitation, public road access, survey, contiguity and so-call comprehensive coverage;

 

(d)                                  ensure that the Collateral Agent shall have received from each applicable Loan Party:  (A) a completed Flood Certificate with respect to each Mortgaged Property with any “building”, “structure” or “mobile home” (each as defined in Regulation H as promulgated by the Federal Reserve Board under the Flood Program), which Flood Certificate shall (1) be addressed to the Collateral Agent, (2) be completed by a company which has guaranteed the accuracy of the information contained therein, and (3) otherwise comply with the Flood Program; and (B) evidence describing whether the community in which each Mortgaged Property is located participates in the Flood Program; in the event any such property is located in a Flood Zone, (x) a notice about special flood hazard area status and flood disaster assistance, duly executed by the Borrower, (y) evidence of flood insurance with a financially sounds and reputable insurer, naming the Administrative Agent, as mortgagee, in an amount and otherwise in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, and (z) evidence of the payment of premiums in respect thereof in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent;

 

(e)                                   provide evidence of insurance naming the Collateral Agent as loss payee, additional insured and mortgagee with such responsible and reputable insurance companies or associations, and in such amounts and covering such risks (including the risk of damage caused by a flood, if required pursuant to the Flood

 

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Program), as are reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent, including the insurance required by the terms of any mortgage or deed of trust;

 

(f)                                    for each Mortgage delivered pursuant to clause (b), obtain customary mortgage, deed of trust or deed to secure debt (as applicable) enforceability opinions of local counsel for the Loan Parties in the states in which such acquired Owned Material Real Property is located; and

 

(g)                                   take, or cause the applicable Loan Party to take, such actions as shall be necessary or reasonably requested by the Collateral Agent to perfect such Liens, in each case, at the expense of the Loan Parties, subject to paragraph (5) of this Section 5.10.

 

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent may waive the requirements of this Section 5.10(2) if the Administrative Agent determines (in its sole discretion) that the burden, cost, time or consequences of obtaining such items is excessive in relation to the benefits to be obtained therefrom by the Secured Parties.

 

(3)                                  Furnish to the Collateral Agent five Business Days prior written notice of any change in any Loan Party’s:

 

(a)                                  Corporate, company or organization name;

 

(b)                                  organizational structure (including jurisdiction of incorporation);

 

(c)                                   location (determined as provided in UCC Section 9-307) (where applicable), registered office address or location of chief executive office; or

 

(d)                                  organizational or company identification number (or equivalent) or, solely if required for perfecting a security interest in the applicable jurisdiction, Federal Taxpayer Identification Number.

 

Holdings and the Borrowers will not effect or permit any such change unless all filings have been made, or will be made within any statutory period, under the Uniform Commercial Code, the PPSA or otherwise that are required in order for the Collateral Agent to continue at all times following such change to have a valid, legal and perfected security interest, for the benefit of the applicable Secured Parties, in all Collateral held by such Loan Party.

 

(4)                                  Execute any and all other documents, financing statements, agreements and instruments, and take all such other actions (including the filing and recording of financing statements and other documents), not described in the preceding clauses (1) through (3) and that may be required under any applicable law, or that the Collateral Agent may reasonably request, to satisfy the requirements set forth in this Section 5.10 and in the Security Documents with respect to the creation and perfection of the Liens on the Collateral in favor of the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Secured Parties, contemplated herein and in the Security Documents and to cause such requirement to be and remain satisfied,

 

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all at the expense of the Borrowers, and provide to the Collateral Agent, from time to time upon reasonable request, evidence as to the perfection and priority of the Liens created by the Security Documents.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary,

 

(a)                                  the other provisions of this Section 5.10 need not be satisfied with respect to any (i) US Excluded Assets or US Excluded Equity Interests or any exclusions and carve-outs from the perfection requirements set forth in the US Collateral Agreement and (ii) any assets or other exclusions and carve-outs from grant of security and perfection requirements set forth in the Security Documents to the extent provided for in the Guaranty and Security Principles;

 

(b)                                  neither Holdings nor the other Loan Parties will be required to grant a security interest in any asset or perfect a security interest in any Collateral to the extent the cost, burden, difficulty or consequence of obtaining or perfecting a security interest therein outweighs the benefit of the security afforded thereby as reasonably determined by Holdings and the Administrative Agent;

 

(c)                                   no actions will be required outside of the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction in order to create or perfect any security interest in any assets located outside of the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction and no security or pledge agreements, mortgages or deeds governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction, or any intellectual property filings or searches in any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction will be required; and

 

(d)                                  the Administrative Agent shall not enter into any Mortgage in respect of any real property acquired by any Loan Party after the Closing Date until the date that is (a) if such Mortgaged Property relates to a property not located in a Flood Zone, ten (10) Business Days or (b) if such Mortgaged Property relates to a property located in a Flood Zone, thirty (30) days, after the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a Flood Certificate a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the applicable Loan Parties of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the applicable Loan Parties that flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the applicable Loan Parties of such notice; and (iii) if required by Flood Program, evidence of required flood insurance.

 

SECTION 5.11.            Credit Ratings .  Use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain at all times (a) a credit rating by each of S&P and Moody’s in respect of the Term Facility and (b) a public corporate rating by S&P and a public corporate family rating by Moody’s for Holdings, in each case with no requirement to maintain any specific minimum rating.

 

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SECTION 5.12.            Lender Calls .  Participate in quarterly conference calls with the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, such calls to be held at such time as may be agreed to by Holdings and the Administrative Agent within a reasonable period of time following such request, with such calls including members of senior management of Holdings as Holdings deems appropriate, to discuss the state of Holdings’ business, including, but not limited to, recent performance, cash and liquidity management, operational activities, current business and market conditions and material performance changes; provided that in no event shall more than one such call be requested in any fiscal quarter (in total with respect to this Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement); provided , further , that the requirements set forth in this Section 5.12 may be satisfied with a public earnings call for the applicable period.

 

SECTION 5.13.            Pensions .

 

(1)                                  Ensure that any pension schemes operated by or maintained for the benefit of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries and/or any of their employees are fully funded to the extent required by applicable law where failure to do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(2)                                  Ensure that none of the Canadian Subsidiaries shall maintain, administer, contribute or have any liability in respect of any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan; provided that nothing in this clause (2) shall restrict Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from acquiring an interest in any Person in a transaction otherwise permitted hereunder notwithstanding that such Person sponsors, maintains, administers or contributes to, or has any liability in respect of, any Canadian Defined Benefit Plan governed by Pension Benefits Act (Ontario).

 

(3)                                  Except with respect to the Specified UK Plans, ensure that, where required by applicable law, all pension schemes operated by or maintained for its benefit and/or any of the employees of any UK Loan Party are fully funded based on the statutory funding objective under sections 221 and 222 of the Pensions Act 2004 or have a recovery plan in place with the intention of reaching fully funded status (and will make such contributions in full as they fall due under such recovery plan), and that no action or omission is taken by any UK Loan Party in relation to such a pension scheme which has or is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect (including the termination or commencement of winding-up proceedings of any such pension scheme or a UK Loan Party ceasing to employ any member of such a pension scheme).

 

(4)                                  Deliver to the Administrative Agent: (i) at such times as those reports are prepared in order to comply with the then current statutory or auditing requirements (as applicable either to the trustees of any relevant schemes or to the UK Loan Parties) and (ii) at any other time if the Administrative Agent reasonably believes that any relevant statutory or auditing requirements are not being complied with, actuarial reports in relation to all pension schemes mentioned in paragraph (3) above.

 

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(5)                                  Promptly notify the Administrative Agent of any material change in the rate of contributions to any pension scheme mentioned in paragraph (3) above paid or recommended to be paid (whether by the scheme actuary or otherwise) or required (by law or otherwise).

 

SECTION 5.14.            Centre of Main Interests and Establishments .   If its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation is a member of the European Union, ensure that its COMI is, at all times, situated in its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation and that it does not have an “establishment” (as that term is used in Article 2(10) of the EU Insolvency Regulation) in any other jurisdiction and it shall not, and it shall ensure that none of its Subsidiaries will, do anything to change the location of its COMI.

 

SECTION 5.15.            People with Significant Control regime . Each Loan Party shall (and shall ensure that each of its Subsidiaries will) (i) within the relevant timeframe, comply with any notice it receives pursuant to Part 21A of the Companies Act 2006 from any company incorporated in the UK whose shares are the subject of a Lien in favor of the Collateral Agent and (ii) promptly provide the Administrative Agent with a copy of that notice.

 

SECTION 5.16.            Post-Closing Matters .  Deliver to Administrative Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, the items described on Schedule 5.16 hereof on or before the dates specified with respect to such items on Schedule 5.16 (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed to by Administrative Agent in its sole discretion or, with respect to matters relating primarily to the ABL Priority Collateral, in the sole discretion of the administrative agent under the ABL Credit Agreement).  All representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents will be deemed modified to the extent necessary to effect the foregoing (and to permit the taking of the actions described on Schedule 5.16 within the time periods specified thereon, rather than as elsewhere provided in the Loan Documents).

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Negative Covenants

 

Holdings and each Borrower covenants and agrees with each Lender that, so long as this Agreement is in effect and until the Commitments have been terminated and the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) have been paid in full, unless the Required Lenders otherwise consent in writing, it will not and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to:

 

SECTION 6.01.            Indebtedness .  Issue, incur, permit to exist or assume any Indebtedness; provided that Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries may issue, incur or assume Indebtedness so long as (i) immediately after giving effect to the issuance, incurrence or assumption of such Indebtedness (but without including the proceeds thereof in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting and excluding undrawn commitments under the ABL

 

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Facility), the Interest Coverage Ratio, calculated on a Pro Forma Basis, shall not be less than 2.00 to 1.00 (the “ Ratio Debt ”), (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this paragraph (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), may not exceed the greater of (a) $70 million and (b) 2.8% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred, (iii) no Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom, (iv) if such Indebtedness is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans and is in the form of term loans, the pricing of such Indebtedness shall comply with Section 2.18(8)(b) assuming such Indebtedness were Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, mutatis mutandis , and (v) all of the conditions applicable to Incremental Equivalent Term Debt as described in clauses (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the definition thereof shall be satisfied with respect to such Indebtedness assuming such Indebtedness were Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, mutatis mutandis .

 

The foregoing limitation will not apply to (collectively, “ Permitted Debt ”):

 

(1)                                  (a) Indebtedness created under the Loan Documents (including Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans and Extended Term Loans); (b) Incremental Equivalent Term Debt and (c) Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(2)                                  (a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the ABL Credit Agreement (including Indebtedness created under ABL Extended Revolving Commitments) and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate outstanding principal amount as of any date and (b) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (2) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), not to exceed, in the case of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (2), $400 million;

 

(3)                                  customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business;

 

(4)                                  Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1) or (2) above) and set forth on Schedule 6.01(4);

 

(5)                                  Capital Lease Obligations, Indebtedness with respect to mortgage financings and purchase money Indebtedness to finance all or any part of the purchase, lease, construction, installation, repair or improvement of property (real or personal), plant or equipment or other fixed or capital assets and Indebtedness arising from the conversion of the obligations of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary under or pursuant to any “synthetic lease” transactions to on-balance sheet Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrowers or such Restricted Subsidiary, in an aggregate outstanding principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance

 

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any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (5) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), not to exceed the greater of (a) $40 million and (b) 1.6% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred; provided that such Indebtedness is incurred within 270 days after the purchase, lease, construction, installation, repair or improvement of the property that is the subject of such Indebtedness;

 

(6)                                  Indebtedness owed to (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank Guarantees or similar instruments for the benefit of) any Person providing workers’ compensation, health, disability or other employee benefits (whether to current or former employees) or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance in respect of such items, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement-type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits (whether current or former) or property, casualty or liability insurance; provided that upon the incurrence of any Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims, such obligations are reimbursed not later than 45 days following such incurrence;

 

(7)                                  Indebtedness arising from agreements of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, earn-outs, adjustment of purchase or acquisition price or similar obligations, in each case, incurred or assumed in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Acquisition or other acquisition permitted hereunder or the disposition of any business, assets or Restricted Subsidiaries not prohibited by this Agreement, other than Guarantees of Indebtedness incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiaries for the purpose of financing any such Permitted Acquisition;

 

(8)                                  intercompany Indebtedness between or among Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(9)                                  Indebtedness pursuant to Hedge Agreements entered into the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(10)                           Indebtedness in respect of performance bonds, bid bonds, appeal bonds, surety bonds and completion Guarantees and similar obligations, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(11)                           Guarantees of Indebtedness of Holdings, the Borrowers or the Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be incurred under this Agreement to the extent such Guarantees are not prohibited by the provisions of Section 6.04 (other than Section 6.04(20));

 

(12)                           (a) Indebtedness incurred or assumed in connection with a Permitted Acquisition and Indebtedness of any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary if such Indebtedness was not created in anticipation or contemplation of such Permitted Acquisition or such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) Indebtedness incurred or assumed in

 

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anticipation or contemplation of a Permitted Acquisition; provided that, in each case of the foregoing subclauses (a) and (b):

 

(i)                                      no Event of Default is continuing immediately before such Permitted Acquisition or would result therefrom;

 

(ii)                                   immediately after giving effect to such Permitted Acquisition, on a Pro Forma Basis (but in the case of clause (b) without including the proceeds of such Indebtedness in Unrestricted Cash for purposes of netting), either (A) Holdings or the Borrowers would be permitted to incur at least $1 of Ratio Debt or (B) the Interest Coverage Ratio would increase;

 

(iii)                                the aggregate principal amount of any such Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (12) by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by Restricted Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (12) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), may not exceed the greater of (a) $30 million and (b) 1.2% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred;

 

(iv)                               if such Indebtedness is in the form of term loans and is secured on a pari passu basis with the Term Loans, the pricing of such Indebtedness shall comply with Section 2.18(8)(b) assuming such Indebtedness were Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, mutatis mutandis ; and

 

(v)                                  all of the conditions applicable to Incremental Equivalent Term Debt as described in clauses (2), (3), (5)(b) and (6) of the definition thereof shall be satisfied with respect to such Indebtedness assuming such Indebtedness were Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, mutatis mutandis ;

 

(13)                           (a) Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the Senior Notes Indenture up to an aggregate outstanding principal amount as of any date and (b) any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (2) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof), not to exceed, in the case of all Indebtedness incurred pursuant to this clause (13), $375 million;

 

(14)                           Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, so long as such Indebtedness (other than credit or purchase cards) is extinguished within 10 Business Days after notification received by Holdings of its incurrence;

 

(15)                           Indebtedness supported by a Letter of Credit, in a principal amount not in excess of the stated amount of such Letter of Credit;

 

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(16)                           Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed an amount equal to 100% of the net proceeds received by Holdings from the issuance or sale of its Equity Interests or as a contribution to its capital after the Closing Date, other than (a) proceeds from the issuance or sale of Holdings’ Disqualified Stock, (b) Excluded Contributions, (c) Cure Amounts and (d) any such proceeds that are used prior to the date of incurrence to (i) make an Investment under Section 6.04(3), a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(15) or a payment in respect of Junior Financing under Section 6.09(2)(a), in each case utilizing the Available Amount or (ii) make a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(1) or Section 6.06(2)(b) (any such Indebtedness, “ Contribution Indebtedness ”);

 

(17)                           Indebtedness consisting of (a) the financing of insurance premiums or (b) take or pay obligations contained in supply arrangements, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18)                           Indebtedness incurred by a Receivables Subsidiary in a Qualified Receivables Financing that is not recourse to Holdings, the Borrowers or any Restricted Subsidiary other than a Receivables Subsidiary (except for Standard Securitization Undertakings);

 

(19)                           Cash Management Obligations (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), obligations owed by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of or in connection with any treasury, depository, pooling, netting, overdraft, stored value card, purchase card (including so called “procurement card” or “P card”), debit card, credit card, cash management, supply chain finance services (including, without limitation, trade payable services and supplier accounts receivables purchases) and similar services and any automated clearing house transfer of funds, and other Indebtedness in respect thereof entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(20)                           Indebtedness issued to future, current or former officers, directors, managers, and employees, consultants and independent contractors of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or any direct or indirect parent thereof, their respective estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses, in each case to finance the purchase or redemption of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity permitted by Section 6.06;

 

(21)                           Indebtedness incurred on behalf of, or representing Guarantees of Indebtedness of, joint ventures; provided that the aggregate outstanding principal amount of such Indebtedness, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (21) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), may not exceed the greater of (a) $25 million and (b) 1.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred;

 

(22)                           Indebtedness of non-Loan Parties in an aggregate outstanding principal amount, together with any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred by non-Loan Parties to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (22) (and any successive

 

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Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), not to not exceed the greater of (a) $25 million and (b) 1.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred;

 

(23)                           (i) unsecured Indebtedness in respect of short-term obligations to pay the deferred purchase price of goods or services or progress payments in connection with such goods and services so long as such obligations are incurred in the ordinary course of business and not in connection with the borrowing of money and (ii) customer deposits and advance payments received in the ordinary course of business from customers for goods purchased in the ordinary course of business.;

 

(24)                           Indebtedness representing deferred compensation or other similar arrangements incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (a) in the ordinary course of business or (b) in connection with the Transactions or any Permitted Investment;

 

(25)                           any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance Incremental Equivalent Term Debt, Credit Agreement Refinancing Indebtedness or Indebtedness incurred under clauses (4), (5), (8), (12), (13), (16), (21), (22), this clause (25), or clauses (28) or (29) of this Section 6.01 and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;

 

(26)                           [reserved];

 

(27)                           Indebtedness incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with bankers’ acceptances, discounted bills of exchange, warehouse receipts or similar facilities or the discounting or factoring of receivables for credit management purposes, in each case incurred or undertaken in the ordinary course of business;

 

(28)                           additional Indebtedness in an aggregate outstanding principal amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred to Refinance any Indebtedness originally incurred pursuant to this clause (28) (and any successive Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness), not to exceed the greater of (a) $100 million and (b) 4.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred; and

 

(29)                           letters of credit issued in favor of any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $50 million and (b) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Asset as of the date any such Indebtedness is incurred.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 6.01, in the event that an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of Permitted Debt or is entitled to be incurred as Ratio Debt, the Borrowers may, in their sole discretion, at the time of incurrence, divide, classify or reclassify, or at any later time divide, classify or reclassify, such item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) in any manner that complies with this covenant; provided that all Indebtedness outstanding under the Loan Documents, the ABL Credit Agreement and the Senior Notes Indenture will be deemed to have been incurred in reliance on the exception in clauses (1), (2) and (13), respectively, of the definition of “Permitted Debt” and shall not be permitted to be reclassified pursuant to this paragraph.  All unsecured Permitted Debt originally incurred under clause (5), (21), (22) or (28)

 

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of the definition of Permitted Debt will be automatically reclassified as Ratio Debt on the first date on which such Indebtedness would have been permitted to be incurred as Ratio Debt.  Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value, amortization of original issue discount, the payment of interest or dividends in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms, and increases in the amount of Indebtedness outstanding solely as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate of currencies, will not be deemed to be an incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this Section 6.01.  Guarantees of, or obligations in respect of letters of credit relating to Indebtedness that is otherwise included in the determination of a particular amount of Indebtedness will not be included in the determination of such amount of Indebtedness; provided that the incurrence of the Indebtedness represented by such Guarantee or letter of credit, as the case may be, was in compliance with this Section 6.01.

 

For purposes of determining compliance with any Dollar-denominated restriction on the incurrence of Indebtedness, the Dollar equivalent principal amount of Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency shall be calculated based on the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date such Indebtedness was incurred, in the case of term debt, or first committed or first incurred (whichever yields the lower Dollar equivalent), in the case of revolving credit debt; provided that if such Indebtedness is incurred to Refinance other Indebtedness denominated in a foreign currency, and such refinancing would cause the applicable Dollar-denominated restriction to be exceeded if calculated at the relevant currency exchange rate in effect on the date of such refinancing, such Dollar-denominated restriction will be deemed not to have been exceeded so long as the principal amount of such refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of such Indebtedness being refinanced ( plus unpaid accrued interest and premium (including tender premiums) thereon and underwriting discounts, original issue discount, defeasance costs, fees, commissions and expenses in connection therewith).

 

SECTION 6.02.            Liens .  Create, incur, assume or permit to exist any Lien that secures obligations under any Indebtedness on any property or assets at the time owned by it, except the following (collectively, “ Permitted Liens ”):

 

(1)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Sections 6.01(1) or 6.01(2); provided that, in the case of Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(2), the applicable Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement(s) substantially consistent with and no less favorable to the Lenders in any material respect than the Intercreditor Agreement as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(2)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness existing on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.02(2); provided that such Liens only secure the obligations that they secure on the Closing Date (and any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such obligations permitted by Section 6.01) and do not apply to any other property or assets of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary other than replacements, additions, accessions and improvements thereto;

 

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(3)                                  Liens securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(5); provided that such Liens only extend to the assets financed with such Indebtedness (and any replacements, additions, accessions and improvements thereto);

 

(4)                                  Liens on accounts receivable and related assets of the type specified in the definition of Qualified Receivables Financing securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(18);

 

(5)                                  Liens on assets of non-Loan Parties securing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(22);

 

(6)                                  Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness incurred in accordance with Section 6.01(25); provided that the Liens securing such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness are limited to all or part of the same property that secured (or, under the written arrangements under which the original Lien arose, could secure) the original Lien ( plus any replacements, additions, accessions and improvements thereto);

 

(7)                                  (a) Liens on property or Equity Interests of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary if such Liens were not created in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and (b) Liens on property at the time Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired such property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, if such Liens were not created in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition;

 

(8)                                  Liens on property or assets of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

 

(9)                                  Liens for Taxes, assessments or other governmental charges or levies not yet delinquent or that are being contested in compliance with Section 5.03;

 

(10)                           Liens disclosed by the title insurance policies delivered on or subsequent to the Closing Date and any replacement, extension or renewal of any such Liens (so long as the Indebtedness and other obligations secured by such replacement, extension or renewal Liens are permitted by this Agreement); provided that such replacement, extension or renewal Liens do not cover any property other than the property that was subject to such Liens prior to such replacement, extension or renewal;

 

(11)                           Liens securing judgments that do not constitute an Event of Default under Section 8.01(10) and notices of lis pendens and associated rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which Holdings or any affected Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP with respect thereto;

 

(12)                           Liens imposed by law, including landlord’s, carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s, construction or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business securing obligations that are not overdue by more than 30 days or that

 

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are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and in respect of which, if applicable, Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary has set aside on its books reserves in accordance with GAAP;

 

(13)                           (a) pledges and deposits and other Liens made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with the Federal Employers Liability Act or any other workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other similar laws or regulations and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers under insurance or self-insurance arrangements in respect of such obligations and (b) pledges and deposits and other Liens securing liability for reimbursement or indemnification obligations of (including obligations in respect of letters of credit or bank guarantees for the benefit of) insurance carriers providing property, casualty or liability insurance to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(14)                           deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts (other than for Indebtedness), leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance and return of money bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, trade contracts, agreements with utilities, and other obligations of a like nature (including letters of credit in lieu of any such bonds or to support the issuance thereof) incurred by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business, including those incurred to secure health, safety and environmental obligations in the ordinary course of business;

 

(15)                           survey exceptions and such matters as an accurate survey would disclose, easements, trackage rights, leases (other than Capital Lease Obligations), licenses, special assessments, rights of way, covenants, conditions, restrictions and declarations on or with respect to the use of Real Property, servicing agreements, development agreements, site plan agreements and title defects or irregularities and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business in each case that are of a minor nature and that, individually and in the aggregate, do not interfere in any material respect with the ordinary conduct of the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(16)                           any interest or title of a lessor or sublessor under any leases or subleases entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)                           Liens that are contractual rights of set-off (a) relating to pooled deposit or sweep accounts of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to permit satisfaction of overdraft or similar obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (b) relating to purchase orders and other agreements entered into with customers of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(18)                           Liens arising solely by virtue of any statutory or common law provision relating to banker’s liens, rights of set-off or similar rights;

 

(19)                           leases or subleases, non-exclusive licenses or sublicenses (including with respect to Intellectual Property Rights and software) granted to others in the ordinary course of

 

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business that do not interfere in any material respect with the business of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

 

(20)                           Liens solely on any cash earnest money deposits made by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with any letter of intent or other agreement in respect of any Permitted Investment;

 

(21)                           the prior rights of consignees and their lenders under consignment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(22)                           Liens arising from precautionary Uniform Commercial Code or PPSA financing statements or equivalent statements in any other jurisdiction;

 

(23)                           Liens on Equity Interests of any joint venture (a) securing obligations of such joint venture or (b) pursuant to the relevant joint venture agreement or arrangement;

 

(24)                           Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties in connection with the importation of goods;

 

(25)                           Liens on securities that are the subject of repurchase agreements constituting Cash Equivalents under clause (4) of the definition thereof;

 

(26)                           Liens securing insurance premium financing arrangements;

 

(27)                           Liens on vehicles or equipment of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries granted in the ordinary course of business;

 

(28)                           Liens on property or assets used to defease or to satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that such defeasance or satisfaction and discharge is not prohibited by this Agreement;

 

(29)                           Liens:

 

(a)                                  of a collection bank arising under Section 4-210 of the Uniform Commercial Code, or any comparable or successor provision, on items in the course of collection;

 

(b)                                  attaching to pooling, commodity trading accounts or other commodity brokerage accounts incurred in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(c)                                   in favor of banking or other financial institutions or entities, or electronic payment service providers, arising as a matter of law encumbering deposits (including the right of set-off) and which are within the general parameters customary in the banking or finance industry (including, in relation to bank accounts held in Germany, Liens arising under the general terms and conditions of banks ( Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen der Banken und Sparkassen ));

 

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(30)                           Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

 

(31)                           Liens that rank pari passu with the Liens securing the Obligations if the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio as of the date on which such Liens are first created is less than or equal to 1.50 to 1.00; provided that (x) a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness will become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and a First Lien Intercreditor Agreement and (y) with respect to any such Indebtedness in the form of term loans, the pricing of such Indebtedness complies with Section 2.18(8)(b);

 

(32)                           Liens that rank junior to the Liens securing both the Obligations and the ABL Obligations, if the Total Net Leverage Ratio as of the date on which such Liens are first created is less than or equal to 3.20 to 1.00; provided that a Debt Representative acting on behalf of the holders of such Indebtedness will become party to or otherwise subject to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement and a Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(33)                           Liens securing additional obligations in an aggregate outstanding principal amount not to exceed the greater of (a) $75 million and (b) 3.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date such Liens are first created.

 

(34)                           Liens securing (a) Specified Hedge Obligations, which amounts are secured under the Loan Documents, and (b) amounts owing to any Qualified Counterparty (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) under any Specified Hedge Agreement (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement) and Cash Management Obligations (as defined in the ABL Credit Agreement), which amounts are secured under the ABL Loan Documents; provided that, in each case, the applicable Liens are subject to the Intercreditor Agreement or other intercreditor agreement(s) substantially consistent with and no less favorable to the Lenders in any material respect than the Intercreditor Agreement as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(35)                           Liens on amounts deposited to secure any Loan Party’s and its Restricted Subsidiaries’ obligations in connection with pension liabilities ( Altersteilzeitverpflichtungen ) pursuant to § 8a German Partial Retirement Act ( Altersteilzeitgesetz ) or in connection with time credits ( Wertguthaben ) pursuant to § 7e German Social Code IV ( Sozialgesetzbuch IV );

 

(36)                           any Lien required to be granted under mandatory law in favor of creditors as a consequence of a merger or a conversion permitted under this Agreement due to §§ 22, 204 UmwG; and

 

(37)                           Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention (including retention of title), consignment or similar arrangements for the sale of goods.

 

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For purposes of this Section 6.02, Indebtedness will not be considered incurred under a subsection or clause of Section 6.01 if it is later reclassified as outstanding under another subsection or clause of Section 6.01 (in which event, and at which time, same will be deemed incurred under the subsection or clause to which reclassified).

 

SECTION 6.03.            [Reserved] .

 

SECTION 6.04.            Investments, Loans and Advances .  Purchase, hold or acquire (including pursuant to any merger, consolidation or amalgamation with a Person that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary immediately prior to such merger, consolidation or amalgamation) any Equity Interests, evidences of Indebtedness or other securities of, make or permit to exist any loans or advances to or Guarantees of the obligations of, or make or permit to exist any investment or any other interest in (each, a “ Investment ”), any other Person, except the following (collectively, “ Permitted Investments ”):

 

(1)                                  the Transactions;

 

(2)                                  loans and advances to officers, directors, employees or consultants of any Parent Entity, the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $5 million and (ii) 0.2% of Consolidated Total Assets  at any time outstanding (calculated without regard to write-downs or write-offs thereof after the date made);

 

(3)                                  Investments in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount as of the date such Investments are made; provided that (a) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing immediately prior to making such Investment or would result therefrom;

 

(4)                                  Permitted Acquisitions and pre-existing Investments held by Persons acquired in Permitted Acquisitions or acquired in connection with Permitted Acquisitions;

 

(5)                                  intercompany Investments among Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (including intercompany Indebtedness);

 

(6)                                  Investments in (x) Viance, LLC and Louisiana Pigment Company (and any successor thereof) in an amount, net of any Investments by Viance, LLC and Louisiana Pigment Company in any Loan Party, not to exceed the greater of (i) $25 million and (ii) 1.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Investment is made and (y) other Joint Ventures in an amount not to exceed the greater of (i) $50 million and (ii) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Investment is made;

 

(7)                                  Cash Equivalents and, to the extent not made for speculative purposes, Investment Grade Securities or Investments that were Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities when made;

 

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(8)                                  Investments arising out of the receipt by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries of non-cash consideration in connection with any sale of assets permitted under Section 6.05;

 

(9)                                  accounts receivable, security deposits and prepayments and other credits granted or made in the ordinary course of business and any Investments received in satisfaction or partial satisfaction thereof from financially troubled account debtors and others, including in connection with the bankruptcy or reorganization of, or settlement of delinquent accounts and disputes with or judgments against, such account debtors and others, in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)                           Investments acquired as a result of a foreclosure by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to any secured Investments or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;

 

(11)                           Hedge Agreements entered into the ordinary course of business and not for speculative purposes;

 

(12)                           Investments existing on, or contractually committed as of, the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.04 and any replacements, refinancings, refunds, extensions, renewals or reinvestments thereof, so long as the aggregate amount of all Investments pursuant to this clause (12) is not increased at any time above the amount of such Investments existing or committed on the Closing Date (other than pursuant to an increase as required by the terms of any such Investment as in existence on the Closing Date);

 

(13)                           Investments resulting from pledges and deposits that are Permitted Liens;

 

(14)                           intercompany loans among non-Loan Party Subsidiaries and Guarantees by non-Loan Party Subsidiaries permitted by Section 6.01(22);

 

(15)                           acquisitions of obligations of one or more officers or other employees of any Parent Entity, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary in connection with such officer’s or employee’s acquisition of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity, so long as no cash is actually advanced by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary to such officers or employees in connection with the acquisition of any such obligations;

 

(16)                           Guarantees of operating leases (for the avoidance of doubt, excluding Capital Lease Obligations) or of other obligations that do not constitute Indebtedness, in each case, entered into by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

 

(17)                           Investments to the extent that payment for such Investments is made with Equity Interests of any Parent Entity;

 

(18)                           Investments consisting of the redemption, purchase, repurchase or retirement of any Equity Interests permitted under Section 6.06;

 

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(19)                           Investments in the ordinary course of business consisting of Uniform Commercial Code Article 3 endorsements for collection or deposit and Uniform Commercial Code Article 4 customary trade arrangements with customers;

 

(20)                           Guarantees permitted under Section 6.01;

 

(21)                           advances in the form of a prepayment of expenses, so long as such expenses are being paid in accordance with customary trade terms of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(22)                           Investments, including loans and advances, to any Parent Entity so long as Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary would otherwise be permitted to make a Restricted Payment in such amount; provided that the amount of any such Investment will be deemed to be a Restricted Payment under the appropriate clause of Section 6.06 for all purposes of this Agreement;

 

(23)                           [reserved];

 

(24)                           purchases or acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases or acquisitions of contract rights or Intellectual Property Rights in each case in the ordinary course of business;

 

(25)                           Investments in assets useful in the business of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary made with (or in an amount equal to) any Reinvestment Deferred Amount or Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds;

 

(26)                           any Investment in a Receivables Subsidiary or any Investment by a Receivables Subsidiary in any other Person, in each case in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing, including Investments of funds held in accounts permitted or required by the arrangements governing such Qualified Receivables Financing or any related Indebtedness;

 

(27)                           intercompany current liabilities owed to Unrestricted Subsidiaries or joint ventures incurred in the ordinary course of business in connection with the cash management operations of Holdings and its Subsidiaries;

 

(28)                           Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;

 

(29)                           any Investment made at any time in an amount not exceeding the Shared Dollar Basket at such time, plus any returns of capital that at such time have actually been received by Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of their Investments made pursuant to this Section 6.04(29);

 

(30)                           Investments for the establishment and maintenance (including the establishment and maintenance of required reserves in an amount not to exceed the reserves reasonably determined by an independent actuary and in any event not less than any amount that may be required from time to time in accordance with applicable statutes or other

 

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applicable Requirements of Law) of a captive insurance program that is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in the same or similar businesses;

 

(31)                           Investments in Indebtedness of Holdings or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided that an Investment in such Indebtedness will be treated as a repayment thereof and will be permitted only to the extent a repayment of such Indebtedness would be permitted at the time of Investment;

 

(32)                           any Investment, if (a) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Investment or would result therefrom and (b) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, is less than or equal to 2.70 to 1.00; and

 

(33)                           Investments for the establishment of Wholly Owned Subsidiaries that are initially capitalized in a de minimis amount.

 

SECTION 6.05.            Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Sales of Assets and Acquisitions .  Merge into, or consolidate or amalgamate with, any other Person, or permit any other Person to merge into or consolidate with it, or sell, transfer, license, lease or otherwise dispose of (in one transaction or in a series of transactions) all or any part of its assets, or issue, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary, or purchase, lease or otherwise acquire (in one transaction or a series of transactions) all or any substantial part of the assets of any other Person or any division, unit or business of any other Person, except that this Section 6.05 will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                  if at the time thereof and immediately after giving effect thereto no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or would result therefrom:

 

(a)                                  the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary into (or with) any Borrower; provided that (i) such Borrower shall be the survivor or (ii) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger or consolidation is not the Borrower (any such Person, the “ Successor Borrower ”), (A) the Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg or England & Wales and (B) the Successor Borrower shall expressly assume all the obligations of the applicable Borrower under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which such Borrower is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent; provided , further , that in the case of the US Borrower, any Successor Borrower shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(b)                                  the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary into or with any Subsidiary Loan Party in a transaction in which the surviving or resulting entity is a Subsidiary Loan Party;

 

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and, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (a) and (b), no Person other than a Borrower or a Subsidiary Loan Party receives any consideration;

 

(c)                                   the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party into or with any other Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party;

 

(d)                                  any transfer of inventory among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries or between Restricted Subsidiaries and any other transfer of property or assets among Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries or between Restricted Subsidiaries, in each case, in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)                                   the liquidation or dissolution or change in form of entity of any Restricted Subsidiary Holdings if a Responsible Officer of Holdings determines in good faith that such liquidation, dissolution or change in form is in the best interests of Holdings and is not materially disadvantageous to the Lenders; or

 

(f)                                    the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Restricted Subsidiary with or into any other Person in order to effect a Permitted Investment ;

 

(g)                                   the merger, consolidation or amalgamation of any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary into (or with) Holdings; provided that (1) Holdings shall be the continuing or surviving Person or (2) if the Person formed by or surviving any such merger, amalgamation or consolidation is not Holdings or is a Person into which Holdings has been liquidated (any such Person, the “ Successor Holdings ”) (A) the Successor Holdings shall be an entity organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg or England & Wales and (B) the Successor Holdings shall expressly assume all the obligations of Holdings under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which Holdings is a party pursuant to a supplement hereto or thereto in form reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent and (C) the Successor Holdings shall pledge 100% of the Equity Interests of the Borrowers to the Collateral Agent as Collateral to secure the Obligations in form reasonably satisfactory to the Collateral Agent;

 

(2)                                  any sale, transfer or other disposition if:

 

(a)                                  the Net Cash Proceeds therefrom are to be applied in accordance with Section 2.08(1);

 

(b)                                  at least 75% of the consideration therefor is in the form of cash and Cash Equivalents; and

 

(c)                                   such sale, transfer or disposition is made for fair market value (as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith);

 

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provided that each of the following items will be deemed to be cash for purposes of this Section 6.05(2):

 

(i)                                      any liabilities of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries (as shown on the most recent Required Financial Statements or in the notes thereto), other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated in right of payment to the Obligations, that are assumed by the transferee with respect to the applicable disposition and for which Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries have been validly released by all applicable creditors in writing;

 

(ii)                                   any securities received by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash received) within 180 days following the closing of the applicable disposition; and

 

(iii)                                any Designated Non-Cash Consideration received in respect of such disposition; provided that the aggregate fair market value of all such Designated Non-Cash Consideration, as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith, taken together with all other Designated Non-Cash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (iii) that is then outstanding, does not exceed the greater of (A) $50 million and (B) 2.0% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the date any such Designated Non-Cash Consideration is received, with the fair market value of each item of Designated Non-Cash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value;

 

(3)                                  (a) the purchase and sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business, (b) the acquisition or lease (pursuant to an operating lease) of any other asset in the ordinary course of business, (c) the sale of surplus, obsolete, damaged or worn out equipment or other property in the ordinary course of business or (d) the disposition of Cash Equivalents (or Investments that were Cash Equivalents when made);

 

(4)                                  [reserved];

 

(5)                                  Investments permitted by Section 6.04 (including any Permitted Acquisition or merger, consolidation or amalgamation in order to effect a Permitted Acquisition), provided , that, following any such merger, consolidation or amalgamation involving Holdings or any Borrower, Holdings, a Successor Holdings, a Borrower or a Successor Borrower is the surviving Person;

 

(6)                                  Permitted Liens;

 

(7)                                  Restricted Payments permitted by Section 6.06;

 

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(8)                                  the sale of (i) defaulted receivables in the ordinary course of business and not as part of an accounts receivables financing transaction and (ii) accounts receivable and related assets in connection with a Qualified Receivables Financing;

 

(9)                                  leases, non-exclusive licenses, or subleases or sublicenses of any real or personal property (including Intellectual Property Rights) in the ordinary course of business;

 

(10)                           sales, leases or other dispositions of inventory of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary determined by the management of Holdings to be no longer useful or necessary in the operation of the business of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(11)                           acquisitions and purchases made with Below Threshold Asset Sale Proceeds;

 

(12)                           to the extent allowable under Section 1031 of the Code (or comparable or successor provision), any exchange of like property (excluding any boot thereon permitted by such provision) for use in any business conducted by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that is not in contravention of Section 6.08; provided that to the extent the property being transferred constitutes Term Priority Collateral, such replacement property will constitute Term Priority Collateral;

 

(13)                           any sale, transfer or other disposition, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions, of any asset or assets having a fair market value, as determined by a Responsible Officer of Holdings in good faith, of not more than $5 million;

 

(14)                           the lapse, abandonment or discontinuance of the use or maintenance of any Intellectual Property Rights if previously determined by the Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary in its reasonable business judgment that such lapse, abandonment or discontinuance is desirable in the conduct of its business; and

 

(15)                           the Transactions.

 

To the extent any Collateral is disposed of in a transaction expressly permitted by this Section 6.05 to any Person other than the Borrower or any Guarantor, such Collateral will be free and clear of the Liens created by the Loan Documents, and the Administrative Agent will take, and each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent to take, any actions reasonably requested by Holdings in order to evidence the foregoing, in each case, in accordance with Section 10.18. Notwithstanding the foregoing or anything herein to the contrary, in no event will any Borrower change its jurisdiction of organization to any jurisdiction other than the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, Canada, Germany, Luxembourg or England & Wales.

 

SECTION 6.06.            Restricted Payments .  Declare or pay any dividend or make any other distribution (by reduction of capital or otherwise), directly or indirectly, whether in cash, property, securities or a combination thereof, with respect to any of its Equity Interests (other than dividends and distributions on Equity Interests payable solely by the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Person paying such dividends

 

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or distributions) or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase, retire or otherwise acquire for value any of its Equity Interests or set aside any amount for any such purpose (other than through the issuance of additional Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Person redeeming, purchasing, retiring or acquiring such shares) (the foregoing, “ Restricted Payments ”) other than:

 

(1)                                  the making of any Restricted Payment in exchange for, or out of or with the net cash proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Restricted Subsidiary) of, Equity Interests of Holdings (other than Disqualified Stock) or from the substantially concurrent contribution of common equity capital to Holdings, other than (a) Excluded Contributions, (b) Cure Amounts and (c) any such proceeds that are used prior to the date of determination to (i) make an Investment under Section 6.04(3), a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(15) or a payment in respect of Junior Financing under Section 6.09(2)(a), in each case utilizing the Available Amount, (ii) make a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(2)(b) or (iii) incur Contribution Indebtedness;

 

(2)                                  Restricted Payments to any Parent Entity the proceeds of which are used to purchase, retire, redeem or otherwise acquire, or to any Parent Entity for the purpose of paying to any other Parent Entity to purchase, retire, redeem or otherwise acquire, the Equity Interests of such Parent Entity (including related stock appreciation rights or similar securities) held directly or indirectly by then present or former directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries or any Parent Entity or their estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses (including for all purposes of this clause (2), Equity Interests held by any entity whose Equity Interests are held by any such future, present or former employee, officer, director, manager, consultant or independent contractor or their estates, heirs, family members, spouses or former spouses) pursuant to any management equity plan or stock option plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or other agreement or arrangement or any stock subscription or shareholder or similar agreement; provided that the aggregate amount of such purchases or redemptions may not exceed:

 

(a)                                  the amount of net cash proceeds contributed to Holdings that were received by any Parent Entity since the Closing Date from sales of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity to directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with permitted employee compensation and incentive arrangements, other than (a) Excluded Contributions, (b) Cure Amounts and (c) any such proceeds that are used prior to the date of determination to (1) make an Investment under Section 6.04(3), a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(15) or a payment in respect of Junior Financing under Section 6.09(2)(a), in each case utilizing the Available Amount, (2) make a Restricted Payment under Section 6.06(1) or (3) incur Contribution Indebtedness; plus

 

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(b)                                  the amount of net proceeds of any key man life insurance policies received during such fiscal year; plus

 

(c)                                   the amount of any bona fide cash bonuses otherwise payable to directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary that are foregone in return for the receipt of Equity Interests, the fair market value of which is equal to or less than the amount of such cash bonuses, which, if not used in any year, may be carried forward to any subsequent fiscal year;

 

and provided , further , that cancellation of Indebtedness owing to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary from directors, consultants, officers, employees, managers or independent contractors of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with a repurchase of Equity Interests of any Parent Entity will not be deemed to constitute a Restricted Payment;

 

(3)                                  Restricted Payments to consummate the Transactions;

 

(4)                                  Restricted Payments in any fiscal year in an amount equal to 6.0% of the market capitalization of Holdings (or its Parent Entity, as applicable);

 

(5)                                  Restricted Payments in the form of cash distributions with respect to any taxable period in which any Subsidiary or Holdings is treated as a disregarded entity, partnership or S corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes or is a member of a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar tax group with any equityholders,  to enable any equityholders to pay any Taxes attributable solely to the income, operations and ownership of Holdings and/or its Subsidiaries, as applicable;

 

(6)                                  Restricted Payments to permit any Parent Entity to:

 

(a)                                  pay operating, overhead, legal, accounting and other professional fees and expenses (including directors’ fees and expenses and administrative, legal, accounting, filings and similar expenses), in each case to the extent related to its separate existence as a holding company or to its ownership of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(b)                                  pay fees and expenses related to any public offering or private placement of debt or equity securities of, or incurrence of any Indebtedness by, any Parent Entity or any Permitted Investment, whether or not consummated, including the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction;

 

(c)                                   pay franchise taxes and other similar taxes and expenses, in each case, in connection with the maintenance of its legal existence;

 

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(d)                                  make payments under transactions permitted under Section 6.07 (other than Section 6.07(8)), in each case to the extent such payments are due at the time of such Restricted Payment; or

 

(e)                                   pay customary salary, bonus and other compensation or benefits payable to, and indemnities provided on behalf of, officers, employees, directors, managers, consultants or independent contractors of any Parent Entity to the extent related to its ownership of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(7)                                  non-cash repurchases of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon exercise of stock options or warrants if such Equity Interests represent a portion of the exercise price of such options or warrants;

 

(8)                                  Restricted Payments to allow any Parent Entity to make, or to any Parent Entity for the purpose of paying to any other Parent Entity to make, payments in cash, in lieu of the issuance of fractional shares, upon the exercise of warrants or upon the conversion or exchange of Equity Interests of any such Person, in connection with any merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business combination, or in connection with any dividend, distribution or split of Equity Interests;

 

(9)                                  [reserved];

 

(10)                           Restricted Payments to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary (or, in the case of non-Wholly Owned Subsidiaries, to Holdings and to each other owner of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary) on a pro rata basis (or more favorable basis from the perspective of Holdings or such Restricted Subsidiary) based on their relative ownership interests so long as any repurchase of its Equity Interests from a Person that is not Holdings or a Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under Section 6.04);

 

(11)                           Restricted Payments to any Parent Entity to finance, or to any Parent Entity for the purpose of paying to any other Parent Entity to finance, any Permitted Investment; provided that (a) such Restricted Payment is made substantially concurrently with the closing of such Investment and (b) promptly following the closing thereof, such Parent Entity causes (i) all property acquired (whether assets or Equity Interests) to be contributed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the merger, consolidation or amalgamation (to the extent permitted by Section 6.05) of the Person formed or acquired into Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of Holdings in order to consummate such Permitted Investment, in each case, in accordance with the requirements of Section 5.10;

 

(12)                           the payment of any dividend or distribution or consummation of any redemption within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof or the giving of a redemption notice related thereto, if at the date of declaration or notice such payment would have complied with the provisions of this Agreement;

 

(13)                           the distribution, as a dividend or otherwise, of shares of Capital Stock of, or Indebtedness owed to Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary by, one or more Unrestricted Subsidiaries

 

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(other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries the primary assets of which are cash or Cash Equivalents);

 

(14)                           any Restricted Payment in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount on the date such Restricted Payment is made if (a) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Restricted Payment or would result therefrom and (b) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, is less than or equal to 3.20 to 1.00;

 

(15)                           any Restricted Payment, if (a) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Restricted Payment or would result therefrom and (b) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, is less than or equal to 2.20 to 1.00;

 

(16)                           any Restricted Payment made at any time in an amount not exceeding the Shared Dollar Basket at such time; provided that no Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom;

 

(17)                           the Special Closing Date Payments; and

 

(18)                           Restricted Payments in connection with the issuance of Equity Interests to management or employees pursuant to and in accordance with compensation agreements with such management or employees of Holdings and its Subsidiaries in such reasonably estimated amounts as are necessary to satisfy the tax obligations of such management or employees (including estimated tax payments) as a result of the issuance of such Equity Interests.

 

SECTION 6.07.    Transactions with Affiliates .  Sell or transfer any property or assets to, or purchase or acquire any property or assets from, or otherwise engage in any other transaction with, any of its Affiliates in a transaction involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5 million, unless such transaction is (i) otherwise permitted (or required) under this Agreement or (ii) upon terms no less favorable to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate, except that this Section 6.07 will not prohibit:

 

(1)                                  transactions between or among (a) Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) Holdings and any Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of such transaction (including by way of a merger, consolidation or amalgamation in which a Loan Party is the surviving entity);

 

(2)                                  [reserved];

 

(3)                                  any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, equity purchase agreements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors of Holdings or any Parent Entity in good faith;

 

(4)                                  loans or advances to employees or consultants of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with Section 6.04(2);

 

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(5)                                  the payment of fees, reasonable out-of-pocket costs and indemnities to directors, officers, consultants and employees of any Parent Entity, Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business (limited, in the case of any Parent Entity (other than Holdings), to the portion of such fees and expenses that are allocable to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries (which shall be 100% for so long as such Parent Entity owns no assets other than the Equity Interests in Holdings and assets incidental to the ownership of Holdings and its Restricted Subsidiaries));

 

(6)                                  the Initial Venator Distribution Transaction, the Transactions and transactions pursuant to the Transaction Documents and other transactions, agreements and arrangements in existence on the Closing Date and set forth on Schedule 6.07 or any amendment thereto to the extent such amendment is not adverse to the Lenders in any material respect as determined in good faith by a Responsible Officer of Holdings;

 

(7)                                  (a) any employment agreements entered into by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business, (b) any subscription agreement or similar agreement pertaining to the repurchase of Equity Interests pursuant to put/call rights or similar rights with employees, officers or directors and (c) any employee compensation, benefit plan or arrangement, any health, disability or similar insurance plan which covers employees, and any reasonable employment contract and transactions pursuant thereto;

 

(8)                                  Restricted Payments permitted under Section 6.06, including payments to any Parent Entity;

 

(9)                                  any purchase by any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) of the Equity Interests of Holdings and the purchase by Holdings of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(10)                           transactions between Huntsman and its Subsidiaries on one hand and Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the other hand, for the purpose of facilitating the Venator Consolidation Transactions and the Initial Venator IPO Transaction, whether consummated prior to, or after the consummation of the Initial Venator IPO Transaction, including any customary transition services agreements, separation agreements or similar agreements entered into between Huntsman and its Subsidiaries on one hand and Holdings and its Subsidiaries on the other hand;

 

(11)                           transactions with Restricted Subsidiaries for the purchase or sale of goods, products, parts and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(12)                           any transaction in respect of which Holdings delivers to the Administrative Agent (for delivery to the Lenders) a letter addressed to the Board of Directors of Holdings from an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm, in each case, of nationally recognized standing that is (a) in the good faith determination of Holdings qualified to render such letter and (b) reasonably satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, which letter states that such transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries, as applicable, than would be obtained in a comparable arm’s length transaction with a Person that is not an Affiliate;

 

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(13)                           transactions with joint ventures for the purchase or sale of goods, equipment and services entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(14)                           the issuance, sale or transfer of Equity Interests of Holdings to any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) and capital contributions by any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) to Holdings;

 

(15)                           the issuance of Equity Interests to the management of Holdings, the Borrowers or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with the Transactions;

 

(16)                           payments by Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to tax sharing agreements among Holdings and any of the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(17)                           payments or loans (or cancellation of loans) to employees or consultants that are:

 

(a)                                  approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors of Holdings or the Borrowers in good faith;

 

(b)                                  made in compliance with applicable law; and

 

(c)                                   otherwise permitted under this Agreement;

 

(18)                           transactions with customers, clients, suppliers, or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case, in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, that are fair to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries;

 

(19)                           transactions between or among Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and any Person, a director of which is also a director of Holdings or any other Parent Entity, so long as (a) such director abstains from voting as a director of Holdings or such Parent Entity, as the case may be, on any matter involving such other Person and (b) such Person is not an Affiliate of Holdings for any reason other than such director’s acting in such capacity;

 

(20)                           transactions pursuant to, and complying with, the provisions of Section 6.01, Section 6.04 or Section 6.05(1);

 

(21)                           the existence of, or the performance by any Loan Party of its obligations under the terms of, any customary registration rights agreement to which a Loan Party or any Parent Entity is a party or becomes a party in the future;

 

(22)                           intercompany transactions undertaken in good faith (as certified by a Responsible Officer of Holdings) for the purpose of improving the consolidated tax efficiency of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries and not for the purpose of circumventing any covenant set forth herein;

 

(23)                           [reserved];

 

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(24)                           central services (including, without limitation, management information systems, pension and profit sharing plans, and human resources) provided by the Loan Parties to affiliates at the Loan Parties’ cost; and

 

(25)                           Qualified Receivables Financings.

 

SECTION 6.08.    Business of Holdings and its Subsidiaries .  Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, engage at any time in any business or business activity other than any business or business activity conducted by Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Closing Date (after giving effect to the Transactions) and any similar, corollary, related, ancillary, incidental or complementary business or business activities or a reasonable extension, development or expansion thereof or ancillary thereto.

 

SECTION 6.09.    Limitation on Payments and Modifications of Indebtedness; Modifications of Certificate of Incorporation, By Laws and Certain Other Agreements; etc .

 

(1)                                  amend or modify in any manner materially adverse to the Lenders the articles or certificate of incorporation (or similar document), by-laws, limited liability company operating agreement, partnership agreement or other organizational documents of Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(2)                                  make any cash payment or other distribution in cash in respect of, or amend or modify, or permit the amendment or modification of, any provision of, any Junior Financing, or any payment or other distribution (whether in cash, securities or other property), including any sinking fund or similar deposits, on account of the purchase, redemption, retirement, acquisition, cancellation or termination in respect of any Junior Financing; except in the case of this clause (2):

 

(a)                                  payments in respect of Junior Financings in an amount not to exceed the Available Amount on the date the payments are made if (i) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Restricted Payment or would result therefrom and (ii) the Total Net Leverage Ratio, on a Pro Forma Basis, is less than or equal to 3.20 to 1.00;

 

(b)                                  payments in respect of Junior Financings so long as (i) immediately after giving effect to such payment, Holdings’ Total Net Leverage Ratio is 2.20 to 1.00 or less on a Pro Forma Basis after giving effect thereto and (ii) no Event of Default is continuing immediately prior to making such Restricted Payment or would result therefrom;

 

(c)                                   any payment in respect of Junior Financings made at any time in an amount not exceeding the Shared Dollar Basket at such time; provided that no Event of Default shall exist or would result therefrom;

 

(d)                                  (i) the conversion or exchange of any Junior Financing into or for Equity Interests of any Parent Entity or other Junior Financing and (ii) any payment that is

 

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intended to prevent any Junior Financing from being treated as an “applicable high yield discount obligation” within the meaning of Section 163(i)(1) of the Code;

 

(e)                                   the incurrence of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof;

 

(f)                                    (i) payments of regularly scheduled principal and interest; (ii) mandatory offers to repay, repurchase or redeem (including in connection with the Net Cash Proceeds of Asset Sales); (iii) mandatory prepayments of principal, premium and interest; and (iv) payments of fees, expenses and indemnification obligations, in each case, with respect to such Junior Financing;

 

(g)                                   payments or distributions in respect of all or any portion of such Junior Financing with the proceeds contributed directly or indirectly to Holdings by any Parent Entity (other than Holdings) from the issuance, sale or exchange by any such Parent Entity of Equity Interests;

 

(h)                                  the Special Closing Date Payments; and

 

(i)                                      the Transactions; or

 

(3)                                  permit any Material Subsidiary to enter into any agreement or instrument that by its terms restricts (a) with respect to any such Material Subsidiary that is not a Loan Party, Restricted Payments from such Material Subsidiary to Holdings or any other Loan Party that is a direct or indirect parent of such Material Subsidiary or (b) with respect to any such Material Subsidiary that is a Loan Party, the granting of Liens by such Material Subsidiary pursuant to the Security Documents; except in the case of this clause (3):

 

(a)                                  restrictions imposed by applicable law;

 

(b)                                  contractual encumbrances or restrictions:

 

(i)                                      under the ABL Loan Documents;

 

(ii)                                   [reserved]; or

 

(iii)                                under any agreement relating to Ratio Debt, Indebtedness incurred pursuant to Section 6.01(1), (2), (4), (5), (7), (12), (13), (16), (21), (22), (25), or (28), Indebtedness that is secured on a pari passu basis with Indebtedness under the Loan Documents or Indebtedness under the ABL Credit Agreement, or any Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness in respect thereof, that does not materially expand the scope of any such encumbrance or restriction;

 

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(c)                                   any restriction on a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of the Equity Interests or assets of a Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;

 

(d)                                  customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(e)                                   any restrictions imposed by any agreement relating to secured Indebtedness permitted by this Agreement to the extent that such restrictions apply only to the property or assets securing such Indebtedness;

 

(f)                                    customary provisions contained in leases or licenses of Intellectual Property Rights and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)                                   customary provisions restricting subletting or assignment of any lease governing a leasehold interest;

 

(h)                                  customary provisions restricting assignment of any agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)                                      customary restrictions and conditions contained in any agreement relating to the sale, transfer or other disposition of any asset permitted under Section 6.05 pending the consummation of such sale, transfer or other disposition;

 

(j)                                     customary restrictions and conditions contained in the document relating to any Lien, so long as (i) such Lien is a Permitted Lien and such restrictions or conditions relate only to the specific asset subject to such Lien and (ii) such restrictions and conditions are not created for the purpose of avoiding the restrictions imposed by this Section 6.09;

 

(k)                                  customary net worth provisions contained in Real Property leases entered into by Restricted Subsidiaries, so long as a Responsible Officer of Holdings has determined in good faith that such net worth provisions would not reasonably be expected to impair the ability of Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries to meet their ongoing obligations;

 

(l)                                      any agreement in effect at the time any Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary, so long as such agreement was not entered into in contemplation of such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary;

 

(m)                              restrictions in agreements representing Indebtedness permitted under Section 6.01 of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Loan Party;

 

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(n)                                  customary restrictions on leases, subleases, licenses or Equity Interests or asset sale agreements otherwise permitted hereby as long as such restrictions relate to the Equity Interests and assets subject thereto;

 

(o)                                  restrictions on cash or other deposits imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business; or

 

(p)                                  any encumbrances or restrictions imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (a) through (o) above, so long as such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of Holdings, not materially more restrictive with respect to such Lien, dividend and other payment restrictions, taken as a whole, than those contained in the Lien, dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

 

For the purpose of determining compliance with Article VI, in the event that any Lien, Investment, Indebtedness, disposition, Restricted Payment, contractual obligation, encumbrance or restriction or payment, prepayment, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or amendment, modification or other change in respect of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of transactions permitted pursuant to any clause of the negative covenants, such transaction (or portion thereof) at any time shall be permitted under one or more of such clauses as determined by Holdings in its sole discretion at such time of determination.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, if Holdings or any Borrower incurs Indebtedness or Liens, or makes dispositions, Restricted Payments, restricted debt payments or Investments under any applicable fixed amount on the same date that it incurs Indebtedness or Liens, or makes Restricted Payments, restricted debt payments or Investments under any applicable ratio-based amount, then the ratio-based amount with respect to the amounts incurred under the ratio-based basket will be calculated without regard to any incurrence under the fixed amount.  Unless Holdings elects otherwise, each ratio-based amount shall be deemed incurred first to the extent permitted, with the balance incurred under the fixed amount.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

[Reserved]

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Events of Default

 

SECTION 8.01.    Events of Default After Acquisition .  In case of the happening of any of the following events on or after the Closing Date (each, an “ Event of Default ”):

 

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(1)                                  any representation or warranty made by Holdings, the Borrowers or any other Loan Party herein or in any other Loan Document or any certificate or document required to be delivered pursuant hereto or thereto shall be incorrect or misleading in any material respect (or in any respect if any such representation or warranty is already qualified by materiality) when made or deemed made;

 

(2)                                  default is made in the payment of any principal of any Term Loan when and as the same becomes due and payable, whether at the due date thereof, at a date fixed for prepayment thereof, by acceleration thereof or otherwise;

 

(3)                                  default is made in the payment of any interest on any Term Loan or in the payment of any Fee or any other amount due under any Loan Document (other than an amount referred to in clause (2) of this Section 8.01), when and as the same becomes due and payable, and such default continues unremedied for a period of five Business Days;

 

(4)                                  default is made in the due observance or performance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in Section 5.01(1), 5.05(1), 5.08 or in Article VI (in each case solely to the extent applicable to such Person);

 

(5)                                  default is made in the due observance or performance by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary of any covenant, condition or agreement contained in any Loan Document (other than those specified in clauses (2), (3) and (4) of this Section 8.01), in each case solely to the extent applicable to such Person, and such default continues unremedied for a period of 30 days after notice thereof from the Administrative Agent to Holdings;

 

(6)                                  (a) any event or condition occurs that (i) results in any Material Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) becoming due prior to its scheduled maturity or (ii) enables or permits (with all applicable grace periods having expired) the holder or holders of any Material Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) or any trustee or agent on its or their behalf to cause any Material Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) to become due, or to require the prepayment, repurchase, redemption or defeasance thereof, prior to its scheduled maturity or (b) Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary fails to pay the principal of any Material Indebtedness (other than the Term Loans) at the stated final maturity thereof; provided that this clause (6) will not apply to secured Indebtedness that becomes due as a result of the voluntary sale or transfer of the property or assets securing such Indebtedness if such sale or transfer is permitted hereunder and under the documents providing for such Indebtedness; provided , further , that such event or condition is unremedied and is not waived or cured by the holders of such Indebtedness prior to any acceleration of the Term Loans pursuant to this Section 8.01; provided , further , that the failure to observe or perform a financial maintenance covenant under the ABL Credit Agreement (a “ Financial Covenant Default ”) shall not constitute an Event of Default hereunder until the date on which the lenders under the ABL Credit Agreement shall have accelerated payment of the ABL Obligations and terminated the commitments with respect thereto; and, provided , further , that prior to the time it becomes an Event of

 

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Default hereunder, any Financial Covenant Default may be waived, amended, terminated or otherwise modified from time to time in accordance with the ABL Credit Agreement;

 

(7)                                  a Change in Control occurs;

 

(8)                                  an involuntary proceeding is commenced or an involuntary petition is filed in a court of competent jurisdiction seeking:

 

(a)                                  relief in respect of Holdings, a Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries, or of a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, a Borrower or any Material Subsidiary, under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(b)                                  the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, interim receiver, administrator, monitor, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, a Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, a Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary; or

 

(c)                                   the winding up or liquidation of Holdings, a Borrower or any Material Subsidiary (except, in the case of any Material Subsidiary, in a transaction permitted by Section 6.05) and, in any of clauses (a), (b) or (c), such proceeding or petition continues undismissed for 60 days or an order or decree approving or ordering any of the foregoing is entered;

 

(9)                                  Holdings, a Borrower or any Material Subsidiary:

 

(a)                                  voluntarily commences any proceeding, insolvency proceeding or files any petition seeking relief under any Debtor Relief Law;

 

(b)                                  consents to the institution of, or fails to contest in a timely and appropriate manner, any proceeding or the filing of any petition described in clause (8) of this Section 8.01;

 

(c)                                   applies for or consents to the appointment of a receiver, trustee, custodian, interim receiver, administrator, monitor, sequestrator, conservator or similar official for Holdings, a Borrower or any of the Material Subsidiaries or for a substantial part of the property or assets of Holdings, a Borrower or any Material Subsidiary;

 

(d)                                  files an answer admitting the material allegations of a petition filed against it in any such proceeding;

 

(e)                                   makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

 

(f)                                    if incorporated in France, (i) becomes in cessation des paiements within the meaning or article L.631-1 of the French Code de commerce , (ii) encounters difficulties that it is not able to overcome within the meaning of article L.620-1 of the French Code de commerce, (iii) is subject to a procedure d’alerte by its

 

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statutory auditors in accordance with article L.234-1, L.234-2 or L.612-3 of the French Code de commerce , or (iv) is subject to a declared moratorium in respect of any of its indebtedness; or

 

(g)                                   becomes unable or admits in writing its inability or fails generally to pay its debts as they become due (meaning, with respect to any German Loan Party, that any such person is either unable to pay its debts as they fall due ( Zahlungsunfähigkeit ), or is over indebted ( Überschuldung ));

 

(10)                           There is entered against Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary a final judgment or order for the payment of money in an aggregate amount (as to all such judgments and orders) equal to or greater than $50 million (to the extent not covered by insurance), which judgments are not discharged or effectively waived or stayed for a period of 60 consecutive days, or any action is legally taken by a judgment creditor to levy upon assets or properties of Holdings or any other Loan Party to enforce any such judgment;

 

(11)                           an ERISA Event or ERISA Events occurs with respect to any Plan or Multiemployer Plan, which, together with all other ERISA Events, if any, is reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(12)                           (a) any material provision of any Loan Document ceases to be, or is asserted in writing by Holdings or any Restricted Subsidiary not to be, for any reason, a legal, valid and binding obligation of any party thereto, (b) any security interest purported to be created by any Security Document and to extend to assets that are not immaterial to Holdings and the Restricted Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis ceases to be, or is asserted in writing by Holdings or any other Loan Party not to be, a valid and perfected security interest in the securities, assets or properties covered thereby, except to the extent that any such loss of validity, perfection or priority results from the limitations of laws, rules and regulations of any jurisdiction other than the United States or any Specified Foreign Jurisdiction as they apply to pledges of Equity Interests or the application thereof, or from the failure of the Collateral Agent to maintain possession of certificates actually delivered to it representing securities pledged under a Security Document or to file Uniform Commercial Code continuation statements or take any other action and except to the extent that such loss is covered by a lender’s title insurance policy and the Collateral Agent is reasonably satisfied with the credit of such insurer or (c) the Guarantees pursuant to the Security Documents by any Loan Party of any of the Obligations cease to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms thereof) or are asserted in writing by Holdings, a Borrower or any other Subsidiary Loan Party not to be in effect or not to be legal, valid and binding obligations, except in the cases of clauses (a) and (b), in connection with an Asset Sale permitted by this Agreement.

 

then, (i) upon the occurrence of any such Event of Default (other than an Event of Default with respect to Holdings or a Borrower described in clause (8) or (9) of this Section 8.01 under the Bankruptcy Code or any other liquidation, bankruptcy, assignment for the benefit of creditors, receivership, insolvency or similar debtor relief law of the United States from time in effect and

 

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affecting the rights of creditors generally), and at any time thereafter during the continuance of such Event of Default, the Administrative Agent may and, at the request of the Required Lenders, will, by notice to Holdings, take any or all of the following actions, at the same or different times:  (A) declare the Term Loans then outstanding to be forthwith due and payable in whole or in part, whereupon the principal of the Term Loans so declared to be due and payable, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, will become forthwith due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding; and (B) exercise all rights and remedies granted to it under any Loan Document and all of its rights under any other applicable law or in equity, (ii) in any event with respect to Holdings or a Borrower described in clause (8) or (9) of this Section 8.01, the principal of the Term Loans then outstanding, together with accrued interest thereon and any unpaid accrued Fees and all other liabilities of the Borrowers accrued hereunder and under any other Loan Document, will automatically become due and payable, without presentment, demand, protest or any other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly waived by the Borrowers, anything contained herein or in any other Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

SECTION 8.02.    [Reserved] .

 

ARTICLE IX

 

The Agents

 

SECTION 9.01.    Authorization and Action .

 

(1)                                  Each Lender (in its capacities as a Lender and on behalf of itself and its Affiliates as potential counterparties to Hedge Agreements) hereby irrevocably appoints the entity named as Administrative Agent (which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction) in the heading of this Agreement and its successors (which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction) to serve as the administrative agent and collateral agent (except in respect of the French Security Documents) under the Loan Documents and each Lender authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to take such actions as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent under such agreements and to exercise such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. In addition, to the extent required under the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States and France, each of the Lenders hereby grants to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent any required powers of attorney to execute and enforce any Security Document governed by the laws of such jurisdiction on such Lender’s behalf. Without limiting the foregoing, each Lender hereby authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations under, each of the Loan Documents to which the Administrative Agent and/or

 

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the Collateral Agent is a party, to exercise all rights, powers and remedies that the Administrative Agent and/or the Collateral Agent may have under such Loan Documents.

 

(2)                                  Without limiting the powers of the Collateral Agent, for the purposes of holding any hypothec granted to the Attorney (as defined below) pursuant to the laws of the Province of Québec to secure the prompt payment and performance of any and all Obligations by any Loan Party, each of the Secured Parties party to this Agreement hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Collateral Agent and, to the extent necessary, ratifies the appointment and authorization of the Collateral Agent, to act as the hypothecary representative of the present and future Secured Parties as contemplated under Article 2692 of the Civil Code of Québec (in such capacity, the “ Attorney ”), and to enter into, to take and to hold on their behalf, and for their benefit, any hypothec, and to exercise such powers and duties that are conferred upon the Attorney under this Agreement and any related deed of hypothec.  The Attorney shall:  (a) have the sole and exclusive right and authority to exercise, except as may be otherwise specifically restricted by the terms hereof, all rights and remedies given to the Attorney pursuant to any such deed of hypothec and applicable law, and (b) benefit from and be subject to all provisions hereof with respect to the Collatearl Agent mutatis mutandis, including, without limitation, all such provisions with respect to the liability or responsibility to and indemnification by the Secured Parties and Loan Parties.  Any person who becomes a Secured Party shall be deemed to have consented to and confirmed the Attorney as the person acting as hypothecary representative holding the aforesaid hypothecs as aforesaid and to have ratified, as of the date it becomes a Secured Party, all actions taken by the Attorney in such capacity.  The substitution of the Collateral Agent pursuant to the provisions of this Article 9 also constitute the substitution of the Attorney. The execution by the Attorney of any hypothecary or other agreements or instruments prior to the date of this Agreement is hereby ratified and confirmed.

 

(3)                                  As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (including enforcement or collection), the Administrative Agent shall not be required to exercise any discretion or take any action, but shall be required to act or to refrain from acting (and shall be fully protected in so acting or refraining from acting) upon the written instructions of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, pursuant to the terms in the Loan Documents), and, unless and until revoked in writing, such instructions shall be binding upon all Lenders; provided , however , that the Administrative Agent shall not be required to take any action that (i) the Administrative Agent in good faith believes exposes it to liability unless the Administrative Agent receives an indemnification satisfactory to it from the Lenders with respect to such action or (ii) is contrary to this Agreement or any other Loan Document or applicable law including any action that may be in violation of the automatic stay under any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors or that may effect a forfeiture, modification or termination of property of a Defaulting Lender in violation of any requirement of law relating to bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization or relief of debtors; provided , further , that the Administrative Agent may seek clarification or directions from the

 

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Required Lenders prior to the exercise of any such instructed action and may refrain from acting until such clarification or directions have been provided. Except as expressly set forth in the Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent shall not have any duty to disclose, and shall not be liable for the failure to disclose, any information relating to Holdings, the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of any of the foregoing that is communicated to or obtained by the Person serving as Administrative Agent or any of its Affiliates in any capacity.

 

(4)                                  In performing its functions and duties hereunder and under the other Loan Documents, the Administrative Agent is acting solely on behalf of the Lenders (except in limited circumstances expressly provided for herein relating to the maintenance of the Register), and its duties are entirely mechanical and administrative in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing:

 

(a)                                  the Administrative Agent does not assume and shall not be deemed to have assumed any obligation or duties other than as expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents or any other relationship as the agent, fiduciary or trustee of or for any Lender or holder of any other Obligation, regardless of whether a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing (and it is understood and agreed that the use of the term “agent” (or any similar term) herein or in any other Loan Document with reference to the Administrative Agent is not intended to connote any fiduciary duty or other implied (or express) obligations arising under agency doctrine of any applicable law, and that such term is used as a matter of market custom and is intended to create or reflect only an administrative relationship between contracting parties);

 

(b)                                  where the Administrative Agent is required or deemed to act as a trustee in respect of any Collateral over which a security interest has been created pursuant to a Loan Document expressed to be governed by the laws of Luxembourg, Canada, England and Wales, Germany, France, Spain, Cayman Islands or Finland, the obligations and liabilities of the Administrative Agent to the Secured Parties in its capacity as trustee shall be excluded to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law;

 

(c)                                   to the extent that English law is applicable to the duties of the Administrative Agent under any of the Loan Documents, Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 (UK) shall not apply to the duties of the Collateral Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, where there are inconsistencies or conflict between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 (UK) and the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000 (UK), the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act; and

 

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(d)                                  nothing in this Agreement or any Loan Document shall require the Administrative Agent to account to any Lender for any sum or the profit element of any sum received by the Administrative Agent for its own account.

 

(5)                                  The Administrative Agent may perform any of and all its duties and exercise its rights and powers hereunder or under any other Loan Document by or through any one or more sub-agents appointed by the Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent may perform any of and all their respective duties and exercise their respective rights and powers through their respective Related Parties. The exculpatory provisions of this Article shall apply to any such sub-agent and to the Related Parties of the Administrative Agent and any such sub-agent and shall apply to their respective activities in connection with the syndication of the credit facilities provided for herein as well as activities as Administrative Agent. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for the negligence or misconduct of any sub-agents except to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction determines in a final and nonappealable judgment that the Administrative Agent acted with gross negligence or willful misconduct in the selection of such sub-agents.

 

(6)                                  None of the Syndication Agents, Documentation Agents or any Arranger shall have obligations or duties whatsoever in such capacity under this Agreement or any other Loan Document and shall incur no liability hereunder or thereunder in such capacity, but all such persons shall have the benefit of the indemnities provided for hereunder.

 

(7)                                  In case of the pendency of any proceeding with respect to any Loan Party under any federal, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or similar law now or hereafter in effect, the Administrative Agent (irrespective of whether the principal of any Loan or any reimbursement obligation shall then be due and payable as herein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Administrative Agent shall have made any demand on the Borrowers) shall be entitled and empowered (but not obligated) by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:

 

(a)                                  to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of the principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Term Loans and all other Obligations that are owing and unpaid and to file such other documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Lenders and the Administrative Agent (including any claim under Sections 2.09 (“ Fees ”), 2.10 (“ Interest ”), 2.12 (“ Increased Costs ”), 2.14 (“ Taxes ”) and 9.02 (“ Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. ”)) allowed in such judicial proceeding; and

 

(b)                                  to collect and receive any monies or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such proceeding is hereby authorized by each Lender and each other Secured Party to make such payments to the Administrative Agent and, in the event that

 

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the Administrative Agent shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Lenders or the other Secured Parties, to pay to the Administrative Agent any amount due to it, in its capacity as the Administrative Agent, under the Loan Documents (including under Section 9.02 (“ Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. ”))

 

(8)                                  The provisions of this Article are solely for the benefit of the Administrative Agent and the Lenders, and, except solely to the extent of the Borrower’s rights to consent pursuant to and subject to the conditions set forth in this Article, none of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary shall have any rights as a third party beneficiary of any such provisions. Each Secured Party, whether or not a party hereto, will be deemed, by its acceptance of the benefits of the Collateral and of the Guarantees of the Obligations provided under the Loan Documents, to have agreed to the provisions of this Article.

 

SECTION 9.02.    Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc.

 

(1)                                  Neither the Administrative Agent nor any of its Related Parties shall be (i) liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it under or in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents with the consent of or at the request of the Required Lenders (or such other number or percentage of the Lenders as shall be necessary, or as the Administrative Agent shall believe in good faith to be necessary, under the circumstances as provided in the Loan Documents) or in the absence of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct (such absence to be presumed unless otherwise determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by a final and nonappealable judgment) or (ii) responsible in any manner to any of the Lenders for any recitals, statements, representations or warranties made by any Loan Party or any officer thereof contained in this Agreement or any other Loan Document or in any certificate, report, statement or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by the Administrative Agent under or in connection with, this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or for any failure of any Loan Party a party thereto to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder.

 

(2)                                  The Lenders agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent and its Related Parties (each, an “ Agent Indemnitee ”) (to the extent not reimbursed by Holdings or the Borrower and without limiting the obligation of Holdings or the Borrowers to do so), ratably according to their respective applicable percentage of the Commitments and/or Term Loans in effect on the date on which indemnification is sought under this Section (or, if indemnification is sought after the date upon which the Commitments shall have terminated and the Term Loans shall have been paid in full, ratably in accordance with such applicable percentage of the Commitments and/or Term Loans immediately prior to such date), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including the fees, charges and disbursements of any kind whatsoever that may at any time (whether before or after the payment of the Term Loans) be imposed on, incurred by or asserted against such Agent Indemnitee in any way relating to or arising out of, the Commitments, this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents or any

 

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documents contemplated by or referred to herein or therein or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby or any action taken or omitted by such Agent Indemnitee under or in connection with any of the foregoing; provided that no Lender shall be liable for the payment of any portion of such liabilities, obligations, losses, damages, penalties, actions, judgments, suits, costs, expenses or disbursements that are found by a final and nonappealable decision of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from such Agent Indemnitee’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.  The agreements in this Section shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the payment of the Term Loans and all other amounts payable hereunder.

 

(3)                                  The Administrative Agent shall be deemed not to have knowledge of any Default unless and until written notice thereof (stating that it is a “notice of default”) is given to the Administrative Agent by Holdings, the Borrowers or a Lender, and the Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have any duty to ascertain or inquire into (i) any statement, warranty or representation made in or in connection with any Loan Document, (ii) the contents of any certificate, report or other document delivered thereunder or in connection therewith, (iii) the performance or observance of any of the covenants, agreements or other terms or conditions set forth in any Loan Document or the occurrence of any Default, (iv) the sufficiency, validity, enforceability, effectiveness or genuineness of any Loan Document or any other agreement, instrument or document, (v) the satisfaction of any condition set forth in Article IV or elsewhere in any Loan Document, other than to confirm receipt of items expressly required to be delivered to the Administrative Agent or satisfaction of any condition that expressly refers to the matters described therein being acceptable or satisfactory to the Administrative Agent or (vi) compliance by Affiliated Lenders with the terms hereof relating to Affiliated Lenders. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Administrative Agent shall not be liable for, or be responsible for any loss, cost or expense suffered by Holdings, the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any Lender as a result of, any determination of any exchange rate or Dollar equivalent.

 

(4)                                  Without limiting the foregoing, the Administrative Agent (i) may treat the payee of any Note as its holder until such Note has been assigned in accordance with Section 10.04, (ii) may rely on the Register to the extent set forth in Section 10.04, (iii) may consult with legal counsel (including counsel to Holdings and the Borrowers, independent public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken in good faith by it in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts, (iv) makes no warranty or representation to any Lender and shall not be responsible to any Lender for any statements, warranties or representations made by or on behalf of any Loan Party in or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document, (v) in determining compliance with any condition hereunder to the making of a Loan that by its terms must be fulfilled to the satisfaction of a Lender, may presume that such condition is satisfactory to such Lender unless the Administrative Agent shall have received notice to the contrary from such Lender sufficiently in advance of the making of such Loan and (vi) shall be entitled to rely on and shall incur no liability under or in respect of this Agreement or any other Loan Document by acting upon any

 

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notice, consent, certificate or other instrument or writing (which writing may be a fax, any electronic message, Internet or intranet website posting or other distribution) or any statement made to it orally or by telephone and believed by it to be genuine and signed or sent or otherwise authenticated by the proper party or parties (whether or not such Person in fact meets the requirements set forth in the Loan Documents for being the maker thereof).

 

SECTION 9.03.    Posting of Communications .

 

(1)                                  Holdings and the Borrowers hereby acknowledge and agree that (a) the Administrative Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, make available to the Lenders materials or information provided by or on behalf of the Borrowers hereunder (collectively, “ Borrower Materials ”) by posting the communications on IntraLinks™, DebtDomain, SyndTrak, ClearPar or a substantially similar electronic platform chosen by the Administrative Agent to be its electronic transmission system (the “ Approved Electronic Platform ”) and (b) certain of the Lenders may be “public-side” Lenders (i.e., Lenders that do not wish to receive material non-public information with respect to any Borrower or its securities) (each, a “ Public Lender ”).

 

(2)                                  Although the Approved Electronic Platform and its primary web portal are secured with generally applicable security procedures and policies implemented or modified by the Administrative Agent from time to time (including, as of the Closing Date, a user ID/password authorization system) and the Approved Electronic Platform is secured through a per-deal authorization meth-od whereby each user may access the Approved Electronic Platform only on a deal-by-deal basis, each of the Lenders and each of Holdings and the Borrowers acknowledges and agrees that the distribution of material through an electronic medium is not necessarily secure and that there are confidentiality and other risks associated with such distribution. Each of the Lenders and each of Holdings and the Borrowers hereby approves distribution of the communications through the Approved Electronic Platform and understands and assumes the risks of such distribution.

 

(3)                                  THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE”. THE APPLICABLE PARTIES (AS DEFINED BELOW) DO NOT WARRANT THE ACCURACY OR COMPLETENESS OF THE COMMUNICATIONS, OR THE ADEQUACY OF THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM LIABILITY FOR ERRORS OR OMISSIONS IN THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM AND THE COMMUNICATIONS. NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD PARTY RIGHTS OR FREEDOM FROM VIRUSES OR OTHER CODE DEFECTS, IS MADE BY THE APPLICABLE PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE COMMUNICATIONS OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE ADMINISTRATIVE

 

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AGENT, ANY ARRANGER, ANY CO-DOCUMENTATION AGENT, THE SYNDICATION AGENT OR ANY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE RELATED PARTIES (COLLECTIVELY, “ APPLICABLE PARTIES ”) HAVE ANY LIABILITY TO ANY LOAN PARTY, ANY LENDER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FOR DAMAGES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSSES OR EXPENSES (WHETHER IN TORT, CONTRACT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF ANY LOAN PARTY’S OR THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT’S TRANSMISSION OF COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH THE INTERNET OR THE APPROVED ELECTRONIC PLATFORM.

 

(4)                                  Each Lender agrees that notice to it (as provided in the next sentence) specifying that communications have been posted to the Approved Electronic Platform shall constitute effective delivery of the communications to such Lender for purposes of the Loan Documents. Each Lender agrees (i) to notify the Administrative Agent in writing (including by electronic communication) from time to time of such Lender’s email address to which the foregoing notice may be sent by electronic transmission and (ii) that the foregoing notice may be sent to such email address.

 

(5)                                  Each of the Lenders and each of Holdings and the Borrowers agrees that the Administrative Agent may, but (except as may be required by applicable law) shall not be obligated to, store the communications on the Approved Electronic Platform in accordance with the Administrative Agent’s generally applicable document retention procedures and policies

 

(6)                                  Each Borrower hereby agrees that it will use commercially reasonable efforts to identify that portion of the Borrower Materials that may be distributed to the Public Lenders and that:

 

(a)                                  all the Borrower Materials shall be clearly and conspicuously marked “PUBLIC” which, at a minimum, means that the word “ PUBLIC ” shall appear prominently on the first page thereof;

 

(b)                                  by marking Borrower Materials “ PUBLIC ,” such Borrower shall be deemed to have authorized the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers and the Lenders to treat the Borrower Materials as either publicly available information or not material information (although it may be sensitive and proprietary) with respect to any Borrower or its securities for purposes of United States Federal and state securities laws;

 

(c)                                   all Borrower Materials marked “PUBLIC” are permitted to be made available through a portion of the Platform designated “Public Investor;” and

 

(d)                                  the Administrative Agent and the Arrangers shall be entitled to treat the Borrower Materials that are not marked “PUBLIC” as being suitable only for posting on a portion of the Platform not designated “Public Investor.”.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following Borrower Materials shall be deemed to be marked “PUBLIC” unless Holdings notifies the Administrative Agent that any such document contains MNPI:  (1) the Loan Documents, (2) any notification of changes in the terms of the Term Loans, (3) any notification of the identity of Disqualified Institutions and (4) all information delivered pursuant to clauses (1), (2) and (3) of Section 5.04.

 

(7)                                  Nothing herein shall prejudice the right of the Administrative Agent or any Lender to give any notice or other communication pursuant to any Loan Document in any other manner specified in such Loan Document.

 

SECTION 9.04.    The Administrative Agent Individually .  With respect to its Commitment and Term Loans, the Person serving as the Administrative Agent shall have and may exercise the same rights and powers hereunder and is subject to the same obligations and liabilities as and to the extent set forth herein for any other Lender. The terms “Lenders”, “Required Lenders” and any similar terms shall, unless the context clearly otherwise indicates, include the Administrative Agent in its individual capacity as a Lender or as one of the Required Lenders. The Person serving as the Administrative Agent and its Affiliates may accept deposits from, lend money to, own securities of, act as the financial advisor or in any other advisory capacity for and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with, Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or any other Affiliate of any of the foregoing as if such Person were not acting as the Administrative Agent and without any duty to account therefor to the Lenders.

 

SECTION 9.05.    Successor Administrative Agent .

 

(1)                                  The Administrative Agent may resign at any time by giving 30 days’ prior written notice thereof to the Lenders and the Borrowers, whether or not a successor Administrative Agent has been appointed. Upon any such resignation, the Required Lenders shall have the right to appoint a successor Administrative Agent (which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction). If no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed by the Required Lenders, and shall have accepted such appointment, within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent’s giving of notice of resignation, then the retiring Administrative Agent may, on behalf of the Lenders, appoint a successor Administrative Agent, which shall be a bank with an office in New York, New York or an Affiliate of any such bank selected from among the Lenders and which shall not be incorporated, domiciled or acting from an office situated in a Non-Cooperative Jurisdiction. In either case, such appointment shall be subject to the prior written approval of the Borrowers (which approval may not be unreasonably withheld and shall not be required while a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing). Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, such successor Administrative Agent shall succeed to, and become vested with, all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent. Upon the acceptance of appointment as Administrative Agent by a successor Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations under this

 

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Agreement and the other Loan Documents. Prior to any retiring Administrative Agent’s resignation hereunder as Administrative Agent, the retiring Administrative Agent shall take such action as may be reasonably necessary to assign to the successor Administrative Agent its rights as Administrative Agent under the Loan Documents.

 

(2)                                  Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this Section, in the event no successor Administrative Agent shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Administrative Agent gives notice of its intent to resign, the retiring Administrative Agent may give notice of the effectiveness of its resignation to the Lenders and the Borrowers, whereupon, on the date of effectiveness of such resignation stated in such notice, (i) the retiring Administrative Agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents; provided that, solely for purposes of maintaining any security interest granted to the Administrative Agent under any Security Documents for the benefit of the Secured Parties, the retiring Administrative Agent shall continue to be vested with such security interest as collateral agent for the benefit of the Secured Parties, and continue to be entitled to the rights and bound to the obligations set forth in such Security Documents and any other Loan Document, and, in the case of any Collateral in the possession of the Administrative Agent, shall continue to hold such Collateral, in each case until such time as a successor Administrative Agent is appointed and accepts such appointment in accordance with this Section (it being understood and agreed that the retiring Administrative Agent shall have no duty or obligation to take any further action under any Security Document, including any action required to maintain the perfection of any such security interest), and (ii) the Required Lenders shall succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Administrative Agent; provided that (A) all payments required to be made hereunder or under any other Loan Document to the Administrative Agent for the account of any Person other than the Administrative Agent shall be made directly to such Person and (B) all notices and other communications required or contemplated to be given or made to the Administrative Agent shall also directly be given or made to each Lender. Following the effectiveness of the Administrative Agent’s resignation from its capacity as such, the provisions of this Article and 9.02 (“ Administrative Agent’s Reliance, Indemnification, Etc. ”), as well as any exculpatory, reimbursement and indemnification provisions set forth in any other Loan Document, shall continue in effect for the benefit of such retiring Administrative Agent, its sub-agents and their respective Related Parties in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any of them while the resigned Administrative Agent was acting as Administrative Agent and in respect of the matters referred to in the proviso under clause (i) above.

 

SECTION 9.06.    Acknowledgements of Lenders .

 

(1)                                  Each Lender acknowledges and agrees that the extensions of credit made hereunder are commercial loans and not investments in a business enterprise or securities.  Each Lender further represents that it is engaged in making, acquiring or holding commercial loans in the ordinary course of its business and that it has, independently and without reliance

 

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upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Agreement. Each Lender also acknowledges that it will, independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent, any Arranger or any other Lender, or any of the Related Parties of any of the foregoing, and based on such documents and information as it shall from time to time deem appropriate, continue to make its own decisions in taking or not taking action under or based upon this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any related agreement or any document furnished hereunder or thereunder.

 

(2)                                  Each Lender, by delivering its signature page to this Agreement on the Closing Date and by funding its Term Loans on the Closing Date, or delivering its signature page to an Assignment and Acceptance or any other Loan Document pursuant to which it shall become a Lender hereunder, shall be deemed to have acknowledged receipt of, and consented to and approved, each Loan Document and each other document required to be delivered to, or be approved by or satisfactory to, the Administrative Agent or the Lenders on the Closing Date.

 

SECTION 9.07.    Collateral Matters .

 

(1)                                  Except with respect to the exercise of setoff rights in accordance with Section 10.06 (“ Right of Set-off ) or with respect to a Secured Party’s right to file a proof of claim in an insolvency proceeding, no Secured Party shall have any right individually to realize upon any of the Collateral or to enforce any Guarantee of the Obligations, it being understood and agreed that all powers, rights and remedies under the Loan Documents may be exercised solely by the Administrative Agent on behalf of the Secured Parties in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

(2)                                  In furtherance of the foregoing, and except in respect of the French Security Documents, and not in limitation thereof, no Hedge Agreement the obligations under which constitute Specified Hedge Obligations, will create (or be deemed to create) in favor of any Secured Party that is a party thereto any rights in connection with the management or release of any Collateral or of the obligations of any Loan Party under any Loan Document. By accepting the benefits of the Collateral, each Secured Party that is a party to any such arrangement in respect of Hedge Agreement shall be deemed to have appointed the Administrative Agent to serve as administrative agent and collateral agent under the Loan Documents and agreed to be bound by the Loan Documents as a Secured Party thereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this paragraph.

 

(3)                                  The Secured Parties irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at its option and in its discretion, to subordinate any Lien on any property granted to or held by the Administrative Agent under any Loan Document to the holder of any Lien on such property that is permitted by Section 6.02. The Administrative Agent shall not be responsible for or have a duty to ascertain or inquire into any representation or warranty regarding the existence, value or collectability of the Collateral, the existence, priority or

 

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perfection of the Administrative Agent’s Lien thereon or any certificate prepared by any Loan Party in connection therewith, nor shall the Administrative Agent be responsible or liable to the Lenders or any other Secured Party for any failure to monitor or maintain any portion of the Collateral.

 

SECTION 9.08.    Credit Bidding .  The Secured Parties hereby irrevocably authorize the Administrative Agent, at the direction of the Required Lenders, to credit bid all or any portion of the Obligations (including by accepting some or all of the Collateral in satisfaction of some or all of the Obligations pursuant to a deed in lieu of foreclosure or otherwise) and in such manner purchase (either directly or through one or more acquisition vehicles) all or any portion of the Collateral (a) at any sale thereof conducted under the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, including under Sections 363, 1123 or 1129 of the Bankruptcy Code, or any similar laws in any other jurisdictions to which a Loan Party is subject, or (b) at any other sale, foreclosure or acceptance of collateral in lieu of debt conducted by (or with the consent or at the direction of) the Administrative Agent (whether by judicial action or otherwise) in accordance with any applicable law. In connection with any such credit bid and purchase, the Obligations owed to the Secured Parties shall be entitled to be, and shall be, credit bid by the Administrative Agent at the direction of the Required Lenders on a ratable basis (with Obligations with respect to contingent or unliquidated claims receiving contingent interests in the acquired assets on a ratable basis that shall vest upon the liquidation of such claims in an amount proportional to the liquidated portion of the contingent claim amount used in allocating the contingent interests) for the asset or assets so purchased (or for the equity interests or debt instruments of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles that are issued in connection with such purchase). In connection with any such bid, (i) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to form one or more acquisition vehicles and to assign any successful credit bid to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, (ii) each of the Secured Parties’ ratable interests in the Obligations which were credit bid shall be deemed without any further action under this Agreement to be assigned to such vehicle or vehicles for the purpose of closing such sale, (iii) the Administrative Agent shall be authorized to adopt documents providing for the governance of the acquisition vehicle or vehicles ( provided that any actions by the Administrative Agent with respect to such acquisition vehicle or vehicles, including any disposition of the assets or equity interests thereof, shall be governed, directly or indirectly, by, and the governing documents shall provide for, control by the vote of the Required Lenders or their permitted assignees under the terms of this Agreement or the governing documents of the applicable acquisition vehicle or vehicles, as the case may be, irrespective of the termination of this Agreement and without giving effect to the limitations on actions by the Required Lenders contained in Section 10.02 of this Agreement), (iv) the Administrative Agent on behalf of such acquisition vehicle or vehicles shall be authorized to issue to each of the Secured Parties, ratably on account of the relevant Obligations which were credit bid, interests, whether as equity, partnership, limited partnership interests or membership interests, in any such acquisition vehicle and/or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle, all without the need for any Secured Party or acquisition vehicle to take any further action, and (v) to the extent that Obligations that are assigned to an acquisition vehicle are not used to acquire Collateral for any reason (as a result of another bid being higher or better, because the amount of Obligations assigned to the acquisition vehicle exceeds the amount of Obligations credit bid by the acquisition vehicle or otherwise), such Obligations shall

 

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automatically be reassigned to the Secured Parties pro rata with their original interest in such Obligations and the equity interests and/or debt instruments issued by any acquisition vehicle on account of such Obligations shall automatically be cancelled, without the need for any Secured Party or any acquisition vehicle to take any further action. Notwithstanding that the ratable portion of the Obligations of each Secured Party are deemed assigned to the acquisition vehicle or vehicles as set forth in clause (ii) above, each Secured Party shall execute such documents and provide such information regarding the Secured Party (and/or any designee of the Secured Party which will receive interests in or debt instruments issued by such acquisition vehicle) as the Administrative Agent may reasonably request in connection with the formation of any acquisition vehicle, the formulation or submission of any credit bid or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by such credit bid.

 

SECTION 9.09.    Intercreditor Agreement .  The Administrative Agent, and the Collateral Agent are authorized by the Lenders and each other Secured Party to, to the extent required by the terms of the Loan Documents, (i) enter into any intercreditor agreement contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) enter into any Security Document, or (iii) make or consent to any filings or take any other actions in connection therewith (and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or other modifications to, such agreements in connection with the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness of such Loan Party that is permitted to be secured pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02 of this Agreement, in order to permit such Indebtedness to be secured by a valid, perfected lien on the Collateral (with such priority as may be designated by such Loan Party, to the extent such priority is permitted by the Loan Documents)), and the parties hereto acknowledge that any intercreditor agreement, Security Document, consent, filing or other action will be binding upon them.  Each Lender and each other Secured Party (a) hereby agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of any intercreditor agreement (if entered into) and (b) hereby authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent to enter into any intercreditor agreement contemplated by this Agreement or Security Document (and any amendments, amendments and restatements, restatements or waivers of or supplements to or other modifications to, such agreements in connection with the incurrence by any Loan Party of any Indebtedness of such Loan Party that is permitted to be secured pursuant to Sections 6.01 and 6.02 of this Agreement, in order to permit such Indebtedness to be secured by a valid, perfected lien on the Collateral (with such priority as may be designated by such Loan Party, to the extent such priority is permitted by the Loan Documents)), and to subject the Liens on the Collateral securing the Obligations to the provisions thereof.

 

SECTION 9.10.    Collateral Agent as UK Security Trustee.

 

(1)                                  For the purposes of any Liens created under the UK Security Documents, the following additional provisions shall apply, in addition to the provisions set out in this Article IX or otherwise in this Agreement.

 

(2)                                  In this Section 9.11, the following expressions have the following meanings:

 

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Appointee means any receiver, administrator or other insolvency officer appointed in respect of any Loan Party or its assets.

 

Charged Property means the assets of the Loan Parties subject to a security interest under the UK Security Documents.

 

Delegate means any delegate, agent, attorney or co-trustee appointed by the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee).

 

(3)                                  The Secured Parties appoint the Collateral Agent to hold the security interests constituted by the UK Security Documents on trust for the Secured Parties on the terms of the Loan Documents and the Collateral Agent accepts that appointment.

 

(4)                                  The Collateral Agent, its subsidiaries and associated companies may each retain for its own account and benefit any fee, remuneration and profits paid to it in connection with (i) its activities under the Loan Documents; and (ii) its engagement in any kind of banking or other business with any Secured Party.

 

(5)                                  Nothing in this Agreement constitutes the Collateral Agent as a trustee or fiduciary of, nor shall the Collateral Agent have any duty or responsibility to, any Secured Party.

 

(6)                                  The Collateral Agent shall have no duties or obligations to any other Person except for those which are expressly specified in the Loan Documents or mandatorily required by applicable law.

 

(7)                                  The Collateral Agent, in consultation with Holdings, may appoint one or more Delegates on such terms (which may include the power to sub-delegate) and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit, to exercise and perform all or any of the duties, rights, powers and discretions vested in it by the UK Security Documents and shall not be obliged to supervise any Delegate or be responsible to any person for any loss incurred by reason of any act, omission, misconduct or default on the part of any Delegate.

 

(8)                                  The Collateral Agent may (whether for the purpose of complying with any law or regulation of any overseas jurisdiction, or for any other reason) appoint (and subsequently remove) any person to act jointly with the Collateral Agent either as a separate trustee or as a co-trustee on such terms and subject to such conditions as the Collateral Agent thinks fit and with such of the duties, rights, powers and discretions vested in the Collateral Agent by the UK Security Documents as may be conferred by the instrument of appointment of that person.

 

(9)                                  The Collateral Agent shall notify the Lenders of the appointment of each Appointee (other than a Delegate).

 

(10)                           The Collateral Agent may pay reasonable remuneration to any Delegate or Appointee, together with any costs and expenses (including legal fees) reasonably incurred by the Delegate or Appointee in connection with its appointment.  All such remuneration, costs

 

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and expenses shall be treated, for the purposes of this Agreement, as paid or incurred by the Collateral Agent.

 

(11)                           Each Delegate and each Appointee shall have every benefit, right, power and discretion and the benefit of every exculpation (together “ Rights ) of the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee) under the UK Security Documents, and each reference to the Collateral Agent (where the context requires that such reference is to the Collateral Agent in its capacity as security trustee) in the provisions of the UK Security Documents which confer Rights shall be deemed to include a reference to each Delegate and each Appointee.

 

(12)                           Each Secured Party confirms its approval of the UK Security Documents and authorizes and instructs the Collateral Agent: (i) to execute and deliver the UK Security Documents; (ii) to exercise the rights, powers and discretions given to the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee) under or in connection with the UK Security Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers and discretions; and (iii) to give any authorizations and confirmations to be given by the Collateral Agent (in its capacity as security trustee) on behalf of the Secured Parties under the UK Security Documents.

 

(13)                           The Collateral Agent may accept without inquiry the title (if any) which any person may have to the Charged Property.

 

(14)                           Each other Secured Party confirms that it does not wish to be registered as a joint proprietor of any security interest constituted by a UK Security Document and accordingly authorizes: (a) the Collateral Agent to hold such security interest in its sole name (or in the name of any Delegate) as trustee for the Secured Parties; and (b) the Land Registry (or other relevant registry) to register the Collateral Agent (or any Delegate or Appointee) as a sole proprietor of such security interest.

 

(15)                           On a disposal of any of the Charged Property which is permitted under the Loan Documents, the Collateral Agent shall (at the cost of the Loan Parties) execute any release of the UK Security Documents or other claim over that Charged Property and issue any certificates of non-crystallisation of floating charges that may be required or take any other action that the Collateral Agent considers desirable and/or as requested by Holdings or the Secured Parties.

 

(16)                           The Collateral Agent shall not be liable for: (i) any defect in or failure of the title (if any) which any person may have to any assets over which security is intended to be created by a UK Security Document; (ii) any loss resulting from the investment or deposit at any bank of moneys which it invests or deposits in a manner permitted by a UK Security Document; (iii) the exercise of, or the failure to exercise, any right, power or discretion given to it by or in connection with any Loan Document or any other agreement, arrangement or document entered into, or executed in anticipation of, under or in connection with, any Loan Document; or (iv) any shortfall which arises on enforcing a UK Security Document.

 

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(17)                           The Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to: (i) obtain any authorization or environmental permit in respect of any of the Charged Property or a UK Security Document; (ii) perfect, protect, register, make any filing or give any notice in respect of a UK Security Document (or the order of ranking of a UK Security Document); or (iii) require any further assurances in relation to a UK Security Document.

 

(18)                           In respect of any UK Security Document, the Collateral Agent shall not be obligated to: (i) insure, or require any other person to insure, the Charged Property; or (ii) make any enquiry or conduct any investigation into the legality, validity, effectiveness, adequacy or enforceability of any insurance existing over such Charged Property.

 

(19)                           In respect of any UK Security Document, the Collateral Agent shall not have any obligation or duty to any person for any loss suffered as a result of: (i) the lack or inadequacy of any insurance; or (ii) the failure of the Collateral Agent to notify the insurers of any material fact relating to the risk assumed by them, or of any other information of any kind, unless the Lenders have requested it to do so in writing and the Collateral Agent has failed to do so within fourteen (14) days after receipt of that request.

 

(20)                           Every appointment of a successor Collateral Agent under a UK Security Document shall be by deed.

 

(21)                           Section 1 of the Trustee Act 2000 shall not apply to the duties of the Collateral Agent in relation to the trusts constituted by this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

(22)                           In the case of any inconsistencies or conflict between the Trustee Act 1925 or the Trustee Act 2000 (UK) and the provisions of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall, to the extent permitted by applicable law, prevail and, in the case of any inconsistency with the Trustee Act 2000 (UK), the provisions of this Agreement or such other Loan Document shall constitute a restriction or exclusion for the purposes of that Act.

 

(23)                           The perpetuity period under the rule against perpetuities if applicable to this Agreement and any UK Security Document shall be 80 years from the date of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 9.11.    Special provisions relating to the Agents for Spain.

 

(1)                                  Subject to the relevant compliance with the Spanish applicable laws and notarization formalities, each Secured Party hereby grants full power to the Agents so that each of the Agents (joint and severally - solidariamente ), acting through a duly appointed representative, may execute on behalf of itself and each other party all the necessary grantings, releases or confirmations of any Lien created under the Spanish Security Documents agreed upon in accordance with the Loan Documents. In particular:

 

(a)                                  notarize or raise into the status of Spanish Public Document any Loan Document or Spanish Security Document;

 

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(b)                                  appear before a Notary Public and accept any type of guarantee or security, whether personal or real, granted in favor of the Secured Parties (whether in its own capacity or as agents for other parties) over any and all shares, rights, receivables, goods and chattels, fixing their price for the purposes of an auction and the address for serving of notices and submitting to the jurisdiction of law courts by waiving its own forum, and release such guarantees or security, all of the foregoing under the terms and conditions which the attorney may freely agree, signing the notarial deeds ( escrituras públicas ) or intervened policies ( póliza intervenidas ) that the attorney may deem fit;

 

(c)                                   ratify, if necessary or convenient, any such escrituras públicas or pólizas intervenidas executed by an orally appointed representative in the name or on behalf of the Secured Parties;

 

(d)                                  execute and/or deliver any and all deeds, documents and do any and all acts and things required in connection with the execution of the Spanish Security Documents, and/or the execution of any further notarial deed of amendment ( escritura pública de rectificación o subsanación ) that may be required for the purpose of or in connection with the powers granted in this clause;

 

(e)                                   execute in the name of any of the Secured Parties (whether in its own capacity or as agent for other parties) any novation, amendment or ratification to any Loan Document or Spanish Security Documents and appear before a Notary Public and raise any document into the status of a public document;

 

(f)                                    appoint a Spanish Notary as the Agents deem convenient, for the formalization of whichever public documents that may be necessary in relation to the enforcement of the relevant Spanish Security Documents and formalize them in the name of the relevant Secured Party;

 

(g)                                   request and obtain the copy issued for enforcement purposes ( copia ejecutiva ) of the notarial deed by virtue of which the Lien was created and to such effect, follow the instructions received from the Agents;

 

(h)                                  take any action or appear in any proceeding in Spain, as may be required by the Agents, as applicable, to enforce the Spanish Lien and Spanish Security Documents; and

 

(i)                                      grant any documents or carry out actions necessary or convenient for the enforcement of the Lien and the Spanish Security Documents under the instructions received from the Agents under this Agreement.

 

(2)                                  It is hereby agreed that, in relation to the Spanish jurisdiction, the relationship of the Secured Parties, as secured parties under the Spanish Security Documents and as parties to the Loan Documents, to the Agents in relation to any Spanish Security Documents shall be construed as one of principal ( comitente ) and agent ( comisionista ). The Agents

 

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shall not have, or be deemed to have, assumed any obligations to or fiduciary relationship with, any party to this Agreement other than those for which specific provision is made by the Spanish Security Documents, the Loan Documents and this Agreement.

 

(3)                                  As an exception to the above, to the extent any Secured Party is unable to grant such powers referred to in paragraph (1) above to the Agents or such powers of attorney are not recognized, each such Secured Party undertakes to (i) exercise in conjunction with the Agents and in the same act those powers which otherwise would have been conferred on the Agents or (ii) grant a notarial power of attorney duly notarized and apostilled or legalized (as the case may be) empowering the Agents (or its successor as a result of a change of any Agent) to carry out any of the actions referred to above that may be required in Spain. Such power of attorney shall be granted at the request of the Agents.

 

(4)                                  The guarantees and Liens may be granted under the Spanish Security Documents in favor of each and every Secured Party to secure the Obligations (expressly excluding the Parallel Debt Obligations (as defined in the Intercreditor Agreement)) and shall not be held on trust by the Agents unless expressly permitted by law. Nevertheless, and subject to paragraph (3) above, the Agents shall be entitled to accept the Lien granted under the Spanish Security Documents in the name and behalf of the Secured Parties by virtue of the powers granted in this section 9.11.

 

(5)                                  In the event that, in accordance with the rules referred to in this Section or in the relevant Spanish Security Document, the relevant Secured Parties decided to enforce any Lien the following shall apply:

 

(a)                                  The Agents shall give the Secured Parties a written notice of the decision to enforce any Lien.

 

(b)                                  If necessary, the relevant Secured Parties will grant a notarial power-of-attorney in favor of the Agents to carry out the actions necessary for such enforcement in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Should any of the relevant Secured Parties not be able to grant such powers of attorney, it undertakes to appear together with the Agents to formalize any required actions or measures or to ratify as soon as possible the actions performed by the Agents.

 

(c)                                   The Secured Parties undertake to cooperate with the Agents whenever necessary to ensure that enforcement of the Lien is successful.

 

(6)                                  Each Secured Parties empower (including the power of self-contract ( subcontratar ), the power of substitution and sub-empowering (sustitución y subapoderamiento)) and authorises the Agents to perform the duties, obligations and responsibilities and to exercise the rights, powers, authorities and discretions specifically given to the Agents under or in connection with the Spanish Security Documents together with any other incidental rights, powers, authorities and discretions expressly including appearing before a Spanish public notary to grant or execute any public or private deed related to this mandate and, specifically, those deemed necessary or appropriate according to the

 

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mandate received (including, but not limited to, documents of formalization, acknowledgement, confirmation, modification or release, acceptance of any security). Specifically, the Secured Parties hereby empower the Agents to enforce any guarantee or Lien granted in relation to this Agreement in relation to any Spanish Loan Party or any Spanish Security Documents.

 

(7)                                  Each of the Secured Parties undertake to the Agents that, promptly upon request, such Secured Party will ratify and confirm all transactions entered into and other actions by the Agents (or any of its substitutes or delegates) in the proper exercise of the power granted to it hereunder.

 

(8)                                  At the request of the Agents, the Secured Parties undertake to: (i) grant a notarial power of attorney in favor of the Agents for any action to be carried out by the Agents in Spain under the instructions received in accordance with this Agreement; and/or (ii) take any action or appear in any proceeding in Spain, as may be required by the Agents and, to such effect, follow the instructions received from any Agents.

 

ARTICLE X

 

Miscellaneous

 

SECTION 10.01. Notices; Communications .

 

(1)                                  Except in the case of notices and other communications expressly permitted to be given by telephone (and except as provided in Section 10.01(2)), all notices and other communications provided for herein shall be in writing and shall be delivered by hand or overnight courier service, mailed by certified or registered mail or sent by facsimile or e-mail, and all notices and other communications expressly permitted hereunder to be given by telephone shall be made to the applicable telephone number, in each case, as follows:

 

(a)                                  if to any Loan Party or the Administrative Agent, to the address, facsimile number, e-mail address or telephone number specified for such Person on Schedule 10.01; and

 

(b)                                  if to any other Lender, to the address, facsimile number, e-mail address or telephone number specified in its Administrative Questionnaire (including, as appropriate, notices delivered solely to the Person designated by a Lender on its Administrative Questionnaire then in effect for the delivery of notices that may contain material non-public information relating to the Borrower).

 

(2)                                  Notices and other communications to the Lenders may be delivered or furnished by electronic communication (including e-mail and Internet or intranet websites) pursuant to procedures approved by the Administrative Agent; provided that the foregoing shall not apply to notices to any Lender pursuant to Article II if such Lender has notified the Administrative Agent that it is incapable of receiving notices under such Article by electronic communication.  The Administrative Agent or Holdings may, in its discretion,

 

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agree to accept notices and other communications to it hereunder by electronic communications pursuant to procedures approved by it; provided that approval of such procedures may be limited to particular notices or communications.

 

(3)                                  Notices sent by hand or overnight courier service, or mailed by certified or registered mail, shall be deemed to have been given when received.  Notices sent by facsimile shall be deemed to have been given when sent and confirmation of transmission received (except that, if not given during normal business hours for the recipient, shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for the recipient).  Notices delivered through electronic communications to the extent provided in Section 10.01(2) shall be effective as provided in such Section 10.01(2).

 

(4)                                  Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile number or e-mail address for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Any party hereto may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to the other parties hereto.  Each other Lender may change its address, facsimile or telephone number for notices and other communications hereunder by notice to Holdings and the Administrative Agent.  In addition, each Lender agrees to notify the Administrative Agent from time to time to ensure that the Administrative Agent has on record (i) an effective address, contact name, telephone number, facsimile number and electronic mail address to which notices and other communications may be sent and (ii) accurate wire instructions for such Lender.  Furthermore, each Public Lender agrees to cause at least one individual at or on behalf of such Public Lender to at all times have selected the “Private Side Information” or similar designation on the content declaration screen of the Platform in order to enable such Public Lender or its delegate, in accordance with such Public Lender’s compliance procedures and applicable law, including United States federal and state securities laws, to make reference to Borrower Materials that are not made available through the “Public Side Information” portion of the Platform and that may contain material non-public information with respect to Holdings or its securities for purposes of United States federal or state securities laws.

 

(5)                                  Documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 (to the extent any such documents are included in materials otherwise filed with the SEC) may be delivered electronically (including as set forth in Section 10.17) and if so delivered, shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date (a) on which Holdings posts such documents or provides a link thereto on Holdings’ website on the Internet at the website address listed on Schedule 10.01 or (b) on which such documents are posted on Holdings’ behalf on an Internet or intranet website, if any, to which each Lender and the Administrative Agent have access (whether a commercial, third-party website or whether sponsored by the Administrative Agent); provided that Holdings shall notify the Administrative Agent (by facsimile or e-mail) of the posting of any such documents and provide to the Administrative Agent by electronic mail electronic versions (i.e., soft copies) of such documents; provided , further , that, upon reasonable request by the Administrative Agent, Holdings shall also provide a hard copy to the Administrative Agent of any such

 

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document; provided , further , that any documents posted for which a link is provided after normal business hours for the recipient shall be deemed to have been given at the opening of business on the next Business Day for such recipient.  The Administrative Agent shall have no obligation to request the delivery or to maintain copies of the documents referred to above, and in any event shall have no responsibility to monitor compliance by the Loan Parties with any such request for delivery, and each Lender shall be solely responsible for requesting delivery to it or maintaining its copies of such documents.

 

SECTION 10.02. Survival of Agreement .  All covenants, agreements, representations and warranties made by the Loan Parties herein, in the other Loan Documents and in the certificates or other instruments prepared or delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or any other Loan Document will be considered to have been relied upon by the Lenders and shall survive the making by the Lenders of the Term Loans and the execution and delivery of the Loan Documents, regardless of any investigation made by such Persons or on their behalf, and shall continue in full force and effect as long as the principal of or any accrued interest on any Term Loan or any Fee or any other amount payable under this Agreement or any other Loan Document is outstanding and unpaid and so long as the Commitments have not been terminated.  Without prejudice to the survival of any other agreements contained herein, indemnification and reimbursement obligations contained herein (including pursuant to Sections 2.12, 2.14 and 10.05) shall survive the payment in full of the principal and interest hereunder and the termination of the Commitments or this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.03. [Reserved] .

 

SECTION 10.04. Successors and Assigns .

 

(1)                                  The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, except that (a) the Borrowers may not assign or otherwise transfer any of their rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of each Lender (and any attempted assignment or transfer by the Borrowers without such consent shall be null and void), and (b) no Lender may assign or otherwise transfer its rights or obligations hereunder except in accordance with this Section 10.04 (and any attempted assignment, transfer or delegation in contravention with this Section 10.04 shall be null and void).  Nothing in this Agreement, expressed or implied, shall be construed to confer upon any Person (other than the parties hereto, their respective successors and assigns permitted hereby, Participants (to the extent provided in paragraph (3) of this Section 10.04) and, to the extent expressly contemplated hereby, the Related Parties of each of the Agents and the Lenders) any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

(2)                                  (a) Subject to the conditions set forth in paragraph (2)(b) of this Section 10.04 (and, with respect to an assignment to Holdings, the Borrowers, any Subsidiary or any of their respective Affiliates, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10.04(10) or 10.04(14), as applicable), any Lender may assign to one or more assignees (other than a natural

 

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person, a Defaulting Lender or (to the extent the list thereof is provided to all Lenders) a Disqualified Institution) (each such non-excluded Person, an “ Assignee ”) all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Term Loans at the time owing to it) with the prior written consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned) of:

 

(i)                                      the Borrowers; provided that no consent of any Borrower shall be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund or, if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other Person; provided , further , that such consent shall be deemed to have been given if the Borrowers have not responded within ten Business Days after delivery of a written request therefor by the Administrative Agent; provided, further , that no consent of the Borrowers shall be required for any assignment by any Arranger (or any Affiliate thereof) pursuant to the initial syndication of the Term Loans; and

 

(ii)                                   the Administrative Agent; provided that no consent of the Administrative Agent shall be required for an assignment of all or any portion of a Term Loan to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

(b)                                  Assignments shall be subject to the following additional conditions:

 

(i)                                      except in the case of an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund or an assignment of the entire remaining amount of the assigning Lender’s Term Loans, the amount of the Term Loans of the assigning Lender subject to each such assignment (determined as of the date the Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such assignment is delivered to the Administrative Agent) shall not be less than $250,000, unless each of the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent otherwise consent; provided that (1) no such consent of the Borrowers shall be required if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (2) such amounts shall be aggregated in respect of each Lender and its Affiliates or Approved Funds (with simultaneous assignments to or by two or more Approved Funds being treated as one assignment for purposes of meeting the minimum assignment amount requirement), if any;

 

(ii)                                   the assignee or assigning Lender to each assignment shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Assignment and Acceptance via an electronic settlement system acceptable to the Administrative Agent (or, if previously agreed with the Administrative Agent, manually), and shall pay to the Administrative Agent a processing and recordation fee of $3,500 (which fee may be waived or reduced in the sole discretion of the Administrative Agent); provided that such processing and recordation fee shall not be payable in the case of assignments by any Arranger or any Affiliate of the Arrangers;

 

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(iii)                                the Assignee, if it shall not be a Lender, shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire and any tax forms required to be delivered pursuant to Section 2.14; and

 

(iv)                               the assignor shall deliver to the Administrative Agent any Note issued to it with respect to the assigned Term Loan.

 

For the purposes of this Section 10.04, “ Approved Fund ” means any Person (other than a natural person) that is engaged in making, purchasing, holding or investing in bank loans and similar extensions of credit in the ordinary course and that is administered or managed by (a) a Lender, (b) an Affiliate of a Lender or (c) an entity or an Affiliate of an entity that administers or manages a Lender.

 

(c)                                   Subject to acceptance and recording thereof pursuant to paragraph (2)(e) of this Section 10.04, from and after the effective date specified in each Assignment and Acceptance, the Assignee thereunder shall be a party hereto and, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under this Agreement, and the assigning Lender thereunder shall, to the extent of the interest assigned by such Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under this Agreement (and, in the case of an Assignment and Acceptance covering all of the assigning Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement, such Lender shall cease to be a party hereto but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 10.05 with respect to facts and circumstances occurring prior to the effective date of such Assignment and Acceptance).  Any assignment or transfer by a Lender of rights or obligations under this Agreement that does not comply with this Section 10.04 shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as a sale by such Lender of a participation in such rights and obligations in accordance with paragraph (4) of this Section 10.04 to the extent such participation would be permitted by such Section 10.04(4).

 

(d)                                  The Administrative Agent, acting for this purpose as the Administrative Agent of the Borrowers, shall maintain at one of its offices a copy of each Assignment and Acceptance delivered to it and a register for the recordation of the names and addresses of the Lenders, and the principal amount (and stated interest with respect thereto) of the Term Loans owing to, each Lender pursuant to the terms hereof from time to time (the “ Register ”).  The entries in the Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the Lenders shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a Lender hereunder for all purposes of this Agreement.  The Register shall be available for inspection by Holdings and any Lender (solely with respect to such Lender’s Term Loans) at any reasonable time and from time to time upon reasonable prior notice.

 

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(e)                                   Upon its receipt of a duly completed Assignment and Acceptance executed by an assigning Lender and an Assignee, the Assignee’s completed Administrative Questionnaire (unless the Assignee shall already be a Lender hereunder), all applicable tax forms, any Note outstanding with respect to the assigned Term Loan, the processing and recordation fee referred to in paragraph (2)(b)(ii) of this Section 10.04 and any written consent to such assignment required by paragraph (2) of this Section 10.04, the Administrative Agent promptly shall accept such Assignment and Acceptance and record the information contained therein in the Register.  No assignment, whether or not evidenced by a promissory note, shall be effective for purposes of this Agreement unless it has been recorded in the Register as provided in this paragraph (2)(e).

 

(3)                                  By executing and delivering an Assignment and Acceptance, the assigning Lender thereunder and the Assignee thereunder shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows:

 

(a)                                  such assigning Lender warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim;

 

(b)                                  except as set forth in clause (a) above, such assigning Lender makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with this Agreement, or the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto, or the financial condition of Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary or the performance or observance by Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiary of any of its obligations under this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant hereto;

 

(c)                                   the Assignee represents and warrants that it is legally authorized to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance;

 

(d)                                  the Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of this Agreement, together with copies of the most recent Required Financial Statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into such Assignment and Acceptance;

 

(e)                                   the Assignee will independently and without reliance upon the Administrative Agent or the Collateral Agent, such assigning Lender or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under this Agreement;

 

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(f)                                    the Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under this Agreement as are delegated to the Administrative Agent by the terms of this Agreement, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; and

 

(g)                                   the Assignee agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of this Agreement are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

(4)                                  (a) Any Lender may, without the consent of the Administrative Agent or, subject to Section 10.04(8), the Borrowers, sell participations to one or more banks or other entities (a “ Participant ”) in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Term Loans owing to it); provided that

 

(i)                                      such Lender’s obligations under this Agreement shall remain unchanged;

 

(ii)                                   such Lender shall remain solely responsible to the other parties hereto for the performance of such obligations; and

 

(iii)                                the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and the other Lenders shall continue to deal solely and directly with such Lender in connection with such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement.

 

(iv)                               Any agreement pursuant to which a Lender sells such a participation shall provide that such Lender shall retain the sole right to enforce this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to approve any amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents; provided that (A) such agreement may provide that such Lender will not, without the consent of the Participant, agree to any amendment, modification or waiver that (1) requires the consent of each Lender directly affected thereby pursuant to Section 10.04(1)(a) or clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) of the first proviso to Section 10.08(2) and (2) directly affects such Participant and (B) no other agreement with respect to amendment, modification or waiver may exist between such Lender and such Participant.  Subject to clause (4)(b) of this Section 10.04, each Borrower agrees that each Participant shall be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13 and 2.14 to the same extent as if it were a Lender and had acquired its interest by assignment pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section 10.04, provided that such Participant agrees to be subject to the provisions of Sections 2.16(2) as if it were an assignee pursuant to paragraph (2) of this Section 10.04.  Each Lender that sells a participation agrees, at such Borrower’s request and expense, to use reasonable efforts to cooperate with such Borrower to effectuate the provisions of Section 2.16(2) with respect to any Participant.  To the extent permitted by law, each Participant also shall be entitled to

 

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the benefits of Section 10.06 as though it were a Lender; provided that such Participant shall be subject to Section 2.15(3) as though it were a Lender.  Each Lender that sells a participation shall, acting solely for this purpose as a non-fiduciary agent of such Borrower, maintain a register on which it enters the name and address of each Participant and the principal amounts (and stated interest) of each Participant’s interest in the Term Loans or other obligations under the Loan Documents (the “ Participant Register ”); provided that no Lender shall have any obligation to disclose all or any portion of the Participant Register (including the identity of any Participant or any information relating to a Participant’s interest in any commitments, loans, letters of credit or its other obligations under any Loan Document) to any Person except to the extent that such disclosure is necessary to establish that such commitment, loan, letter of credit or other obligation is in registered form under Section 5f.103-1(c) of the United States Treasury Regulations.  The entries in the Participant Register shall be conclusive absent manifest error, and such Lender shall treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Participant Register as the owner of such participation for all purposes of this Agreement notwithstanding any notice to the contrary.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Administrative Agent (in its capacity as Administrative Agent) shall have no responsibility for maintaining a Participant Register.

 

(b)                                  A Participant shall not be entitled to receive any greater payment under Section 2.12, 2.13 or 2.14 than the applicable Lender would have been entitled to receive with respect to the participation sold to such Participant, except to the extent such entitlement to receive a greater payment results from an adoption of or any change in any requirement of law or in the interpretation or application thereof or compliance by any Lender with any request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) from any central bank or other Governmental Authority made subsequent to the date hereof that occurs after the Participant acquired the applicable participation, or unless the sale of the participation to such Participant is made with such Borrower’s prior written consent.  A Participant shall not be entitled to the benefits of Section 2.14 to the extent such Participant fails to comply with Section 2.14(5) as though it were a Lender.

 

(5)                                  Any Lender may at any time pledge or assign a security interest in all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to secure obligations of such Lender, including any pledge or assignment to secure obligations to a Federal Reserve Bank and in the case of any Lender that is an Approved Fund, any pledge or assignment to any holders of obligations owed, or securities issued, by such Lender, including to any trustee for, or any other representative of, such holders, and this Section 10.04 shall not apply to any such pledge or assignment of a security interest; provided that no such pledge or assignment of a security interest shall release a Lender from any of its obligations hereunder or substitute any such pledgee or Assignee for such Lender as a party hereto.

 

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(6)                                  Each Borrower, upon receipt of written notice from the relevant Lender, agrees to issue Notes to any Lender requiring Notes to facilitate transactions of the type described in paragraph (5) of this Section 10.04.

 

(7)                                  If either Borrower wishes to replace the Term Loans with ones having different terms, it shall have the option, with the consent of the Administrative Agent (not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) and subject to at least three Business Days’ advance notice to the Lenders, instead of prepaying the Term Loans to be replaced, to (a) require the Lenders to assign such Term Loans to the Administrative Agent or its designees and (b) amend the terms thereof in accordance with Section 10.08 (with such replacement, if applicable, being deemed to have been made pursuant to Section 10.08(4)).  Pursuant to any such assignment, all Term Loans to be replaced shall be purchased at par (allocated among the Lenders in the same manner as would be required if such Term Loans were being optionally prepaid, and for the avoidance of doubt, subject to Section 2.21), accompanied by payment of any accrued interest and fees thereon and any amounts owing pursuant to Section 10.05(2).  By receiving such purchase price, the Lenders shall automatically be deemed to have assigned the Term Loans pursuant to the terms of the form of Assignment and Acceptance attached hereto as Exhibit A, and accordingly no other action by such Lenders shall be required in connection therewith.  The provisions of this paragraph (7) are intended to facilitate the maintenance of the perfection and priority of existing security interests in the Collateral during any such replacement.

 

(8)                                  (a)  No assignment or participation shall be made to any Person that was a Disqualified Institution to the extent the list thereof has been provided to all Lenders as of the date (the “ Trade Date ”) on which the assigning Lender entered into a binding agreement to sell and assign all or a portion of its rights and obligations under this Agreement to such Person (unless the Borrowers have consented to such assignment in writing in its sole and absolute discretion, in which case such Person will not be considered a Disqualified Institution for the purpose of such assignment or participation).  For the avoidance of doubt, with respect to any Assignee that becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, (x) such Assignee shall not retroactively be disqualified from becoming a Lender and (y) the execution by the applicable Borrower of an Assignment and Acceptance with respect to such Assignee will not by itself result in such Assignee no longer being considered a Disqualified Institution.  Any assignment in violation of this clause (8)(a) shall not be void, but the other provisions of this clause (8) shall apply.

 

(b)                                  If any assignment or participation is made to any Disqualified Institution without the Borrowers’ prior written consent in violation of clause (a) above, or if any Person becomes a Disqualified Institution after the applicable Trade Date, the Borrowers may, at their sole expense and effort, upon notice to the applicable Disqualified Institution and the Administrative Agent, (A) in the case of outstanding Term Loans held by Disqualified Institutions, purchase or prepay such Term Loan by paying the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof, (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such Term Loans and (z) the market price of such Term Loans (as reasonably determined by

 

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Borrowers), in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder and/or (B) require such Disqualified Institution to assign, without recourse (in accordance with and subject to the restrictions contained in this Section 10.04), all of its interest, rights and obligations under this Agreement to one or more Assignees at the lowest of (x) the principal amount thereof, (y) the amount that such Disqualified Institution paid to acquire such interests, rights and obligations and (z) the market price of such Term Loans (as reasonably determined by the Borrowers), in each case plus accrued interest, accrued fees and all other amounts (other than principal amounts) payable to it hereunder.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, Disqualified Institutions (A) will not (x) have the right to receive information, reports or other materials provided to Lenders by Holdings or any other Loan Party, the Administrative Agent or any other Lender, (y) attend or participate in meetings attended by the Lenders and the Administrative Agent, or (z) access any electronic site established for the Lenders or confidential communications from counsel to or financial advisors of the Administrative Agent or the Lenders and (B) (x) for purposes of any consent to any amendment, waiver or modification of, or any action under, and for the purpose of any direction to the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) under this Agreement or any other Loan Document, each Disqualified Institution will be deemed to have consented in the same proportion as the Lenders that are not Disqualified Institutions consented to such matter, and (y) for purposes of voting on any plan of reorganization, each Disqualified Institution party hereto hereby agrees (1) not to vote on such plan of reorganization, (2) if such Disqualified Institution does vote on such plan of reorganization notwithstanding the restriction in the foregoing clause (1), such vote will be deemed not to be in good faith and shall be “designated” pursuant to Section 1126(e) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws), and such vote shall not be counted in determining whether the applicable class has accepted or rejected such plan of reorganization in accordance with Section 1126(c) of the Bankruptcy Code (or any similar provision in any other Debtor Relief Laws) and (3) not to contest any request by any party for a determination by the bankruptcy court (or other applicable court of competent jurisdiction) effectuating the foregoing clause (2).

 

(d)                                  The Administrative Agent shall have the right, and each Borrower hereby expressly authorizes the Administrative Agent, to provide the list of Disqualified Institutions to each Lender requesting the same (and each Borrower hereby agrees that any such requesting Lender may share the list of Disqualified Institutions with any potential assignee, transferee or participant); provided that the Lenders shall not be restricted from participating their obligations in all or a portion of such Lender’s rights and obligations under this Agreement (including all or a portion of the Term Loans owing to it) to Disqualified Institutions if the

 

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Administrative Agent has not posted the list of Disqualified Institutions to the Platform.

 

(e)                                   In case any transfer or transfer made under this Section in respect of the Initial Term Loan Facility is made by way of novation, the transferring Lender maintains all its rights and privileges arising under any Security Documents and any Guarantee securing the obligations of any French Loan Party under this Agreement for the benefit of the transferee, in accordance with Article 1334 of the French Civil Code.

 

(9)                                  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no Affiliated Lender shall have any right to:

 

(a)                                  attend (including by telephone) any meeting or discussions (or portion thereof) among the Administrative Agent or any Lender to which representatives of Holdings or the Borrowers are not then present;

 

(b)                                  receive any information or material prepared by the Administrative Agent or any Lender or any communication by or among Administrative Agent and one or more Lenders, except to the extent such information or materials have been made available to Holdings or its representatives (and in any case, other than the right to receive notices of prepayments and other administrative notices in respect of its Term Loans required to be delivered to Lenders pursuant to this Agreement); or

 

(c)                                   make or bring (or participate in, other than as a passive participant in or recipient of its pro rata benefits of) any claim, in its capacity as a Lender, against Administrative Agent or any other Lender with respect to any duties or obligations or alleged duties or obligations of such Agent or any other such Lender under the Loan Documents in the absence, with respect to any such Person, of the gross negligence or willful misconduct by such Person and its Related Parties (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and non-appealable judgment).

 

(10)                           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any Lender may assign all or any portion of its Term Loans hereunder to any Person who, after giving effect to such assignment, would be an Affiliated Lender; provided that:

 

(a)                                  such assignment shall be made pursuant to (i) an open market purchase (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any purchase made during the initial syndication of the Term Loans) on a non- pro rata basis or (ii) a Dutch Auction open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis;

 

(b)                                  in the case of an assignment to an Affiliated Lender, the assigning Lender and such Affiliated Lender purchasing such Lender’s Term Loans shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an assignment agreement substantially in the

 

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form of Exhibit E (an “ Affiliate Assignment and Acceptance ”) in lieu of an Assignment and Acceptance;

 

(c)                                   at the time of such assignment and after giving effect to such assignment, Affiliated Lenders shall not, in the aggregate, hold Term Loans (and participating interests in Term Loans) with an aggregate principal amount in excess of 25.0% of the principal amount of all Term Loans (including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Incremental Term Loans, Other Term Loans or Extended Term Loans, if any) then outstanding;

 

(d)                                  each Affiliated Lender shall at each of the time of its execution of a written trade confirmation in respect of, and at the time of consummation of, such assignment, either (i) make a No MNPI Representation or (ii) if it is not able to make the No MNPI Representation, inform the assignor and the assignor will deliver to such Affiliated Lender customary written assurance that it is a sophisticated investors and is willing to proceed with the assignment;

 

(e)                                   no proceeds from revolving loans under the ABL Credit Agreement shall be used to fund any such purchases; and

 

(f)                                    if such Affiliated Lender subsequently assigns the Term Loans acquired by it in accordance with this Section 10.04(10), such Affiliated Lender shall at the time of such assignment of such Term Loans held by it, either (i) affirm the No MNPI Representation or (ii) if it is not able to affirm the No MNPI Representation, inform the assignee and the assignee will deliver to such Affiliated Lender customary written assurance that it is a sophisticated investors and is willing to proceed with the assignment.

 

(11)                           Specific provisions relating to Spain

 

(a)                                  The Spanish Loan Parties and the other Secured Parties irrevocably agree that, in the event of any transfer and/or assignment pursuant to this agreement the Liens created by, together with all rights and remedies arising under, the Spanish Security Documents entered into by each Spanish Loan Party shall be maintained in full force and effect.

 

(b)                                  For the purposes of article 1,528 of the Spanish Civil Code, the parties agree that, upon the Assignee becoming a Secured Party pursuant to this Agreement, any Spanish Security Documents shall be deemed to have been automatically assigned to the Assignee.

 

(c)                                   At the request and cost of the Assignee, the Assignee, the Secured Party and the Agents (if applicable) shall promptly notarize in Spain the duly completed assignment agreement in a Spanish Public Document and all the powers of attorney granted to the Agents shall be duly ratified.  Any tax and cost (including,

 

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but not limited to, notarial and registry costs) triggered as result of such will be borne by the Assignee.

 

(12)                           To the extent not previously disclosed to the Administrative Agent, Holdings shall, upon reasonable request of the Administrative Agent (but not more frequently than once per calendar quarter), report to the Administrative Agent the amount and Class of Term Loans held by Affiliated Lenders and the identity of such holders.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any Affiliated Lender shall be permitted to contribute any Term Loan so assigned to such Affiliated Lender pursuant to this Section 10.04(12) to Holdings or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries for purposes of cancellation, which contribution may be made, subject to Section 6.07, in exchange for Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of any Parent Entity or Indebtedness of Holdings to the extent such Indebtedness is permitted to be incurred pursuant to Section 6.01 at such time; provided that any Term Loans so contributed shall be automatically and permanently canceled upon the effectiveness of such contribution and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder.

 

(13)                           Notwithstanding anything in Section 10.04 or the definition of “Required Lenders” to the contrary, for purposes of determining whether the Required Lenders, all affected Lenders or all Lenders have:

 

(a)                                  consented (or not consented) to any amendment, modification, waiver, consent or other action with respect to any of the terms of any Loan Document or any departure by any Loan Party therefrom;

 

(b)                                  otherwise acted on any matter related to any Loan Document; or

 

(c)                                   directed or required the Administrative Agent or any Lender to undertake any action (or refrain from taking any action) with respect to or under any Loan Document (collectively, “ Required Lender Consent Items ”) an Affiliated Lender shall be deemed to have voted its interest as a Lender in the same proportion as the allocation of voting with respect to such matter by Lenders who are not Affiliated Lenders, unless such Required Lender Consent Item requires the consent of each Lender or each affected Lender or the result of such Required Lender Consent Item would reasonably be expected to deprive such Affiliated Lenders of its pro rata share (compared to Lenders which are not Affiliated Lenders) of any payments to which such Affiliated Lender is entitled under the Loan Documents without such Affiliated Lender providing its consent or such Affiliated Lender is otherwise adversely affected thereby compared to Term Loan Lenders which are not Affiliated Lender (in which case for purposes of such vote such Affiliated Lender shall have the same voting rights as other Term Loan Lenders which are not Affiliated Lenders).

 

(14)                           Additionally, the Loan Parties and each Affiliated Lender hereby agree that, and each Affiliate Assignment and Acceptance by an Affiliated Lender shall provide a

 

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confirmation that, if a case under Title 11 of the United States Code is commenced against any Loan Party, such Loan Party shall seek (and each Affiliated Lender shall consent) to provide that (a) the Administrative Agent may vote on behalf of such Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) with respect to any plan of reorganization of such Loan Party and (b) the vote of any Affiliated Lender (in its capacity as a Lender) with respect to any plan of reorganization of such Loan Party shall not be counted except that such Affiliated Lender’s vote (in its capacity as a Lender) may be counted to the extent any such plan of reorganization proposes to treat the Obligations or claims held by such Affiliated Lender in a manner that is less favorable to such Affiliated Lender than the proposed treatment of the Term Loans or claims held by Lenders that are not Affiliates of the Borrower.

 

(15)                           Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may assign all or a portion of its Term Loans to any Purchasing Borrower Party; provided that:

 

(a)                                  the assigning Lender and the Purchasing Borrower Party purchasing such Lender’s Term Loans, as applicable, shall execute and deliver to the Administrative Agent an Affiliate Assignment and Acceptance in lieu of an Assignment and Acceptance;

 

(b)                                  such assignment shall be made pursuant to (i) an open market purchase on a non- pro rata basis or (ii) a Dutch Auction open to all Lenders of the applicable Class on a pro rata basis;

 

(c)                                   any Term Loans assigned to any Purchasing Borrower Party shall be automatically and permanently cancelled upon the effectiveness of such assignment and will thereafter no longer be outstanding for any purpose hereunder;

 

(d)                                  at the time of and immediately after giving effect to any such purchase, no Default or Event of Default shall exist;

 

(e)                                   the applicable Purchasing Borrower Party shall at each of the time of its execution of a written trade confirmation in respect of, and at the time of consummation of, such assignment, either (i) make a No MNPI Representation or (ii) if it is not able to make the No MNPI Representation, inform the assignor and the assignor will deliver to such Affiliated Lender customary written assurance that it is a sophisticated investors and is willing to proceed with the assignment;

 

(f)                                    the aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Term Loans of the applicable Class shall be deemed reduced by the full par value of the aggregate principal amount of the Term Loans purchased pursuant to this Section 10.04(15) and each principal repayment installment with respect to the Term Loans of such Class shall be reduced pro rata by the aggregate principal amount of Term Loans purchased; and

 

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(g)                                   no proceeds from revolving loans under the ABL Credit Agreement shall be used to fund any such purchases.

 

SECTION 10.05.     Expenses; Indemnity .

 

(1)                                  If the Transactions are consummated and the Closing Date occurs, the Borrowers agree to pay all reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, Syndication Agent and Syndication Agent in connection with the preparation of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, or by the Administrative Agent (and, in the case of enforcement of this Agreement, each Lender) in connection with the syndication of the Term Facility, preparation, execution and delivery, amendment, modification, waiver or enforcement of this Agreement (including expenses incurred in connection with due diligence (including third party expenses) and initial and ongoing Collateral examination to the extent incurred with the reasonable prior approval of the Borrowers or provided for in this Agreement) or in connection with the administration of this Agreement and any amendments, modifications or waivers of the provisions hereof or thereof, including the reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of a single counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, Syndication Agent and Syndication Agent, one firm of local counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) and, in the case of any actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the indemnified person affected by such conflict informs the Borrowers of such conflict, one additional firm of counsel for the Administrative Agent, the Arrangers, Syndication Agent and Syndication Agent and, in the case of enforcement of this Agreement, the Lenders (in the aggregate). In relation to any Spanish Loan Party and any Loan Documents or Spanish Security Documents they incorporate or sign subject to the laws of Spain, the Borrowers and/or the corresponding Spanish Loan Party shall also pay the applicable pre-agreed notary public fees and registry fees whenever due.  For the sake of clarity, notwithstanding the foregoing, as set out in Section 10.04(11), any taxes or costs (including, but not limited to, notarial or registry fees) arising from any transfer or assignment from the Lenders or Secured Parties shall be borne by the relevant Lender or Secured Party but not by the Loan Parties.

 

(2)                                  The Borrowers agree to indemnify the Administrative Agent, each Arranger, each Syndication Agent, each Documentation Agent, each Lender, each of their respective Affiliates and each of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors, controlling Persons, equityholders, partners, members and other representatives and each of their respective successors and permitted assigns (each such Person being called an “ Indemnitee ”) against, and to hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable, documented and invoiced out-of-pocket fees and expenses (limited to reasonable and documented legal fees of a single firm of counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one firm of counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel acting in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, where the Indemnitee affected by such conflict informs the

 

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Borrowers of such conflict and thereafter retains its own counsel, of an additional counsel for each group of affected Indemnitees similarly situated, taken as a whole)), incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of:

 

(a)                                  the execution or delivery of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, the performance by the parties hereto and thereto of their respective obligations thereunder or the consummation of the Transactions and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(b)                                  the use of the proceeds of the Term Loans; or

 

(c)                                   any claim, litigation, investigation or proceeding relating to the Transactions or any of the foregoing, whether or not any Indemnitee is a party thereto and regardless of whether such matter is initiated by Holdings, any Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries or Affiliates or creditors or any other Person;

 

provided that no Indemnitee will be indemnified for any loss, claim, damage, liability, cost or expense to the extent it (i) has been determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from (x) the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties or (B) a material breach of the obligations of such Indemnitee or Related Parties under the Loan Documents or (ii) relates to any proceeding between or among Indemnitees other than (A) claims against Administrative Agent, Arrangers, Syndication Agent or Syndication Agent or their respective Affiliates, in each case, in their capacity or in fulfilling their role as the agent or arranger, syndication agent or documentation agent or any other similar role under the Term Facility (excluding their role as a Lender) to the extent such Persons are otherwise entitled to receive indemnification under this paragraph (2) or (B) claims arising out of any act or omission on the part of Holdings, any Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries.

 

(3)                                  Subject to and without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, the Borrowers agree to indemnify each Indemnitee against, and hold each Indemnitee harmless from, any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and related expenses, including reasonable, documented and invoiced fees, charges and disbursements of one firm of counsel for all Indemnitees, taken as a whole, and, if necessary, one firm of counsel in each appropriate jurisdiction (which may include a single special counsel in multiple jurisdictions) for all Indemnitees taken as a whole (and, in the case of an actual or perceived conflict of interest, an additional counsel for all Indemnitees taken as a whole) and reasonable, documented and invoiced consultant fees, in each case, incurred by or asserted against any Indemnitee arising out of, in any way connected with, or as a result of any claim related in any way to Environmental Laws and Holdings, any Borrower or any of the Restricted Subsidiaries, or any actual or alleged presence, Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials at, under, on or from any property for which Holdings, any Borrower or any Restricted Subsidiaries would reasonably be expected to be liable under

 

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Environmental Laws, regardless of whether such matter is initiated by Holdings, any Borrower or any of their Restricted Subsidiaries or Affiliates or creditors or any other Person; provided that such indemnity shall not, as to any Indemnitee, be available to the extent that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or related expenses are determined by a final, non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction to have resulted from the gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct of such Indemnitee or any of its Related Parties.

 

(4)                                  Any indemnification or payments required by the Loan Parties under this Section 10.05 shall not apply with respect to (a) Taxes other than any Taxes that represent losses, claims, damages, etc. arising from any non-Tax claim or (b) Taxes that are duplicative of any indemnification or payments required by the Loan Parties under Section 2.14.

 

(5)                                  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, no Indemnitee, nor any Loan Party shall assert, and hereby waives, any claim against the Loan Parties or any Indemnitee, on any theory of liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed to direct or actual damages) arising out of, in connection with, or as a result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document or any agreement or instrument contemplated hereby, the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, any Term Loan or the use of the proceeds thereof; provided that nothing contained in this sentence shall limit the indemnity and reimbursement obligations set forth in clauses (1) through (3) of this Section 10.05.  No Indemnitee shall be liable for any damages arising from the use by unintended recipients of any information or other materials distributed by it through telecommunications, electronic or other information transmission systems in connection with this Agreement or the other Loan Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

(6)                                  The agreements in this Section 10.05 shall survive the resignation of the Administrative Agent, the replacement of any Lender, the termination of the Commitments and the repayment, satisfaction or discharge of all the other Obligations and the termination of this Agreement.  All amounts due under this Section 10.05 shall be payable on written demand therefor accompanied by reasonable documentation with respect to any reimbursement, indemnification or other amount requested.

 

SECTION 10.06.     Right of Set-off .  If an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, each Lender is hereby authorized at any time and from time to time, to the fullest extent permitted by law, to set off and apply any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or final) at any time held and other Indebtedness at any time owing by such Lender to or for the credit or the account of Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party against any of and all the Obligations of Holdings or any Subsidiary Loan Party now or hereafter existing under this Agreement or any other Loan Document held by such Lender, irrespective of whether or not such Lender shall have made any demand under this Agreement or such other Loan Document and although the Obligations may be unmatured.  The rights of each Lender under this Section 10.06 are in addition to other rights and remedies (including other rights of

 

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set-off) that such Lender may have and may be exercised only at the direction of the Administrative Agent or the Required Lenders.

 

SECTION 10.07.     Applicable Law .  THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS (OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FOREIGN SECURITY AND PLEDGE AGREEMENTS LISTED ON SCHEDULE 1.01(3)) AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY, DISPUTE OR CAUSE OF ACTION (WHETHER IN CONTRACT OR TORT OR OTHERWISE) BASED UPON, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS AND THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY AND THEREBY SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH AND GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK (EXCEPT FOR CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION).

 

SECTION 10.08.     Waivers; Amendment .

 

(1)                                  No failure or delay of the Administrative Agent or any Lender in exercising any right or power hereunder or under any Loan Document shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise of any such right or power, or any abandonment or discontinuance of steps to enforce such a right or power, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right or power.  The rights and remedies of each Agent and the Lenders hereunder and under the other Loan Documents are cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that they would otherwise have.  No waiver of any provision of this Agreement or any other Loan Document or consent to any departure by Holdings, any Borrower or any other Loan Party therefrom shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be permitted by paragraph (2) of this Section 10.08, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given.  No notice or demand on Holdings, any Borrower or any other Loan Party in any case shall entitle such Person to any other or further notice or demand in similar or other circumstances.

 

(2)                                  Neither this Agreement nor any other Loan Document nor any provision hereof or thereof may be waived, amended or modified except

 

(a)                                  as provided in Sections 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20;

 

(b)                                  in the case of the Fee Letter, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each party thereto;

 

(c)                                   in the case of this Agreement, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by Holdings, the Borrowers and the Required Lenders, a copy of which shall be promptly provided to the Administrative Agent ( provided that any failure to deliver such copy shall not invalidate such waiver, amendment or modification); and

 

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(d)                                  in the case of any other Loan Document, pursuant to an agreement or agreements in writing entered into by each party thereto and the Administrative Agent and consented to by the Required Lenders;

 

provided , however , that except as provided in Section 2.18, 2.19 and 2.20, no such agreement shall:

 

(i)                                      decrease, forgive, waive or excuse the principal amount of, or any interest (other than default interest) on, or extend the final maturity of, or decrease the rate of interest on, any Term Loan beyond the Maturity Date, without the prior written consent of each Lender directly affected thereby (it being acknowledged and agreed that any amendments to or waivers of conditions precedent, Defaults or Events of Default or mandatory prepayments shall not constitute a decrease, forgiveness, waiver or excuse of a principal payment under this clause (i));

 

(ii)                                   increase or extend the Commitment of any Lender or decrease, forgive, waive or excuse the fees of any Lender, Arranger or Agent without the prior written consent of such Lender, Arranger or Agent (it being understood that waivers or modifications of conditions precedent, mandatory prepayments, covenants, Defaults or Events of Default shall not constitute an increase of the Commitments of any Lender or a waiver or excuse of any fees);

 

(iii)                                extend or waive any Term Loan Installment Date or reduce the amount due on any Term Loan Installment Date or extend any date on which payment of principal or interest (other than default interest) on any Term Loan or any fee is due (it being acknowledged and agreed that any amendments or waivers of conditions precedent, Defaults or Events of Default or mandatory prepayments shall not constitute an extension of a date on which a payment is due for purposes of this clause (iii)), without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(iv)                               amend the provisions of Section 2.15(2) or (3) of this Agreement or any analogous provision of any other Loan Document, in a manner that would by its terms alter the pro rata sharing of payments required thereby, without the prior written consent of each Lender adversely affected thereby;

 

(v)                                  amend or modify the provisions of this Section 10.08 or the definition of the term “Required Lenders” or any other provision hereof specifying the number or percentage of Lenders required to waive, amend or modify any rights hereunder or make any determination or grant any consent hereunder, without the prior written consent of each Lender (it being understood that, with the consent of the Required Lenders, additional

 

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extensions of credit pursuant to this Agreement may be included in the determination of the Required Lenders on substantially the same basis as the Term Loans are included on the Closing Date); or

 

(vi)                               release all or substantially all of the Collateral, or release all or substantially all of the value of the Guarantee of the Obligations, without the prior written consent of each Lender;

 

provided that no such agreement shall amend, modify or otherwise affect the rights or duties of the Administrative Agent hereunder without the prior written consent of the Administrative Agent acting as such at the effective date of such agreement, as applicable.  Each Lender shall be bound by any waiver, amendment or modification authorized by this Section 10.08 and any consent by any Lender pursuant to this Section 10.08 shall bind any assignee of such Lender.

 

(3)                                  Without the consent of the Administrative Agent or any Lender, the Loan Parties and the Administrative Agent may (in their respective sole discretion, or shall, to the extent required by any Loan Document) enter into any amendment, modification or waiver of any Loan Document, or enter into any new agreement or instrument, to effect the granting, perfection, protection, expansion or enhancement of any security interest in any Collateral or additional property to become Collateral for the benefit of the Secured Parties, or as required by local law to give effect to, or protect any security interest for the benefit of the Secured Parties, in any property or so that the security interests therein comply with applicable law.

 

(4)                                  This Agreement may be amended (or amended and restated) with the written consent of the Required Lenders, the Administrative Agent, Holdings and the Borrowers (i) to add one or more additional credit facilities to this Agreement and to permit the extensions of credit from time to time outstanding thereunder and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof to share ratably in the benefits of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents with the Term Loans and the accrued interest and fees in respect thereof and (ii) to include appropriately the Lenders holding such credit facilities in any determination of the Required Lenders.

 

(5)                                  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement or any other Loan Document to the contrary, the Borrowers may enter into Incremental Facility Amendments in accordance with Section 2.18, Refinancing Amendments in accordance with Section 2.19, Extension Amendments in accordance with Section 2.20 and Refinancing Amendments, and such Incremental Facility Amendments, Extension Amendments and Refinancing Amendments shall be effective to amend the terms of this Agreement and the other applicable Loan Documents, in each case, without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document.

 

(6)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, any amendment or waiver that by its terms affects the rights or duties of Lenders holding Term Loans or Commitments of a particular Class (but not the rights or duties of Lenders holdings Term Loans or Commitments of any

 

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other Class) will require only the requisite percentage in interest of the affected Class of Lenders that would be required to consent thereto if such Class of Lenders were the only Class of Lenders.

 

(7)                                  [Reserved].

 

(8)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, technical and conforming modifications to the Loan Documents may be made with the consent of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent (without the consent of any other Person) to the extent necessary to integrate any Incremental Facilities on substantially the same basis as the Term Loans, as applicable.

 

(9)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no MIRE Event may be closed until the date that is (a) if there are no Mortgaged Properties in a Flood Zone, ten (10) Business Days or (b) if there are any Mortgaged Properties in a Flood Zone, thirty (30) days (in each case, the “Notice Period”), after the Administrative Agent has delivered to the Lenders the following documents in respect of such real property: (i) a completed Flood Certificate from a third party vendor; (ii) if such real property is located in a “special flood hazard area”, (A) a notification to the applicable Loan Parties of that fact and (if applicable) notification to the applicable Loan Parties that flood insurance coverage is not available and (B) evidence of the receipt by the applicable Loan Parties of such notice; and (iii) if required by Flood Laws, evidence of required flood insurance; provided that any such MIRE Event may be closed prior to the Notice Period if the Administrative Agent shall have received confirmation from each applicable Lender that such Lender has completed any necessary flood insurance due diligence to its reasonable satisfaction.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Administrative Agent, with the consent of the Borrower, may amend, modify or supplement any Loan Document without the consent of any Lender or the Required Lenders in order to correct, amend or cure any ambiguity, inconsistency or defect or correct any typographical error or other manifest error in any Loan Document, and such amendment, modification or supplement shall become effective without any further action or consent of any other party to any Loan Document if the same is not objected to in writing by the Required Lenders within five Business Days following receipt of notice thereof.  Furthermore, notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, with the consent of the Administrative Agent at the request of the Borrowers (without the need to obtain any consent of any Lender), (i) any Loan Document may be amended to add terms that are favorable to the Lenders (as reasonably determined by the Administrative Agent) and (ii) this Agreement (including the amount of amortization due and payable with respect to any Class of Term Loans) may be amended to the extent necessary to create a fungible Class of Term Loans.

 

SECTION 10.09.     Interest Rate Limitation .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, if at any time the applicable interest rate, together with all fees and charges that are treated as interest under applicable law (collectively, the “ Charges ”), as provided for herein or in any other document executed in connection herewith, or otherwise contracted for, charged,

 

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received, taken or reserved by any Lender, shall exceed the maximum lawful rate (the “ Maximum Rate ”) that may be contracted for, charged, taken, received or reserved by such Lender in accordance with applicable law, the rate of interest payable hereunder, together with all Charges payable to such Lender, shall be limited to the Maximum Rate; provided that such excess amount shall be paid to such Lender on subsequent payment dates to the extent not exceeding the legal limitation.  In no event will the total interest received by any Lender exceed the amount which it could lawfully have received and any such excess amount received by any Lender will be applied to reduce the principal balance of the Term Loans or to other amounts (other than interest) payable hereunder to such Lender, and if no such principal or other amounts are then outstanding, such excess or part thereof remaining will be paid to the applicable Borrower.

 

SECTION 10.10.     Entire Agreement .  This Agreement, the other Loan Documents and the agreements regarding certain Fees referred to herein constitute the entire contract between the parties relative to the subject matter hereof.  Any previous agreement among or representations from the parties or their Affiliates with respect to the subject matter hereof is superseded by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fee Letter shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and remain in full force and effect.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the other Loan Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto and thereto any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

 

SECTION 10.11.     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL .  EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS.  EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF LITIGATION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT AND THE OTHER LOAN DOCUMENTS, AS APPLICABLE, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.11.

 

SECTION 10.12.     Severability .  In the event any one or more of the provisions contained in this Agreement or in any other Loan Document should be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions contained herein and therein shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.  The parties shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, illegal or unenforceable provisions.

 

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SECTION 10.13.     Counterparts .  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original but all of which, when taken together, shall constitute but one contract.  Delivery of an executed counterpart to this Agreement by facsimile or other electronic transmission (e.g., “ PDF ” or “ TIFF ”) shall be as effective as delivery of a manually signed original.

 

SECTION 10.14.     Headings .  Article and Section headings and the Table of Contents used herein are for convenience of reference only, are not part of this Agreement and are not to affect the construction of, or to be taken into consideration in interpreting, this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.15.     Jurisdiction; Consent to Service of Process .

 

(1)                                  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally submits, for itself and its property, to the exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State court or federal court of the United States of America sitting in New York County, and any appellate court from any thereof (collectively, “ New York Courts ”), in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (other than with respect to actions in respect of rights under any Security Document governed by laws other than the laws of the State of New York or with respect to any Collateral subject thereto), or for recognition or enforcement of any judgment, and each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally agrees that all claims in respect of any such action or proceeding shall be heard and determined in such New York State court or, to the extent permitted by law, in such federal court.  Each of the parties hereto agrees that a final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law, and the parties hereto agree that the Agents and Lenders retain the right to serve process in any other manner permitted by law and to bring proceedings against any Loan Party in the courts of any other jurisdiction in connection with the exercise of any rights under any Security Documents or the enforcement of any judgment.  Each of the Loan Parties agrees that (a) it will not bring any such action or proceeding in any court other than New York Courts (it being acknowledged and agreed by the parties hereto that any other forum would be inconvenient and inappropriate in view of the fact that more of the Lenders who would be affected by any such action or proceeding have contacts with the State of New York than any other jurisdiction), and (b) in any such action or proceeding brought against any Loan Party in any other court, it will not assert any cross-claim, counterclaim or setoff, or seek any other affirmative relief, except to the extent that the failure to assert the same will preclude such Loan Party from asserting or seeking the same in the New York Courts.

 

(2)                                  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent it may legally and effectively do so, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents in any New York State or federal court.  Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by

 

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law, the defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such action or proceeding in any such court. Each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably designates, appoints and empowers the US Borrower (including any replacement process agent reasonably acceptable to the Administrative Agent, the “ Process Agent ”) (and the US Borrower hereby accepts and agrees to serve as Process Agent), in the case of any suit, action or proceeding brought in the United States of America as its designee, appointee and agent to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, and in respect of its property, service of any and all legal process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or any other Loan Document.  Such service may be made by mailing (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid) or delivering a copy of such process to such person in care of the Process Agent at the Process Agent’s address, and each of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Restricted Subsidiaries hereby irrevocably authorizes and directs the Process Agent to accept such service on its behalf.  Nothing in this Agreement will affect the right of any party to this Agreement to serve process in any other manner permitted by law.

 

SECTION 10.16.     Confidentiality .  Each of the Lenders and each of the Agents agrees (and agrees to cause each of its Affiliates) to use all information provided to it by or on behalf of Holdings or the Restricted Subsidiaries under the Loan Documents or otherwise in connection with the Transactions solely for the purposes of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and shall not publish, disclose or otherwise divulge such information (other than information that

 

(1)                                  has become generally available to the public other than as a result of a disclosure by such party;

 

(2)                                  has been independently developed by such Lender or the Administrative Agent without violating this Section 10.16; or

 

(3)                                  was available to such Lender or the Administrative Agent from a third party having, to such Person’s knowledge, no obligations of confidentiality to Holdings or any other Loan Party);

 

(4)                                  and shall not reveal the same other than to its directors, trustees, officers, employees and advisors with a need to know or to any Person that approves or administers the Term Loans on behalf of such Lender or any numbering, administration or settlement service providers (so long as each such Person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.16), except:

 

(a)                                  to the extent necessary to comply with law or any legal process or the requirements of any Governmental Authority, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners or of any securities exchange on which securities of the disclosing party or any Affiliate of the disclosing party are listed or traded, in which case (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by any

 

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bank accountant or any governmental or regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority) such Person agrees, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform Holdings promptly thereof prior to disclosure;

 

(b)                                  as part of normal reporting or review procedures to, or examinations by, Governmental Authorities or any bank accountants or any governmental or regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority, in which case (except with respect to any audit or examination conducted by any bank accountant or any governmental or regulatory authority exercising examination or regulatory authority) such Person agrees, to the extent practicable and not prohibited by applicable law, rule or regulation, to inform Holdings promptly thereof prior to disclosure;

 

(c)                                   to its parent companies, Affiliates or auditors (so long as each such Person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.16);

 

(d)                                  in order to enforce its rights under any Loan Document in a legal proceeding;

 

(e)                                   to any pledgee or assignee under Section 10.04(5) or any other prospective or actual Assignee of, or prospective or actual Participant in, any of its rights under this Agreement (so long as such Person shall have been instructed to keep the same confidential in accordance with this Section 10.16);

 

(f)                                    to ratings agencies or the CUSIP Service Bureau on a confidential basis; and

 

(g)                                   to any direct or indirect contractual counterparty in Hedge Agreements or such contractual counterparty’s professional advisor (so long as such contractual counterparty or professional advisor to such contractual counterparty agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Section 10.16).

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no such information shall be disclosed to a Disqualified Institution that constitutes a Disqualified Institution at the time of such disclosure without Holdings’ prior written consent.

 

SECTION 10.17.     [Reserved]

 

SECTION 10.18.     Release of Liens and Guarantees .  In the event that any Loan Party conveys, sells, leases, assigns, transfers or otherwise disposes of all or any portion of any of the Equity Interests or assets of any Loan Party (other than Equity Interests of the Borrowers) to a Person that is not (and is not required to become) a Loan Party in a transaction not prohibited by the Loan Documents or any Loan Party becomes an Excluded Subsidiary or ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of a transaction permitted hereunder, at the request of Holdings, any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets shall, to the extent permitted under any applicable law, be automatically be released and

 

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the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to) take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by Holdings or the Borrowers and at the Borrowers’ expense in connection with such release of any Liens created by any Loan Document in respect of such Equity Interests or assets, and, in the case of a disposition of the Equity Interests of any Subsidiary Loan Party (other than the Borrowers) in a transaction permitted by the Loan Documents (including through merger, consolidation, amalgamation or otherwise) and as a result of which such Subsidiary Loan Party would cease to be a Restricted Subsidiary, such Subsidiary Loan Party’s obligations under the applicable Security Documents shall, to the extent permitted under any applicable law, be automatically terminated and the Administrative Agent shall promptly (and the Lenders hereby authorize the Administrative Agent to) and at the Borrowers’ expense take such action and execute any such documents as may be reasonably requested by Holdings or the Borrowers to terminate such Subsidiary Loan Party’s obligations under the applicable Security Documents.  In addition, the Administrative Agent agrees to take such actions as are reasonably requested by Holdings or the Borrowers and at the Borrowers’ expense to terminate the Liens and security interests created by the Loan Documents when all the Obligations (other than Obligations in respect of (i) Specified Hedge Agreements and (ii) contingent indemnification and reimbursement obligations that are not yet due and payable and for which no claim has been asserted) are paid in full and the Commitments are terminated.

 

SECTION 10.19.     USA PATRIOT Act Notice .  Each Lender that is subject to the USA PATRIOT Act and the Administrative Agent (for itself and not on behalf of any Lender) hereby notifies the Borrowers that pursuant to the requirements of the USA PATRIOT Act, it is required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies each Loan Party, which information includes the name and address of each Loan Party and other information that will allow such Lender or the Administrative Agent, as applicable, to identify each Loan Party in accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act.

 

SECTION 10.20.     Canadian Anti-Money Laundering Legislation .

 

(1)                                  Each Loan Party acknowledges that, pursuant to the Proceeds of Crime Act and other applicable Canadian anti-money laundering, anti-terrorist financing, government sanction and “know your client” laws (collectively, including any guidelines or orders thereunder, “ AML Legislation ”), the Lenders may be required to obtain, verify and record information regarding the Loan Parties and their respective directors, authorized signing officers, direct or indirect shareholders or other Persons in control of the Loan Parties, and the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Loan Party shall promptly provide all such information, including supporting documentation and other evidence, as may be reasonably requested by any Lender or any prospective assignee or participant of a Lender or any Agent, in order to comply with any applicable AML Legislation, whether now or hereafter in existence.

 

(2)                                  If the Administrative Agent has ascertained the identity of any Loan Party or any authorized signatories of the Loan Parties for the purposes of applicable AML Legislation, then the Administrative Agent:

 

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(a)                                  shall be deemed to have done so as an agent for each Lender, and this Agreement shall constitute a “written agreement” in such regard between each Lender and the Administrative Agent within the meaning of the applicable AML Legislation; and

 

(b)                                  shall provide to each Lender copies of all information obtained in such regard without any representation or warranty as to its accuracy or completeness.

 

Notwithstanding the preceding sentence and except as may otherwise be agreed in writing, each of the Lenders agrees that neither the Administrative Agent nor any other Agent has any obligation to ascertain the identity of the Loan Parties or any authorized signatories of the Loan Parties on behalf of any Lender, or to confirm the completeness or accuracy of any information it obtains from any Loan Party or any such authorized signatory in doing so.

 

SECTION 10.21.     Security Documents and Intercreditor Agreements .  (a) The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that any provision of any Loan Document to the contrary notwithstanding, prior to the discharge in full of all ABL Obligations, the Loan Parties shall not be required to act or refrain from acting under any Security Document with respect to the ABL Priority Collateral in any manner that would result in a “Default” or “Event of Default” (as defined in any ABL Loan Document) under the terms and provisions of the ABL Loan Documents.  Each Lender hereunder:

 

(1)                                  consents to the subordination of Liens provided for in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(2)                                  agrees that it will be bound by and will take no actions contrary to the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement; and

 

(3)                                  authorizes and instructs the Administrative Agent to enter into the Intercreditor Agreement as Term Loan Representative and on behalf of such Lender.

 

(b)                                  The parties hereto authorize the Administrative Agent to enter into any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement each in the form attached hereto or in such other form as may be satisfactory to the Administrative Agent.  The Administrative Agent may from time to time enter into a modification of the Intercreditor Agreement, any First Lien Intercreditor Agreement or any Junior Lien Intercreditor Agreement, as the case may be, so long as the Administrative Agent reasonably determines that such modification is consistent with the terms of this Agreement.

 

SECTION 10.22.     No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility .  In connection with all aspects of each transaction contemplated hereby (including in connection with any amendment, waiver or other modification hereof or of any other Loan Document), each of Holdings and the Borrowers acknowledge and agree that:  (1) (a) the arranging and other services regarding this Agreement provided by the Agents, the Lenders and the Arrangers are arm’s-length commercial transactions between Holdings and the Borrowers, on the one hand, and the Agents, the Lenders and the Arrangers, on the other hand; (b) the Borrowers and Holdings have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent

 

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they deemed appropriate; and (c) the Borrowers and Holdings are capable of evaluating, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the other Loan Documents; (2) (a) each Agent, each Lender and each Arranger each is and has been acting solely as a principal and, except as expressly agreed in writing by the relevant parties, has not been, is not, and will not be acting as an advisor, agent or fiduciary for any Borrower, Holdings or any other Person and (b) none of the Agents, Lenders or Arrangers has any obligation to any Borrower, Holdings or any of their Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby except those obligations expressly set forth herein and in the other Loan Documents; and (3) the Agents, the Lenders, the Arrangers and their respective Affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of any Borrower, Holdings and their respective Affiliates, and none of the Agents, any Lender or any Arranger has any obligation to disclose any of such interests to any Borrower, Holdings or any of their respective Affiliates.

 

SECTION 10.23.     Cashless Settlement .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, any Lender may exchange, continue or rollover all or a portion of its Term Loans in connection with any refinancing, extension, loan modification or similar transaction permitted by the terms of this Agreement, pursuant to a cashless settlement mechanism approved by the Borrowers, the Administrative Agent and such Lender.

 

SECTION 10.24.     Judgment Currency . If for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert an amount due hereunder in the currency in which it is due (the “ Original Currency ”) into another currency (the “ Second Currency ”), the rate of exchange applied shall be that at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Agent could purchase in the New York foreign exchange market, the Original Currency with the Second Currency on the date two (2) Business Days preceding that on which judgment is given. Each Loan Party agrees that its obligation in respect of any Original Currency due from it hereunder shall, notwithstanding any judgment or payment in such other currency, be discharged only to the extent that, on the Business Day following the date the Administrative Agent receives payment of any sum so adjudged to be due hereunder in the Second Currency, the Administrative Agent may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase, in the New York foreign exchange market, the Original Currency with the amount of the Second Currency so paid; and if the amount of the Original Currency so purchased or could have been so purchased is less than the amount originally due in the Original Currency, each Loan Party agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such payment or judgment to indemnify the Administrative Agent against such loss. The term “rate of exchange” in this Section 10.24 means the spot rate at which the Administrative Agent, in accordance with normal practices, is able on the relevant date to purchase the Original Currency with the Second Currency, and includes any premium and costs of exchange payable in connection with such purchase.

 

SECTION 10.25.     Acknowledgement and Consent to Bail-In of EEA Financial Institutions .  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any Loan Document or in any other agreement, arrangement or understanding among any such parties, each party hereto acknowledges that any liability of any EEA Financial Institution arising under any Loan

 

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Document may be subject to the write-down and conversion powers of an EEA Resolution Authority and agrees and consents to, and acknowledges and agrees to be bound by:

 

(1)                                  the application of any Write-Down and Conversion Powers by an EEA Resolution Authority to any such liabilities arising hereunder which may be payable to it by any party hereto that is an EEA Financial Institution; and

 

(2)                                  the effects of any Bail-In Action on any such liability, including, if applicable:

 

(a)                                  a reduction in full or in part or cancellation of any such liability;

 

(b)                                  a conversion of all, or a portion of, such liability into shares or other instruments of ownership in such EEA Financial Institution, its parent entity, or a bridge institution that may be issued to it or otherwise conferred on it, and that such shares or other instruments of ownership will be accepted by it in lieu of any rights with respect to any such liability under this Agreement or any other Loan Document; or

 

(c)                                   the variation of the terms of such liability in connection with the exercise of the Write-Down and Conversion Powers of any EEA Resolution Authority.

 

SECTION 10.26.     Holdings as Agent for Borrowers .  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints Holdings as the borrowing agent and attorney-in-fact for all Borrowers which appointment shall remain in full force and effect unless and until Administrative Agent shall have received prior written notice signed by each Borrower that such appointment has been revoked and that another Loan Party has been appointed in such role.  Each Borrower hereby irrevocably appoints and authorizes Holdings (a) to provide Administrative Agent with all notices with respect to all notices and instructions under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (and any notice or instruction provided Holdings shall be deemed to be given by Borrowers hereunder and shall bind each Borrower), (b) to receive notices and instructions from the Administrative Agent and Lenders (and any notice or instruction provided by Administrative Agent or any Lender to Holdings in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been given to each Borrower), and (c) to take such action as Holdings deems appropriate on its behalf to obtain Loans and Letters of Credit and to exercise such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto to carry out the purposes of this Agreement.  Each Borrower expects to derive benefit, directly or indirectly, from the handling of the loan accounts and the Collateral in a combined fashion since the successful operation of each Borrower is dependent on the continued successful performance of the integrated group.

 

[REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above written.

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, as Holdings

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR FINANCE S.A R.L., as the Lux Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title:  Manager and Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, as the US Borrower

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 



 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
as Administrative Agent, Collateral Agent and a Lender

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By

/s/ Peter S. Predun

 

 

Name: Peter S. Predun

 

 

Title: Executive Director

 

[Signature Page to Term Loan Credit Agreement]

 



 


 

EXHIBITS TO THE VENATOR TERM LOAN CREDIT AGREEMENT

 


 

Table of Contents

 

Exhibit A                                           Form of Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit B                                           Form of Solvency Certificate

Exhibit C                                           Form of Borrowing Request

Exhibit D                                           Form of Interest Election Request

Exhibit E                                           Form of Affiliate Assignment and Acceptance

Exhibit F                                            U.S. Tax Compliance Certificate

 



 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

Reference is made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

 

1.                                          The Assignor (as defined below) hereby irrevocably sells and assigns, without recourse, to the Assignee (as defined below), and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes, without recourse, from the Assignor, effective as of the Effective Date set forth below (the “ Effective Date ”) (but not prior to the registration of the information contained herein in the Register pursuant to Section 10.04(2)(d) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement), the interests set forth below (the “ Assigned Interest ”) in the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, including, without limitation, the amounts and percentages set forth below of (i) the Commitments of the Assignor on the Effective Date and (ii) the Loans owing to the Assignor which are outstanding on the Effective Date. From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts that have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the Assignee for amounts that have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

2.                                          By executing and delivering this Assignment and Acceptance, the Assignor and the Assignee shall be deemed to confirm to and agree with each other and the other parties hereto as follows: (i) the Assignor warrants that it is the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned thereby free and clear of any adverse claim and it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (ii) except as set forth in clause (i) above, the Assignor makes no representation or warranty and assumes no responsibility with respect to any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, or the execution, legality,

 

A- 1



 

validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto, or the financial condition of Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or any other person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto or the performance or observance by Holdings, the Borrowers or any Subsidiary or Affiliate or any other person of any of their respective obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other Loan Document or any other instrument or document furnished pursuant thereto; (iii) the Assignee represents and warrants that (a) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (b) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Term Loan Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender; (iv) the Assignee confirms that it has received a copy of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements referred to in Section 4.01(3) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement (or delivered pursuant to Section 5.04 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement), and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on any Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender; (v) the Assignee will independently and without reliance upon any Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents; (vi) the Assignee appoints and authorizes the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, to take such action as agent on its behalf and to exercise such powers under the Loan Documents as are delegated to the Administrative Agent and the Collateral Agent, as applicable, by the terms of the Loan Documents, together with such powers as are reasonably incidental thereto; (vii) the Assignee ratifies and confirms all declarations and acts given and made by each Agent on its behalf; and (viii) the Assignee hereby agrees that it will perform in accordance with their terms all the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender. From and after the Effective Date, (i) the Assignee shall be a party to and be bound by the provisions of the Term Loan Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents and, to the extent of the interests assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender thereunder and under the other Loan Documents and (ii) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the interests assigned by this Assignment and Acceptance, relinquish its rights and be released from its obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

3.                                          Pursuant to Section 10.04(2)(b) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, this Assignment and Acceptance is being delivered to the Administrative Agent together with (i) if required by Section 10.04(2)(b)(ii) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, a processing and recordation fee of $3,500, (ii) any forms referred to in Section 2.14(5) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, duly completed and executed by such Assignee and (iii) if the Assignee is not already a Lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, a completed Administrative Questionnaire.

 

A- 2



 

4                                             This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed in any number of counterparts, which together shall constitute one instrument. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page of this Assignment and Acceptance by facsimile or other electronic transmission shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed counterpart of this Assignment and Acceptance. This Assignment and Acceptance shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

A- 3



 

Date of Assignment:                                                                                                                                        

 

Legal Name of Assignor (“ Assignor” ):                                                                                                          

 

Legal Name of Assignee (“ Assignee” ):                                                                                                          

 

Assignee’s Address for Notices:                                                                                                                         

 

                                                                                                                                                                               

 

Effective Date of Assignment:                                                                                                                         

 

Facility/Class

 

Principal Amount of
Commitments/Loans Assigned (
1)

 

Percentage Assigned of
Commitment/Loans (set forth, to
at least 8 decimals, as a
percentage of the Facility and the
aggregate Commitments/Loans of
all Lenders thereunder)

 

Term Facility Commitments/Loans

 

$

 

 

%

 

Incremental Term Facility Commitments/Loans

 

$

 

 

%

 

 

If the Assignee is not already a Lender under the Credit Agreement, the Assignee shall deliver to the Administrative Agent an Administrative Questionnaire in a form approved by the Administrative Agent in which the Assignee designates one or more credit contacts to whom all syndicate-level information (which may contain material non- public information about the Loan Parties and their Related Parties or their respective securities) will be made available and who may receive such information in accordance with the Assignee’s compliance procedures and applicable laws, including federal and state securities laws.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow. ]

 


(1) Amount of Commitments and Loans assigned is governed by Section 10.04 of the Credit Agreement.

 

A- 4



 

 

 

Accepted*/

The terms set forth above are hereby agreed to:

 

[JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as Administrative Agent

 

 

 

                                                  

, as Assignor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by:

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Title: ] (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 

, as Assignee

 

[VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L.

 

 

 

 

 

 

by:

 

 

By:

 

 

Name:

 

 

Name:

 

Title:

 

 

Title: ]( 3)

 

 

 

 

 

[VENATOR MATERIALS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title: ]( 3)

 


*/                           To be completed to the extent consents are required under Section 10.04(2)(a) of the Credit Agreement.

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Assignment and Acceptance ]

 



 

(4) Consent of the Administrative Agent shall not be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender or an Approved Fund.

 

(3 )Consent of the Borrowers shall not be required for an assignment to a Lender, an Affiliate of a Lender, an Approved Fund, or, if a Specified Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, any other person.

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Assignment and Acceptance ]

 



 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF SOLVENCY CERTIFICATE

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

[  ], 201[ ]

 

This Solvency Certificate is being delivered pursuant to Section 4.01(11) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ US Borrower ” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”).Terms defined in the Credit Agreement are used herein with the same meanings.

 

I, [   ], hereby certify that I am the Chief Financial Officer of Holdings and that I am knowledgeable of the financial and accounting matters of Holdings, the Borrowers and the Subsidiaries, the Term Loan Credit Agreement and that, as such, I am authorized to execute and deliver this Solvency Certificate on behalf of Holdings. I further certify, in my capacity as Chief Financial Officer of Holdings, and not individually, as follows:

 

1.                             Immediately after the consummation of the Venator Consolidation Transactions and the other Transactions to occur on the Closing Date and after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of each Loan and other extension of credit to be made on the Closing Date:

 

a)        the fair value of the assets of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis, at a fair valuation, will exceed the debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, contingent or otherwise, of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis;

 

b)          the present fair saleable value of the property of Holdings and the Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis will be greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liability of Holdings

 

B- 1



 

and the Subsidiaries on their debts and other liabilities, direct, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated, contingent or otherwise, as such debts and other liabilities become absolute and matured;

 

c)        Holdings and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will be able to pay their debts and liabilities, direct, subordinated, unmatured, unliquidated,  contingent or otherwise, as such debts and liabilities become absolute and matured; and

 

d)        Holdings and the Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, will not have unreasonably small capital with which to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged as such businesses are now conducted and are proposed to be conducted following the Closing Date.

 

2.                             On the Closing Date, none of Holdings or any Borrower intends to, or believes that it or any Subsidiary will, on a consolidated basis, incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature, taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be received by it or any such Subsidiary and the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its Indebtedness or the Indebtedness of any such Subsidiary.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows. ]

 

B- 2



 

I represent the foregoing information is provided to the best of my knowledge and belief and execute this Solvency Certificate as of the date first written above.

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Chief Financial Officer of

 

 

Venator Materials PLC

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Solvency Certificate ]

 



 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF BORROWING REQUEST

 

Date:(1)                                       ,

 

To:                             JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01

Newark, DE, 19713

Attn: Joe Aftanis

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Reference is made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”). Terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, wherever used herein, unless otherwise defined herein, shall have the same meanings herein as are prescribed by  the Term Loan Credit Agreement.  This notice constitutes a Borrowing Request, and the applicable Borrower hereby requests a Borrowing under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and in that connection the applicable Borrower specifies the following information with respect to such Borrowing requested hereby:

 

1.              The proposed Borrowing will be a Borrowing of         Loans.(2)

 

2.              The principal amount of the Term Loans to be borrowed is:  $           .

 


(1)   Must be received by the Administrative Agent no later than (a) 11:00 a.m., New York City time, three Business Days prior to the proposed Borrowing, in the case of a Eurocurrency Borrowing, and (b) 11:00 a.m., New York City time, one Business Day prior the proposed Borrowing, in the case of an ABR Borrowing.

 

(2)   Initial Term Loans or Incremental Term Loans.

 

C- 1



 

3.              The requested date of the  proposed Borrowing (which will be a Business Day) is:             .

 

4.              [The proposed Borrowing is comprised of [$         of ABR Loans] [and] [$            of Eurocurrency Loans].]

 

5.              The initial duration of the Interest Period for the Eurocurrency Loans, if any, included in the proposed Borrowing shall be       months (i.e., such Interest Period shall end on         ,     ).

 

6.              The location and number of the Borrower’s account to which the funds are to be disbursed is             .

 

This Borrowing Request is issued pursuant to and is subject to the Term Loan Credit Agreement executed as of the date set forth above.

 

[ Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature page follows ]

 

C- 2



 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

BORROWER:

 

 

 

[VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L. /VENATOR MATERIALS LLC]

 

 

 

 

By :

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

[ Signature Page to Form of Borrowing Request ]

 



 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF INTEREST ELECTION REQUEST

 

[ •], [•](3)

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

Loan and Agency Services Group

500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01

Newark, DE, 19713

Attn: Joe Aftanis

Email: joe.aftanis@jpmorgan.com

Fax: 201-639-5215; 12016395215@tls.ldsprod.com

 

With a copy to:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

383 Madison Avenue, Floor 24

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Katherine Hurley

Email: katherine.l.hurley@jpmorgan.com

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to that certain Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”), the Borrowers hereby make an Interest Election Request, and in that connection sets forth below the information relating to such Interest Election Request:

 


(3)  Insert Date.

D- 1



 

1.                                       The proposed Borrowing to which this Interest Election Request applies is: [ABR Borrowing][Eurocurrency Borrowing](4).

 

2.                                       The effective date of the election pursuant to this Interest Election Request is [     ], [    ].

 

3.                                       The resulting Borrowing is to be a[n] [ABR Borrowing][Eurocurrency Borrowing].

 

[4.                                   The Interest Period applicable to the resulting Borrowing is [       ](5) (ending on [       ], [    ]).](6)

 

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

[VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L. /VENATOR MATERIALS LLC]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 


(4)  To specify date and amount of the applicable Borrowing.  If different options are being elected with respect to different portions thereof, the portions thereof to be allocated to each resulting Borrowing should be specified (and the information set forth in 3 and 4 of this Interest Election Request shall be set forth with respect to each applicable portion).

(5)  Must be a period contemplated by the definition of the term “Interest Period”.

(6)  Paragraph 4 to be included if the proposed Borrowing is a Eurocurrency Borrowing.

 

D- 2



 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF AFFILIATE ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

FORM OF AFFILIATED LENDER ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

This Affiliated Lender Assignment and Acceptance (the “ Assignment and Acceptance ”) is dated as of the Effective Date (as defined below) and is entered into by and between the Assignor (as defined below) and the Assignee (as defined below).  Capitalized terms used in this Assignment and Acceptance and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings specified in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”).

 

The Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 attached hereto are hereby agreed to and incorporated herein by reference and made a part of this Assignment and Acceptance as if set forth herein in full.

 

For an agreed consideration, the Assignor hereby irrevocably sells and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby irrevocably purchases and assumes from the Assignor, subject to and in accordance with the Standard Terms and Conditions set forth in Annex 1 hereto and the Term Loan Credit Agreement, as of the Effective Date inserted by the Administrative Agent as contemplated below (i) all the Assignor’s rights and obligations in its capacity as a Lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement and any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto to the extent related to the amount and percentage interest identified below of the Credit Facility identified below and (ii) to the extent permitted to be assigned under applicable law, all claims, suits, causes of action and any other right of the Assignor (in its capacity as a Lender) against any Person, whether known or unknown, arising under or in connection with the Term Loan Credit Agreement, any other documents or instruments delivered pursuant thereto or the loan transactions governed thereby or in any way based on or related to any of the foregoing, including contract claims, tort claims, malpractice claims, statutory claims and all other claims at law or in equity related to the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clause (i) above (the rights and obligations sold and assigned pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above being referred to herein collectively as the “ Assigned Interest ”).  Such sale and assignment is without recourse to the Assignor and, except as expressly provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, without representation or warranty by the Assignor.

 

1.                                     Assignor (the “Assignor”):  [NAME OF ASSIGNOR]

 

2.                                     Assignee (the “Assignee”):  [NAME OF ASSIGNEE]

 

3.                                     Assigned Interest:

 

E- 1



 

Credit Facility

 

Total Loans of all
Lenders under
each Credit
Facility

 

Amount of
Credit
Facility
Assigned

 

Percentage Assigned of Total
Commitment of all Lenders
under each Credit Facility(1)

 

[Initial Term Loan Facility]

 

$

[  ]

 

$

[  ]

 

[0.000000000]

%

 

4.                                     Effective Date of Assignment (the “ Effective Date ”):            , 20  .(2), [subject to the payment of an assignment fee in an amount of $3,500 to the Administrative Agent].

 

The terms set forth in this Assignment and Acceptance are hereby agreed to:

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNOR], as Assignor

 

 

by

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

[NAME OF ASSIGNEE], as Assignee

 

 

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

 

Title:

 

 

E- 2



 

[Consented to and] (4)  Accepted:

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent

 

by

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

[Consented to:

 

 

 

 

VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L.

 

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS LLC

 

 

 

 

by

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title: 

] (4)

 

 


(1)                        To be set forth, to at least 9 decimals, as a percentage of the Total Loans of all Lenders under each Credit Facility.

 

(2)                        To be inserted by Administrative Agent and which shall be the effective date of recordation of transfer in the Register therefor.

 

(3)                        See Section 10.04 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

(4)                        See Section 10.04 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

E- 3



 

STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR
AFFILIATED LENDER ASSIGNMENT AND ACCEPTANCE

 

1.                                       Representations and Warranties and Agreements .

 

1.1                                Assignor .  The Assignor (a) represents and warrants that (i) it is the legal and beneficial owner of the Assigned Interest, (ii) the Assigned Interest is free and clear of any Lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim and (iii) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and (b) assumes no responsibility with respect to (i) any statements, warranties or representations made in or in connection with the Term Loan Credit Agreement or any other Loan Documents, (ii) the execution, legality, validity, enforceability, genuineness, sufficiency or value of the Loan Documents or any collateral thereunder, (iii) the financial condition of Holdings, Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document or (iv) the performance or observance by any of Holdings, Borrowers, any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates or any other Person obligated in respect of any Loan Document of any of their respective obligations under any Loan Document.

 

1.2                                Assignee .  The Assignee (a) represents and warrants that (i) it has full power and authority, and has taken all action necessary, to execute and deliver this Assignment and Acceptance and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to become a Lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (ii) it satisfies the requirements, if any, specified in the Credit Agreement that are required to be satisfied by it in order to acquire the Assigned Interest and become a Lender thereunder, (iii) from and after the Effective Date, it shall be a party to the Term Loan Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance, have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, (iv) it is a Purchasing Borrower Party, as such term is defined in the Credit Agreement and (v) it has received a copy of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, together with copies of the most recent financial statements delivered pursuant to Section 5.04) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, and such other documents and information as it has deemed appropriate to make its own credit analysis and decision to enter into this Assignment and Acceptance and to purchase the Assigned Interest on the basis of which it has made such analysis and decision independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent or any other Lender and (b) agrees that (i) it will, independently and without reliance on the Administrative Agent, the Assignor or any other Lender, and based on such documents and information as it shall deem appropriate at the time, continue to make its own credit decisions in taking or not taking action under the Loan Documents, and (ii) it will perform in accordance with their terms all of the obligations which by the terms of the Loan Documents are required to be performed by it as a Lender.

 

2.                                       Payments :  From and after the Effective Date, the Administrative Agent shall make all payments in respect of the Assigned Interest (including payments of principal, interest, fees and other amounts) to the Assignor for amounts which have accrued to but excluding the Effective Date and to the relevant Assignee for amounts which have accrued from and after the Effective Date.

 

3.                                       General Provisions .

 

3.1                                In accordance with Section 10.04 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, upon execution, delivery, acceptance and recording of this Assignment and Acceptance, from and after the Effective Date, (a) the Assignee shall be a party to the Term Loan Credit Agreement and, to the extent provided in this Assignment and Acceptance (subject to the limitations set forth in

 

E- 4



 

Section 10.04(10) of the Term Loan Credit Agreement), have the rights and obligations of a Lender under the Term Loan Credit Agreement with Commitments as set forth herein and (b) the Assignor shall, to the extent of the Assigned Interest assigned pursuant to this Assignment and Acceptance, be released from its obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement (and if this Assignment and Acceptance covers all of the Assignor’s rights and obligations under the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the Assignor shall cease to be a party to the Term Loan Credit Agreement but shall continue to be entitled to the benefits of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 10.05 thereof).

 

3.2                                This Assignment and Acceptance shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns.  This Assignment and Acceptance may be executed by one or more of the parties to this Assignment and Acceptance on any number of separate counterparts (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission ( e.g. , a “PDF or “TIF” file)), and all of said counterparts taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument.  This Assignment and Acceptance and the rights and obligations of the parties hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by and interpreted under the law of the state of New York.

 

E- 5



 

EXHIBIT F

 

[FORM OF]

 

U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”).  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (iv) it is not a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and the Borrowers with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished the Borrowers and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Credit Agreement.

 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20[  ]

 

 

F- 1



 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

(For Foreign Participants That Are Not Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”).  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record and beneficial owner of the interest in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) it is not a bank within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iii) it is not a “10 percent shareholder” of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) or 881(c)(3)(B) of the Code, and (iv) it is not a “controlled foreign corporation” described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with a certificate of its non-U.S. Person status on IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any subsequent versions thereof or successors thereto).  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender in writing, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

Date:            , 20  

 

 

F- 2



 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

(For Foreign Participants That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”).  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the participation in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such participation, (iii) with respect such participation, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished its participating Lender with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform such Lender and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished such Lender with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

[NAME OF PARTICIPANT]

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

 

 

F- 3



 

Date:            , 20

 

 

F- 4



 

EXHIBIT F

 

FORM OF
U.S. TAX COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE

 

(For Non-U.S. Lenders That Are Partnerships For U.S. Federal Income Tax Purposes)

 

Reference is made to the Term Loan Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2017 (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “ Term Loan Credit Agreement ”), among VENATOR MATERIALS PLC, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with company number 10747130 (“ Holdings ”), VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) organized under the laws of Luxembourg, with its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg register of commerce and companies ( R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B 215.641 (the “ Lux Borrower ”), VENATOR MATERIALS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “US Borrower” and together with the Lux Borrower, the “ Borrowers ”), the Lenders party thereto from time to time and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., as administrative agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Administrative Agent ”), and as collateral agent (in such capacity, and as further defined in Section 1.01 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the “ Collateral Agent ”).  Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement and used herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Term Loan Credit Agreement.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.14 of the Term Loan Credit Agreement, the undersigned hereby certifies that (i) it is the sole record owner of the Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)) in respect of which it is providing this certificate, (ii) its direct or indirect partners/members are the sole beneficial owners of such Loan(s) (as well as any Note(s) evidencing such Loan(s)), (iii) with respect to the extension of credit pursuant to this Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document, neither the undersigned nor any of its direct or indirect partners/members is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business within the meaning of Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code, (iv) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a ten percent shareholder of any Borrower within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3)(B) of the Code and (v) none of its direct or indirect partners/members is a controlled foreign corporation related to any Borrower as described in Section 881(c)(3)(C) of the Code.

 

The undersigned has furnished the Administrative Agent and any Borrower with IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by one of the following forms from each of its partners/members that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption: (i) an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable or (ii) an IRS Form W-8IMY accompanied by an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable from each of such partner’s/member’s beneficial owners that is claiming the portfolio interest exemption.  By executing this certificate, the undersigned agrees that (1) if the information provided on this certificate changes, the undersigned shall promptly so inform any Borrower and the Administrative Agent, and (2) the undersigned shall have at all times furnished any Borrower and the Administrative Agent with a properly completed and currently effective certificate in either the calendar year in which each payment is to be made to the undersigned, or in either of the two calendar years preceding such payments.

 

F- 5



 

[NAME OF LENDER]

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Name:

 

 

Title:

 

 

 

Date:            , 20  

 

 

F- 6



 

Schedule 1.01(1)

 

UNRESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 1.01(2)

 

GUARANTY AND SECURITY PRINCIPLES

 

1.                                       Guaranty and Security Principles

 

(a)                                  The guarantees and security to be provided under the Loan Documents will be given in accordance with the security principles set out in this Schedule (the “ Guaranty and Security Principles ”). This Schedule identifies the Guaranty and Security Principles and addresses the manner in which the Guaranty and Security Principles will impact on and determine the extent and terms of the guarantees and security proposed to be provided in relation to the facilities made available under this Agreement.

 

(b)                                  The Guaranty and Security Principles embody the recognition by all parties that there may be certain legal and practical difficulties in obtaining effective or commercially reasonable guarantees and/or security from Holdings and all relevant Subsidiaries in each jurisdiction in which it has been agreed that guarantees and security will be granted by Holdings and its Subsidiaries. In particular:

 

(i)                                      general legal and statutory limitations, regulatory restrictions, financial assistance, corporate benefit, fraudulent preference, equitable subordination, tax instructions (including, but not limited to, “ transfer pricing ”, “ thin capitalisation ”, “ earnings stripping ”, “ controlled foreign corporation ” and other tax restrictions), “ exchange control restrictions ”, “ capital maintenance ” rules and “ liquidity impairment ” rules, retention of title claims, employee consultation or approval requirements and similar principles may limit the ability of Holdings or a Subsidiary to provide a guarantee or security or may require that the guarantee or security be limited as to amount or otherwise and, if so, the guarantee or security will be limited accordingly, provided that to the extent requested by the Collateral Agent before signing any applicable security or accession document, Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary (as applicable) shall use reasonable endeavours (but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on commercial relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such guarantee or security document shall be subject to such limit;

 

(ii)                                   a key factor in determining whether or not a guarantee or security will be taken (and in respect of the security, the extent of its perfection and/or registration) is the applicable time and cost (including, but not limited to, adverse effects on taxes, interest deductibility, stamp duty, registration taxes, notarial costs and all applicable legal fees) which will not be disproportionate to the benefit accruing to the Secured Parties of obtaining such guarantee or security;

 



 

(iii)            unless agreed otherwise, the Subsidiaries will not be required to give guarantees or enter into security documents if they are not wholly owned by Holdings and/or other Subsidiaries or if it is not within the legal capacity of the relevant Subsidiaries or if it would conflict with the fiduciary or statutory duties of their directors or contravene any applicable legal, regulatory or contractual prohibition or restriction or have the potential to result in a material risk of personal or criminal liability for any director or officer of or for Holdings or any Subsidiary, provided that, to the extent requested by the Collateral Agent before signing any applicable security document or accession document, the relevant Subsidiary shall use reasonable endeavours (but without incurring material cost and without adverse impact on commercial relationships with third parties) to overcome any such obstacle or otherwise such security document shall be subject to such limit;

 

(iv)                               having regard to the principle in (ii) above, Holdings and the Administrative Agent shall discuss in good faith (having regard to customary practice in applicable jurisdictions) with a view to determining whether certain security can be provided by the relevant Loan Party granting promissory security in favour of the Secured Parties coupled with an irrevocable power of attorney to the Collateral Agent as opposed to a definitive legal mortgage or pledge over the relevant asset;

 

(v)                                  guarantees and security will be limited so that the aggregate of notarial costs and all registration and like taxes and duties relating to the provision of security will not exceed an amount as agreed between Holdings and the Collateral Agent;

 

(vi)                               where a class of assets to be secured includes material and immaterial assets, if the cost of granting security over the immaterial assets is disproportionate to the benefit of such security, security will be granted over the material assets only;

 

(vii)                            it is expressly acknowledged that it may be either impossible or impractical to create security over certain categories of assets in which event security will not be taken over such assets;

 

(viii)                         any asset subject to a legal requirement, contract, lease, licence, instrument, regulatory constraint (including any agreement with any government or regulatory body) or other third party arrangement, which may prevent or condition the asset from being charged, secured or being subject to the applicable security document (including requiring a consent of any third party, supervisory board or works council (or equivalent)) and any asset which, if subject to the applicable security document, would give a third party the right to terminate or otherwise amend any rights, benefits and/or obligations with respect to Holdings or any Subsidiary in respect of the asset or require the relevant chargor to take any action materially adverse to the interests of Holdings and/or its Subsidiaries, in each case

 



 

will be excluded from a guarantee or security document provided that reasonable endeavours (exercised for a specified period of time) to obtain any such consent, release or waiver in respect of such asset shall be used by Holdings and/or the relevant Subsidiaries (as applicable) if the Collateral Agent specifies that the asset is material and Holdings is satisfied that such endeavours will not involve placing commercial relationships with third parties in jeopardy;

 

(ix)                               the giving of a guarantee, the granting of security and the registration and/or the perfection of the security granted will not be required if it would have a material adverse effect on the ability of Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary to conduct its operations and business in the ordinary course as otherwise permitted by the Loan Documents (including dealing with the secured assets and all contractual counterparties or amending, waiving or terminating (or allowing to lapse) any rights, benefits or obligations, in each case prior to a Declared Default which is continuing), and any requirement under the Guaranty and Security Principles to seek consent of any person or take or not take any other action shall be subject to this paragraph (ix);

 

(x)                                  any security document will only be required to be notarised if required by law in order for the relevant security to become effective, enforceable or admissible in evidence;

 

(xi)                               no guarantee or security will be required to be given by any acquired person or asset (and no consent shall be required to be sought with respect thereto) which are required to support acquired indebtedness to the extent such acquired indebtedness is permitted by this Agreement to remain outstanding after an acquisition. No member of a target group or other entity acquired pursuant to an acquisition not prohibited under the terms of this Agreement shall be required to become a Guarantor or grant security with respect to the facilities made available under this Agreement if prevented by the terms of the documentation governing that acquired indebtedness or if becoming a Guarantor or the granting of any security would give rise to an obligation (including any payment obligation) under or in relation thereto; no security will be granted over any asset secured for the benefit of any Permitted Debt and/or to the extent constituting Permitted Liens unless specifically required by a Loan Document to the contrary;

 

(xii)                            to the extent possible and unless required by applicable law, there should be no action required to be taken in relation to the guarantees or security when any lender assigns or transfers any of its participation to a new lender (and in the case of Spain, the Parties agree that, pursuant to article 1528 of the Spanish Civil Code, the relevant assignee will automatically become a pledgee upon full or partial assignment to third parties of the pledgees’ contractual position in terms set out in the Loan Documents);

 



 

(xiii)                         no title investigations or other diligence on assets will be required and no title insurance will be required;

 

(xiv)                        security will not be required over any assets subject to security in favour of a third party (provided that such security constitutes a Permitted Lien) if prevented by the terms of such arrangement or any cash constituting regulatory capital (and such assets or cash shall be excluded from any relevant security document);

 

(xv)                           (i) to the extent legally effective, all security will be given in favour of the Collateral Agent and not the secured creditors individually (with the Collateral Agent to hold one set of security documents for all the Secured Parties); (ii) “ parallel debt ” provisions will be used where necessary (and included in this Agreement and/or the Intercreditor Agreement and not the individual security documents); (iii) Spanish Liens shall be given to the Secured Parties individually or through the Collateral Agent (but, in either case, neither Holdings nor or its Subsidiaries shall bear any costs relating to any powers of attorney or Spanish tax numbers which may be required for, or in connection with, the notarisation of the relevant Security Documents), and parallel debt provisions shall be disregarded in respect of Spanish Liens;

 

(xvi)                        guarantees and security will not be required from or over the assets of, any joint venture or similar arrangement, any minority interest or any Subsidiary that is not wholly-owned by Holdings and/or other Subsidiaries;

 

(xvii)                     no security may be provided on terms which are inconsistent with the turnover or sharing provisions in the Intercreditor Agreement;

 

(xviii)                  no guarantee or security shall guarantee or secure any “ Excluded Swap Obligations ” defined in accordance with the LSTA Market Advisory Update dated February 15, 2013 entitled “ Swap Regulations’ Implications for Loan Documentation ”, and any update thereto by the LSTA;

 

(xix)                        other than a general security agreement and related filing, no perfection, filing or other action will be required with respect to assets of a type not owned by Holdings or the Subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding any term of any Loan Document: no loan or other obligation of a US Borrower under any Loan Document may be, directly or indirectly: (i) guaranteed by any controlled foreign corporation (as defined in Section 957(a) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended) (“ CFC ”) or by an entity (a “ FSHCO ”) that has no material assets other than equity interests (or equity interests and indebtedness) of one or more CFCs, or guaranteed by a subsidiary of a CFC or FSHCO; (ii) secured by any assets of a CFC, FSHCO or a subsidiary of a CFC or a FSHCO (including any CFC or FSHCO equity interests held directly or indirectly by a CFC or FSHCO); (iii) secured by a pledge or other

 



 

security interest in any voting stock of any CFC or FSHCO in excess of 65 per cent. of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such CFC or FSHCO (and 100% of the non-voting equity interests); or (iv) guaranteed by any subsidiary or secured by a pledge of or security interest in any subsidiary or other asset, if it would result in material adverse US tax consequences as reasonably determined by the Borrowers, Holdings and the Administrative Agent.

 

2.                                       Guarantees

 

(a)                                  Subject to the guarantee limitations set out in the Loan Documents and herein, each guarantee will be an upstream, cross-stream and downstream guarantee for all liabilities of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Guaranty and Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction (references to “ security ” to be read for this purpose as including guarantees). Security documents will secure the guarantee obligations of all of the Loan Parties under the Loan Documents in accordance with, and subject to, the requirements of these Guaranty and Security Principles in each relevant jurisdiction.

 

(b)                                  Luxembourg Guarantee Limitations

 

(i)                                     Notwithstanding the foregoing and any other provision in the Loan Documents to the contrary, the payment obligations of any Guarantor incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg (hereafter, a “ Luxembourg Guarantor ”) for the obligations of any Borrower which is not a Subsidiary of that Luxembourg Guarantor shall be limited at any time, to an aggregate amount not exceeding ninety-five (95) per cent. of the greater of:

 

(A)                               the Luxembourg Guarantor’s (A) own funds ( capitaux propres ) as determined by Annex 1 of the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 19 December 2015 in relation to, inter alia , article 34 of the Luxembourg law of 19 December 2002 on the Register of Commerce and Companies, on accounting and on annual accounts of the companies, as amended (the “ 2002 Act ”) (the “ Net Assets ”), and (B) the debt owed by such Luxembourg Guarantor to any of its direct or indirect shareholders and to Holdings or any Subsidiary (as determined by Annex 1 of the Grand-Ducal Regulation of 18 December 2015 in relation to, inter alia , article 34 of the 2002 Act, and (C) the subordinated debt ( dettes subordonnées ) (as determined in the general accounting plan (Account 191)) of the relevant Luxembourg Guarantor, and (D) any subordinated debt ( dettes subordonnées ) owed and incurred by such Luxembourg Guarantor in violation of the provisions of this Agreement (the debts referred to in (B), (C) and (D) above being (the “ Luxembourg Subordinated Debt ”)), each as reflected in Luxembourg Guarantor’s last annual accounts available as at the date of this Agreement; and

 



 

(B)                               the Luxembourg Guarantor’s Net Assets and the Luxembourg Subordinated Debt as reflected in its last annual accounts available as at the date the Guarantee is called.

 

(ii)                                  For the purpose of this paragraph 2(b), the Net Assets shall be valued either (i) at the fair market value, or (ii) if no such market value has been determined, in accordance with GAAP or IFRS, as applicable, and the relevant provisions of the 2002 Act.

 

(iii)                               The limitation set forth above shall not apply to any amounts borrowed under this Agreement and made available, in any form whatsoever, to such Luxembourg Guarantor or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries.

 

(c)                                   French Guarantee Limitations

 

(i)                                     The obligations and liabilities of any Guarantor incorporated under the laws of France (hereafter, a “ French Guarantor ”) under the Loan Documents and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, shall not extend to include any obligations or liabilities which if incurred would constitute a breach of the financial assistance prohibitions within the meaning of article L. 225-216 of the French Code de commerce and/or would constitute a misuse of corporate assets within the meaning of article L. 241-3, L. 242-6 or L. 244-1 of the French Code de commerce or any other law or regulations having the same effect, as interpreted by French courts.

 

(ii)                                  The obligations and liabilities of each French Guarantor under the Loan Documents, and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, for the payment obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document, or in respect of any Cash Management Obligations or in respect of any Specified Hedge Agreement, as the case may be, of any other Loan Parties which are not direct or indirect Subsidiaries of such French Guarantor shall be limited at any time to an amount equal to the aggregate of the proceeds of the Loans to the extent directly or indirectly on-lent by any other Loan Party to that French Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries under intercompany loans (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements) or similar arrangements and outstanding on the date a payment is requested to be made by such French Guarantor under the Guaranty or under any relevant Loan Document (the “ Maximum Guaranteed Amount ”), it being specified that notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement or any provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement, any payment made by such French Guarantor under the Guaranty or under any relevant Loan Document in respect of the payment obligations of any other Loan Party shall immediately reduce pro tanto the outstanding amount of the intra-group loans, or any sums, due by such French Guarantor under such intra-group loan (including pursuant to cash pooling arrangements) or similar arrangements referred to above.

 



 

(iii)       The obligations and liabilities of each French Guarantor under the Loan Documents, and in particular under the Guaranty referred to in this Agreement, for the payment obligations under this Agreement or any Loan Document, or in respect of any Cash Management Obligations or in respect of any Specified Hedge Agreement, as the case may be, of each of its direct or indirect Subsidiaries which are or become Loan Party from time to time under the Loan Documents shall cover all amounts incurred by such Subsidiary (x) as Borrower only but not as Guarantor (if they are not Loan Parties incorporated under the laws of France (hereafter, a “ French Loan Party ”)) or (y) as Borrower and/or, subject to the provisions of paragraph (ii) above, Guarantors (if they are French Loan Parties); and

 

(iv)                              for the avoidance of doubt, any payment made by a French Guarantor under paragraph (ii) above shall reduce the Maximum Guaranteed Amount

 

(v)                                 It is acknowledged that no French Guarantor is acting jointly and severally with the other Guarantors and no French Guarantor shall therefore be considered as “ co-débiteur solidaire ” as to its obligations pursuant to the Guarantee given pursuant therewith.

 

For the purpose of this paragraph (c), “Subsidiary” means, in relation to any company, another company which is controlled by it within the meaning of articles L.233-3 of the French Code de commerce .

 

(b)                                 Spanish Guarantee Limitations

 

(i)                                     Regarding the obligations and liabilities of any payment obligations of any Spanish Guarantor under the guarantees granted in connection with  Loan Documents (the “ Guarantees ”), each Spanish Guarantor hereby expressly agrees that the scope and provisions of its respective obligations under the Guarantees granted by each of them will not be affected by: (i) the approval or ratification of a composition agreement (“ convenio ”) as a result of the bankruptcy declaration (“ concurso ”) of any of the Borrowers, in accordance with article 135.2 of the Spanish Insolvency Act (“ Ley 22/2003 de 9 de julio, Concursal ); or (ii) the approval or execution of a court-sanctioned out-of-court workout (an homologated refinancing agreement (“ acuerdo de refinanciación homologado ”)) and which may be entered into as a result of a pre-insolvency or insolvency of any of the Borrowers (in any case, prior to the declaration of bankruptcy, whether voluntary or mandatory) under paragraph 9 of the 4th Additional Provision of the Spanish Insolvency Act, to the extent that such Lender has not expressly accepted (by voting in favor or otherwise) the effect contemplated by such composition agreement or court-sanctioned out-of-court workout, as the case may be, of the relevant Borrowers on the scope and provisions of the Guarantees.

 



 

(ii)                                  Unless the Lender expressly agrees (by voting in favor or otherwise) a write-off to the Guarantees, the Guarantees shall secure at any time 100% of the payment obligations under the Loan Documents.

 

3.                                       Governing law and scope

 

(a)                                  The guarantees and security to be provided in respect of the facilities made available under this Agreement in accordance with the Guaranty and Security Principles are only to be given by the Loan Parties and Material Subsidiaries and no security or guarantees shall be required to be given by any joint venture or similar arrangement, any minority interest or any Subsidiary that is not wholly owned by Holdings and/or other Subsidiaries.

 

(b)                                  All security (other than share security) will be governed by the law of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the applicable grantor of the security and no action in relation to security (including any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration) will be required in jurisdictions where the grantor of the security is not incorporated. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, (i) share security over any subsidiary will be governed by the law of the place of incorporation of that subsidiary; (ii) any security over an inter-company loan between Holdings or the Borrowers and any of their respective Subsidiaries which on-lends equity contributions or proceeds of any of the facilities made available under this Agreement will be governed by the governing law of such intra-group loan document and, in each case, any perfection step, further assurance step, filing or registration in connection therewith shall be subject to such jurisdiction and (if applicable) the jurisdiction of incorporation of the relevant security provider; and (iii) a notice may be served in relation to any security over an intra-group receivables on the relevant Loan Party regardless of its jurisdiction of incorporation.

 

4.                                       Terms of security documents

 

The following principles will be reflected in the terms of any security taken in connection with the facilities made available under this Agreement:

 

(a)                                  security will not be enforceable until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing;

 

(b)                                  the Secured Parties (or any agent or similar representative appointed by them at the relevant time) will only be able to exercise a power of attorney or set-off granted to them under the terms of the Loan Documents (i) following the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing or (ii) where Holdings or the relevant Subsidiary granting the security has failed to comply with a perfection or further assurance obligation and any applicable grace period thereto has expired;

 

(c)                                   the security documents should only operate to create security rather than to impose new commercial obligations or repeat clauses in other Loan Documents;

 



 

accordingly (i) they should not contain additional representations, undertakings or indemnities (including, without limitation, in respect of insurance, information, maintenance or protection of assets or the payment of fees, costs and expenses) unless these are the same as or consistent with those contained in this Agreement or are required for the creation, perfection or extension of security in accordance with local law; and (ii) nothing in any security document shall (or be construed to) prohibit any transaction, matter or other step (or a grantor of security taking or entering into the same or dealing in any manner whatsoever in relation to any asset (including all rights, claims, benefits, proceeds and documentation, and contractual counterparties in relation thereto) the subject of (or expressed to be the subject of) the security agreement if not prohibited by the terms of the other Loan Documents (and accordingly to such extent, the Collateral Agent shall promptly effect releases, confirmations, consents to deal or similar steps always at the cost of the relevant grantor of the security);

 

(d)                                  no security will be granted over parts, stock, moveable plant, equipment or receivables if it would require labelling, segregation or periodic listing or specification of such parts, stock, moveable plant, equipment or receivables;

 

(e)                                   perfection will not be required in respect of (i) vehicles and other assets subject to certificates of title or (ii) letter of credit rights and tort claims (or the local law equivalent);

 

(f)                                    in no event shall control agreements (or perfection by control or similar arrangements) be required with respect to any assets (including deposit or securities accounts) (unless the Loan Documents expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use);

 

(g)                                   security will, where possible and practical, automatically create security over future assets of the same type as those already secured; where local law requires supplemental pledges or notices to be delivered in respect of future acquired assets in order for effective and enforceable security to be created or perfected over that class of asset, such supplemental pledges or notices will be provided only upon request of the Collateral Agent and at intervals no more frequent than annually or at other intervals agreed between Holdings and the Collateral Agent; and

 

(h)                                  each security document must contain a clause which records that if there is a conflict between the security document and the Intercreditor Agreement then (to the fullest extent permitted by law) the provisions of the Intercreditor Agreement will take priority over the provisions of the security document.

 

5.                                       Bank accounts

 

(a)                                  If a Loan Party grants security over its bank accounts it will be free to deal, operate and transact business in relation to those accounts (including opening and closing accounts) until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing

 



 

(unless the Loan Documents expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use). For the avoidance of doubt, (unless the Loan Documents expressly provide for any specific account (by reference to its purpose) to be subject to specific restrictions on use) there will be no “ fixed ” security over bank accounts, cash or receivables or any obligation to have a specific balance, hold or pay cash or receivables in a particular account until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

(b)                                  If required by local law to perfect the security and if possible without disrupting operation of the account, notice of the security will be served on the account bank in relation to applicable accounts within 10 Business Days of the date of the security document (or accession thereto) unless an earlier notice is required for perfection purposes under the relevant local law, and the applicable grantor of the security will use its reasonable endeavours to obtain an acknowledgement of that notice within 10 Business Days of service unless an earlier acknowledgement is required for perfection purposes under the relevant local law. Save in the case of a bank account pledge governed by the laws of Luxembourg, if the grantor of the security has used its reasonable endeavours but has not been able to obtain acknowledgement or acceptance its obligation to obtain acknowledgement will cease on the expiry of that 10 Business Day period (or earlier, only if perfection requires an earlier notice under the relevant local law). Irrespective of whether notice of the security is required for perfection, if the service of notice would prevent Holdings or any Subsidiary from using a bank account in the course of its business (and Holdings or the applicable Subsidiary demonstrates so to the Administrative Agent (acting reasonably)) no notice of security will be served until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

(c)                                   Any security over bank accounts will be subject to any security interests in favour of the account bank which are created either by law or in the standard terms and conditions of the account bank. No grantor of security will be required to change its banking arrangements or standard terms and conditions in connection with the granting of bank account security.

 

(d)                                  If required under applicable local law, security over bank accounts will be registered subject to the general principles set out in these Guaranty and Security Principles.

 

6.                                       Fixed assets

 

If a Loan Party grants security over its material fixed assets it will be free to deal with those assets in the course of its business until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing. No notice, whether to third parties or by attaching a notice to the fixed assets, will be prepared or given until the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 



 

7.                                       Insurance policies

 

A Loan Party may grant security over its material insurance policies (excluding any third party liability or public liability insurance and any directors and officers insurance in respect of which claims thereunder may be mandatorily prepaid, provided that the relevant insurance policy allows security to be so granted). Notice of any security interest over insurance policies will only be served on an insurer of the assets of Holdings or its Subsidiaries upon written request of the Collateral Agent, which may only be given after the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

Prior to a Declared Default which is continuing, no loss payee or other endorsement will be made on the insurance policy and no Secured Party will be named as co-insured.

 

8.                                       Intellectual property

 

(a)                                  Subject to paragraph 1(viii) above, no security will be granted over any intellectual property which cannot be secured under the terms of the relevant licensing agreement.

 

(b)                                  If security is granted over the relevant material intellectual property, the grantor shall be free to deal with, use, licence and otherwise commercialise those assets in the course of its business (including allowing its intellectual property to lapse if no longer material to its business) until a Declared Default which is continuing.

 

(c)                                   Notice of any security interest over intellectual property will only be served on a third party from whom intellectual property is licensed upon written request of the Collateral Agent, which may only be given after the occurrence of a Declared Default which is continuing. No intellectual property security will be required to be registered under the law of that security document, the law where the grantor is regulated, at any relevant supra-national registry or at any other relevant register. Security over intellectual property rights will be taken on an “ as is, where is ” basis and neither Holdings nor its Subsidiaries will be required to procure any changes to, or corrections of filings on, external registers.

 

9.                                       Real estate

 

(a)                                  No fixed security shall be granted over real property (unless otherwise agreed or pursuant to Finnish law mortgage (subject to an agreed materiality threshold) or a general or all asset security document (such as a debenture (subject to the rest of these Guaranty and Security Principles) which charges all of the assets of a Loan Party but excluding (i) any unregistered real property which, if subject to any such security would be required to be registered under the relevant land registry laws (provided that such real property shall only be excluded for so long as it remains unregistered), and (ii) any leasehold real property that has 25 years or less to run on the lease or has a rack rent payable.

 

(b)                                  There will be no obligation to investigate title, provide surveys or carry out any other insurance or environmental due diligence.

 



 

(c)                                   There will be no obligation to obtain landlord waivers, collateral access agreements or bailee letters with respect to any location or asset.

 

10.                                Shares

 

(a)                                  Security over shares will be limited to those over a Loan Party.

 

(b)                                  Until a Declared Default has occurred and is continuing, the legal title of the shares will remain with the relevant grantor of the security (unless transfer of title on granting such security is customary in the applicable jurisdiction) and any grantor of share security will be permitted to retain and to exercise voting rights and powers in relation to any shares and other related rights charged by it and receive, own and retain all assets and proceeds in relation thereto without restriction or condition provided that any exercise of rights does not materially adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the Security over the shares or cause an Event of Default to occur. With respect to security over shares in a German or French company only, the voting rights will remain with the pledgor even after a Declared Default has occurred, provided, however, that such voting rights may only be exercised in a manner which does not materially and adversely affect the validity or enforceability of the Security over the shares.

 

(c)                                   Where customary and/or applicable as a matter of law, following a request by the Collateral Agent, on, or as soon as reasonably practicable following execution of the security or accession document, the applicable share certificate (or other documents evidencing title to the relevant shares) and a stock transfer form executed in blank (or applicable law equivalent) will be provided to the Collateral Agent upon its request.

 

In this Schedule, “ Declared Default ” means the giving of notice by the Administrative Agent under Section 8.01(i)(A).

 



 

Schedule 1.01(3)

 

FOREIGN SECURITY DOCUMENTS

 

A.                                     Foreign Security Document to be Delivered on the Closing Date

 

1.               A Luxembourg law governed share pledge agreement between Venator Materials PLC as pledgor, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent and Venator Finance S.à r.l. as company in relation to the shares of Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

2.               An English law governed charge over shares and investments between Venator Finance S.à r.l. as pledgor, Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited as company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent, in relation to the shares of Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited and certain notes issued by Venator Materials Plc.

 

3.               An English law governed debenture between each UK Loan Party as chargors and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to all assets (subject to the Guaranty and Security Principles) of the UK Loan Parties.

 

4.               An English law governed share charge between Tioxide Americas (Holdings) LLC as chargor, Tioxide Group as company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to the shares of Tioxide Group.

 

5.               An English law governed book debts and accounts charge between Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. and Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH as chargors, Huntsman P&A UK Limited as company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to certain book debts and English bank accounts of Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. and Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH.

 

6.               A German law governed security assignment agreement over trade receivables, intercompany loans and insurance receivables between Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

7.               A German law governed security transfer agreement over current assets between Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

8.               Certain German law governed second ranking account pledge agreements between Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH, Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG, Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH, Silo Pigmente GmbH, Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH and, in each case, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

9.               Certain German law governed second ranking share (or interest) pledge agreements between Huntsman Spin UK Limited, Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH, Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG, Huntsman P&A Uerdingen GmbH, Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GmbH, Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH, Silo Pigmente GmbH, Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH, Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH and, in each case, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

10.        A Canadian law Collateral Agreement between Huntsman P&A Canada Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

11.        A Quebec law deed of hypothec between Huntsman P&A Canada Inc. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A..

 

12.        A Finnish law governed Share Pledge Agreement between Huntsman Spin UK Limited as pledgor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent in relation to the shares in Huntsman P&A Finland Oy.

 

13.        A Finnish law governed Floating Charge Pledge Agreement between Huntsman P&A Finland Oy as pledgor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent.

 

14.        A Finnish law governed Real Estate Mortgage Agreement between Huntsman P&A Finland Oy as pledgor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent.

 

15.        A Finnish law governed Intragroup Loan and Trade Receivables Pledge Agreement between Huntsman P&A Finland Oy as pledgor and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as collateral agent.

 



 

B.                                     Foreign Security Documents to be Delivered within 90 days of the Closing Date (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed by Administrative Agent)

 

Governing
Law

 

Proposed Security
Agreement

 

Security Provider(s)

 

Assets secured

Spanish law

 

Ordinary pledge without registration over shares in Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. favor of the Common Collateral Agent with collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

The shares in Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. as described in the pledge

Spanish law

 

Ordinary pledge without registration over material bank accounts in favor of the Common Collateral Agent with collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Material bank accounts of Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. as described in the pledge

Spanish law

 

Ordinary pledge without registration over trade receivables in favour of the Common Collateral Agent with collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Trade receivables owed to Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U. as described in the pledge

German law

 

First ranking land charge over certain real estate

 

Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

 

Real estate

 



 

C.                                     Foreign Security Documents to be Delivered within 150 days of the Closing Date (or, in each case, such later date as may be agreed by Administrative Agent)

 

Governing
Law

 

Proposed Security
Agreement

 

Security Provider(s)

 

Assets secured

French law

 

Assignment by way of security ( cession Dailly à titre de garantie ) of accounts receivables together with the related initial transfer form ( bordereau Dailly )

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Accounts receivables

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Holliday France SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Holliday Pigments International SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over bank accounts subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Holliday Pigments SAS

 

Bank accounts

French law

 

Pledge over securities accounts with respect to Huntsman P&A France SAS’s shares in Holliday France SAS, Holliday Pigments International SAS and Holliday Pigments SAS, together with each related statement of pledge ( déclaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers ) signed by Huntsman P&A France SAS,

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Shares and securities

 



 

Governing
Law

 

Proposed Security
Agreement

 

Security Provider(s)

 

Assets secured

 

 

subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

 

 

 

French law

 

If applicable, pledge over securities account with respect to Huntsman P&A UK Limited’s shares in Hunstman P&A France SAS together with the related statement of pledge ( déclaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers ) signed by Huntsman P&A UK Limited, subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement,

 

Huntsman P&A UK Limited

 

Shares and securities

French law

 

Pledge over securities account with respect to Huntsman Spin UK Limited’s shares in Hunstman P&A France SAS together with the related statement of pledge ( déclaration de nantissement de compte de titres financiers ) signed by Huntsman Spin UK Limited, subject to collateral priorities set out in the Intercreditor Agreement

 

Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

Shares and securities

English law

 

Book debts and accounts charge

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Certain book debts and an English bank account of Huntsman P&A France SAS

 



 

Schedule 2.01

 

INITIAL TERM LOAN COMMITMENTS

 

Lender

 

Initial Term Loan Commitment

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

 

$

375,000,000

 

Total

 

$

375,000,000

 

 



 

Schedule 3.04

 

GOVERNMENTAL APPROVALS

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.05(2)

 

POSSESSION UNDER LEASE

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.06(1)

 

SUBSIDIARIES

 

Entity Name

 

Jurisdiction

 

Ownership

Venator Materials PLC

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman International (Netherlands) B.V.

Huntsman Pigments and Trading Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

100% Huntsman Specialties Australia Pty Ltd

Huntsman Specialties Australia Pty Ltd

 

Australia

 

100% Huntsman Pigments (UK) Limited

Huntsman Materials Belgium BVBA

 

Belgium

 

100% Huntsman Pigments Holdings UK Limited

Huntsman P&A Canada Inc.

 

Canada

 

100% Huntsman (UK) Limited

Huntsman P&A Investments LLC

 

Cayman Islands

 

100% Tioxide Group

Huntsman Pigments Taicang Company Ltd

 

China

 

100% Huntsman Pigments Far East Limited

Sachtleben Trading (Shanghai) Company Limited

 

China

 

100% Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

Huntsman P&A Finland Oy

 

Finland

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Holliday France S.A.S.

 

France

 

100% Huntsman P&A France SAS

Holliday Pigments International S.A.S.

 

France

 

100% Huntsman P&A France SAS

Holliday Pigments S.A.S.

 

France

 

100% Huntsman P&A France SAS

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

France

 

99.99% Huntsman Spin UK Limited
0.01% Huntsman P&A UK Limited

Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Huntsman P&A Uerdingen GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH

Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Silo Pigmente GmbH

 

Germany

 

100% Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH

Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG

 

Germany

 

10% Silo Pigmente GmbH
89.939% Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH

Huntsman Pigments Far East Limited

 

Hong Kong

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Pigments Hong Kong Limited

 

Hong Kong

 

100% Huntsman Pigments Far East Limited

Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

 

Italy

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Pigments S.p.A.

 

Italy

 

100% Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

Luxembourg

 

100% Venator Materials PLC

Huntsman P & A Asia Sdn. Bhd. (formerly known as Tioxide (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.)

 

Malaysia

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Textile Effects Singapore Pte. Ltd.

 

Singapore

 

100% Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited

Huntsman Investments South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

 

South Africa

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman P&A Africa (Pty) Limited

 

South Africa

 

100% Huntsman Investments South Africa (Proprietary) Limited

 



 

Entity Name

 

Jurisdiction

 

Ownership

Holliday Chemical España S.A.U.

 

Spain

 

100% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

 

Spain

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Oligo S.A.

 

Spain

 

75% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Creambay Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman (UK) Limited

Excalibur Realty UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Pigments (UK) Limited

Huntsman Materials UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited

Huntsman Nominees (UK) Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Tioxide Group

Huntsman P&A UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman (UK) Limited

Huntsman Pigments Holdings UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Pigments (UK) Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Creambay Limited

Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Venator Finance S.à r.l.

Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited

Huntsman (UK) Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman Spin UK Limited

Inorganic Pigments Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Creambay Limited

Tioxide Group

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Tioxide Americas (Holdings) LLC

Tioxide Group Services Limited

 

United Kingdom

 

100% Huntsman P&A UK Limited

Chemical Specialties LLC

 

USA - North Carolina

 

100% Venator Materials LLC

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

100% Venator Materials LLC

Tioxide Americas (Holdings) LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

100% Venator Materials LLC

Venator Materials LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

100% Venator Materials PLC

Viance, LLC

 

USA - Delaware

 

50.001% Chemical Specialties LLC

 



 

Schedule 3.06(2)

 

EQUITY INTERESTS

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.11

 

TAXES

 

USA

 

1.               Huntsman International LLC’s and its subsidiaries are currently under audit for income taxes in North Carolina, New York, Illinois and Michigan.

 

Europe, the Middle East and Africa

 

2.               Tax returns for Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH, Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH, Huntsman P&A Uerdingen GmbH, Huntsman P&A Wasserchemie GmbH and Sachtleben Wasserchemie (Holding) GmbH for the fiscal year ended 2015 have not been filed.

 



 

Schedule 3.13

 

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 3.15

 

OWNED MATERIAL REAL PROPERTY

 

Street Address

 

City, State, Country

 

Zip Code/
Postal Code

Titaanitie 1
(real estate registration number 609-67-1-4)

 

Pori, Finland

 

28840

Dr. Rudolf-Sachtleben Strasse 4

 

Duisburg, Germany

 

47198

1895 Doug Barnard Parkway

 

Augusta, Georgia, USA

 

30906

Los Angeles Plant 3700 East Olympic Blvd

 

Los Angeles, California, USA

 

90023

 

Good faith fair market determination based on replacement value.

 



 

Schedule 3.18

 

INSURANCE

 

See attached.

 



 

Schedule 3.20

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 4.01(3)

 

LOCAL COUNSEL OPINIONS

 

 

 

Firm

 

Jurisdiction(s)

1.

 

NautaDutilh Avocats Luxembourg S.à r.l., as Luxembourg counsel to the Loan Parties

 

Luxembourg law opinion (capacity) with respect to Loan Documents to be entered into by Venator Finance S.à r.l.

2.

 

Norton Rose Fulbright Luxembourg S.C.S., as Luxembourg counsel to the Lenders

 

Luxembourg law opinion (enforceability) with respect to Loan Documents governed by Luxembourg law to be entered into by Venator Finance S.à r.l.

3.

 

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, as English counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

English law opinion (capacity and enforceability of English law Security Documents) for the UK Loan Parties

4.

 

Latham & Watkins LLP, Madrid, as Spanish counsel to the Loan Parties

 

Spanish law opinion (capacity)

5.

 

Cuatrecasas, as Spanish counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

Spanish law opinion (jurisdiction and choice of law opinion of US law Loan Documents entered into by the Spanish Loan Party)

6.

 

Latham & Watkins LLP, Frankfurt, as German counsel to the Loan Parties

 

German law opinion (capacity, authority and power of the German Loan Parties to enter into the Loan Documents to which they are party)

7.

 

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Frankfurt, as German counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

German law opinion (validity and enforceability of the German law Security Documents )

8.

 

Waselius & Wist, as Finnish counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

Finnish law opinion (capacity and enforceability)

9.

 

Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP, as Canadian counsel to the Loan Parties

 

Canadian law opinion (capacity and enforceability)

10.

 

Maples and Calder, as Cayman Islands counsel to the Administrative Agent

 

Cayman Islands law opinion (capacity and enforceability)

 



 

Schedule 5.16

 

POST-CLOSING MATTERS

 

The items set forth on Schedule 1.01(3)(B) and Schedule 1.01(3)(C).

 

 

 

Jurisdiction

 

Item

 

Delivery Date
or, in each case, such later
date as may be agreed by
Administrative Agent

1.

 

Luxembourg

 

Shareholders’ register of Venator Finance S.à r.l. evidencing the registration of the share pledge over the shares of Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the Luxembourg law governed share pledge agreement

2.

 

France

 

A certificate of the legal representative or an authorized signatory of each relevant French Loan Party certifying:


(a) that attached thereto is a true, accurate and complete copy of (i) the up-to-date articles of association ( statuts ) of the French Loan Party; (ii) a copy of a Kbis extract, an insolvency certificate ( certificat de non-faillite ) and lien searches ( état des privilèges et nantissements ) dated no more than 15 days prior to the accession date;

(b) that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of resolutions duly adopted by the relevant body of such French Loan Party authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of the Transaction  Documents to which it is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the accession  date and certifying that such resolutions have not been modified, rescinded or amended and are in full force and effect;

(c) if applicable, that attached thereto is a true and complete copy of the power of attorney granted by the legal representative of the French Loan Party authorizing one or several persons to execute, deliver and perform the Transaction Documents to which the relevant French Loan Party is a party or any other document delivered in connection herewith on the accession date and certifying that such power of attorney has not been modified, rescinded or amended and is

 

On the date of and before the execution by each relevant French Loan Party of (i) the relevant Joinder Agreement to the Intercreditor Agreement and (ii) the French law security documents listed in Schedule 1.01(3)(C)

 



 

 

 

 

 

in full force and effect;

(d) that attached thereto are specimen signatures of the persons authorized to execute the Transaction Documents to which the relevant French Loan Party is a party on behalf of the French Loan Party; and

(e) that the guaranteeing and/or securing, in the guarantee limits set forth in Schedule 1.01(2) to the Term Loan Credit Agreement to the extent applicable, as appropriate, of the Obligations, would not cause any guarantee, security or similar limit binding on any French Loan Party to be exceeded.

 

 

3.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholders accounts ( comptes d’actionnaires ) of Huntsman P&A France SAS evidencing (i) the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman Spin UK Limited over shares of Huntsman P&A France SAS and, if applicable, (ii) the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A UK Limited over shares of Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman Spin UK Limited and, if applicable, the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A UK Limited

4.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholder account ( compte d’actionnaire ) of Holliday France SAS evidencing the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A France SAS over the shares of Holliday France SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A France SAS

5.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholder account ( compte d’actionnaire ) of Holliday Pigments SAS evidencing the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A France SAS over the shares of Holliday Pigments SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A France SAS

6.

 

France

 

Share transfer register ( registre de mouvements de titres ) and shareholder account ( compte d’actionnaire ) of Holliday Pigments International SAS evidencing the registration of the securities account pledge granted by Huntsman P&A France SAS over the shares of Holliday Pigments International SAS

 

On the date of and just after the execution of the French law governed securities account pledge agreement entered into by Hunstman P&A France SAS

7.

 

France

 

French law opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP (Paris), as French counsel to the Administrative Agent, as to, inter alia, the

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those French-law security

 



 

 

 

 

 

validity and enforceability of the French law governed Security Documents

 

documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(C)

8.

 

France

 

French law opinion of Latham & Watkins AARPI (Paris), as French counsel to the Loan Parties, as to, inter alia, the capacity of French Loan Parties to enter into the Loan Documents to which they are a party

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those French-law security documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(C)

9.

 

Germany

 

Legal Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP, Frankfurt regarding the capacity, authority and power of the relevant German Loan Parties to enter into the Loan Documents to which they are a party

 

As soon as possible after the execution of the respective post-closing German law security agreement

10.

 

Germany

 

Legal Opinion of Norton Rose Fulbright LLP, Frankfurt in respect of the validity and enforceability of the Security Documents governed by German law entered into by the relevant German Loan Parties

 

As soon as possible after the execution of the respective post-closing German law security agreement

11.

 

Germany

 

The transfer of shares in Huntsman (Holdings) Germany GmbH from Huntsman
Investments (Netherlands) B.V. to Huntsman Spin UK Limited

 

On or before August 31, 2017

12.

 

Germany

 

The new shareholder’s list of Huntsman (Holdings) GmbH reflecting the new
shareholding of Huntsman Spin UK Limited shall be filed with the
commercial register and a copy of such new shareholder’s list shall be provided to the Collateral Agent

 

On or before August 31, 2017

13.

 

England and Wales

 

Registration of particulars of each Security Document granted by a UK Loan Party at Companies House in England and Wales in accordance with Part 25 (Company Charges) of the Companies Act 2006 (UK) or any regulations relating to the registration of charges made under, or applying the provisions of, the Companies Act 2006 (UK) and payment of associated fees

 

Within 21 days of the date of the relevant Security Document

14.

 

England and Wales

 

A copy of resolutions signed by all the holders of the issued shares in:

· Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited;
· Huntsman Spin UK Limited;
· Huntsman P&A UK Limited;
· Huntsman (UK) Limited;
· Huntsman Spin Investments UK Limited; and
· Tioxide Group,
in each case, authorizing any necessary amendments to the relevant UK Loan Party’s articles of association.

 

Within 30 days following the Closing Date

 



 

15.

 

England and Wales

 

An original signed and dated share certificate and original signed, undated stock transfer form in respect of the entire issued share capital in:

·      Huntsman (UK) Limited owned by Huntsman Spin UK Limited; and

·       Huntsman Spin (Holdings) UK Limited owned by Venator Finance S.à r.l.

 

As soon as reasonably practicable following (a) receipt of the stamped stock transfer form in respect of the relevant share transfer from HM Revenue and Customs, or (b) adjudication by HM Revenue and Customs that the relevant share transfer is exempt from stamp duty.

16.

 

Spain

 

Latham & Watkins LLP, Madrid, as Spanish counsel to the Loan Parties — Spanish law opinion (capacity) on the Spanish law Security Documents.

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those Spanish law Security Documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(B)

17.

 

Spain

 

Cuatrecasas, as Spanish counsel to the Administrative Agent — Spanish law opinion (enforceability of Spanish law Security Documents)

 

As soon as possible after the grant of security under those Spanish law Security Documents specified in Schedule 1.01(3)(B)

18.

 

Finland

 

Delivery of the notice of pledge of shares to Huntsman P&A Finland Oy

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

19.

 

Finland

 

Acknowledgement of the notice of pledge of shares by Huntsman P&A Finland Oy

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

20.

 

Finland

 

Delivery of the share certificate of Huntsman P&A Finland Oy, in original and endorsed in blank, to the Collateral Agent (or its representative)

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

21.

 

Finland

 

Shareholder’s register evidencing that the pledge over the shares of Huntsman P&A Finland Oy has been recorded

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

22.

 

Finland

 

Delivery of the floating charge promissory note, in original, along with an application and any necessary authorization to have it registered, to the Collateral Agent (or its representative)

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

23.

 

Finland

 

Delivery of evidence to the Collateral Agent that Huntsman P&A Finland Oy has filed for the deregistration of the existing real estate mortgage certificates in accordance with the Finnish law governed Real Estate Mortgage Agreement

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

24.

 

Finland

 

Delivery of evidence to the Collateral Agent that Huntsman P&A Finland Oy has filed for the registration of the of electronic real estate mortgage certificate governed Real Estate Mortgage Agreement

 

Closing Date (or as soon as practicable)

25.

 

United States

 

(i) Supplement to the Guaranty by Huntsman P&A France SAS, Holliday France S.A.S., Holliday Pigments International S.A.S. and

 

Within 180 days following the Closing Date

 



 

 

 

 

 

Holliday Pigments S.A.S. and (ii) Joinder Agreement to the Intercreditor Agreement by Huntsman P&A France SAS, Holliday France S.A.S., Holliday Pigments International S.A.S. and Holliday Pigments S.A.S.

 

 

26.

 

United States

 

Insurance certificates evidencing coverage under liability and property insurance policies, together with endorsements, in each case to the extent required pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Credit Agreement

 

Within 90 days following the Closing Date

27.

 

United States

 

Regarding any Mortgage required in connection with any Owned Material Real Property located in the United States, satisfaction of the requirements set forth in Section 5.10(2)

 

Within 90 days following the Closing Date

28.

 

United States

 

Reasonable steps to correct defects in the chain of title of the registered and applied-for United States Intellectual Property owned by the U.S. Loan Parties to the extent required pursuant to Section 4.05(2) to the U.S. Collateral Agreement

 

Within 60 days following the Closing Date

29.

 

Canada

 

Registration of the Canadian Intellectual Property Security Agreement with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (“CIPO”) and correction of ownership information in existing CIPO registrations.

 

Within 30 days after the Closing Date

 



 

Schedule 6.01(4)

 

INDEBTEDNESS

 

Restricted Subsidiary

 

Description

 

Amount

 

Huntsman P&A France SAS

 

Seller based financing — water steam plant

 

$

700,000

 

Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

 

Capital Lease — CHP Plant

 

$

6,700,000

 

Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

 

Seller based financing — CHP plant

 

$

3,800,000

 

Huntsman P&A Germany GmbH

 

Capital Lease — Duisburg

 

$

500,000

 

Holliday Pigments S.A.S.

 

AGL (water agency) Loan

 

$

300,000

 

 

Indebtedness of Venator Materials PLC owing to Huntsman International LLC in an aggregate principal amount equal to the balance sheet cash of Venator Materials PLC and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date.

 



 

Schedule 6.02(2)

 

LIENS

 

1.               Mortgage in favor of the Finnish Customs authority over real property located in Titaanitie 1, 28840 Pori, Finland, in the amount of €907,200.

 

2.               The following liens:

 

Debtor

 

Secured Party

 

Description of Assets

 

Filing Number

 

Filing
Jurisdiction

 

Filing Date

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Air Liquide Industrial US LP

 

Certain personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2007 3000022

 

Delaware

 

08/07/2007

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Atlas Copco Customer Finance USA LLC

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2014 1755412

 

Delaware

 

05/05/2014

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Atlas Copco Customer Finance USA LLC

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2014 2919405

 

Delaware

 

07/23/2014

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2016 0900389

 

Delaware

 

02/15/2016

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

First Western Bank & Trust DBA All Lines Leasing

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2016 1258639

 

Delaware

 

03/02/2016

Huntsman P&A Americas LLC

 

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

 

Certain equipment, software and personal property as listed on the financing statement

 

2016 1813326

 

Delaware

 

03/28/2016

Chemical Specialties LLC

 

John Crane Inc.

 

Inventory and other goods provided by John Crane Inc. as listed on the financing statement

 

20080032501B

 

North Carolina

 

04/07/2008

 



 

Schedule 6.04

 

INVESTMENTS

 

(a)          All investments in the entities listed on Schedule 3.06(1).

 

(b)          Venator Materials PLC holds, directly or indirectly, joint venture interests as follows:

 

Entity Name

 

Jurisdiction

 

Ownership

Brockhues GmbH & Co. KG

 

Germany

 

89.939% Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH
10.000% Silo Pigmente GmbH

Viance, LLC

 

United States

 

50.001% Chemical Specialties LLC

Louisiana Pigment Company, L.P

 

United States

 

50% Huntsman P&A Investments LLC

Oligo S.A.

 

Spain

 

75% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Mineral Feed, S.L.

 

Spain

 

50% Huntsman P&A Spain, S.L.U.

Pacific Iron Products Sdn Bhd

 

Malaysia

 

50% Huntsman P&A Asian Sdn Bhd

Nuodex Italiana S.r.l.

 

Italy

 

33.33% Huntsman P&A Italy S.r.l.

Changshu Rockwood Pigments Co., Ltd.

 

China

 

25% Inorganic Pigments Limited

 



 

Schedule 6.07

 

TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES

 

None.

 



 

Schedule 10.01

 

NOTICE INFORMATION

 

The Borrower and the other Loan Parties:

 

Titanium House

Hanzard Drive

Wynyard Park

Stockton-on-Tees TS22 5FD

United Kingdom

Attention:  Russ R. Stolle

Facsimile:  +44 (0)1740 608241

Email:  russ_stolle@venatorcorp.com

 

The Administrative Agent:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,

as Administrative Agent

Loan and Agency Services Group

500 Stanton Christiana Road, NCC5, Floor 01

Newark, DE, 19713

Attn: Joe Aftanis

Email: joe.aftanis@jpmorgan.com

Fax: 201-639-5215; 12016395215@tls.ldsprod.com

 

With a copy to:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

383 Madison Avenue, Floor 24

New York, New York 10179

Attn: Katherine Hurley

Email: katherine.l.hurley@jpmorgan.com

 

Notices to be provided to all Lenders : to covenant.compliance@jpmchase.com

 


Exhibit 10.8

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “ Supplemental Indenture ”), dated as of August 8, 2017, among Venator Finance S.à r.l., a private limited liability company ( société à responsabilité limitée ) incorporated under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (“ Luxembourg ”), having its registered office at 180, route de Longwy, L-1940 Luxembourg and registered with the Luxembourg Register of Commerce and Companies (R.C.S. Luxembourg ) under number B215641 (“ Venator Finance ”), Venator Materials LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“ Venator Co-Issuer ” and, together with Venator Finance, the “ Issuers ”), the Guarantors (as defined in clauses (1) and (2) of the definition of “Guarantors” in the Indenture referred to herein) and Wilmington Trust, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (the “ Trustee ”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H

 

WHEREAS, the Issuers have heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an indenture (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of July 14, 2017 providing for the issuance of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (the “ Notes ”);

 

WHEREAS, the Indenture provides that the Guarantors shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guarantors shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Issuers’ obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms and conditions set forth herein (the “ Note Guarantee ”); and

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guarantors and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

 

1.             CAPITALIZED TERMS. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

2.             AGREEMENT TO GUARANTEE. Each Guarantor hereby agrees to provide an unconditional Guarantee on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Note Guarantee and in the Indenture including, but not limited to Article 10 thereof.

 

3.             NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. No director, manager, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder or member of Venator, the Issuers or any Subsidiary thereof will have any liability for any obligations of Venator, the Issuers or the Guarantors under the Notes, this Indenture, the Note Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Notes by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. The waiver may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.

 

4.             GOVERNING LAW. THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT, THE APPLICATION OF ARTICLES 84 TO 94-8 (INCLUSIVE AND TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) OF THE LUXEMBOURG ACT OF 10 AUGUST 1915 ON COMMERCIAL COMPANIES, AS AMENDED, SHALL BE EXPRESSLY EXCLUDED.

 



 

5.             COUNTERPARTS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy will be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.

 

6.             EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Section headings herein are for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Supplemental Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

 

7.             THE TRUSTEE. The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for or in respect of the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or for or in respect of the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the Guarantors and the Issuers.

 



 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and attested, all as of the date first above written.

 

Dated: August 8, 2017

 

 

VENATOR FINANCE S.À R.L.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Manager and Authorized Signatory

 

 

 

 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Jane Schweiger

 

 

Name: Jane Schweiger

 

 

Title: Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

 



 

 

VENATOR MATERIALS PLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN SPIN (HOLDINGS) UK LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN SPIN UK LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN (UK) LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

CREAMBAY LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN PIGMENTS (UK) LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

 



 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A UK LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

TIOXIDE GROUP

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN SPIN INVESTMENTS UK LIMITED

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A AMERICAS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

 

 

TIOXIDE AMERICAS (HOLDINGS) LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

 



 

 

HUNTSMAN (HOLDINGS) GERMANY GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A GERMANY GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A UERDINGEN GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

SILO PIGMENTE GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

 



 

 

HUNTSMAN PIGMENTS HOLDING GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

BROCKHUES GMBH & CO. KG

 

 

 

 

 

By:

Huntsman Pigments Holding GmbH,

 

 

its General Partner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

SACHTLEBEN WASSERCHEMIE (HOLDING) GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]

 



 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A WASSERCHEMIE GMBH

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Name: Russ R. Stolle

 

 

Title: Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A SPAIN S.L.U.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A CANADA INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A FINLAND OY

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Director

 

 

 

 

 

HUNTSMAN P&A INVESTMENTS LLC

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Name: Kurt D. Ogden

 

 

Title: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Supplemental Indenture]